
10 Candles · Ten Candles TTRPG
Ten Candles
Ten Candles is a tabletop story of inevitable loss, told in the glow of real candles. You play ordinary people in a world engulfed by darkness. Together, you shape their final hours, testing small hopes against what lurks in the night. The ending is certain. Everyone will fall. What you choose is how they face it and what they leave behind. A session feels quiet and cinematic, with hushed table talk, mounting dread, and surprising tenderness amidst the scares.
It is a great fit for horror enthusiasts and drama lovers, perfect for Halloween gatherings, retreats, or an intense team evening. Beginners are welcome, and veterans will find rich character work. Adults only, due to mature themes. A professional Game Master manages tone, safety, and pacing so you can focus on choices and character. Meet our Game Masters and arrange a night you will remember.
How to play Ten Candles
Play uses a pool of six-sided dice and candlelight. The Game Master sets the scene and asks what you do. When the outcome is uncertain, you roll a handful of dice equal to the number of candles still burning. At least one 6 means you succeed and describe how. If not, the Game Master explains what goes wrong, and the story shifts toward the next scene as the darkness closes in.
Between scenes, a candle is extinguished and new truths about the world are spoken aloud. The dice pool shrinks as hope does. You bring a grounded character idea, a quiet space, and comfort with tense horror. The Game Master provides the candles, dice, scenario prompts, and safety tools, and keeps everyone steady while you make difficult choices.
Ten Candles is designed for a single 2 to 3 hour session. There is no long campaign, although your Game Master can run an anthology of linked one-shots with new characters. Online play works too, using virtual candles and shared audio. See our online play platforms for options.




Common questions
Do we need to know the rules in advance?
No preparation required. A professional Game Master teaches the rules in minutes and helps you create a grounded character at the table. When outcomes are uncertain, you roll six-sided dice, using more dice as more candles are lit, making the process straightforward. The emphasis is on choices, atmosphere, and describing what unfolds. If you have never played a roleplaying game before, that's perfectly fine. The Game Master explains safety tools, supports quieter players, and keeps the group engaged so you can immerse yourself in the story.
How many players are there and how long does a session last?
Ten Candles works best with 3 to 6 players and runs for about 2 to 3 hours, including a short break. Four or five is ideal for table time. Your Game Master will pace scenes so that the last candle falls close to your target end time. If you have a larger group, consider using two parallel tables or running back-to-back sessions. A quiet space with low lighting is beneficial. The Game Master will bring the materials and set up quickly, then clean up carefully.
How frightening does it become, and is it suitable for children?
It is adult horror with themes of fear, loss, and difficult choices. There are no graphic details unless your group requests them, and no jump scares are necessary. Content boundaries are established together before play, and the Game Master checks in during the session. They can create a moody and somber atmosphere or a sharper and more intense experience, depending on your preferences. To find a style that suits you, you can explore different GM playstyles and choose someone whose tone aligns with your group.
What should I do if my venue prohibits real candles?
Open flames contribute to the atmosphere, but your event takes precedence. If the venue prohibits candles, your Game Master can use LED candles or a shared on-screen candle tracker, along with soft lighting and sound cues for scene transitions. If real candles are permitted, they will be placed in small, stable holders on non-flammable surfaces and managed safely. Regardless, the encroaching darkness and diminishing dice pool still create the tension the game is renowned for.
What makes Ten Candles distinct from D&D?
Ten Candles is not about winning or levelling up. It is a single-session story about ordinary people confronting the end. There is no tactical grid, character builds, or loot. The rules are straightforward, using a simple dice pool that diminishes as the lights go out. Conflict is resolved within the narrative, not through lengthy combats. If you enjoy the roleplay aspects of D&D, this emphasises that side and gives everyone a chance to guide the narrative.
Can we play online and still maintain the atmosphere?
Yes. Your Game Master uses virtual candles, shared audio, and video to maintain the hush and rhythm. They will suggest camera and lighting setups that keep faces visible while the room grows darker, and will manage timers and scene framing so you still feel the closing-in tension. You can read more about our supported tools on online play platforms. Online play is a great option for remote groups or offices with policies against open flames.
If everyone perishes, what makes it enjoyable to play?
Knowing the end allows you to focus on the journey in between. The tension arises from how your characters decide to utilise their limited time, what they strive to safeguard, and what truths they uncover. Small victories are significant. Instances of bravery or connection resonate deeply. Players often discover it to be unexpectedly heartfelt, even amidst the dread. The reward is a complete story crafted together, shared in a single evening, that you will discuss afterwards.
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