# Breathless

Breathless is a rules-lite survival horror RPG using polyhedral dice with degradation mechanics. Classless and low-prep, it emphasizes scavenging, item deterioration, and the exhausting toll of survival in a zombie-filled walled city. Ideal for one-shots and groups seeking tense, cinematic horror sessions.

## At a Glance

Survival Horror • Polyhedral dice (d4-d12) with degradation • 2-5 + GM • Low prep • Rules-lite • 2-4h sessions

## Why It Fits

A strong fit for groups that want tension, danger, and unease to stay active at the table, with rules Lite helping define the experience.

## Fit Facts

- Players: 2-5 players + GM
- Session length: 120-240 minutes
- Prep: Low

## Facets

- Genres: Horror
- Mechanics: Rules Lite, Survival
- Decision tags: Low Prep

## Scores

- Complexity: 3/5
- New GM Fit: 5/5
- Roleplay Focus: 4/5
- Combat Focus: 2/5
- Tactical Depth: 2/5
- Campaign Depth: 3/5

## Best For

- Groups that want tension, danger, and unease to stay active at the table
- Tables that want quick onboarding and low mechanical drag
- Players who want character, atmosphere, or story to matter more than pure tactics

## Avoid If

- You want combat and action to drive most of the session
- You want low-tension or low-threat play
- You want the system to stay almost invisible at the table

## Directory Notes

The city has been sealed off from the outside world, trapping survivors inside with hordes of "Crawlers"—zombies driven by insatiable hunger. You are surrounded by strangers in a crumbling urban landscape where ammunition dwindles, weapons break, and every breath could be your last.

## Theme and Setting

The setting draws from zombie media like Shaun of the Dead , Left 4 Dead , and The Last of Us , emphasizing desperate survival over heroic action. There is no rescue coming, no cure on the horizon—only the relentless pressure to survive another day.

## How Play Feels

Breathless centers on a dice degradation system: skills and items are assigned die ratings from d4 to d12. When you use a skill or item, you roll that die hoping for a 4+ to succeed—then the die degrades to the next step down (d12 → d10 → d8 → d6 → d4 → exhausted).

## What Makes It Distinct

This creates an economy of diminishing returns where your best tools and abilities wear out exactly when you need them most. The "Catch Your Breath" mechanic allows recovery during quiet moments, but at a cost—accepting a narrative complication in exchange for restoring dice.

## Where It May Not Fit

You want combat and action to drive most of the session You want low-tension or low-threat play.

## Links

- Directory page: https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/breathless
- Agent JSON: https://www.ttrpg-games.com/api/games/breathless.json
- Publisher or official site: https://farirpgs.itch.io/breathless?ac=YUqaLN4pVvG
- Reviews or retailer page: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/399932/breathless?affiliate_id=1659151