# Those Dark Places

Those Dark Places is a rules‑lite industrial sci‑fi horror game using simple dice pools and stress checks. Classless and low‑prep, it focuses on claustrophobic missions, malfunctioning ships, and corporate pressure. Ideal for tense one‑shots and short campaigns where survival and hard choices drive the fiction.

## At a Glance

Aliens • Needs GM • 3/5 complexity • One-shot friendly • Low prep

## Why It Fits

A strong fit for groups that want hostile encounters with alien life and worlds, with rules Lite helping define the experience.

## Fit Facts

- Players: 2-5 players + GM
- Session length: 120-180 minutes
- Prep: Low

## Facets

- Genres: Aliens, Horror, Science Fiction
- 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: 4/5

## Best For

- Players who want hostile encounters with alien life and worlds
- 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 the system to stay almost invisible at the table
- You want a much breezier tone than this game is built to support

## Directory Notes

Stories orbit survival—patching hull breaches, triaging injuries, and deciding whether to cut losses or dive deeper for a risky payday. The system uses small d6 pools against target numbers and situational modifiers, with a concise Stress and Condition model that escalates danger without bogging down play.

## Theme and Setting

Characters are classless and quick to build, gear is straightforward, and ship/environment procedures get explicit support so crews can react fast when alarms blare. Resolution stays focused: roll, interpret, push, and move on.

## How Play Feels

Instead of tactical crunch, the game leans on pressure: dwindling oxygen, bad lighting, unreliable machinery, and corporate mandates that clash with common sense. Prep is minimal—scenarios read fast and run faster—so the table can start tense scenes within minutes.

## What Makes It Distinct

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

## 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.

## Links

- Directory page: https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/those-dark-places
- Agent JSON: https://www.ttrpg-games.com/api/games/those-dark-places.json
- Publisher or official site: https://ospreypublishing.com/
- Reviews or retailer page: https://rpggeek.com/rpgitem/304907/those-dark-places