The internet is a strange beast. On one hand, it features some of the most amazing things ever created by humans. But on the other hand, it is also jammed to the gills with some of the worst things ever spawned from the minds of men. Placing Zillow on this spectrum is surprisingly tricky as it (and sites like it) makes finding available housing easier. Zillow seems to function as a way for millennials to beat themselves up about the dire state of the housing market. Thankfully, HOUSING/CRISIS takes this site and its damaging psychological effects and transforms it into a memorable horror TTRPG.
HOUSING/CRISIS, created by Jason Song Quin, is a survival horror TTRPG for 2 to 4 players. In this game, the players step into the shoes of a group of unlucky people who have found themselves trapped in a house with a slasher-movie-esq killer and have to find a way to escape before the killer claims their lives.
Finding True Horror On Zillow
To start the session, players generate the house they are stuck in. To do this, the players roll dice until they have enough numbers to make a house or street number and then type this into Zillow or another property website. Players then look through the options and decide which listing they want to use as the setting for their game. After this, players roll on the included table to find what features the room contains and any special abilities these features have.
Next comes character creation. Each player builds their own player character (dubbed a victim in HOUSING/CRISIS) by distributing four points across four stats: Fight, Mind, Damage, and Fate. Players then pick one of 10 backgrounds for their character, each with a unique perk.
After this, the killer is created. However, the killers are mechanically quite different from the player characters. Firstly, the killer gets traits equal to the number of players (selected by rolling on the included D20 table,) which help and hinder the killer in various ways.
Killers And Victims Are Handled Differently
On top of this, the killer has five stats: Mind, Shame, Blood, Soul, and Body. However, rather than showing how effective the killer is at performing actions, these stats act as the killer’s health pool. Whenever certain events happen (e.g., the killer is damaged or forced to retreat), points are removed from the corresponding pool. If the players deplete enough pools, they stop the killer’s rampage and thus win the game.
To aid them in their murderous quest, the killer has access to a pool of murder points. The killer starts with murder points equal to the player count but gains more when the players roll low numbers when making skill checks.
HOUSING/CRISIS is built around a simple but fascinating dice system. Whenever a player attempts an action, they decide if the action counts as a Basic Skill check, a movement check, or a combat check before rolling 2D6 and adding any bonuses they have. They then check that action type’s chart to see exactly how successful the action is and what happens due to their success.
However, if a player ever rolls five or under, the killer gets to use one of their moves, such as using Stalk (to suddenly enter the room), Slash (to attack the survivors), or Escape (to quickly leave the room). This means the players are never safe, as one wrong roll could bring them face-to-face with the killer.
A Fantastic Horror Experience That Is Easy To Start
This all comes together beautifully during play. Having the survivors and killer use different mechanics dramatically enhances the game’s mood by making the killer feel like a legitimate threat that can’t be taken down through brute force alone, encouraging the players to think outside the box and attempt different things. Plus, having the killer gain murder points when the players roll low numbers adds lots of tension to the game, as players know that every move they make risks bringing the killer to them and making them more powerful.
The ultimate testament to HOUSING/CRISIS’ design is how naturally the players fall into classic horror movie setpieces without the GM forcing them towards it. This means every session feels tonally consistent, no matter how the players’ actions play out.
The Game Features Great Writing Throughout
The included tables are also brilliant, as each entry features brilliant writing that will spark the imagination of GM and players alike. Plus, in a nice touch, the tables allude to all of the classic horror tropes and characters without the writing ever being too on the nose, meaning that the characters and killers players create never feel like knock-offs of existing characters.
Plus, using Zillow to create a location is a fantastic touch. Not only does it make the game stand out from the pack, but having a defined and fully photographed location to work with helps make the cat-and-mouse game between survivors and the killer feel more intense as players have a better idea of how close everyone is relative to one another. It also leads to better roleplay because everyone knows what’s in the room. This empowers shyer places to make creative choices. Plus, the photos present players with items or details traditionally not included in TTRPG maps, encouraging out-of-the-box thinking and unique actions.
However, based on my playthrough, I would suggest one slight change to the setup. While rolling dice to find a random house on Zillow is fun, if you have some time before your session, I suggest asking each player to bring a specific Zillow listing and then having everyone vote on which way to use. Zillow and similar sites are full of strange listings, and looking through them together is a great way to start the session and helps spark everyone’s imagination while guaranteeing you end up with a house with a vibe that fits the game’s vibe.
HOUSING/CRISIS is a fun horror game that perfectly nails the classic horror vibe while giving it a modern twist. It’s a fantastic choice for TTRPG fans who are looking for a rules-lite experience, as the game can be prepared and started within 30 minutes. Making it the perfect grab-and-go option for horror fans on a schedule or those looking to dip their toes into the world of horror TTRPGs.
