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In Horror Game Show, the player puts on the role of a producer on a new reality TV show. They have their own team of competitors who they train, equip, advertise and so on.
But they also have somebody else up their sleeve. The Hunters – psychopathic murderers, empty of any feeling or emotion, human monsters. But they are monsters who are bigger stars than any other celebrity.
The aim of the player is of course quite obvious – make the most money and gain the most fame and prestige. Oh, and remember – do not let the competition outsmart you!
The fight to stay on screen and be loved by the crowds is neither easy nor simple. And it’s not a fair fight by any means.
Intrigues, betrayals, temporary alliances and broken deals. The producers will do anything to reach their goal.
How the gameplay looks:
When creating their teams, players also build their own deck of Action Cards. Action cards allow you to move characters on the board, build a pool of "fans" or use special actions (buying new contracts, weapons, using special abilities of characters, etc.). Action cards also determine the order (initiative) in which players can move.
The game is divided into 12 rounds. In each of them, players draw 4 cards and, by playing it alternately, make their moves according to the initiative and the actions assigned to them. They can also use Intrigue Cards - which make the game more difficult for other players. At the start of each new game round, an Event card is drawn that describes "what's new" happened in the program and what circumstances need to be resolved - but this is also possible during the round (players can also initiate their own events themselves).
Characters moving on the board can fight each other. Fight is done by using and influencing a pool of dice (re-rolls, changes to results due to character and / or weapon abilities, etc.). Players earn points for eliminating characters and completing contracts. They can also earn special bonuses for special achievements (most participant eliminations, top performer, last survivor, etc.)
—description from the designer
Horror Game Show - Playthrough
Images
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- The game plays two to four players with mechanics such as deck building grip movement and dice rolling.
- The winner is the producer that has the most money.
- Intrigue cards in the show provide game breaking rules like sabotaging opponents or swap dies in fight.
- I promise you our sure is the best squid game move aside
References (from this video)
- Completing contracts, challenges, and achievements for money.
- Intrigue cards add game-breaking rules like sabotaging opponents or swapping dice.
- Arena blips provide surprise traps, weapons, or hidden contestants.
- The winner is the producer with the most money.
- The rules are not final as components are prototyped.
- Producers sponsoring contestants to compete for money and fame by completing contracts, challenges, and achievements.
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Area Control — Putting a ready Hunter on the main board is an action.
- Card Drafting — Players draw action cards down to 5 at the start of the round.
- Deck Building — Players draw action cards, and deck building is a listed mechanic.
- Dice Rolling — Dice rolling is used for fights, and the number of dice rolled is listed.
- Grip — Grip is listed as a mechanic.
- Movement — Movement is a mechanic where action cards can be used for movement.
- Player Elimination — The game ends if only one contestant lasts standing or if everyone's dead.
- Set Collection — Completing contract cards, challenge cards, and achievement cards contribute to winning.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- The game plays two to four players with mechanics such as deck building grip movement and dice rolling.
- The winner is the producer that has the most money.
- Intrigue cards in the show provide game breaking rules like sabotaging opponents or swap dies in fight.
- I promise you our sure is the best squid game move aside
References (from this video)
- High thematic immersion with a dark, satirical take on reality TV and show business.
- Rich, varied card interactions and a strong sense of player agency through contracts and hunter signings.
- Dynamic combat and heavy negotiation between players, creating dramatic, tabletop storytelling.
- Prototype rules introduce uncertainty and potential misinterpretation during rounds (as noted by players), which could hamper clarity in a retail edition.
- Complexity and large rule set may create barriers to entry for new players.
- Balance considerations around hunter power and contract triggers can skew toward certain play styles.
- Reality show meets gladiatorial arena; exploitation and money-driven strategy drive all actions.
- A dystopian live-action survival arena where producers manage contestants and hunters to create the most sensational show.
- Meta reality-show narrative with a kitchen-sink horror vibe; players negotiate contracts, sign hunters, and chase fame and profits.
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Combat resolution with dice — Fights are resolved with dice pools, critical hits, blocks, shields, and weapon effects; attachments like brass knuckles modify dice or damage, and helmets/shields can mitigate damage.
- Combat: Dice — Fights are resolved with dice pools, critical hits, blocks, shields, and weapon effects; attachments like brass knuckles modify dice or damage, and helmets/shields can mitigate damage.
- Contracting hunters and trophies economy — Hunters can be signed to teams or introduced to the arena; defeating opponents yields fans and money, and trophies track eliminations for scoring.
- Deck-building with in-front-of-you retention — Players recruit contestants and manage a personal deck; you keep cards in front and reuse character-specific abilities.
- Event and round phase structure — Rounds include events, media attention bidding, challenges, and sector reveals; events modify the round and rewards, while sectors flip and traps can be removed or activated.
- Grid Movement — Characters move across a board with diagonal options; movement ranges are defined on each card, and traps/end spaces affect movement.
- Hidden information and partial visibility — Some contestants are hidden on the board, creating uncertainty about who is alive or where a token is.
- Movement on a square grid with diagonal movement — Characters move across a board with diagonal options; movement ranges are defined on each card, and traps/end spaces affect movement.
- Variable Phase Order — Rounds include events, media attention bidding, challenges, and sector reveals; events modify the round and rewards, while sectors flip and traps can be removed or activated.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- the horror game show is a two to four player survivalist like fight to the death type of thing
- we are producers of this live action series set in a dystopian future
- you can attack your own characters
- the game ends in three ways either there's one contestant left standing or we have finished the 12th round
- pause cards are usually more powerful cards
- the arena will start getting smaller