Alice Is Missing⁚ A Silent Role-Playing Game

Alice Is Missing is a silent role-playing game about the disappearance of Alice Briarwood, a high school junior in the small town of Silent Falls. The game is played live and without verbal communication. Players inhabit their character for the entirety of the 90-minute play session, and instead of speaking, send text messages back and forth to the other characters in a group chat, as well as to the game master;

Overview

Alice Is Missing is a unique and immersive role-playing game that offers a poignant and thought-provoking experience. Unlike traditional RPGs, it relies entirely on text-based communication, mimicking the experience of a real-life missing person investigation. Players take on the roles of Alice Briarwood’s friends and family, navigating their own anxieties and suspicions while trying to piece together the mystery of her disappearance. The game’s innovative format, coupled with its sensitive exploration of themes like grief, loss, and the fragility of human connection, has garnered critical acclaim and a loyal following;

The core of the game revolves around a set of cards that represent various locations, characters, clues, and suspects. Players use these cards to build a narrative framework for their investigation, drawing inspiration from the real-life events of a missing person case. With each turn, players interact with each other through text messages, sharing their findings, theories, and even their personal struggles. The game’s focus on silent communication encourages players to delve deeper into their characters’ emotions and motivations, fostering a unique level of empathy and engagement.

Alice Is Missing is a one-shot experience, designed to be played in a single session of approximately 90 minutes. However, the game’s open-ended nature and the richness of its narrative elements allow for multiple playthroughs with different outcomes, ensuring a unique and engaging experience each time. The game’s creators have also developed an expansion pack, Silent Falls, which introduces new characters, locations, and storylines, further expanding the possibilities for exploration and discovery.

Gameplay

Alice Is Missing is a unique and immersive role-playing game that uses text-based communication to simulate a real-life missing person investigation. The game is played live and without verbal communication. Players inhabit their character for the entirety of the 90-minute play session, and instead of speaking, send text messages back and forth to the other characters in a group chat, as well as to the game master.

The game’s gameplay is driven by a deck of cards that represent various locations, characters, clues, and suspects. Players use these cards to build a narrative framework for their investigation, drawing inspiration from the real-life events of a missing person case. With each turn, players interact with each other through text messages, sharing their findings, theories, and even their personal struggles. The game’s focus on silent communication encourages players to delve deeper into their characters’ emotions and motivations, fostering a unique level of empathy and engagement.

Alice Is Missing is a cooperative game, meaning that all players work together to solve the mystery of Alice’s disappearance. Players must communicate effectively, share information, and work together to uncover the truth. The game’s open-ended nature allows for multiple playthroughs with different outcomes, ensuring a unique and engaging experience each time.

The game is designed to be played in a single session of approximately 90 minutes. However, the game’s open-ended nature and the richness of its narrative elements allow for multiple playthroughs with different outcomes, ensuring a unique and engaging experience each time. The game’s creators have also developed an expansion pack, Silent Falls, which introduces new characters, locations, and storylines, further expanding the possibilities for exploration and discovery.

Themes and Content

Alice Is Missing delves into the complexities of grief, loss, and the fragility of human connection, all within the context of a missing person investigation. The game tackles sensitive themes that resonate with real-world experiences, prompting players to confront difficult emotions and navigate challenging situations. The core theme revolves around the impact of Alice’s disappearance on her friends and family, exploring how their individual relationships and perspectives shape their understanding of the event.

The game’s content deals with topics of lack of agency, death, grief, helplessness, loss, tense family dynamics, and violence. Players are immersed in the emotional rollercoaster of uncertainty and fear as they grapple with the possibility of Alice’s death while simultaneously searching for clues that could lead to her safe return. The game’s creators acknowledge these sensitive themes, providing clear content and trigger warnings to ensure players are aware of the potential emotional impact.

