Eclipse Phase

[cliff]

This game has been out for close to a year, so it's not quite new, but still pretty new.

The short version - Eclipse Phase is an incredibly well designed setting that is hard sci-fi, specifically post-apocalyptic transhumanist horror.

Now, to back that up a little bit more.

Eclipse Phase is something that you don't see very often - a setting that is well integrated. When I say that, what I mean is the developers of this game really put a lot of effort into making sure that all the different pieces of their setting fit together into a cohesive whole.

They've created a setting that is believable and consistent, which should make the GM's life a lot easier. In terms of authors you may have read that it borrows from, I find it to be most heavily influenced by John Varley, with a lot of David Brin and a dash of Vernor Vinge. All three authors I particularly enjoy.

I haven't really had a chance to dig deep into the rules yet, as there's a lot of setting to absorb, and that comes before the rules. Normally, I like to dig into the rules before the setting, but the setting has really gripped me... not to mention, a setting like this will require special rules for its unique themes, rules that may be hard to understand without first understanding the setting.

I couldn't itemize the transhuman settings for you (transhumanism being the core of this setting, post-apocalyptic being secondary and horror being pretty optional IMO), but I can say that the setting is far better and more cohesive than GURPS: Transhuman Space.

You can find out more at the official home page.