Forsaken 💡🎨
Play as the Forsaken, nameless children of the city, tell the story of their triumphs, through a grim-dark exploration of their lives or as their heroic alter-egos in this illuminated by LUMEN storytelling game.
Name: Forsaken
Contributor/s:Kyle Tam, Afterthought Committee, Exalted Funeral.
Publication date: 24th January 2025
Price: $11
Purposefully straddling genres, Forsaken can take a second to wrap your head around. With a classic GM and players set up, the game switches between telling the story of a group of nameless children, overcoming unfair oppression in the grim-dark City where they grow up, before pivoting into an allegorical representation of said children, grown up into heroes of the realm, saving the kingdom. In essence, when the story of the nameless children falters, player can step sideways into another game mode. The children are now heroes and their problems are monsters to be defeated. By defeating the monsters, the problems the children face are lessened.
Powered by the LUMEN engine, the mechanics will feel familiar to those who have encountered LUMEN games before. However, even for a first time player, the mechanics are light and don't interfere. Though do expect to have to read through it twice to quite get your head around how to switch between the Kingdom & the City.
Forsaken manages to evoke many different genres all at once. Part of the game makes you think of Darkest Dungeon, Stranger Things or Kids on Bikes, while at the same time reminding you of Power Rangers and other Saturday morning cartoons. It's grim and dark, but full of hope, giving space for multiple styles of play. The game comes as a 29 page PDF, but can also be purchased as a softback zine if you are in the US.