Survival

Survival

You start with little and the world does not care. The wind steals your warmth, the map lies, and every noise could signal hunger or danger. Around the table, you count matches, argue over a shortcut, and rig a sled from broken scrap. Choices matter. Do you light a fire now, or save the fuel for the climb? Do you trust the stranger, or set a watch and move at first light?

Survival shines because it makes teamwork clear and satisfying. Players share information, plan, and improvise tools. The stakes are evident, so beginners settle in quickly. Families can enjoy a gentler castaway tale with clever puzzles and no gore. Team events thrive on cooperative problem-solving under time pressure. Veterans appreciate the tension of tough trade-offs and scarce resources. A professional Game Master keeps it tense but fair, and reads the room to ensure stress is fun, not draining.

Our Game Masters run survival in D&D 5E with gritty rests and travel rules, in Forbidden Lands, Torchbearer, Mutant: Year Zero, and Apocalypse World. The tone is yours to set. Gritty realism or pulpy adventure. Hopeful rebuilding or horror-tinged collapse. Strict scarcity or a forgiving learning curve. Lethal or fail-forward. We agree on safety tools and difficulty in session zero. Explore the game systems we support, or tell us the feel you want and we will match the rules to it.

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Common questions

How does Survival differ from horror or post-apocalyptic genres?

Survival revolves around tough decisions and managing limited resources. The environment poses constant threats, from cold and hunger to challenging terrain. Horror emphasises fear and the unknown, with atmosphere and creatures at the forefront. The post-apocalyptic setting can be action-packed, hopeful, or grim, but the essence lies in planning, sharing information, and improvising tools. Combat is perilous, so exercising caution and working as a team is essential.

Which game systems are best suited for Survival?

Several systems highlight scarcity and travel. D&D 5E functions well when we implement grittier resting, encumbrance, and journey rules. Forbidden Lands excels at hex crawling and managing dwindling supplies. Torchbearer monitors light, inventory, and exhaustion minute by minute. Mutant: Year Zero introduces shelter building and scavenging. Apocalypse World emphasises tough choices and social pressure in times of scarcity. If you're uncertain, consult a professional Game Master. You can also explore our system overviews here: game systems.

Is Survival suitable for newcomers or younger players?

Absolutely. Survival sets clear objectives and fosters teamwork quickly. For newcomers, a professional Game Master keeps the rules straightforward, explains how to track supplies, and emphasises clever play over statistics. For younger players, we can create a stranded or wilderness adventure featuring clever challenges, minimal risk of character death, and no graphic content. We assess comfort levels and employ simple safety tools. If you're looking for a more difficult challenge later on, the same genre can be easily scaled up.

Can we establish the tone and lethality for Survival games?

Absolutely. You decide how harsh the world feels. Gritty and realistic with frostbite and hunger. Pulpy adventure with close calls and laughs. Hopeful rebuilding after a setback, or a grim struggle to survive. We set limits on gore, determine how scarce supplies are, and choose between fail forward or lethal outcomes. A brief call or messages before the game help align expectations. Read about GM approaches here: GM playstyles.

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Game systems for Survival

  • Forbidden Lands

    • Survival +6
    • 2 – 5 players
    • Moderate rules

    Explore a cursed wilderness in an open-world survival fantasy, charting it hex by hex and scavenging to survive another day. Imagine Skyrim with tougher decisions and less magic. A professional Game Master transforms ruins, rivals, and hunger into hard-earned treasures and stories you'll boast about.

    View system: Forbidden Lands

  • Vagabond

    • Survival +6
    • 2 – 5 players
    • Simple rules

    Vagabond is a light survival RPG focused on tough journeys, limited resources, and subtle victories. Imagine The Oregon Trail, but you choose the risks and weave the story collaboratively. Navigate through decayed roads or dense forests, encounter cautious locals, and discover how far your determination and teamwork can lead you.

    View system: Vagabond

  • Death in Space

    • Survival +6
    • 2 – 6 players
    • Simple rules

    Scrap, patch, and hope your ship holds together as you scavenge the void following a cosmic cataclysm. Death in Space is a rules-light sci-fi game centred on survival, tough decisions, and strange signals, featuring tense scenes reminiscent of Alien. Ideal for gritty one-shots or a dark, ongoing salvage crew narrative.

    View system: Death in Space

  • ALIEN: The Roleplaying Game

    • Survival Horror +7
    • 2 – 5 players
    • Moderate rules

    Stalk the darkness between the stars with ALIEN: The Roleplaying Game, a cinematic survival horror experience. Stress fuels panic and tough choices as you fight to survive. If Ridley Scott's Alien captivated you, this brings that same chilling dread to the table.

