Neopets pulls TTRPG playtest after backlash over controversial content

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Neopets has addressed concerns about its new tabletop game, explaining that a preview document released recently wasn’t officially approved and didn’t reflect the quality they aim for.

Geekify Inc. is creating a Neopets Tabletop Roleplaying Game, and their Kickstarter campaign was a huge success, reaching its funding goal in just six hours with almost 7,000 backers. The game offers a fresh way for fans to experience the world of Neopia, going beyond the original website.

Problems started when a document from the game’s early testing phase was leaked online. Players on Bluesky and in tabletop gaming communities expressed worry that the document’s content and style didn’t match Neopets’ reputation as a site for all ages.

Hi Neopians, We’re responding to the recent discussions about the Neopets TTRPG. We’ve been carefully reading your feedback and understand your concerns. You can find a full statement with more details here: https://portal.neopets.com/news/feb20-geekify-ttrpg

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People criticized the game system for seeming too focused on combat and for reportedly borrowing heavily from Dungeons & Dragons 5e, even though the Kickstarter campaign promised a system without traditional classes and based on customizable points.

As a fan, I’ve been seeing a lot of discussion online about some parts of the game that people are finding concerning. Specifically, there’s been talk about scenes with bandits behaving badly while drunk, and how the game seems to suggest forcing information out of characters. Some of the dialogue is also being called out for potentially being sexist or homophobic. Plus, screenshots are going around showing a section where the developers were apparently discussing how far they could go with mature themes and what players would be comfortable with – which is sparking a lot of debate.

The document was subsequently pulled following the backlash.

canonical neopets homophobia

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On February 20th, the Neopets team stated that the beta version was launched without their knowledge or permission.

The company explained that the recently published beta playtest document wasn’t checked or approved by their team before it became public. They also stated that the document’s content and themes don’t reflect what Neopets stands for or what players expect from the game.

Neopets has clarified that it’s not simply a standard fantasy role-playing game and insists any tabletop version must stay true to the story and atmosphere developed over its 26-year history. The company says it asked for the problematic material to be taken down and is currently in talks with Geekify to resolve the issue.

Even though there’s been some disagreement, Neopets is confident a great Neopets tabletop role-playing game is possible and promises to take the necessary time to make sure it meets their quality expectations.

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2026-02-24 21:20