Surreal

Surreal

Tonight, the map is a mood ring. A staircase argues with you. Your name keeps changing, but your friends still know who you are. Scenes jump by association. You step through a painting to meet the person who buys your dreams. The group follows clues that look like colours, tastes, or repeated images. You chase a lost memory, unmask a city that sleepwalks, or fix a rule of the world that went wrong. It feels playful, uncanny, and oddly honest.

Surreal play shines because there is no single correct move. You explore, notice patterns, and make meaning together. It suits beginners who want fewer numbers and more ideas. Families with creative teens enjoy the wonder. Improv fans and theatre folk love bold choices. Veterans use it as a palate cleanser between crunchy campaigns. For team events, it is great for loosening habits, sparking lateral thinking, and building trust through shared weirdness. A professional Game Master keeps it safe, clear, and warm.

Our Game Masters run it with rules-light or flexible systems. Favourites include Itras By, Troika!, Fate, and many Powered by the Apocalypse style games. Some tables dip into card prompts or collaborative mapping. Tone is adjustable, from whimsical fairy tale to eerie dream horror to surreal sci-fi. One-shots work beautifully, and campaigns can spiral in layers. Browse game systems for options, then tell your GM the moods and images you want. They will shape the rules to match.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does surreal differ from horror or weird fantasy?

Surreal play centres on symbolism and dream logic. Rather than fear and survival, the tension arises from identity, memory, and shifting meaning. Encounters often consist of images that you interpret, rather than monsters to defeat. Locations may fold, time can loop, and cause and effect can be poetic. Weird fantasy maintains a stable world with unusual elements, while horror seeks to unsettle. A professional Game Master checks comfort lines, explains the significance of choices, and ensures the strange remains comprehensible.

Which game systems are best suited for surreal sessions?

Rules-light and flexible games shine. Itras By is designed for surreal city play. Troika! manages strange worlds with straightforward rolls. Fate allows you to create aspects for images and motifs, then invoke them. Many Powered by the Apocalypse hacks are suitable for open-ended moves. You can use D&D, but we simplify mechanics and focus on rulings rather than strict physics. Some tables incorporate card or prompt oracles. Browse the game systems, then inform your GM of the imagery you desire so they can align rules with the mood.

Is surreal a good option for beginners or creative teens?

Yes. New players and creative teens tend to excel because the rules support ideas rather than calculations. You describe what feels right, the GM provides gentle structure, and the group collaborates. We establish lines and veils at the beginning and set a tone that ranges from whimsical to eerie. Parents can request lighter themes, clear victories, and no frightening elements. Players who enjoy improv or theatre often love it, but quieter thinkers also flourish with visual prompts and time to observe patterns.

What can I expect in a surreal one-shot, from start to finish?

In a one-shot, you begin by selecting images, colours, or themes to explore. The GM provides you with character seeds and a loose objective, such as meeting someone who trades in dreams or discovering where your name has gone. Scenes connect through motifs, wordplay, or recurring props. Dice are rolled for pressure, but rulings remain firm. You conclude with a vivid transformation, often introducing a new rule for your world or yourself. Online, shared boards and video platforms work effectively. See online play options.

Booking Form


Click to select dates

0/1500
Illustration of a dragon perched on a rock, with wings spread and detailed line art, similar to a dragon from lotr.

Sent!

Illustration of a dragon perched on a rock, with wings spread and detailed line art, similar to a dragon from lotr.

Critical fail, try again!

Please try again or email info@storyforgerscanada.com

Game systems for Surreal

  • Invisible Sun

    • Surreal +7
    • 2 – 5 players
    • Comprehensive rules

    Step out of the ordinary Shadow and return as a vislae to Satyrine, a surreal city where secrets carry weight and magic responds. Invisible Sun combines occult urban fantasy with personal mystery. If you enjoy The Sandman, you will relish exploring its dream-logic narratives.

    View system: Invisible Sun
  • Triangle Agency

    • Supernatural +7
    • 2 – 5 players
    • Moderate rules

    Clock in, hunt the impossible, then debate compliance. Triangle Agency is a surreal paranormal investigation RPG where corporate policy clashes with reality-bending threats. Imagine Control’s bizarre bureaucracy combined with field operations. Ideal for groups who appreciate mystery, dark humour, and an unsettling atmosphere.

    View system: Triangle Agency
  • Heart: The City Beneath

    • Dark Fantasy +6
    • 2 – 5 players
    • Moderate rules

    Descend into the City Beneath, a living labyrinth of hunger, miracles, and ruin. Heart is a dark fantasy and survival horror experience where obsession influences your choices and the world transforms you. If Annihilation's bizarre wilderness captivated you, this offers a similar sensation.

    View system: Heart: The City Beneath
  • Electric Bastionland

    • Treasure Hunting +6
    • 2 – 6 players
    • Simple rules

    Electric Bastionland is a quick, bizarre city crawl featuring broke adventurers searching for treasure to eliminate their overwhelming debts. The rules are simple, the danger is intense, and the city continues to grow stranger. Imagine the gritty urban atmosphere of Disco Elysium, but with heists.

