Enter the Survival Horror Horror;Survival;Forged in the Dark (FitD);Quick-Play;Low Prep;Resource Management;Classless;Rules Lite;Cinematic;Psychological

At‑a‑glance: Forged in the Dark • d6 dice pools • 2–5 + GM • Low prep • Rules‑lite • 2–3h sessions

Theme and Setting

Enter the Survival Horror aims squarely at classic survival‑horror: dim hallways, creeping monstrosities, and the cold math of deciding whether a single shell is worth the risk. Locations are tight and dangerous—police stations, derelict labs, quarantined towns—where exploration, backtracking, and route mastery are as important as combat. The tone leans cinematic and grim without being hopeless, keeping pressure high while spotlighting player ingenuity.

Core Mechanics and Rules

Built on a streamlined Forged in the Dark chassis, players roll small pools of d6s to resolve actions. Position and effect set the risk, while clocks track threats, progress, and looming catastrophe. A signature Doom Clock escalates stakes as time passes, tightening resources and spawning new dangers. Combat is lethal by design: Focus turns each encounter into a puzzle of timing, distance, and tool use rather than attrition. The game embraces inventory tension—Lucky Find lets you declare a needed item at a cost—so decisions about what to carry, spend, or risk are always meaningful.

What Makes It Unique

Two standout levers shape play. First, impending doom is made mechanical: clocks fill, lights go out, corridors become unsafe, and foes evolve. Survival is earned through planning and route knowledge, not just bigger numbers. Second, the “voices in your head” concept models intuition and doubt—your mental stats talk back, offering guidance with their own agendas. Combined with safety tools and catastrophe outcomes instead of hard character death, the system keeps the horror sharp while preserving player agency.

Target Audience and Player Experience

If you love Resident Evil‑style problem‑solving, limited ammo, and map mastery, this delivers that loop at the table with minimal prep. It’s classless and quick to teach, making it perfect for one‑shots, short campaigns, and actual play. GMs get crisp procedures for setting threat levels, seeding keys and shortcuts, and dialing tension with clocks. Players who enjoy creative risk‑taking, teamwork under pressure, and fiction‑first tactics will find a toolbox that rewards clever plans over stat optimization.