The Thing That Hunts

You’ve felt it, haven’t you?

That moment when the wind changes, the air stills, and you realize you’re not alone.
Something ancient is out there. It’s curious. It’s patient. And it’s learning your name.

You are not a hero. You are curious, stubborn, reckless — maybe just prepared enough to survive. In The Thing That Hunts, you and your friends step into the shoes of ordinary people pulled into extraordinary danger.

Armed with little more than your wits, a few scraps of knowledge, and a deck of cards, you’ll:

• Investigate strange phenomena and piece together unsettling clues

• Make desperate moves in the face of danger, knowing every choice could be your last

• Race against the Ace Countdown as the anomaly grows bolder and the finale looms

The game’s rules fit on a single page, so you can start playing within minutes. The deck of cards does more than replace dice — it paces the story, fuels moments of hope or disaster, and drives you toward the inevitable final confrontation.

Core Features:

• Play in 1–3 hours — Perfect for one-shots or convention games

• Card-based tension — Reds bring success, Blacks bring danger, twists, and escalation

• The Ace Countdown — Every Ace raises the stakes until the final showdown

• Insight vs Omens — A shared push-and-pull resource between players and GM

• Secret Curiosity — Your hidden motive will tempt you into risk when you should turn back

• Instant play — Includes a sample mystery (The Lights in Old Miller’s Field) and a mini-bestiary

What You Need to Play:

• 3–6 players (including 1 GM)

• 1 standard 52-card deck (or 32 for shorter sessions)

• Pens, paper, and a willingness to poke at things you probably shouldn’t

Tone & Inspirations:
For fans of The X-Files, The Magnus Archives, True Detective (Season 1), and Annihilation — stories where the unknown is both beautiful and terrifying, and the truth is never free.

The Thing That Hunts is not about winning. It’s about finding out what’s on the other side of the dark, and whether you can walk away after seeing it.