‘Apocalypse Keys’: This Indie RPG Lets You Save the World With the Power of Friendship
In this game, the apocalypse is almost upon us and only you and your awesome powers of friendship can hope to hold it off.
Apocalypse Keys is a relatively new game that feels both refreshing and new, and like something I’ve seen before. It toes that line really nicely. This is a fun game with pretty high stakes, y’know, the apocalypse, and a real sense of urgency. But it also takes a lot of that urgency and focuses it on good old fashion friendship and connection more than fighting.
Apocalypse Keys
If the premise for Apocalypse Keys seems at all familiar, that’s probably because it is. Players play as various monsters, living on the fringe of society and working for a shadowy supernatural agency known as DIVISION. You and your fellow DIVISION agents must stop the evil Harbingers (also monsters) from bringing about the end of the world. Comics and movies like Hellboy and Men in Black have popularized this genre. And that’s probably one of the reasons why Apocalypse Keys was fully funded on Kickstarter in just two hours. We like original things, sure. But we also like it when companies scratch that familiar nostalgia itch.
Also, it’s a good trope. We like the trope for a reason and that’s because it’s fun. And if I’m being very fair to Apocalypse Keys, it does pull inspiration from these famous franchises, but it is also distinct and unique. It takes concepts like the ones we know and love, and runs with them.
The Harbringers are looking for the titular apocalypse keys to open the doors of power and kickstart the end of the world. And you, your fellow good-monsters, and your team of DIVISION agents have to find these doors first and stop the Harbringers. Unfortunately, there’s a bit of a catch with your monsters v. the Harbringers. You can become one at any time if you’re not careful.
Character Creation & Gameplay
This is a Power By The Apocalypse system game. And you may or may not be aware that that is one of my favorite TTRPG systems. Aside from having a perfectly apropos name, PBTA makes for an easy-to-learn, easy-to-play, RPG and character-driven game. There is very little math, fewer dice, and almost no crunch to get lost in rules-lawyering.
Each character picks from a “playbook” with a basic description of who they are and what their powers are. For example ‘The Last’ is a lone survivor of a different apocalypse on an alien world. ‘The Fallen’ is a fallen angel or exiled devil. And ‘The Surge’ is a vessel of explosive, uncontrollable power. While each sheet and playbook gives you your basic explanation and background, it’s up to you to come up with the specifics and personality. Sure, you’re an alien, but who are you really? Tell us more about Zrek. These playbooks come with your key moves as well as ways you can fail and what happens when you do. Both of which are unique to your character type.
Speaking of success and failure, how to play a PBTA game is also fairly simple. You roll two standard D6 and add or subtract whatever your sheet tells you to based on the move you’re trying to make. Nine and up is a ‘hit,’ seven or less is a miss. And very high or low numbers are especially good or bad. Failing can mean nothing, or it can mean that there are catastrophic side effects. Similarly, succeeding can be good or amazing. And with nothing but two d6 to roll, it’s easy math all around.
Whether you’re a fan of the supernatural secret agency trope, PBTA games, or just find the premise of Apocalypse Keys intriguing, I can’t recommend picking it up enough. If you’d like to learn more about the game or get a copy for yourself, you can learn more on Evil Hat Productions’ official website.
Have you checked out Apocalypse Keys yet? Did you contribute to the Kickstarter? What is your favorite movie or comic that uses this same genre? Let us know in the comments!
Happy adventuring!
