Ten Candles

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, with 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, that's perfectly fine. The Game Master explains safety tools, supports shy players, and keeps the group engaged so you can immerse yourself in the story.

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 the ideal number for table time. Your Game Master will pace scenes so the last candle falls close to your target end time. If you have a larger group, consider running two parallel tables or 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 with care.

It is adult horror with themes of fear, loss, and tough 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.

Open flames contribute to the atmosphere, but your event takes priority. 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 famous for.

Ten Candles is not about winning or levelling up. It is a single-session story about ordinary people facing the end. There is no tactical grid, character builds, or loot. The rules are light, using a simple dice pool that shrinks as the lights go out. Conflict is resolved in the fiction, not through lengthy combats. If you enjoy the roleplay aspects of D&D, this emphasises that side and gives everyone a chance to steer the narrative.

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.

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 the truths they uncover. Small victories are significant. Instances of bravery or connection resonate deeply. Players often discover it surprisingly heartfelt, even amidst the dread. The reward is a complete story you crafted together, shared in one evening, that you will discuss afterwards.