Endure

Endure is a rules-lite survival RPG using a 2d6 Risk Roll system. Classless and low-prep, it emphasizes an Endurance economy where resources constantly deplete, forcing hard choices. Ideal for wilderness survival, horror, and disaster stories inspired by The Martian and The Long Dark.

At-a-glance

Survival • 2d6 Risk Rolls • Classless • Endurance economy • 2-4 players + GM • Near-zero prep • Rules-lite • 1-3h sessions

Endure

Endure explores stories of ordinary people in extraordinary survival situations. The game flexibly adapts to wilderness survival (Robinson Crusoe, The Martian, The Long Dark), survival horror (I Am Legend, Alien, Outlast), and disaster scenarios (This War of Mine, Pathologic).

Theme and Setting

There is no default setting—players collaboratively define their crisis, whether stranded on an alien world, surviving a zombie apocalypse, or weathering a societal collapse. The focus remains on human vulnerability and the struggle to persevere against overwhelming odds.

How Play Feels

Endure uses a simple 2d6 Risk Roll system where success requires rolling 4 or higher on at least one die. The signature mechanic is Endurance —a depleting resource that fuels character actions and keeps them alive.

What Makes It Distinct

Players spend Endurance to succeed at risky tasks, recover from injuries, and resist environmental hazards. Unlike traditional HP systems, Endure has no hit points to save characters.

Where It May Not Fit

You want combat and action to drive most of the session You want the system to stay almost invisible at the table.

Decision guide

What this game is about

Key facts
Players
2-4 players + GM
Session
60-180 minutes
Prep
None
Play profile
Complexity
3/5
New GM Fit
4/5
Roleplay Focus
5/5
Combat Focus
2/5
Tactical Depth
1/5
Campaign Depth
3/5
Who it suits
Best for
Tables that want fiction-first play and scene-level consequencesTables that want quick onboarding and low mechanical dragPlayers who want character, atmosphere, or story to matter more than pure tactics
Avoid if
You want combat and action to drive most of the sessionYou want the system to stay almost invisible at the tableYou want a much breezier tone than this game is built to support

A strong fit for groups that want fiction-first play and scene-level consequences, with classless helping define the experience.

Agent data

Structured data and an explicit decision profile JSON document are available for remote agents.

Open agent JSON