Tabletop RPG · since 2023 · #90 most discussed

Candela Obscura

A circle of investigators looks into occult mysteries in a gothic world, facing strange events and personal cost.

IlluminatedGothic horrordice poolpartial successplaybooksinvestigationsafety tools built inShort arcsNeeds a GM

5.6

Geek rating

From 3 firsthand play reports in 2 r/rpg threads. The threads alone average 6.5.

Player rating— / 10

No visitor ratings yet.

Discussion5.6 / 10

81 r/rpg posts named it, October 2023 to October 2026.

Rules weight

Light. Hype 5.6 for its age.

Have you played it?

Rate Candela Obscura from 1 to 10. One rating per browser and device; you can change it any time.

Didn't work for usOne of our best

What players say

At the table

Only three firsthand reports sit behind this entry, from two r/rpg threads, so treat it as a thin sample. Two players liked what they played. One found the options too narrow.

What works

One player called the playtest and early play very fun, and said it's a great buy for the price. (thread)
It reads as softer than Blades in the Dark, with fewer extra systems and sharp edges. (thread)
The rules are clear and the book is well put together. (thread)
A poster loved their first session. They credit the simple rules, narrative mechanics and cooperative play. (thread)
The episodic adventure structure is named as a draw. (thread)

What tables struggle with

Roll modifiers are very small, and the move sets give only a handful of ways to approach a situation. (thread)
One player often failed even at what their character was built for, and felt boxed in. (thread)
Early play can be tough, even for a player who enjoyed the game overall. (thread)
The steampunk and eldritch horror setting won't suit everyone. The poster who loved their first session still dislikes the genre. (thread)
Characters must belong to a secret society, which the same poster dislikes. (thread)

Who it suits

Groups that want simple, cooperative, narrative play in self-contained episodes.
Players who like Blades in the Dark but want fewer subsystems.
Less likely to suit players who want many tactical options or whose build reliably succeeds at its specialty.

In players' words

"I felt like I had a hand of cards and no matter what card I played, it was the wrong one" (thread)
"Overall, very fun to play and a great buy for the price." (thread)
"I played my first session of CO this week, and I love it!" (thread)

The threads behind it

Each thread is rated for the play it describes, from the firsthand reports in it. Load one here or read it on Reddit.

6.0

Candela obscura - review

Only two people describe playing Candela Obscura. One enjoyed the playtest and calls the game very fun, though tough early on. The other felt boxed in by narrow move sets and small roll modifiers, and often failed even at what their character was built for. Most of the thread is reading impressions, comparisons to Blades in the Dark and other games, and arguments between posters. 2 firsthand · 50 comments

Open on Reddit

7.5

Looking for a sci-fi equivalent of Candela Obscura

The thread is mostly about sci-fi alternatives to Candela Obscura (Scum & Villainy, Starforged, Impulse Drive and others), not about play of the game itself. The only firsthand report is the original poster's single first session, which they loved, though they dislike the genre and the secret-society premise. 1 firsthand · 11 comments

Open on Reddit