diff --git a/playbooks/install-essential-tools.yml b/playbooks/install-essential-tools.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2c56d9f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/playbooks/install-essential-tools.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+---
+- name: Ensure essential tools are installed on all hosts
+  hosts: all
+  become: true
+
+  vars:
+    essential_packages:
+      - curl
+      - git
+      - jq
+      - htop
+      - unzip
+      - ca-certificates
+      - net-tools
+      - acl
+
+  tasks:
+    - name: Install common tools
+      apt:
+        name: "{{ essential_packages }}"
+        state: present
+        update_cache: yes