Harlem Unbound is a tabletop role-playing game supplement for Call of Cthulhu set during the Harlem Renaissance. Player characters are African American investigators who fight against both cosmic horrors and social inequality. Harlem Unbound was written by African American designer Chris Spivey. It received three 2018 Gold ENNIE Awards and an Indie Game Developer Network award.[1][2][3]
| Designers | Chris Spivey |
|---|---|
| Publishers | Darker Hue Studios, Chaosium |
| Publication | 2017, 2020 |
| Genres | Horror |
| Systems | 1st Edition: Basic Role-Playing, Gumshoe System; 2nd Edition: Basic Role-Playing |
Setting and Themes
editHarlem Unbound exposes and subverts the racism of the H. P. Lovecraft stories on which the original game is based.[1] It is set in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City between 1919 and 1933.[2]
Publication History
editThe first edition is compatible with both Basic Role-Playing and Gumshoe System. It was published in 2017 after a successful 2016 Kickstarter campaign raised $38,698. The second edition was specifically designed for Basic Role-Playing and was published by Chaosium in 2020.[1][4]
Reception
editAwards and Nominations
Harlem Unbound received three Gold ENNIE Awards in 2018: "Best Writing," "Best Setting," and "Best Art: Cover." It was also nominated for "Best Rules" and "Product of the Year."[5] The second edition was nominated for a 2020 ENNIE Award for "Best Art, Cover."[6]
Harlem Unbound received a 2018 Indie Game Developer Network award for "Groundbreaking Supplement" and was also nominated for "Best Setting."[3][7]
The 2020 Diana Jones Award, which was given to "Black Excellence in Gaming,"[8] included Chris Spivey's work on Harlem Unbound under honorees.[9] Harlem Unbound was a finalist for the 2018 Diana Jones Award.[10]
Reviews
Rob Wieland for Forbes writes, "Not only does the book offer an excellent history of Harlem, how the Renaissance came to be and what caused its downfall, it also offers thoughtful discussion of the racism of the era and different ways in how to address the issue."[11]
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References
edit- ^ a b c Elsam, Sara (March 25, 2020). "Tabletop RPG Harlem Unbound 2E includes a crash course on addressing race in games". Dicebreaker. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
- ^ a b Jarvis, Matt (August 16, 2022). "'All our RPGs start with the people': Chris Spivey on Harlem Unbound, Haunted West and what comes next". Dicebreaker. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
- ^ a b "Previous Award Winners". Indie Game Developer Network. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
- ^ Elderkin, Beth (March 31, 2020). "Friday the 13th Unleashes Terror and Thanos Gets a Love Letter in the Latest Gaming News". Gizmodo. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
- ^ "2018 Nominees and Winners – ENNIE Awards". Retrieved September 3, 2024.
- ^ "2020 Nominees and Winners – ENNIE Awards". Retrieved September 3, 2024.
- ^ "Harlem Unbound :: Game Books :: IPR". www.indiepressrevolution.com. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
- ^ Hall, Charlie (July 30, 2020). "One of tabletop gaming's biggest awards celebrates Black creators". Polygon. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
- ^ "The 2020 Award". The Diana Jones Award. June 26, 2020. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
- ^ "The 2018 Award". The Diana Jones Award. August 9, 2018. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
- ^ Wieland, Rob (December 21, 2020). "Fight Cthulhu Across Time And Space On Your Tabletop". Forbes. Retrieved September 3, 2024.