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 obvious and satisfying. Players share information, plan, and improvise tools. The stakes are clear, 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 hard trade-offs and scarce resources. A professional Game Master keeps it tense but fair, and reads the room to ensure stress remains 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.

Book nowQuestions & answers

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, optimistic, or grim, but at its heart lies 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 more challenging 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 appropriate for beginners or younger players?

Absolutely. Survival sets clear objectives and fosters teamwork quickly. For newcomers, a professional Game Master simplifies the rules, 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 straightforward safety tools. If you're looking for a more challenging experience later on, this genre can easily be 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 fight to survive. We set limits on gore, determine how scarce supplies are, and choose between fail forward or lethal outcomes. A quick 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 be proud to share.

    View system: Forbidden Lands

  • Vagabond

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

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

    View system: Vagabond

  • 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 decisions as you fight to survive. If Ridley Scott's Alien captivated you, this brings that same cold-sweat dread to the table.

    View system: ALIEN: The Roleplaying Game

  • Shadowdark

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

    Shadowdark is classic fantasy with a contemporary touch, designed for intense, torch-lit dungeon explorations and perilous decisions. Easy to grasp, quick to play, and deadly enough to keep you on your toes. Imagine The Witcher’s dark atmosphere 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 uniquely. 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 pulp fantasy world where steel, spells, and luck determine your fate. Imagine 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 you were captivated by the ancient mysteries of Horizon Zero Dawn, this game will satisfy that same curiosity.

    View system: Numenera

  • Cairn

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

    Explore haunted forests and crumbling ruins with Cairn, a rules-light fantasy RPG that emphasises careful choices and hard-won treasure. It is quick to learn, gritty in play, and centred on discovery and survival. Imagine the grounded, monster-haunted paths of The Witcher, but without the flashy magic.

    View system: Cairn
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What players think

  • 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 boys really enjoyed their campaign, and Evan was excellent. I would definitely recommend Evan. Thank you!

    Cheidhia

  • Geert was a lot of fun and very enthusiastic! We were in stitches laughing :D

    Wessel

  • It was an amazing 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 fantastic! He was really great with the kids and 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 a fantastic 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 large portion of the adventure time doing unnecessary things because we didn't really know 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. Cheers, 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 also keeping our more seasoned players on their toes with his extensive 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

  • Dayron was fantastic; he provided an excellent experience. Thanks!

    Casey

    The Merry Meeple

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