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 love 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 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Survival differ from horror or post-apocalypse?

Survival revolves around difficult decisions and the management of limited resources. The environment poses an ongoing threat, 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 approached with a focus on action, hope, or despair, but at its heart lies planning, sharing information, and improvising tools. Combat is perilous, so exercising caution and working as a team are essential.

Which game systems are best suited to 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 are uncertain, consult a professional Game Master. You can also explore our system overviews here: game systems.

Is Survival appropriate for beginners or younger players?

Indeed. Survival provides clear objectives and fosters teamwork quickly. For newcomers, a professional Game Master maintains a relaxed approach to the rules, explains how to track supplies, and emphasises clever play rather than just statistics. For younger players, we can create a stranded or wilderness narrative 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 difficult challenge later on, this genre scales up effectively.

Can we establish the tone and lethality for Survival games?

Absolutely. You determine the severity of the world. Gritty and realistic with frostbite and hunger. Pulpy adventure with narrow escapes and laughter. Hopeful rebuilding after a setback, or a grim struggle to survive. We set limits on gore, decide 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 choices and less magic. A professional Game Master transforms ruins, rivals, and hunger into hard-won 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 featuring challenging journeys, limited resources, and subtle victories. Imagine The Oregon Trail, but you choose the risks and weave the narrative together. Traverse abandoned 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 difficult choices as you fight to survive. If Ridley Scott's Alien captivated you, this offers that same cold-sweat dread at 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 contemporary touch, designed for tense, torch-lit 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 evoke the spirit of 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. 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 hard-won 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 far-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 the same craving.

    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

What players think

  • 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 really good job. The 3 stars refer to the following: 1. We were disappointed that the adventure was labelled a One Shot and 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 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 attitude was fantastic, and he made the game enjoyable for all. I particularly appreciated how he could clearly explain what was required from our less experienced players while keeping our more seasoned players on their toes with his extensive knowledge of the game. Everyone in our party had a wonderful 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. Thank you!

    Casey

    The Merry Meeple

  • The game was incredibly engaging. I arranged a session as a gift for my boyfriend, who is very enthusiastic about it, and he was thoroughly pleased and appreciated Leonardo's professionalism. I don't have much experience with DnD, but I found the game to be quite straightforward and enjoyable.

    Marina

  • A very good GM, Baptiste adapted well to our group and helped us progress in this one-shot. One issue was with the character sheets provided, which were not complete or clear. Some of the French translations were rather approximate. For instance, our cleric was missing spells (no healing spell) even though they were meant to have some.

    Pierre

  • Rachel was fantastic; my daughter and her friends left their game saying it was the most fun they'd ever had, and my daughter wanted to sign up for another game with her straight away. She was friendly, and her approach enabled the players to fully immerse themselves in the game by allowing them to control how they wanted their actions to be carried out. I would certainly work with her again.

    John

  • A pleasant and straightforward introduction to D&D. Amber was adept at explaining and guiding the game, allowing us as players to quickly get into the rhythm and concentrate on the narrative. Collaborating with my colleagues to devise attack strategies was an enjoyable experience and provided valuable insights into each other's characters, thought processes, and differences. Overall, I found it to be a highly enjoyable session.

    Jens

    Triodos Bank N.V.

  • Pim is truly brilliant as a DM! Cheerful, adaptable, and exceptionally experienced. With a group of novice players, he managed to create an amazing experience in just a few hours. He maintained control in an enjoyable manner and engaged every player in the story, regardless of whether they were vocal or reserved. If you embark on an adventure with him, it will certainly be unforgettable!

    Jens

    Triodos Bank N.V.

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