Strange Games Festival

Farewell Meet
2025-08-25 13:00 - 13:30 (Europe/London) | Arena
Join us for a recap of the best bits of the weekend and the traditional enormous group photo!

House Games
2025-08-25 11:00 - 12:30 | Arena
Come along, pick a house, and show your mettle at a combination of mental, physical and practical games.

Starship Bridge Simulator (1 hour game slot)
2025-08-25 11:00 - 12:00, 2025-08-25 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-08-24 16:00 - 17:00, 2025-08-24 15:00 - 16:00 | The Lodge (AV Lodge)
A fully functional Starship Bridge Simulator LARP/Computer game

[6 available spaces]
Children must be accompanied. Note: under 11s will need their accompanying adult to assist them at their station rather than signing up separately

Board Game Meetup Point
2025-08-25 10:30 - 11:00, 2025-08-24 14:00 - 14:30 | Activity Centre
Looking for new friends to play a game with?
Want to arrange a particularly meaty board game this weekend?
Just want to chat board games with like-minded folk?

Then come along to the meeting point by the Activity Centre whiteboard and get talking!

Note: this event is a sandbox, self-directed meeting time for you to find each other and as such may not be hosted

Daily Update with Simon
2025-08-25 09:50 - 10:00 | Village Square
Come to the Village Square and find out the latest news, including updates about what’s on today!

Site Shop Open
2025-08-25 09:00 - 16:00 | Site Shop
The site shop will be open and sells cold drinks, sweets, chocolate, biscuits, marshmallows (and wooden sticks!), popcorn, milk and logs (as well as various camping essentials)
Phone charging and tickets for Buzz Active activities can also be bought here
Card accepted

Checkout Library and Info Point open
2025-08-25 09:00 - 16:00 | Kipling Lodge (Small Lodge)
Speak to our friendly info point volunteers and borrow from our large library of boardgames (play for free, return same day)
These are games we think are particularly fancy or heavy; there is also a Games Stash of lots of other games in the Activity Centre

The Genius Game
2025-08-25 09:00 - 14:00 | Helvellyn Marquee
Inspired by Korean gameshows “The Genius” and “The Devil’s Plan”, this will be a series of games/challenges, testing your intelligence, negotiation, strategy, tactics, and social skills. The two losers of each game will face off in a short two-player death-match, and one will be eliminated. At the end of the final day, one player will be crowned the 2025 Strange Games Genius winner.
To play this game, you must commit to playing to the end, and therefore be available each day from 10am to 1pm, Saturday to Monday. Having said that, this game features player elimination, so you may be knocked out much sooner. There may also be some challenges between days, however, how much time you spend on these will be up to you, we only require your full attention during actual game time.
To play, you will need Discord on your phone, as you may need to communicate with each other between sessions.
If you would like to spectate, you are welcome to, whether you’ve been knocked out, or are simply interested in watching.
This game is recommended for smart people who are good at comprehending new rules, and also comfortable interacting with, and possibly lying to or betraying, other people.
We are strictly limited to 12 places, so please ensure to sign-up, and cancel your spot if you can’t make it.

[12 spaces available]
Over 16s only

Note: signing up for one Genius Game event signs you up for the whole series:
Schedule
Saturday: 10am-1pm in the Helvellyn marquee
Sunday: 10am-1pm in Shackleton Lodge
Monday: 10am-1pm in the Helvellyn marquee

Movie: "Game Night"
2025-08-24 21:30 - 23:00 | Stage
We’ll be projecting a movie on the main stage after dusk! This year, by popular vote: Game Night

Game Night
A group of friends who meet regularly for game nights find themselves entangled in a real-life mystery when the shady brother of one of them is seemingly kidnapped by dangerous gangsters.
BBFC Rated: 15

Campfire Storytelling with Jon
2025-08-24 21:00 - 22:00 | Main Campfire
Huddle close in the firelight for more tales of wonder! Age-old myths and brand-new yarns, from far afield and right on the doorstep: Jon is a Brighton-based storyteller with a captivating delivery and love of stories that connect past, present and future, our surroundings and ourselves. He performs regularly around the country in clubs, schools, online, and at festivals including the Brighton Festival Our Place programme and Fringe.
Praise for past gigs:
“This is wildly ambitious exuberant storytelling” – Brighton Source
“our boys became totally engrossed… fantastic” – Into the Trees Festival
“great tales told with obvious love. It was an enthralling evening.” – Audience member, The Mabinogion

