‘Tis the Season: Five Spooktacular One-Shot Systems for Halloween!
As the season begins to change, the days shorten, the leaves turn, and a chill creeps into the lengthening days. It is the time of year where the rituals of autumn begin to take place: the watching of scary movies, the telling of scary stories, and of course the running of spooky one-shots. But what to run? I scoured the internet to put together my five picks of what Horror RPGs to run for a single night of terror! Bring on the scares!
Call of Cthulhu
This classic RPG is now in its 7th edition and is great for one-shot games. I’m talking about the Lovecraftian Horror RPG Call of Cthulhu, of course! Honestly, I can't think of a system that is more well-suited for running one-shot adventures filled with existential horror. There are a ton of scenarios available so you can find exactly what you are searching for. I would personally recommend beginning with The Call of Cthulhu Starter Set. The starter set comes with everything you need for a night of Eldritch terror: three adventures complete with handouts, five pre-generated character sheets, and even a set of dice. It doesn't get more complete than this! I really like Call of Cthulhu as the focus of the adventure is on exploration and horror instead of combat, which is often fatal for the player characters. Consider giving this horror-themed RPG a try at your table!
Fiasco
So maybe things that are super spooky aren't your thing? Maybe you are looking for something that requires no prep? Maybe you even want to play in the game? Maybe Fiasco is for you! This rules-light RPG is a favorite for fans of improv, chaos, and Cohen Brothers’ movies. While not specifically a horror RPG, this quick play requires almost no prep on the part of the Game Master. Which reminds me--there is no Game Master! I would recommend picking up the box set along with either the Teen Angst Expansion Pack or the Unknown Monsters Expansion Pack to pack in that spooky/thriller goodness! If you haven't checked out this zany RPG, I highly recommend you add it to your library!
Vampire the Masquerade
Another classic RPG now in its fifth iteration is Vampire the Masquerade. Where other horror games pit the players against horrifying monsters, the players of this dark and gritty RPG take on the role of some of the most iconic monsters in horror history--vampires! Part existential horror, part political horror, the players must struggle for survival while battling their own transformation into something more and less than human. A warning, this RPG is intended for Mature Audiences only. Consider your play-group carefully before running this RPG.
Dread
If you are looking for a game that focuses on the horror of anticipation look no further than Dread. This roleplaying game has a unique twist as instead of dice you use a Jenga tower to determine your success or failure. You can choose to fail a task and not pull a block or you can choose to attempt the task by pulling a block and placing it on top. As the game progresses, Dread ratchets up the tension as the blocks get harder and harder to pull and the game progresses in difficulty until. . .the tower collapses and a player is eliminated from the game as narrated by the host. If you have a copy of Jenga hanging around and want to play a role-playing game with constant tension then Dread might be for you!
Ten Candles
This is another incredibly unique tragic horror RPG that really focuses on the immersion of the players. In Ten Candles, 3-5 players and a Game Master sit in a darkened room with only the light of ten tea candles to set the tone. The candles are also integral to the game as they serve as the ever looming clock of doom, counting down the ultimate demise of the characters. The GM controls “Them,” the creatures who haunt the darkness and prey on the characters. During character creation the players will write down several traits that can be burned (literally!) to succeed at certain tasks. Players also make a final voice recording of their character before the session begins. As the game progresses, the candles will be blown out--or go out on their own-- ending each scene. Each scene begins with the GM listing the truths which begin with: “These things are true: The world is dark, and we are alive. . . ” and concludes with some ominous phrase such as: “and no one has seen Frank. . .” When the players reach the last scene, the only thing they can sacrifice is the lives of their characters. One by one the characters will die and in the end only darkness will remain as the final candle is extinguished and the last recording is played . . .spooky!
I hope you enjoyed this ensemble of spooky one-shots! Are there any others you think should have made the cut? Let us know in the comments!
Stay Safe and Take Heart!
Karington Hess
Game Master and Founder of Open Heart Games