    View system: Electric Bastionland
  • Roll for Shoes

    • Comedy +7
    • 2 – 6 players
    • Simple rules

    Roll for Shoes is a one-page comedy RPG where you begin with a single skill, Do Anything 1, and invent more specific skills as the story progresses. Roll pools of d6 and allow gear to add dice, reminiscent of a Monty Python sketch with dice. Ideal for newcomers, gatherings, and teams.

    View system: Roll for Shoes
  • Dungeons & Dragons

    • High Fantasy +7
    • 1 – 7 players
    • Moderate rules

    Forge your own fantasy tale with Dungeons & Dragons. Create a party of brave heroes, outsmart traps, negotiate with dragons, and claim treasure in vibrant worlds. Imagine the camaraderie of The Lord of the Rings, but you decide the paths, the battles, and the conclusion.

    View system: Dungeons & Dragons
  • Call of Cthulhu

    • Cosmic Horror +7
    • 2 – 6 players
    • Moderate rules

    Call of Cthulhu is the classic game of investigative cosmic horror. Play as doomed investigators delving into occult mysteries and the fragility of sanity.

    View system: Call of Cthulhu
  • Daggerheart

    • High Fantasy +7
    • 2 – 6 players
    • Moderate rules

    Daggerheart is a high-fantasy RPG where every roll uses Hope and Fear d12s. Grand heroics meet significant consequences in quick, story-driven play.

    View system: Daggerheart
  • Vampire: The Masquerade

    • Vampire +7
    • 2 – 6 players
    • Moderate rules

    Vampire: The Masquerade is a modern-night roleplaying game focused on hunger, power, and secrecy. Imagine Interview with the Vampire, but you’re in control. Scheme, seduce, and survive as a coterie while a professional Game Master brings a city filled with dark politics to life.

    View system: Vampire: The Masquerade

What players are saying

  • Joran had 6 kids aged 12 fully engaged for the entire four hours. Most were playing for the first time. They were actively entertained from start to finish. At no point did anyone seem bored or irritated. Joran was also perfectly prepared and had great game materials on hand.

    Haiko

  • Ruby was amazing; this was our group's first DnD experience, and she helped everyone grasp the rules and enjoy themselves.

    Adam

  • We had a fantastic time; the boys really enjoyed their campaign, and Evan was excellent. I would definitely recommend Evan. Thank you!

    Cheidhia

  • Geert was a lot of fun and very enthusiastic! We were laughing so hard we could hardly breathe :D

    Wessel

  • It was an amazing experience for the girls! Thank you, Marie! You were incredibly well prepared, the girls were captivated by your every word, and it felt like you had been playing together for years! Looking forward to seeing you next time!

    Annick

  • Tom was amazing! He was really great with the kids and very patient with his explanations. It was a wonderful evening and definitely worth doing again! The kids asked the next day when we would be doing this again.

    Danny

  • First of all, I want to say that Sebastian was really great as a DM. For his first run as a booked DM, he did a really good job. The 3 stars refer to the following: 1. We were disappointed that the adventure was labelled a One Shot and yet wasn't a complete story. Discovering that there are two more parts wasn't very positive for us, as it meant there was no satisfying conclusion to the story. 2. As new players, it was difficult for us to understand the English character sheets in such a short time. In German, it would have been much easier. Even receiving the character sheets a few days in advance would have been helpful for preparation. 3. More guidance would be beneficial. Especially for beginners, a more linear one shot would have been preferable. We wasted a large portion of the adventure time doing unnecessary things because we didn't really know how the game worked. Overall, I think the StoryForgers concept is really good and I see a lot of potential in it, especially for introducing new players to D&D. I hope you don't take my feedback the wrong way but as honest criticism. Best regards, Mario

    Mario

  • Bryan was exceptional. We had a group with varying levels of experience, and he managed to keep everyone engaged and involved. His positive attitude made the game enjoyable for all. I truly appreciated how he could clearly explain what was needed from our less experienced players while keeping our more seasoned players on their toes with his expertise in the game. Everyone in our party had a fantastic time thanks to Bryan.

    Jeremy

  • Dayron was fantastic. Well-prepared. Punctual. And had a wonderful sense of humour.

    Corey

Related genres

  • Mystery

    Follow the clues, construct timelines, and apprehend the culprit. Think Knives Out, but you are the detective, assembling alibis and…

    View genre: Mystery
  • Occult

    Candlelit rituals, cryptic symbols, and whispered conspiracies. Imagine The X-Files as you pursue clues through secret lodges and concealed…

    View genre: Occult
  • Whimsical

    A whimsical fantasy where logic takes tea breaks and kindness resolves issues. Imagine Alice in Wonderland, filled with curious rules…

    View genre: Whimsical
  • Absurd

    Worlds where logic takes a holiday. Anticipate absurd rules, existential humour, and unexpected dread, much like The Hitchhiker’s Guide to…

    View genre: Absurd
  • Exploration

    Set out with a map and a question. Exploration stories pursue horizons, chart ruins and wilderness, and reward curiosity, much like Indiana…

    View genre: Exploration
Black diagonal cross icon, commonly used to close popups or dismiss notifications on websites.

We’re Looking for Dungeon Masters!

StoryForgers is on the hunt for passionate and creative Dungeon Masters to join our team.
Are you interested?