Despite its somber subject matter, Alice Is Missing isn’t merely a bleak portrayal of tragedy. Instead, it offers a nuanced exploration of resilience, empathy, and the enduring power of friendship. Players are challenged to navigate the complexities of their characters’ relationships, fostering a sense of community and support even in the face of adversity. The game encourages reflection on the importance of communication, trust, and the delicate balance between personal needs and collective action in times of crisis.

Ultimately, Alice Is Missing is a game that prompts introspection and fosters empathy. It invites players to step into the shoes of those navigating a challenging situation, offering a unique opportunity to understand the emotional weight of loss and the enduring power of human connection.

Characters

Alice Is Missing presents a cast of relatable and complex characters, each grappling with the disappearance of their friend, Alice Briarwood, in their own unique way. Players take on the roles of these teenagers, navigating their individual relationships with Alice and each other as they try to piece together the puzzle of her disappearance. The game’s character design emphasizes the nuanced dynamics within the group, revealing their individual anxieties, secrets, and vulnerabilities.

The player characters include⁚

• Kate Briarwood⁚ Alice’s older sister, navigating a complex emotional landscape as she tries to find her missing sibling.
• Max Briarwood⁚ Alice’s brother, grappling with the weight of his family’s expectations and his own feelings of inadequacy.
• Josh Harrison⁚ Alice’s best friend, wrestling with his own guilt and sense of responsibility for not noticing any signs of trouble.
• Kasey Campbell⁚ Alice’s close friend, struggling to balance her own anxieties and the need to support her friends.

These characters are more than just archetypes; they are individuals with their own histories, motivations, and perspectives. The game encourages players to delve into the nuances of their personalities, exploring their fears, insecurities, and desires. The characters’ interactions are shaped by their past relationships with Alice, highlighting the complexities of teenage friendships and the impact of trauma on their lives.

The player characters are not the only ones who play a significant role in the story. The game also features a cast of supporting characters, including Alice’s parents, teachers, and other friends, who contribute to the overall narrative through their interactions with the player characters. These supporting characters add depth and complexity to the story, offering insights into the lives of the characters and the dynamics of the small town of Silent Falls.

Setting

Alice Is Missing immerses players in the quiet, seemingly idyllic town of Silent Falls, a fictional town in Northern California. This small town serves as a backdrop for the mystery surrounding Alice Briarwood’s disappearance, setting the stage for a chilling and suspenseful narrative. The game utilizes the town’s seemingly mundane environment to create a sense of unease and tension, amplifying the players’ anxieties as they navigate the search for Alice.

Silent Falls, despite its name, is not a place of tranquility. Beneath the surface of its charming facade lies a sense of unspoken secrets and hidden truths. The game subtly hints at a darker undercurrent within the community, adding to the players’ growing sense of unease and suspicion. The town’s atmosphere is a crucial element in the game’s narrative, contributing to the sense of mystery and suspense that surrounds Alice’s disappearance.

The game’s setting is not just a passive backdrop; it actively influences the players’ choices and actions. The characters’ interactions with the town’s inhabitants, their exploration of its various locations, and their encounters with the town’s secrets all contribute to the unfolding narrative. The town’s setting becomes a character in itself, playing a crucial role in shaping the players’ experience and revealing the hidden complexities of the story.

Silent Falls, with its quiet streets, seemingly friendly residents, and underlying sense of unease, becomes a tangible manifestation of the game’s core themes of isolation, secrecy, and the fragility of seemingly perfect lives. Through the lens of this small town, the game explores the darker aspects of human nature and the unsettling truth that even in the most seemingly peaceful communities, secrets and darkness can lurk beneath the surface.

Mechanics

Alice Is Missing stands out for its unique and minimalist game mechanics, emphasizing storytelling and player improvisation over complex rule systems. The game is driven by a simple yet effective card system that provides a framework for the narrative, while leaving ample space for players to create their own story.

The core mechanic revolves around a deck of cards divided into categories such as Locations, Characters, Suspects, Clues, and Searching. Players draw cards from these categories to generate prompts that guide the narrative, leading to a unique experience each time the game is played.