    View system: ALIEN: The Roleplaying Game

  • Shadowdark

    • Dark Fantasy +7
    • 2 – 6 players
    • Simple rules

    Shadowdark is a classic fantasy game with a modern touch, designed for tense, torchlit dungeon explorations and perilous decisions. It's easy to pick up, quick to play, and deadly enough to keep you on your toes. Imagine the dark atmosphere of The Witcher combined with traditional treasure hunting and monster hunting.

    View system: Shadowdark

  • Mörk Borg

    • Dark Fantasy +7
    • 2 – 6 players
    • Simple rules

    Mörk Borg is a rules-light, doom-metal fantasy where the world decays and you strive to survive another night. Brutal, fast, and stylish, it plays like Dark Souls seen through a tattered black-metal zine. Ideal for grim one-shots or a doomed mini-campaign.

    View system: Mörk Borg

  • The One Ring

    • High Fantasy +7
    • 2 – 6 players
    • Moderate rules

    Traverse the paths of Middle-earth in The One Ring, the official tabletop RPG inspired by Tolkien. With low magic, deep lore, and hard-won hope, every journey is shaped. Assemble a Company and face the wilderness, councils, and battles in tales that resonate with The Lord of the Rings.

    View system: The One Ring

  • Dungeon Crawl Classics

    • Dark Fantasy +6
    • 2 – 6 players
    • Moderate rules

    Dungeon Crawl Classics immerses you in a world of pulp fantasy where steel, spells, and luck determine your fate. Picture the gritty essence of Conan, bizarre magic, and deadly dungeons driven by unpredictable dice rolls and daring decisions. Ideal for groups seeking adventure, treasure, and well-deserved victories.

    View system: Dungeon Crawl Classics

  • Numenera

    • Exploration +7
    • 2 – 6 players
    • Simple rules

    Numenera is a science fantasy set in the Ninth World, a distant future Earth filled with miraculous relics. Explore ancient ruins, encounter bizarre cultures, and transform lost technology into marvels. If the ancient mysteries of Horizon Zero Dawn captivated you, this game will satisfy that same curiosity.

    View system: Numenera
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What players have to say

  • Joran had 6 children aged 12 completely engaged for the full four hours. Most of them were playing for the first time. They were actively entertained from start to finish. At no point did anyone seem bored or irritated. Joran was also perfectly prepared and had excellent game materials.

    Haiko

  • Ruby was fantastic; this was our group’s first DnD experience, and she helped everyone grasp the rules and enjoy themselves.

    Adam

  • We had a fantastic time, the lads really enjoyed their campaign and Evan was excellent. I would definitely recommend Evan. Thank you!

    Cheidhia

  • Geert was great fun and full of enthusiasm! We were in stitches laughing :D

    Wessel

  • It was a brilliant experience for the girls! Thank you, Marie! You were incredibly well prepared, the girls were captivated by your every word, and it felt like you had been playing together for years! Looking forward to seeing you next time!

    Annick

  • Tom was brilliant! He was really great with the kids and very patient with his explanations. It was a wonderful evening and definitely worth doing again! The children asked the next day when we would be doing this again.

    Danny

  • First of all, I want to say that Sebastian was really great as a DM. For his first run as a booked DM, he did an excellent job. The 3 stars refer to the following: 1. We were disappointed that the adventure was labelled a One Shot yet wasn't a complete story. Discovering that there are two more parts wasn't very positive for us, as it meant there was no satisfying conclusion to the story. 2. As new players, it was difficult for us to understand the English character sheets in such a short time. In German, it would have been much easier. Even receiving the character sheets a few days in advance would have been helpful for preparation. 3. More guidance would be beneficial. Especially for beginners, a more linear one shot would have been preferable. We wasted a significant portion of the adventure time doing unnecessary things because we didn't fully understand how the game worked. Overall, I think the StoryForgers concept is really good and I see a lot of potential in it, especially for introducing new players to D&D. I hope you don't take my feedback the wrong way but see it as honest criticism. Best regards, Mario

    Mario

  • Bryan was exceptional. We had a group with varying levels of experience, and he managed to keep everyone engaged and involved. His positive attitude made the game enjoyable for all. I really appreciated how he could clearly explain what was needed from our less experienced players while keeping our more seasoned players on their toes with his deep knowledge of the game. Everyone in our party had a fantastic time thanks to Bryan.

    Jeremy

  • Dayron was fantastic. Well-prepared, punctual, and had a brilliant sense of humour.

    Corey

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