Top 5 Horror RPG Settings to Discover for Your Next Campaign
Looking for a chilling role-playing game to share with your group? We’ve selected five essential settings to help you craft unforgettable horror campaigns.
This list isn’t just about terrifying monsters—you’ll find RPGs designed to create a truly immersive horror atmosphere. And the best part? Every setting featured here can easily be integrated into Amsel Suite.
Call of Cthulhu: Timeless Cosmic Horror
No horror RPG roundup would be complete without Call of Cthulhu. Inspired by H.P. Lovecraft’s stories, this classic transports you to the 1920s, where ordinary investigators face incomprehensible forces.
Here, fear doesn’t come from grotesque creatures alone—it stems from the unsettling idea that the universe is indifferent to humanity.
In Call of Cthulhu, players encounter mechanics that challenge the mind more than dice rolls. If you love running tense investigations with oppressive atmospheres, this is the RPG for you.
With Lore, our worldbuilding software, you can fully develop this universe and reuse your files across multiple campaigns.
Delta Green: Conspiracies and Modern Terror
Prefer a contemporary setting without losing the horror vibe? Delta Green is the perfect choice. Drawing inspiration from Call of Cthulhu, it brings Lovecraftian dread into a modern world.
Expect secret agencies, covert missions, and chilling conspiracies.
To heighten paranoia, every operation comes at a cost for the players. If your group enjoys dark thrillers and complex plots, Delta Green will deliver intense, unforgettable sessions.
Ten Candles: An Inevitable, Immersive Tragedy
Craving a unique, atmospheric experience? Ten Candles is a narrative RPG played by candlelight. With each scene, a candle is extinguished—and when the last one fades, all characters perish.
Despite appearances, this isn’t a survival game but a story of courage in the face of the inevitable. Its simple yet original mechanics create tension throughout the session. Ten Candles is ideal for one-shot campaigns.
For Tome, our RPG management tool, Ten Candles is easy to integrate—perfect for beginners.
Vaesen: Nordic Folklore and Mysteries
Looking for horror beyond Lovecraft? Vaesen might be your match. Inspired by Scandinavian legends, this setting hides terror in snowy forests and remote villages, where folkloric creatures spread fear.
Created by illustrator Johan Egerkrans and writer Nils Hintze, Vaesen combines mystery with dark poetry in a stunning aesthetic.
Its investigations unfold in a historical backdrop, enhancing immersion. If your players love mythology and gothic vibes, Vaesen is an excellent alternative to classic horror worlds.
Alien RPG: Fear Among the Stars
For sci-fi and horror fans, Alien RPG is a must. Based on the iconic franchise, it plunges players into starships, isolated colonies, and desperate survival scenarios.
The stress mechanic makes every decision critical, creating an oppressive atmosphere true to the films. If you want to recreate visceral tension and fear of the unknown, Alien RPG is the perfect choice.
With these settings, you’ll have everything you need to run unforgettable horror-themed campaigns!
