THE ZONE RPG
The tabletop storygame of surreal horror.
Mutate your friends, play-to-lose, and have a spooky time in the dark.
1-6 Players · 2-4 hours · Zero prep
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Critically acclaimed
“One of the most beginner-friendly RPG books I’ve ever read. A standout tabletop RPG that creates a memorable night at the table that requires no preparation.”
4.5 / 5 stars
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“An extraordinary accomplishment, and one of the best implementations of a card game I’ve seen online.”
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“That game RULED! Creepy and weird and tense and I loved every minute of it. Gather up your friends; play to lose; play doomed monsters; get your wish to come true or don’t—this game kicks ass and you should want to play it!”
“Gore Vidal said that every time a friend succeeds I die a little. I don’t know how he knew that about me but, holy fuck, The Zone took ten years off my life.”
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What makes it special?
Zero prep
It's all cards
Play-in-the-dark
The setup
For 6 players (*Pothos not included)
This is where the survivor will make their wish.
No homework required: you can pull this out at the table and take turns reading it.
Within 20 minutes you'll be setup and ready to play!
This is where each game of The Zone begins.
The journey goes like this
It's like telling a moviePick from 61 location cards from four themed decks, to instantly generate a Zone. Your destination: the center, where it is said you'll get deepest wish.
Create doomed charactersCombine 24 Characters and 48 Obsession and Phobia cards to create a broken husk in minutes.
Direct scenesYou'll take turns answering prompts from a Scene deck full of beauty and horror. (There is no GM)
Mutate your friendsChallenges are resolved using a deck of narrative complications which triggers the creative heart of the game: mutation.
Meet your fates until only one of you survivesYour deaths are predetermined by Fate cards, so you can play-to-lose until the lucky (or unlucky) survivor makes it to the Center.
Those who die, switch to playing the Zone itself, and judge the final survivor's wish.
Free online version
Play online right now
You can play the digital version for free with your friends.
Got questions? Join the Discord community!
Watch the trailer
...catch the vibe
Watch (or listen to) a game
Plus One Exp
THE ZONE RPG
With 248 cards, easy-to-learn rules, and no need for a gamemaster, The Zone is the perfect way to spend an evening telling a deeply immersive and spooky tale of hubris & mutation in the dark.
- Sturdy 10¼ x 7¼ x 2" Box
- Operation Manual (Print + PDF)
- Book of Mutation (Print + PDF)
- Book of Twists (Print + PDF)
- 144 Tarot sized (Holo foil)
- 104 poker sized cardsIncluding
- 24 Characters (Holo foil)
- 48 Motivations (Holo foil)
- 61 Locations (Holo foil)
- 100+ Scene, Not So Easy, and Fate cards
...for endless thrillingly doomed expeditions into The Zone.