Victorian
Victorian refers to a subgenre where the aesthetics or setting of a work are directly placed in or inspired by Britain's Victorian period. Spanning from the mid-19th to the turn of the 20th century, this period was characterized by industrial revolution, strict social class hierarchy, wealth disparity, imperialist expansion, evolving moral, social, political, and religious values, opulent architecture and ostentatious fashion, and an explosion of art and literature. This relatively rapid era of change and upheaval has many parallels to the Information Age, making it a great setting for stories with different aesthetics, yet familiar themes. Plenty of tabletop roleplaying games opt for a Victorian or inspired setting for this reason; it feels relevant, but maintains an appreciable distance. Depending on the larger genre of the game, it might fill this gap with magic, steampunk technology, or supernatural horror. The beauty of the Victorian setting for games is its flexibility: players can take on the roles of the wealthy aristocracy, the growing working class, the scientists, engineers, and artists chasing progress, or even the people of the wider world resisting the oppression emanating from the center of the empire.
Popular Victorian RPGs
Vaesen
In dark forests, beyond the mountains, by black lakes in hidden groves. At your doorstep. In the shadows, something stirs. Strange beings. Twisted creatures, lurking at the edge of vision. Watching. Waiting. Unseen by most, but not by you. You see them for what they really are. Vaesen. Welcome to the Mythic North – northern Europe of the nineteenth century, but not as we know it today. A land where the myths are real. A cold reach covered by vast forests, its few cities lonely beacons of industry and enlightenment – a new civilization dawning. But in the countryside, the old ways still hold sway. There, people know what lurks in the dark. They know to fear it.
Frequently asked questions about Victorian
Blog links about Victorian
Victorian Reviews and Actual Plays
Quinns Quest Reviews: Vaesen
Quintin Smith reviews Vaesen, a game of Nordic horror, mystery-solving, and monster hunting.
Haunted City | Blades in the Dark
The Glass Cannon Network travels to the dark world of Duskwall, where criminal scoundrels pull daring heists in a world without a sun.
Candela Obscura Live | Circle of the Silver Screen
Critical Role plays Candela Obscura with designer Spenser Starke in a unique, LARP-inspired format.