24 May 2025
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Discover what lurks beneath the surface, in Osprey Games' Terror Beneath RPG – and uncover why we think this is a must-play roleplaying game.
Written by George Chrysostomou
The Terror Beneath is a sinister investigative RPG that transports players to an alternative 20th Century Britain. The designer, Scott Malthouse, who is supported by Brainbug Design’s illustrations, is keen to point to the title’s influences early doors. If you’re not familiar with the writings of Arthur Machen, a Welsh author who has left an undeniable mark on fantasy, folk and horror fiction, then The Terror Beneath may strangely be a perfect introduction to his atmospheric style.
You’re introduced as part of the Gold Tiberius Society, a crumbling group created to stop the pagan gods from breaking the veil between realities. As a conceptual premise, it’s perfect for driving conflict, as players who are invited into its ranks are constantly carrying out investigations that should hopefully turn the tide of this never-ending war.
Each player is equipped with skills, abilities and gear that will aid in this struggle, every major decision hopefully pointing them towards the answers they seek. With such a focused objective, there’s always a sense of narrative momentum.
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GUMSHOE System
The game works on the GUMSHOE System, which is specifically designed to benefit investigative titles. I found this to be a genius move from the developers in supporting the concept and allowing players to interpret the clues they uncover for themselves. It allows you to feel a lot more active in the process, but still relies upon a Game Master to make calls when needed.
Playing The Terror Beneath
Within that system, the characters you create are vitally important. From Occupation Kits and Background Kits which boast genuine variety, to a Drive mechanic that defines a character’s motivation, familiar tropes come into play here, but with much-needed twists.
Creating a Journalist who grew up as a Farmhand, who develops a Morbid Fascination with the land beyond the living, seemed to be quite the odd collection of traits for my character, and yet in the bizarre world of The Terror Beneath there was something so fitting about this combination. Indeed, the more imaginative you can be in the character creation suite, the better.
I found it useful that the party can actually agree upon which mode they want to play too, with Terror and Pulp providing slightly different difficulty levels. For a first-time play, Pulp is perhaps the most enjoyable, and gives players a little more survivability. However, shock and injury cards will niftily survey the damage of your latest encounter, giving you scars you may carry with you throughout your journey.
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Bleeds are also a fantastic idea in The Terror Beneath, representing the corruption of the walls between worlds. Areas are ranked by Bleeds, from one to three. The higher the number, the more powerful the connection to Otherworld, and the more danger the player is in. But you never know what level Bleed you’re facing.
You’ll simply see the consequences of the region, and must react accordingly. It’s an extra element of horror that only aids in boosting the enemy. And trust me when I say, there really are some monsters in this title that probably don’t need the advantage, with a stacked roster full of folklore legends.
The Terror Beneath goes to great lengths to aid Game Masters in crafting mysteries that maintain focus on clue-building. And there’s perhaps not enough room to highlight just how gorgeously macabre the landscape is, with the twisted cities of Britain getting a gothic makeover you can have a lot of fun drawing from, as the London Metropolis and Welsh Wilderness become major focal points.
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The Terror Beneath RPG Verdict
Ultimately, you need to dive into The Terror Beneath yourself for an incomparably detailed style of play. It features a great starter story in the form of the ‘Don’t Sleep’ mystery,
but goes so much further in equipping you with ways to build an adventure of your own. And that is where the true terrors are; at least, if you have a campaign party as unpredictable as mine.
The Terror Beneath is a must-play TTRPG. It puts big ideas front and centre, by crafting a sinister investigation that goes heavy on its world-building and puts the pressure on the player to take a more active role. If you liked Call of Cthulhu, seeing as The Terror Beneath pulls inspiration from the works of Arthur Machen, who in turn influenced H.P. Lovecraft, it seems natural that fans of Call Of Cthulhu will find something hauntingly familiar about this title.
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About The Terror Beneath TTRPG
Designer: Scott Malthouse
Publisher: Osprey Games
Pages: 129
Ages: 14+
Price: £25