[Written by: Simone “Aces” Morini]
“In the swamp’s darkness, only two things briefly catch the faintest glimmer of light: a pair of pale eyes and a straight-edged blade. The hunt begins.”
[From the short story “The Alligator – The Blind Ripper’s Secret”]
If you’ve found your way here, it means you’re ready to take a closer look at the horror. And we’re here to give you exactly that.
In this article, I’ll walk you through how to play VHS: Very Horror Stories, step by step. What is it? How do you set up a session? Do you need a game master? How does Solo Mode work?
So grab the remote, press Play… and scream.
Playing VHS - Overview
What is VHS?
VHS, short for Very Horror Stories, is a horror game inspired by iconic films of the genre. While it’s technically a role-playing game, some of its mechanics are closer to a board game, making it fast, accessible, and easy to dive into.
What do you need to play?
You can jump in right away using the free quickstart guide available [here], which includes a full ruleset and digital files for online play.
To play, all you need is one of the six VHS core boxes (each based on a different horror subgenre), two six-sided dice, a pencil, and a paper sheet.
How many players?
You can play with 1 to 5 players, or 6 if there’s a game master, called the Director in VHS. Many Films don’t require a Director at all, but some do, especially if a scene involves a traitorous NPC or a Monster with special scripted behavior.
How long is a session?
Films usually last between 60 and 180 minutes. Some may run longer if they feature multiple maps or more complex Monsters.
Who is VHS for?
Horror fans, of course! But it’s also perfect for people who’ve never played a TTRPG or a board game before. The system is built to walk you through every step, making it easy for first-time players to dive right in.
Where are the rules?
Each core box includes the full rulebook, and so does the quickstart.
The updated 2025 edition has a redesigned layout to make things easier to follow, but the rules themselves haven’t changed. This article refers to that updated format.
The rulebook is broken down into:
- Introduction: Explains the tone of VHS and offers some general advice.
- Characters / Monsters: Shows how to read character and monster sheets.
- Main Sets: Explains how maps work.
- Films: Covers how each scenario is structured and how to read them.
- Game Mechanics: The core of the system. Everything you need, in play order, to guide your session.
- Items: Full list of items with effects and descriptions.
- Writing Mode: Not included in the quickstart. A section on how to create your own characters, monsters, maps, and sessions.
- Appendices: A handy summary for quick reference.
Playing VHS - Setting up a Session
Let’s walk through how to set up a session of VHS, with some sneak peeks from the new Return of the Living Dead box!
1. Choose a Film
In the quickstart and the new box, Films are printed on individual cards; in other VHS releases, they’re found inside the manual.
Pick your Film based on the number of players and how much time you have. If you’re planning to play Solo Mode, make sure the Film supports it.
2. Choose Your Characters
Each player selects one or more Characters from the ones available in that box.
3. Read the Introduction and Set the Stage
The Film will tell you which Main Set to place on the table. Before you begin, read the Introduction, or have the Director read it aloud. It’s a short piece of narrative that kicks things off.
If you’re playing Solo Mode, make sure to check the Behind the Scenes section, which you’ll read in parts as the game progresses.
If there’s a Director, they only need to share the information from the Introduction and the relevant parts of the Salvation section (not all of it, just enough to get the game started).
4. Placement and Movement
The Film tells you where to place the Character tokens. That’s your starting point.
From there, Characters take turns exploring the Set by moving between Areas. No dice rolls needed, just move from one Area to another. Some Areas include Side Sets (points of interest like corpses, sheds, gramophones, etc.).
Exploration is key: whether you’re looking for weapons, hiding spots, or a way out.
But be warned… the hunt has already begun.
5. The Monster’s Hunt
Unlike the Characters, the Monster doesn’t move around the map in plain sight. Instead, it can appear at any moment when a Character enters a new Area.
Alternatively, Dreadful Events may trigger: tense or frightening moments that build pressure.
The Monster’s behavior varies by Film. Some are slow and methodical; others want to tear you apart the moment they show up. But they all share one goal… to kill.
Combat is handled with 2d6 rolls, for attacks, chases, activating Traits or Special Abilities.
In Solo Mode, Monsters and NPCs follow specific patterns, mixing randomness with logic based on factors like health, positioning, or context.
6. Salvation
As the name implies, Salvation is your way out.
Sometimes, escaping means finding a pickup truck key. Other times, you’ll need to complete an exorcism ritual. And in the worst cases? You’ll have to kill the Monster to survive.
Each Film clearly explains what your objective is.
Put the horror to the test
As you can see, VHS gives you everything you need to jump right into a session.
I didn’t cover details like Traits or the Fear state here: that’s what the free quickstart is for.
Be sure to check out our Kickstarter page for the brand-new project: the official Return of the Living Dead adaptation! You can find it [right here] or via the banner below.
Got questions? Hit us up at info@acesgames.it or join our Discord server.
Here are some helpful links:
Thanks for reading.
See you in the nightmare.
– Simone
