Section 9 is recruiting. Mantic Games, the UK publisher behind Kings of War and Deadzone, has announced The Ghost in the Shell: Tabletop Roleplaying Game, based directly on Shirow Masamune's original manga rather than the anime adaptations. The game is scheduled for summer 2026.
Designer Alessio Cavatore is leading the project alongside TTRPG writer Zak Barouh. Cavatore is a veteran of tabletop design, having worked on Warhammer and Warhammer 40,000 at Games Workshop before co-designing Kings of War and Bolt Action. His studio River Horse has published everything from Labyrinth: The Board Game to the My Little Pony RPG, so he knows his way around a licensed property.
The game features a bespoke system built for Ghost in the Shell's blend of cybernetics, espionage, and philosophy. Players create trainee agents in Section 9, with character creation including a synthesis system that layers cybernetic enhancements and specialisations onto your operative. Combat and hacking rules are described as "detailed and highly lethal," which sounds about right for a world where a stray round can cost you an expensive cyberbrain.
The rulebook will include extensive background on the Ghost in the Shell universe and illustrations pulled from the original manga. No crowdfunding has been announced, so keep an eye on Mantic's news page for updates. If you've been looking for a cyberpunk RPG that leans into questions about consciousness and identity rather than just chrome and gunfights, this one is worth watching.
Sources: Mantic Games | Wargamer | Bell of Lost Souls