Ma Nishtana: Why is this Night Different? is a story game created by Gabrielle Rabinowitz and Ben Bisogno with art by Katrin Dirim, modeled on a Passover Seder—specifically the one we share in our family. The seder is a ritual meal and collaborative re-telling of the Jewish Exodus from Egypt. In Ma Nishtana, there are opportunities to eat all of the ritual foods or perform more abstract (and remote play-friendly) rituals.
Together, we breathe new life into the Exodus story by embodying our own versions of key characters and navigating the emotional ties between them. We take turns guiding a series of role-played scenes called “Rituals”, which culminate in the deliverance of the Hebrew people from peril. Our choices will directly shape the trajectory of our story.
At its core, Ma Nishtana is a storytelling circle that invites us to explore a world filled with wonder, terror, and deep care. Through the eyes of our characters we discover what the story of Passover has to teach us: the weight of sacrifice, the strength of community, and the responsibility we have to those who seek a place to call home.
Source: The Game Website.