The game’s simplicity allows for flexibility and encourages players to actively shape the narrative. The cards serve as prompts, sparking conversation and imagination, encouraging players to flesh out the details of the story and develop their characters’ motivations.

The focus on improvisation and player agency is further enhanced by the game’s silent gameplay. Players communicate through text messages, creating a realistic and immersive experience; This unique mechanic requires players to think carefully about their words and how they interact with other players.

Alice Is Missing’s mechanics, although minimalist, provide a solid foundation for a compelling and engaging narrative. They encourage players to collaborate, improvise, and create a story that reflects their own interpretations and choices, making each playthrough a unique and memorable experience.

Reception

Alice Is Missing has garnered significant praise for its innovative gameplay and its ability to evoke powerful emotions in players. Critics and fans alike have lauded the game’s unique silent format, which creates a truly immersive and engaging experience.

The game’s ability to capture the anxieties and uncertainties surrounding a missing person’s case has been particularly well-received. Players have described feeling emotionally invested in the story, actively searching for clues and piecing together the puzzle of Alice’s disappearance. The game’s focus on player agency and improvisation allows for a wide range of interpretations and emotional responses.

Many reviewers have praised the game’s thematic depth and its exploration of grief, loss, and the complexities of human relationships. The game’s ability to tackle sensitive topics with sensitivity and nuance has been widely commended.

Alice Is Missing has also been recognized for its accessibility, with its simple mechanics and short play time making it an appealing option for both experienced and new role-playing game players. The game’s emphasis on storytelling and improvisation makes it a great choice for groups looking for a collaborative and immersive experience.

Overall, Alice Is Missing has been widely lauded for its innovative gameplay, its emotional depth, and its accessibility. It has quickly become a cult classic in the tabletop gaming community, earning a reputation for its unique and thought-provoking experience.

Availability

Alice Is Missing is available in several formats, catering to diverse player preferences and accessibility needs. The most common way to acquire the game is through digital distribution, with the PDF version being widely available on platforms like DriveThruRPG. This format allows players to print their own copies of the game’s components, including cards and rules, and enjoy a physical play experience.

For those who prefer a fully digital experience, Alice Is Missing is also available on Roll20, a popular online tabletop gaming platform. This version provides a virtual table with integrated dice rolling, character sheets, and other features, offering a seamless and convenient way to play the game online.

Beyond digital formats, Alice Is Missing can also be purchased in a physical boxed set, which includes all the necessary components for a traditional tabletop gaming experience. This format is often preferred by players who value the tangible nature of physical components and enjoy the collectibility aspect of owning a physical copy of the game.

The availability of Alice Is Missing across various formats makes it accessible to a wide range of players, regardless of their preferred play style or accessibility needs. Whether you enjoy a physical or digital experience, Alice Is Missing offers an engaging and immersive way to explore its compelling narrative.

Alice is Missing⁚ Silent Falls Expansion

For those who crave an even deeper dive into the world of Alice Is Missing, the “Silent Falls Expansion” offers a captivating expansion to the core game. This expansion provides players with a wealth of new content, allowing them to explore fresh narratives and delve deeper into the mystery surrounding Alice’s disappearance.

The Silent Falls Expansion introduces a plethora of new cards, including Suspect cards, Location cards, Character cards, Searching cards, Clue cards, and Relationship cards. These cards expand the game’s potential for storytelling, allowing players to create unique and engaging scenarios that go beyond the original game’s framework.

The expansion also includes new Relationship cards, which provide players with deeper insights into the complex relationships between the characters. These cards add an extra layer of intrigue and emotional depth to the game, allowing players to explore the characters’ motivations and connections in greater detail.

The Silent Falls Expansion is a valuable addition to any Alice Is Missing collection, offering players a fresh perspective on the game’s themes and mechanics. It allows for a more personalized and immersive experience, providing players with the tools to craft unique and compelling narratives that go beyond the original game’s boundaries.