‘Deathmatch Island’ is the RPG For Your ‘Fortnite’ Dreams
Fortnite, Squid Games, Battle Royale? Deathmatch Island promises to bring them all to your tabletop in a deadly new RPG.
Everyone loves Battle Royales these days. From Fortnite to the Hunger Games (actually pronounced Hunger James, little-known fact), to PubG to Apex Legends to many, many more—we love a bunch of people tossed into an unknown situation and forced to battle/compete to the death.
This genre gets its name from the sleeper hit Battle Royale, which, if you’ve never seen it you should. But the basics of it have wormed their way into our collective consciousness. You end up on an island or some other enclosed space, usually with nothing more than your wits and whatever loot you can find.
As the day goes on, you end up having to find supplies, weapons, and more as you battle to the last person standing. It’s something players will try to cram into any and every TTRPG. And soon there will be a roleplaying game dedicated to exactly that. Deathmatch Island, which is crowdfunding now from Evil Hat.
Deathmatch Island
Congratulations [Competitor 359]. You have been selected to participate in Deathmatch Island. Winning will mean fame, freedom, and unlimited wealth. You may be experiencing some confusion and memory loss. This is normal following [REDACTED]. It is important that you do not panic.
Deathmatch Island is a fast-paced roleplaying game about a deadly game show set on a chain of mysterious islands. Armed only with their hazy memories and matching uniforms, the players compete in challenges to satisfy the demands of production.
If you’re a fan of Squid Gae, Survivor, Lost, Battle Royale, Control, The Hunger Games, corporate dystopia, or messed-up Reality TV, you’re going to enjoy Deathmatch Island.
The game itself uses the PARAGON system from Sean Nittner and John Harper (of Blades in the Dark fame). Promising “fast, flexible gameplay” this system helps you quickly define a character and accounts for a variety of the little details that people love in Battle Royales. Though the crunchy bits may be more streamlined than you’re liking if you’re coming from something like Escape from Tarkov or whatever. But, Deathmatch Island, promises low-prep, narrative-forward roleplay.
And from the look of the campaign, you get exactly what you’re hoping for. A big island full of stuff. A shady corporate dystopia behind it all. A lot of choices to make, about who cooperates and who has to die.
As a bonus, if you back now, you get the latest, fully playable rules as soon as possible. So back today and see for yourself!
Or watch this video and see the game in action!
Good luck! And play to win!