The Night of the Three Villages: Multi-Village Werewolf with Christian Zoli
2025-08-24 19:00 - 22:00 | Cub Glade/SD Glade
The Night of the Three Villages
Welcome to the grand finale of the Strange Games Festival social deduction games! Get ready for an unprecedented experience: The Night of the Three Villages, a one-of-a-kind social deduction game that will close our festival in epic style. On Sunday, August 24, at 7:00 PM, up to 60 players will dive into a web of intrigue, alliances, and betrayal, split across three unique villages, each with its own theme and exclusive roles crafted just for this event—something never attempted before!

These are the three villages:
The Ancient Kingdom of Valcarnia
As old as the mountains it calls home, Valcarnia has long lost its royal dynasty. When a king dies, the people themselves proclaim a new one. But beware: alongside the werewolves plaguing all villages, rumors speak of an ancient, powerful Vampire lurking in the shadows. Unique roles and rules await in this storied kingdom.
The Free City of Mercadia
The Free City of Mercadia Mercadia, the grandest and wealthiest city in the known world, thrives on commerce, shady politics, and a bustling underworld. Merchant guilds and cunning politicians pull the strings of power. Special roles and rules bring this vibrant city to life, where every deal could hide a dagger.
The Remote Village of Eldergloom
Nestled far from civilization, surrounded by enchanted woods teeming with mystical creatures and ancient spirits, Eldergloom draws mystics and occult forces alike. Its magical aura shapes unique roles and rules that will test your wits in this eerie, secluded hamlet.

Join the Game! Up to 20 players per village—60 in total—can take part in this thrilling showdown. Registration is highly recommended and opens here on Saturday, August 16. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this groundbreaking game at our Festival’s final night. Will you uncover the traitors, or will you weave the deception? The fate of the three villages lies in your hands!

[60 spaces available]
Over 18s only

Social Deduction Glade Areas: 3, 4,& 5

Megagame - Crisis: Mars
2025-08-24 19:00 - 21:00, 2025-08-24 14:30 - 16:30 | Arena Marquee
The year is 2241 and humanity has colonised the inner solar system with space stations and mining in the asteroid belt, and a colony and terraforming project on Mars. In recent years a growing movement on Mars is pushing for independence from the Unified Nations of Earth and they have just gained a majority in the Martian senate. You will take the role of an actor on the edge of this brewing conflict. You will have limited opportunity to change its course but conflict gives you the chance to achieve your own goals.
Crisis: Mars is a small 2 hour megagame for 12-18 players, played in small teams with an emphasis on negotiation and simple rules.

[18 spaces available]
Over 18s only.

Puzzled Pint
2025-08-24 18:30 - 21:30 | Helvellyn Marquee
Puzzled Pint is a monthly puzzle tradition running around the world for 15 years, in London for over 12 and in Brighton since February.
Imagine a team pub quiz but replace all the questions with puzzles: word puzzles, picture puzzles, logic puzzles, ciphers, figure-the-rules-out puzzles, maybe some physical puzzles. Then dial the competitiveness right down; hints are free and teams’ performances are not explicitly compared – game control will make sure that everyone gets to see and solve all the puzzles they want to.
Teams are typically 3-4, but there’s no restriction either way, and will typically take somewhere around two hours, to get through the puzzles; they’re just difficult enough to be interesting… even if you’ve been drinking a bit.
At Strange Games Festival, we’ll rerun an old set of puzzles that previously proved popular. Maybe you’ll enjoy it so much that you’ll want to check out future months’ sets, on the second Tuesday of every month in nine UK towns from Winchester to Edinburgh – see https://puzzledpint.org/ for details.

[Note: please bring chairs if you would like them as this marquee is set up as tables only during the day]

RPG: Mothership
2025-08-24 18:00 - 22:00 | Willows3/RPG Glade
A highly accessible sci-fi horror RPG (roleplaying game) suitable for complete beginners. You and your crew try to survive in the most inhospitable environment in the universe: outer space!
Everything you need including dice and character sheets, will be provided – just bring yourself. No preparation or character creation required before the session. Please arrive promptly.

