Using Horror in Tabletop Roleplaying Games

Horror is an endlessly popular genre in media. There were over 30 horror movies released in 2020 alone, and Goodreads lists more than triple that number of horror novels published last year. Horror has also been a familiar genre to explore in gaming, and 2020 saw the re-release of perennial favorite Resident Evil II to the video game market, long-anticipated sequel The Last of Us Part II, and psychological horror blockbuster Phasmophobia.

Horror is just as popular in tabletop roleplaying games, but different media calls for a different set of tools. What works in a horror movie or video game doesn't necessarily translate to a tabletop roleplaying game, or vice versa. So that begs the question, how can you use horror effectively in your game, and what are the tools necessary for doing so?

Pick Your Poison

When deciding to run a horror game, the first thing you should do is determine what type of horror you and your players are interested in exploring. The comedic, hack-and-slash antics of Die Laughing are a very different experience than the intimate, singular personal horror of Thousand Year Old Vampire, for example. If everyone isn't on the same page from the beginning, it's likely someone's going to have a bad time.

If you're playing with a group, does the group want something more atmospheric, or slasher-film fun? Are particular aspects of horror off-limits, such as psychological trauma or graphic descriptions of gore? Take the time to talk to your players before you ever roll the dice, and make sure everyone's on-board with the type of experience you're trying to create. Most importantly, provide safety tools so you and your players can calibrate if something becomes too intense.

Set the Mood

Even if you're not playing an especially atmospheric horror game, taking care to properly set the scene can make or break whether your game is all thrills and chills, or fails to evoke even the mildest of shivers. This doesn't mean you're required to invest in creepy lighting, sound effects, or special props at your table--though if you want to go all out, then by all means do so! It does mean that attention to detail when describing your setting or NPCs can make or break the mood you're trying to evoke.

A run-down cabin in the middle of the woods might be innately creepy to some people, but a decrepit cabin, whose rotting walls are swollen with skittering insects, or whose shattered windows glint in the beams of your flashlights like a mouthful of broken teeth," tells your players exactly what sort of horror their characters should expect. Don't be afraid to be evocative, and make your setting and the people (and creatures) that populate it come alive in the worst possible way.

Build Tension

A hallmark of memorable horror is perfect timing, and you can incorporate this to create a sense of foreboding during play. Some games, like Ten Candles or Dread, have this tension built directly into the game's mechanics but, with other games, you'll need to work a little harder to create the perfect edge-of-your-seat atmosphere.

Start by introducing your horrifying elements slowly. At the beginning of the game, the characters should sense there's something unnerving about the situation, but not enough to immediately flee. Hint at danger by revealing bits of lore, creepy elements, or NPCs that may become important later. Then gradually introduce additional horrifying elements, increasing intensity as the story progresses. It should only be in the final third of the story that the characters fully recognize the danger they are in, and whether escape is even possible.

Make it Personal

Another way to make horror roleplaying games more intense is to get inside the characters' heads. This doesn't mean you should prey upon your players' deepest fears--at least not without their consent--but it does mean you should pay attention to what their characters find spooky, disturbing or downright terrifying. Doing so will make the story more personal for your players, and make them more invested in the outcome.

To do this, pay close attention to characters' personalities, backgrounds, and their connections to other characters. Is there a frightening or traumatic event in a character's past that you can mine for inspiration? Is a relationship with an NPC or another character adversarial or strained? Does the character have a phobia or anxiety that can be amplified to alarming degree? All of these things can be used to ratchet up the fear in your horror game; just make sure you have your safety tools at the ready in case things get too intense.

Never Show the Monster

With some exceptions, the true horror of an otherworldly creature or supernatural slasher is always more terrifying when they're just offscreen. The terrors you're able to describe can't compete with the nightmares your players can conjure up on their own. Give them just enough information to seize upon and let their imaginations run wild. The antagonist you create together will be nothing short of legendary.

To do this, give your antagonist a signature trait and make it particularly disturbing. Do they excrete a sticky, viscous acid that sizzles when it drips from their alien body? Do they breathe with a heavy, hacking wheeze into someone's ear, only to vanish the moment the character turns around? Do they subtly announce their presence by filling the air with the scent of wilted violets above the barest trace of rotting meat? Describe only a handful of disturbing aspects whenever they appear in a scene and, if you do feel the need for a total reveal, save it until the very end of a game or campaign.

Your Game, Your Choice

There are a number of horror-themed tabletop roleplaying games available. Some of the most famous are the classic World of Darkness and Chronicles of Darkness lines, and the H.P. Lovecraft-inspired Call of Cthulhu. There are many others, however, with their own unique brand of fear: from Kult's dark gnosticism, to Monsterhearts' feral sexuality, to Bluebeard's Bride's distinctly feminine trauma. There are also some fresh takes on old themes, such as Darker Hue Studios' Haunted West and Harlem Unbound, and Machine Age Productions' iHunt. There are also dozens of indie games on DriveThruRPG and itch.io; far too many to mention here.

Whatever game you choose, hopefully this post has given you the tools to help create the perfect spooky roleplay experience. Now, go show your players a scary good time!