Looking for a properly bleak game for a paper.

[Professor Murder]

I'm looking for an example of a ttrpg that is properly bleak in the text as written. I will try to explain what I mean below.

I don't mean a game that can be played bleak or hopeless. I mean one which is rules as written designed for the players to expect to fail, ideally without even the dignity of their failures having some possible positive effects in the form of a noble sacrifice or a pyrrhic victory. I mean straight up a game about how you fail just for that experience alone.

Can anyone site any possible examples of this level of bleak in a game as the default setting or barring that, one which the text of the published material explores it as a game option and has some actual discussion of what that would look and play like?

 

[Tonguez]

The only one I an think of off hand is Wuthering Heights where PC stats are Rage, Despair and Decrepitude.

 

[the Jester]

Perhaps Paranoia? It's very funny, but a constant series of disasters for the pcs.

 

[Cynicide]

It's a bit old now, but maybe Grey Ranks Grey Ranks (role-playing game) - Wikipedia