[6 spaces available]
RPG Glade Table Number: 9

RPG Multitable Event - Assault on Singularity Base
2025-08-24 18:00 - 22:00 | Willows3/RPG Glade
Assault on Singularity Base – Cypher System
“Even now, the Imperium works to create a weapon so terrible that no force can stand against them. With this yoke, they will enslave all sentients to a singular cause – the expansion of tyranny among the stars. You have your orders. We alone resist. Fight for freedom. Fight to the last. Fight”
Assault on Singularity Base is a multi table event in the Cypher System where you play a group of rebels attempting to overthrow the tyrannical Grand Imperium’s super weapon. Each of the six teams will have a different mission but each team’s actions will affect the other team’s success so be very careful you do not fail.
(Any similarity to other sci fi franchises is purely coincidental and so please refrain from any references to said film series for copyright infringement purposes)

[36 spaces available]
RPG Glade Table Numbers 1-6

Strange Traitors - Round Table
2025-08-24 18:00 - 19:00 | Stage
The Traitors was once again the unmissable TV event of the year, with a celebrity version due to air in September. But the real high profile spin-off is Strange Traitors, back again for it’s third year and promising to be bigger and better than ever! More players, more murders and more challenges than ever before!
Last year a solo Traitor took the win, can the Faithful fight back? This year we’re going to be hosting the evening Round Table sessions on the main stage for even more drama.
18+
If you sign up for this you must be contactable via discord due to how some aspects of the game work. If you do not post in the Traitors channel on the discord before the Festival you may be removed from the game
Please do not apply if you have played this version of Traitors before

[24 spaces available for players]
(Audience don’t need to sign up)

Note: signing up for one Strange Traitors event signs you up for the whole series:
Schedule
Friday evening: Meet at the Arena after the Welcome Meet (approximately 7.30pm)
Saturday morning: 9am at the Main Campfire
Saturday evening: 6pm at the Stage
Sunday morning: 9am at the Main Campfire
Sunday evening: 6pm at the Stage

Starship Bridge Simulator (2 hours game slot)
2025-08-24 17:00 - 19:00 | The Lodge (AV Lodge)

Beginner RPG Session - Treasure of the Broken Hoard
2025-08-24 16:00 - 18:00 | Willows3/RPG Glade
A famous relic hunter seeks adventurers to help her find caches of treasure hidden by the now-defeated followers of the Cult of the Dragon. Her maps and notes may lead the way to great wealth—or a terrible death. And do other parties have designs on the treasure as well?
These beginner RPG sessions are run by our friendly Festival volunteers and are intended to introduce new players to the wonderful world of Role-Playing Games.
If you are a regular player, please sign up instead to one of the other games that will be running throughout the Festival, attend the morning RPG meetups (held at 10am in the RPG Glade) and talk to the GMs advertising their games there, peruse our discord server for games organised there, or visit the RPG Glade and chat to one of our friendly glade hosts.

[5 spaces available]
RPG Glade Table Number: 8

Beginner RPG Session - Treasure of the Broken Hoard
2025-08-24 16:00 - 18:00 | Willows3/RPG Glade
A famous relic hunter seeks adventurers to help her find caches of treasure hidden by the now-defeated followers of the Cult of the Dragon. Her maps and notes may lead the way to great wealth—or a terrible death. And do other parties have designs on the treasure as well?
These beginner RPG sessions are run by our friendly Festival volunteers and are intended to introduce new players to the wonderful world of Role-Playing Games.
If you are a regular player, please sign up instead to one of the other games that will be running throughout the Festival, attend the morning RPG meetups (held at 10am in the RPG Glade) and talk to the GMs advertising their games there, peruse our discord server for games organised there, or visit the RPG Glade and chat to one of our friendly glade hosts.

[5 spaces available]
RPG Glade Table Number: 7

Beginner Blood on the Clocktower
2025-08-24 16:00 - 18:00 | Cub Glade/SD Glade
Blood on the Clocktower is a very popular social deduction game played through rounds of conversations. Through these rounds you will interact with other players to determine their secrets, while keeping your own secret information protected, to work out who is on your team and/or work towards your team’s goal. This could involving lying on your part.
These beginner Blood on the Clocktower sessions are run by our friendly Festival volunteers and are intended to introduce new players to the wonderful world of social deduction gaming.
If you are a regular player, please sign up instead to one of the other games that will be running throughout the Festival or visit the Social Deduction Glade and chat to our friendly glade host there.
[12 available spaces]
Social Deduction Area: 2

RPG: Alice is Missing
2025-08-24 15:00 - 17:30 | Chapel
Alice is Missing – a silent, immersive tabletop roleplaying game of mystery, loss, and emotional storytelling.
The game is played entirely through text messages, either via phones or messaging apps.
Players take on the roles of teenagers searching for their missing friend, Alice Briarwood. Over the course of the game, players uncover secrets, explore relationships, and piece together the events that led to Alice’s disappearance—all without speaking aloud.

