Tabletop RPGs may seem like nothing more than dungeon crawls and dice rolls to a casual observer, but the medium is so much more than that. The space has always welcomed off-the-wall ideas, even if they may not hit that mainstream popularity. Of these ideas, I was always drawn to games that focus deeply on character exploration.
And this indie TTRPG is one of the most uniquely disturbing concepts I’ve seen in a while.
You and Me and The Devil Makes Three by Adam Vass, shortened to You & Me, is a horror TTRPG for two players about partners at the tail-end of their relationship. As they navigate the social and emotional challenges of this process, an evil entity threatens to destroy what remains of their unstable lives. Strange as it may sound, but this TTRPG about a breakup is one of the best couples board games you will experience, because it comes from something so real.
Naturally, don’t expect DnD classes or other crunchy mechanics to make an appearance. Setup simply requires a d6, six tokens per player, six for “The Devil”, and a 3×3 grid. For each character, one must think up a desire, a dislike, and a deathly fear. The status of these will change depending on the rolls, which are elaborated on in the one-page rule set.
What I found amazing was how the ending never ends with everyone happy. If one of the player characters wins, it’s at the expense of their partner’s desire. It can end with The Devil winning, the couple’s final moments in horror. Finally, nobody wins, with the couple’s death and the Devil’s plans foiled. But while the ending may be bitter, the way the characters change is entirely up to you.
There are so many horror movies that could work off these mechanics. The Devil could so easily be replaced with a host of other malicious entities. Obsession, Midsommar and Sinister are movies about people in strained relationships who suddenly have to deal with supernatural forces. You & Me brilliantly captures the atmosphere and stakes of these horror stories, and it’s absolutely worth your time.
You can check out You & Me on itch.io here.
Looking to expand that party of two? The Wargamer Discord is full of wonderful TTRPG fans to chat with!
Source: Wargamer
