A look back at The Gothic Game

The Gothic Game was created by Robert Wynne Simmons and Nigel Andrews in 1966. It was originally played with hand made components until it was mass produced in 1992. It went on garner a cult following, becoming a much sought after game for tabletop enthusiasts throughout the world.

There can be only one

During the game, player’s will take turns exploring Dracula’s Castle with one simple objective: stay alive. As it says on the box, ‘the last surviving player wins’. Of course, surviving in a trap filled castle is easier said than done, as death lurks around every corner, typically in the form of someone pretending to be your friend.

Forty-nine ways to die, choose one

Featuring a dark, gothic horror theme, The Gothic Game isn’t for the faint of heart as players will witness their characters perish in all manner of gruesome ways. Here are a few of our favourites:

• Death by blowpipe

• Fall into the oubliette trap

• Disappear down the bottomless spiral staircase

• Incinerated by boiling oil

• Losing a bet with the devil

• Drown in the moat

• Tortured in the iron maiden

• Bitten by Dracula

The sheer range of possibilities means that each game generates its own unique story.

Damnation: The Gothic Game

At Blackletter Games, we’re huge fans of the original game and we’re proud to be working on a second edition of The Gothic Game, which we’re calling Damnation: The Gothic Game. This new edition will include a number of refinements and amendments to the original, including all new artwork.

Find out more about Damnation: The Gothic Game.