Desperation: Dead House and The Isabel

Two games of survival horror, often without the survival

Desperation is a boxed card game containing two small roleplaying games — Dead House and The Isabel. Both are pick-up-and-play gothic storytelling experiences built on the same dark mechanics and lyrical tone, asking players to confront escalating horror, hard choices, and the slow collapse of hope.

Why You’ll Love It

Two Complete Horror Experiences
Inside the box are two distinct games: Dead House, set during the great blizzard of 1888 in the tiny town of Neola, Kansas, and The Isabel, set aboard a doomed three-masted cod schooner in the Gulf of Alaska in 1888. Each offers its own setting, cast, and brand of mounting dread.

A Different Kind of Roleplaying
Rather than deciding exactly what your character says and does, Desperation asks players to decide who says and does the terrible things that must happen. That shift creates a uniquely tense and haunting style of play.

Card-Driven Dread
Every card reveal pushes the story forward, bringing a growing kaleidoscope of horror. The structure is simple and approachable, but the emotional pressure builds fast.

Pick-Up-and-Play Horror
These games are designed to be true pick-up-and-play experiences, making them ideal for groups who want intense, story-rich sessions without heavy preparation.

Specifications

Players: 1–5
Age: 14+
Playtime: 1–2 hours
Game Type: Card-driven survival horror storytelling game