Chaosium announced Folklorists, a new tabletop roleplaying game about investigators in the 1860s discovering the dark truths behind folk tales and myths, at Chaosium Con EU on Friday, October 30, 2026, for general release in mid-2027.
| Key facts | |
| Name | Folklorists |
| Publisher | Chaosium |
| Release | Mid-2027 |
| Players | 2 to 6 |
| Price | Not announced |
| Where to buy | chaosium.com and gaming stores |
| Link | Chaosium announcement |
When does Folklorists release?
Chaosium says the book will go into general release in mid-2027, with no exact date announced. It will be available for purchase at chaosium.com and at gaming stores. Chaosium announced the game at Chaosium Con EU in Gdansk, Poland, in a press release dated Friday, October 30, 2026.
How does Folklorists play?
Gameplay is an investigation told in a sequence of scenes. Players uncover clues and decide the best means of dealing with the myth, all while a card based countdown runs. When the investigation is complete, the folklorists confront the myth and test whether their theories are correct. If they succeed, the myth is defeated or neutralized. If they are wrong, they suffer the consequences. Afterward, the group devises a new version of the folk story that serves as a cautionary tale for future generations.
The game uses a deck of common playing cards as a storytelling tool. Chaosium says sessions can be played within two hours with no preparation, for groups of 2 to 6 players. The only other things needed are note cards or paper and a half dozen tokens of any type. Traditional play involves a gamemaster, and the game also includes solo and gamemasterless rules.
| Detail | Folklorists |
|---|---|
| Players | 2 to 6 |
| Session length | Within two hours, no preparation |
| Needed to play | A deck of common playing cards, note cards or paper, six tokens |
| Play modes | Gamemaster led, solo and gamemasterless |
Who made Folklorists?
Folklorists was written by Ennie winning game designer Pedro Ziviani, illustrated by Martyna Starczewska, edited by Steffie de Vaan, with layout by Adam Szelążek. Chaosium says the game has been in development for over a decade and has been extensively playtested and demonstrated at conventions worldwide.
Ziviani says the game began as an improvised session he ran for fellow folkloristics students, in which the group created stories based on fairy tale motifs with cards drawn from a deck. He wrote the first draft a few weeks later, aiming to make learning about authentic folklore from around the world fun while letting a creative new retelling of myths emerge through play.
Folklorists was one of two Chaosium roleplaying announcements from Chaosium Con EU, alongside the Bayeux Tapestry game Tapestry: Age of Conquest, which arrives in December. It also follows other recent horror and folklore roleplaying news on Tap Draw Roll, including the Hellraiser tabletop game line announced for 2027 and the Anne Rice Immortal Universe RPG launch on BackerKit. Chaosium has not announced a price, and it invites players to join its mailing list for sneak previews.
Source: Chaosium announcement
Image: Chaosium
Into board games? Follow Jason at D20 Woodworking on YouTube for solo board game content.
Leave a Reply