Green Dawn Mall Horror;Survival;Modern;Exploration-Driven;Rules Lite;Quick-Play;Low Prep;Narrative-Driven
At‑a‑glance: NSR/Into‑the‑Odd lineage • d6 tests (5–6) • 3–5 + GM • Low prep • Rules‑lite • 2–3h sessions
Theme and Setting
Green Dawn Mall traps a small group of teens inside an endless, liminal shopping complex that grows stranger the deeper they go. Fluorescent corridors, looping escalators, and out‑of‑place storefronts frame a tone that is more uncanny than gory. Survival here is about curiosity tempered by caution: pay attention to the rules of the place, notice patterns, and pick your moments to retreat.
Core Mechanics and Rules
The engine is deliberately minimal. Players roll 1–4d6 and succeed on 5–6; the GM sets die pools by risk and fictional positioning. The text favors procedures and tables over subsystems: modular store generators, factions, NPCs, and odd objects fuel play without prep. Consequences escalate fictionally—lost gear, separated friends, strange bargains—keeping tension high without tactical crunch. Inventory is light, clocks are implicit, and information is the most precious resource.
What Makes It Unique
The book’s store generator and encounter lists produce an inexhaustible maze: each aisle hints at meaning, but never fully explains itself. Sessions feel like urban exploration with a folklore twist. The game assumes little combat and thrives on problem‑solving, social asymmetry, and environmental puzzles. It also supports varied endgames—from finding the Heart of the Mall to slipping out through a forgotten service corridor—so short arcs conclude cleanly.
Target Audience and Player Experience
If you want fast starts, eerie discovery, and survival framed as attention and restraint rather than stat grinding, this is for you. GMs who enjoy improvising from curated tables will find prep almost unnecessary. Newer players appreciate the clear resolution and small character footprints; veterans can push deeper into emergent mysteries and faction play. It’s a strong pick for one‑shots, con slots, or a brief survival campaign with rotating casts.
