Evil Hat Productions has released a public playtest for its new tabletop RPG, Rocket Club, where players take on the roles of middle schoolers battling an alien invasion using their rocketry skills. The game emphasizes themes of coming of age amid existential threats in a small town setting. Interested participants can sign up to help shape the game's development.
Evil Hat Productions announced Rocket Club on February 24, 2026, inviting players to participate in a public playtest for this upcoming tabletop role-playing game. Set in a small town facing an alien invasion, the RPG centers on a group of rocket-obsessed middle schoolers who become unlikely heroes. These characters rely on their ingenuity, friendships, and passion for rocketry to confront the otherworldly danger and protect their community.
The game's narrative highlights the transition from childhood to adolescence during challenging times. As described in the playtest materials, “This game tells the story of wildly creative kids coming of age in difficult times, leaving their childhoods behind while confronting a strange and devastating otherworldly threat. Their ingenuity, friendship, and obsessive love of rockets are their greatest strengths. They must lean on one another, discover themselves, and jet into danger to protect the people and places they love.”
Each player character features a unique rocket-based creation called a Rocket Rig, which symbolizes their agency and ability to effect change. “The main characters of this game are obsessed with rocketry. They each have a unique rocket-based creation—their Rocket Rig. Rockets represent our heroes’ agency in the world, their ability to create, adapt, and fight back. Their rocket creations allow them to impact the world around them and enact radical change.”
Mechanically, Rocket Club uses a simple system with a handful of six-sided dice (d6s). Every roll produces three elements: an outcome, a mood, and a side effect, capturing the emotional core of the story while maintaining a fast-paced gameplay experience. The game is designed for one-shot sessions or short campaigns, making it accessible for quick play.
This release draws inspiration from similar RPGs like Kids on Bikes and Tales from the Loop, blending nostalgic alien invasion tropes with personal growth narratives. Players can access the playtest materials and sign up via the provided link to contribute feedback and influence the final product.