[4 spaces available]
Over 18s only.

Notes: many possible content warnings such as abduction, unwanted sexual attention, drug and alcohol abuse, bullying and isolation. The narrative is written by the players and lines and veils will be established prior to play. Other tools such as “X” carding will also be in affect

The Unicorn Cup!
2025-08-24 15:00 - 17:00 | Arena
Dost thou wish to be entertained?! To be crowned the champion of all champions?! Then yee simply must join us for a weekend of medieval madness, to enlist and bear witness to… The Unicorn Cup!
There will be silly races, dressing up, games, prizes and JOUSTING (on very tiny ‘horses”). Cometh one and all, to play and be merry, HUZZAH!

Ages 10 and up, although under 16s must be supervised
[10 players ideally but more people are highly encouraged to participate as an audience!]

RPG: The Waking of Willowby Hall
2025-08-24 13:00 - 17:00 | Willows3/RPG Glade
Shadowdark RPG (Old school adventures)
The Waking of Willowby Hall

Willowby Hall has stood alone in a clearing in the woods outside of town for longer than anyone can remember. The once proud manor is now a deserted ruin about which the locals spin colourful tales of magic and hauntings. Hired by a local merchant who is considering buying the property the party are dispatched to investigate. As they near the threshold, the party is suddenly overtaken by three panicked looking individuals carrying a goose who disappear into the depths of the building. Looking back towards the village of Turnip Hill, the party see a massive figure running towards the hall swinging the bell from the local church like a flail. “Thieves!” shouts the enraged giant “Thieves and villains!”. With nowhere else to hide the party enters the hall, but is it safer outside or in?

Come join us and play in this beginner friendly Shadowdark RPG adventure.

This session is suitable for both adults and children (12+ if accompanied by an adult). There will be danger and adventure but descriptions of events will be kept suitable for the ages at the table.

[7 spaces available]
12+ if accompanied by an adult

RPG Glade Table Number: 5

RPG: Freebooters on the Frontier
2025-08-24 13:00 - 17:00 | Willows3/RPG Glade
Join a band of ill-advised peasants as they seek to storm the local redoubt of a depraved aristocrat. Marvel at the decadence of his stately home, wonder at the magical intricacies of his furbelows, gasp as his various defences make mincemeat of your fellows. Root out the evil at the heart of the local aristocracy and/or die trying.
An OSR game with high lethality set in a quasi-medieval wonderland. Expect characters to perish amusingly. Likely very silly, chaotic & with helpings of folk horror.

Adult only – likely to include some body horror, folk horror, death, mild gore.
[5 spaces available]

RPG Glade Table Number: 1

RPG: Girl By Moonlight - In A Maze of Dreams
2025-08-24 13:00 - 16:00 | Willows3/RPG Glade
System: Girl By Moonlight by Evil Hat Productions
A game about the tragic struggles and defiant triumphs of a group of magical girls resisting an oppressive society. Girl by Moonlight explores the heartbreak of denying who you really are, and the transcendent power of relationships and community.
I will be running the jumpstart scenario for In a Maze of Dreams: Based on the Persona games, you’re a group of friends and colleagues working on a shady corporate tech project who have been gifted the ability to step into the dreams of others and embody powerful dream alter-egos. You’ll use the powers of your dream selves to uncover the conspiracy behind the disappearance of a lost team member.
NB: For anyone who hasn’t played this system: whilst all characters are ‘magical girls’ in a mechanical sense in GBM. no-one’s gender, style, age or other character elements are defined/limited by this categorisation.
Character sheets, dice, pencils etc. will be provided – but should you want to use your own, this is a D6 system, I would recommend bringing at least 6 six-sided dice.

[4 spaces available]
Adults only

RPG Glade Table Number: 4
