I want to start this review of UnderDark by thanking the Little Lab Design collective for providing us with a digital copy of the manual. UnderDark is a one-page roleplaying game designed, created, and paginated by Luigi “Grecor” Aversa and Little Lab Design.
You can find UnderDark under the Pay What You Want model on Little Lab Design’s itch.io page.
Design and Layout Review of UnderDark
Dr. Grecor’s professionalism is evident even in the layout of a free product like this.
Simplicity is key in UnderDark. The entirely black-and-white design perfectly reflects the essence of the game. Moreover, despite the limited space for text, readability remains uncompromised.
Due to the minimalistic nature of this tabletop RPG, no illustrations are included.
World-Building in Just Four Words
This masterfull one-page RPG explores the dynamics of a corrupt and terrifying world from the perspective of characters fighting for the last remnants of good.
UnderDark is neither a fully developed setting nor a traditional game. Instead, the creators present it as an experience of world-building and shaping a universe twisted by injustice and oppression.
Additionally, this game is designed specifically for one-shot sessions. Each playthrough requires the creation of brand-new world and characters.
Simple but Engaging Mechanics
The core of UnderDark revolves around the dichotomy between the negative and positive aspects of the world. At the beginning of the session, players must define two key concepts: what is the Under? And what is the Dark? The first represents a place or theme, while the second embodies the narrative element within the game. These will be the foundation of your world. The manual provides examples to help guide the creation process.
Once these concepts are defined, players take turns describing a scene, story, or event that illustrates why the world is so dreadful.
Once the negative aspect of the world is established, players define the opposite terms: Above and Light. The contrast between these elements mirrors the one between Under and Dark. Each player then takes turns narrating scenes that depict what is still good in the world and the reasons worth fighting for.
Unlike traditional TTRPGs, UnderDark does not include character sheets. To play, you only need a six-sided die, a piece of paper, and a pencil. Each character is composed of four elements: Under, Dark, Above, and Light. These elements represent how the world’s struggles and conflicts reflect onto the character.
Character creation concludes with seven questions. Four of these define a modifier for each element, which influences dice rolls. The last three focus on general character traits. A preview of this system is available in the game’s materials.
When a player narrates their character’s actions, the other players determine the logical consequence. If the active player disagrees with the outcome, they can modify the narrative by rolling a d6 and adding the modifier of an element chosen by the group. Characters can perform powerful actions, but each action carries consequences.
Final Thoughts of the UnderDark Review
To conclude this review, let’s talk about the format. One-page tabletop RPGs are a genre I greatly appreciate, as they often bring innovation and interesting mechanics. They are perfect both for taking a break from a long campaign and for trying something unique.
Although creating engaging masterfull TTRPGs can be challenging, UnderDark has proven to be a fascinating experience.
I highly recommend checking out this one-page RPG, especially since the creators have opted for the Pay What You Want model. It’s also a fantastic tool for world-building in larger campaigns.
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