Caught Between Worlds
Set against the backdrop of 19th-century Scandinavia, Vaesen dips players into a world full of folklore rapidly changing by industrialization, war, and education. The supernatural vaesen, long hidden in the shadows, grow hostile as their world collides with modernity and the worst parts of humanity. Players are gifted with the Sight and join The Society, an organization dedicated to investigating and resolving encounters with these creatures. Each scenario unfolds as a mystery, weaving episodic adventures into a tapestry of horror, morality, and survival.
This tension between myth and progress defines Vaesen. Players don’t just fight monsters—they unravel the mysteries that bind them to the land. Whether through negotiation, ritual, or combat, the game’s core lies in navigating the gray areas between humanity and the supernatural.
A Masterclass in Storytelling and Worldbuilding
At its heart, Vaesen is a storyteller’s RPG – my favorite kind. Mythical Scandinavia is so full of detail that it’s easy for GMs and players to go all in on world and character-building. The core rulebook offers GMs a treasure trove of resources: maps, lore, and societal dynamics that breathe life into every encounter. The Society, far from being a static backdrop, evolves with the players. The system even comes with base-building mechanics that allow groups to expand their headquarters.
The vaesen themselves are not mere monsters but complex entities with motives and vulnerabilities rooted in folklore. Resolving their mysteries often requires understanding rather than violence, encouraging nuanced roleplaying. This approach elevates Vaesen beyond traditional RPGs when it comes to approaching threats, as it doesn’t always utilize the typical combat you’d find in games like Dungeons & Dragons or Pathfinder.
The Gameplay Loop: Mystery and Preparation
Vaesen’s episodic structure is perfect for groups that enjoy interconnected yet digestible adventures. Each mystery begins with preparation—researching lore, gathering equipment, and planning strategies. This phase isn’t just mechanical but deeply immersive, fostering creative problem-solving. The structure doubles as worldbuilding and gameplay, making it easy to get immersed.
Investigations guide players to locales plagued by supernatural unrest. As the story unfolds, the gameplay loop balances narrative depth with mechanical clarity. Dice mechanics—based on rolling six-sided dice pools—keep things simple yet suspenseful. Combat, while secondary, uses a zone-based system that prioritizes narrative flow over granular tactics. It’s a little lighter than the more crunchy RPGs but still has enough structure to run effectively. It’s not a heavy lift for the GM, which is nice.
For more on Vaesen’s gameplay, read my review of the Core Book here.
Beyond the Core Book
The Vaesen core rulebook provides everything needed to start: gorgeous artwork by Johan Egerkrans, comprehensive lore, and intuitive mechanics. It falls short in organization, and looking for rules midgame can be frustrating, but the book is otherwise excellent. When a group is done with the few Core book scenarios, or they are done with their original tales, there are plenty of other books that expand on the experience with new settings, archetypes, and mysteries.
A Wicked Secret & Other Mysteries introduces four standalone tales full of moral dilemmas and eerie folklore. From cursed villages to sinister rituals, these adventures challenge players to think beyond combat. It’s a good time.
Mythic Britain & Ireland moves players to the British Isles. The expansion adds three new archetypes, regional vaesen such as selkies, and locations like Wales’ valleys and England’s countryside. Its adventures follow the classic Vaesen structure, blending the game’s compelling mysteries with English and Irish folklore.
Seasons of Mystery delivers four seasonally themed adventures that explore the changing landscapes and folklore of the Nordic year. This is a great anthology book that makes for fun one-shots based on real-life seasons for players to take a break with.
The Lost Mountain Saga is a full campaign set in a mining town haunted by industrial greed and supernatural unrest. Each of the five mysteries builds on the last, going all in on covering the worst of humanity. This campaign is cool but does suffer from little detail outside of the main conflicts and characters, making it harder to give players freedom.
Free League Publishing also plans two expansions for Vaesen in 2025: Mythic Carpathia and City of My Nightmares. Mythic Carpathia explores Central and Eastern European folklore, facing off against creatures like the Baba Yaga and vampires. City of My Nightmares offers an urban campaign set in 19th-century Stockholm, where grisly murders and ancient mysteries collide.
Art That Brings the Mythical to Life
Egerkrans’ illustrations elevate Vaesen to an art form. His work combines cozy and whimsical art for creatures like fae with chilling horror for some monstrosities you’d never want to run into. Each Vaesen book is a treat. The physical books themselves are high-quality, from the sturdy bindings to the luxurious paper. They are as durable as they are beautiful.
Who Is It For?
For GMs, Vaesen is a goldmine. Its clear structure and rich lore provide everything needed to craft compelling stories that stay within the lore established by Free League. GMs who are creative and like to play with toys given to them will have a lot of fun sinking their teeth into these books.
Players who prefer storytelling with the table will enjoy Vaesen more than most RPGs. The many archetypes cater to diverse playstyles, and being a member of the Society just feels epic. The emphasis on preparation, investigation, and nuanced problem-solving ensures every session feels meaningful, but players who prefer dungeon-crawling should consider playing something else.
What makes Vaesen special isn’t just its mechanics or setting but how seamlessly it blends the two. It’s a celebration of storytelling, a love letter to folklore, and an invitation to explore a mysterious world. For fans of mystery, horror, and collaborative storytelling, Vaesen is an opportunity to experience an incredible story that will stay with them.
With its expansions, Vaesen offers endless possibilities. Each book builds on the last, ensuring that GMs and players always have new stories to tell. Whether you’re a seasoned storyteller or a curious newcomer, Vaesen is a journey worth taking.
