
10 Candles · Ten Candles TTRPG
Ten Candles
Ten Candles is a tabletop story of inevitable loss, told in the glow of real candles. You play ordinary people in a world consumed by darkness. Together, you shape their final hours, testing small hopes against what lurks in the night. The outcome is certain. Everyone will fall. What matters is how they confront it and what they leave behind. A session feels quiet and cinematic, with soft table talk, rising dread, and unexpected tenderness amid the scares.
It’s perfect for horror enthusiasts and drama fans, ideal for Halloween gatherings, retreats, or an intense team evening. Beginners are welcome, and veterans will find rich character development. Adults only, due to mature themes. A professional Game Master manages tone, safety, and pacing so you can focus on choices and character. Meet our Game Masters and organise a night you won’t forget.
How to play Ten Candles
Play uses a pool of six-sided dice and candlelight. The Game Master frames a scene and asks what you do. When the outcome is uncertain, you roll a handful of dice equal to the number of candles still burning. At least one 6 means you succeed and describe how. If not, the Game Master describes what goes wrong, and the story shifts toward the next scene as the darkness closes in.
Between scenes, a candle is extinguished and new truths about the world are spoken aloud. The dice pool shrinks as hope does. You bring a grounded character idea, a quiet space, and comfort with tense horror. The Game Master brings the candles, dice, scenario prompts, and safety tools, and keeps everyone steady while you make difficult choices.
Ten Candles is designed for a single 2 to 3 hour session. There is no long campaign, though your Game Master can run an anthology of linked one-shots with new characters. Online play works too, using virtual candles and shared audio. See our online play platforms for options.




Common questions
Do we need to know the rules in advance?
No preparation required. A professional Game Master teaches the rules in minutes and helps you create a grounded character at the table. When outcomes are uncertain, you roll six-sided dice, with more dice as more candles are lit, making the process straightforward. The emphasis is on choices, atmosphere, and describing what unfolds. If you have never played a roleplaying game, that's perfectly fine. The Game Master explains safety tools, supports shy players, and keeps the group engaged so you can immerse yourself in the story.
How many players can join and what is the duration of a session?
Ten Candles works best with 3 to 6 players and runs for about 2 to 3 hours, including a short break. Four or five is the ideal number for table time. Your Game Master will pace the scenes so the last candle falls close to your target end time. If you have a larger group, consider setting up two parallel tables or running back-to-back sessions. A quiet space with low lighting is beneficial. The Game Master will bring the materials and set up quickly, then clean up with care.
How frightening does it become, and is it suitable for children?
It is adult horror with themes of fear, loss, and tough choices. There are no graphic details unless your group requests them, and no jump scares are necessary. Content boundaries are established together before play, and the Game Master checks in during the session. They can create a moody and somber atmosphere or a sharper and more intense experience, depending on your preferences. To find a style that suits you, you can browse different GM playstyles and choose someone whose tone aligns with your group.
What if my venue prohibits real candles?
Open flames are part of the atmosphere, but your event takes priority. If the venue prohibits candles, your Game Master can use LED candles or a shared on-screen candle tracker, along with soft lighting and sound cues for scene transitions. If real candles are permitted, they will be placed in small, stable holders on non-flammable surfaces and managed safely. Regardless, the encroaching darkness and diminishing dice pool still create the tension the game is famous for.
How is Ten Candles different from D&D?
Ten Candles is not about winning or levelling up. It is a single-session story about ordinary people facing the end. There is no tactical grid, character builds, or loot. The rules are light, using a simple dice pool that shrinks as the lights go out. Conflict is resolved in the fiction, not through lengthy combats. If you enjoy the roleplay aspects of D&D, this emphasises that side and gives everyone a chance to steer the narrative.
Can we play online and still maintain the atmosphere?
Yes. Your Game Master uses virtual candles, shared audio, and video to maintain the hush and rhythm. They will suggest camera and lighting setups that keep faces visible while the room grows darker, and will manage timers and scene framing so you still feel the closing-in tension. You can read more about our supported tools on online play platforms. Online play is a great option for remote groups or offices with policies against open flames.
If everyone perishes, what makes it enjoyable to play?
Knowing the end allows you to focus on the journey in between. The tension arises from how your characters decide to utilise their limited time, what they strive to protect, and the truths they uncover. Small victories are significant. Moments of bravery or connection resonate deeply. Players often find it unexpectedly heartfelt, even amidst the dread. The reward is a complete story crafted together, shared in one evening, that you'll discuss afterwards.
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