Best Left Buried Rules Lite; Horror; Old-School Renaissance (OSR); Survival; Exploration-Driven; Low Prep

At‑a‑glance: OSR/NSR horror • d20 saves/tests • 3–5 + GM • Low prep • Rules‑lite survival • 2–3h sessions

Theme and Setting

Best Left Buried frames delving as grim, precarious work. Cryptdiggers venture into lightless vaults, picking through eerie architecture, unreliable maps, and omens. The tone is oppressive and uncanny rather than splatter—fear, exhaustion, and bad luck are as dangerous as any monster. Settlements, caravans, and hirelings offer momentary safety, but every expedition threatens to leave bodies or minds changed.

Core Mechanics and Rules

Rules are deliberately lean: three attributes resolve most tests with a simple roll, with advantage/disadvantage–style modifiers and equipment mattering at the table. Resource tracking—torches, rations, fatigue, and encumbrance—creates constant trade‑offs. Stress accrues from fear and calamity, converting into lasting Scars that reshape abilities and outlook. Monsters are written for mood and danger first; their mechanics stay light to keep focus on choices, consequences, and pacing.

What Makes It Unique

The game marries OSR‑style crawl discipline (mapping, logistics, lethal stakes) with psychological pressure. Instead of power curves, characters accumulate stories: scars, superstitions, and compromises that mark survival. Modules emphasize readable procedures and evocative tables over rigid stat blocks, making it effortless to improvise crypt hazards, hireling foibles, and strange treasures at the table.

Target Audience and Player Experience

Great for groups who enjoy tense exploration, meaningful resource decisions, and horror that comes from atmosphere and attrition. Newcomers can grasp it quickly, while veterans will appreciate how little prep is needed to produce memorable, high‑pressure sessions. Expect short arcs of grim triumph, hard bargains, and the occasional desperate retreat—survival is the point, not heroism.