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

 

[Autumnal]

Mel Borg comes immediately to mind. The Black Sword Hack might fit, too.

 

[zottel]

Mel Borg comes immediately to mind. The Black Sword Hack might fit, too.

Have you played the Black Sword Hack? I am thinking about getting it because I have heard good things about it, but admittedly do not know much about it yet.

 

[Autumnal]

I’ve only read it, but it’s got a very intense flavor of early Moorcock, which I love.

 

[Koloth]

The Midnight setting by Fantasy Flight is a rather bleak setting where Evil has won and much of the character's activities is just staying alive and there is little chance that anything they do will change the overall world events. Similar to if the hobbits failed to destroy the One Ring and Sauron won.

 

[Wofano Wotanto]

Wraith. Kult. Ten Candles. Most of the Something Borg games I've read, which isn't many of them.

Those are all on my "rather be dead than play that, thanks" RPG list for one reason or another. But that mostly makes them depressing. If you want something I'd be willing to call "comedically hopeless" Swyvers springs to mind, or the old GURPS Goblins setting. First-career WHFRP if it was run as dark as the fiction is. All DCC funnels.

 

[aramis erak]

3:16

Spoiler

In campaign mode, it becomes clear. In oneshot, it's just hard. A relatively brutal game about life as a space trooper

Brute Squad

Spoiler

It is intended that they fail from the outset; it's theoretically possible they might win... but not likely.

Orkworld (John Wick)

Spoiler

The Rome analogue Human Culture is killing the Celt/Saxon analogue Orks. Ahlvzees is bodysnatching Orks and Humans. Schtunties may or may not be animated armor. Rhunties already extinct.. or are they? Trolls consider Orks tasty food. And your Bard is important... without one, you don't improve. Oh, and hunting is really hard RAW, and the hunting rules have a big issue... it's hard to feed the Gathum. (Tribe)

Sorcerer (Ron Edwards)

Spoiler

All PCs do most things by summoning and controlling demons. They eventually go mad... or get enslaved... how low will you go?

CORPS + Apocalypse

Spoiler

Dark elves return from deep inside the earth to become the new nazis.

CORPS + Down In Flames – 13 adventures where the world is suddenly facing a shocking apocalypse... each one a different apocalypse.
End of the World: FFG's series of 4 rules light apocalypses: Revolt of the Machines, Wrath of the Gods, Alien Invasion, and Zombie Apocalypse. Nifty timelines, and multiple variations within each book. Wish I'd bought them dead tree... Worse, you play yourself.


Seconding Grey Ranks.