Forbidden Lands
At-a-glance: Sandbox survival fantasy • Hex-crawl exploration • Year Zero engine • Stronghold building • 2-4 players + GM • Session-based play • Medium crunch
Theme and Setting
Forbidden Lands casts players as rogues, raiders, and adventurers in a cursed fantasy world where civilization has crumbled. Unlike traditional fantasy RPGs where you play heroes on noble quests, here you are survivors scraping by in a brutal land filled with ancient ruins, terrible monsters, and rival factions.
The setting blends Scandinavian folklore with classic fantasy tropes, creating a world that feels both familiar and eerily dark. The Ravenlands were sealed behind a magical blood mist for centuries; now that the mist has lifted, explorers venture forth to claim treasure and territory. Death lurks around every corner, and the game makes no pretense about your character's expendability.
Core Mechanics and Rules
Forbidden Lands uses Free League's Year Zero engine, a pool-based system where you roll attribute-specific dice (base) plus skill dice, looking for 6s to succeed. The more 6s you roll, the better the result. Pushing rolls allows rerolling non-6s at the cost of potential attribute damage or gear degradation.
Survival Systems
The game shines in its detailed survival mechanics:
- Travel: Hex-crawl rules with procedures for navigation, foraging, hunting, and camping
- Rest and recovery: Finding safe shelter is crucial—resting in the wild risks random encounters
- Resource management: Food, water, arrows, and equipment condition matter
- Hazards: Random tables generate environmental threats and complications
Stronghold Building
A unique feature is the stronghold system. Survive long enough, and you can establish a base of operations—recruit followers, construct buildings, and defend your territory from rivals and monsters. This gives campaigns a satisfying progression from scrappy adventurers to established powers.
What Makes It Unique
Several elements distinguish Forbidden Lands from other fantasy RPGs:
- Sandbox freedom: The hex-map presents a complete world with no predetermined narrative—go anywhere, do anything
- Deadly combat: Injuries are serious business; critical hits can sever limbs or cause permanent damage
- Monster puzzles: Creatures often have specific weaknesses that clever players can exploit
- Legend generation: The Legends & Adventurers booklet helps create detailed character backstories that tie into the world
The physical boxed set is a work of art—faux leather covers, a huge color map, and stickers to mark your adventures permanently.
Target Audience and Player Experience
Forbidden Lands is ideal for players who:
- Enjoy exploration and open-world freedom
- Want survival mechanics that feel consequential without being tedious
- Appreciate old-school lethality combined with modern design
- Like the idea of building something permanent (strongholds) over a campaign
The game captures the feeling of dangerous wilderness exploration better than almost any competitor. Every journey into the unknown feels genuinely risky, and returning to civilization with treasure and stories creates memorable moments. The Year Zero engine keeps play fast while the survival elements maintain tension.
