Handiwork Games Announce Adrian Tchaikovsky's Tyrant Philosophers Roleplaying Game

Handiwork Games have announced the development of a new Tabletop Roleplaying based upon Adrian Tchaikovsky’s award winning the Tyrant Philosphers series.

There has always been a darkness to Ilmar, but never more so than now. The city chafes under the heavy hand of the Palleseen occupation, the choke-hold of its criminal underworld, the boot of its factory owners, the weight of its wretched poor and the burden of its ancient curse.

What will be the spark that lights the conflagration?

Despite the city's refugees, wanderers, murderers, madmen, fanatics and thieves, the catalyst, as always, will be the Anchorwood - that dark grove of trees, that primeval remnant, that portal, when the moon is full, to strange and distant shores.

Ilmar, some say, is the worst place in the world and the gateway to a thousand worse places.

Ilmar, City of Long Shadows.

City of Bad Decisions.

City of Last Chances.

There are currently three novels in The Tyrant Philosophers series, with a fourth due for release this autumn. City of Last Chances, the first book in the series, was a finalist for Best Fantasy Novel in the 2024 Locus Awards, and winner of the 2022 British Science Fiction Association Award for Best Novel. This was followed by House of Open Wounds (2024), and Days of Shattered Faith (2025), with the series also being shortlisted for the Hugo Award for Best Series 2025. The fourth book, Pretenders to the Throne of God, is due for publication on 5th November 2026.

Adrian Tchaikovsky, author of the Tyrant Philosophers series said “The world of the Tyrant Philosophers is one of my absolute favourite settings to write in, and stretches so much further than you see on the page. I’m absolutely delighted that players are now going to get the chance to explore it for themselves.” Adrian will be working as a close member of the creative team to ensure that this is the definitive, playable guide to his intricate and well-realised setting.

The rules for The Tyrant Philosophers Roleplaying Game are being specially adapted from Malcol;m Craig’s Cold War Hot War by Morgan Davie (a|state second edition). “Trust, betrayal, love, hope, and despair all meet in the backstreets of Ilmar under the heel of the Pallaseen Sway. The game is built to create tense stories of rebellion, and resistance at both a deeply personal and epic political level.”

Handiwork Games have a reputation for producing games with great artwork and visual appeal, and sound like they’ll be continuing that trend with art and illustrations coming courtesy of Tyrant Philosophers series cover artist Joe Wilson, in addition to Jon Hodgson and the Handiwork Games team.

“As a long time fan of both The Tyrant Philosophers series and the work of Adrian Tchaikovsky, I’m so just excited to pull together a truly amazing team to bring this setting to the gaming table. You’re going to love it” enrthused Jon Hodgson, Managing Director of Handiwork Games.

Also on the team, and known for their incredible work in adapting complex and well-loved literary works to the gaming table, are Francesco Nepitello and Marco Maggi (The One Ring Roleplaying Game), who will be providing system consultancy.

Whilst no release date has been set for the game as yet, a Kickstarter will be taking place sometime in the Autumn 2026.