Mystery Squad

"Like, zoinks, I don't know about this, gang..."

Those are the words you or one your fellow young adult super sleuths utter as you embark on your latest investigation into the strange and supernatural. They might also be your last words... Unlike other stories about meddling kids, the monsters aren't Old Man Jenkins in a rubber mask — they're real!

What is this game?

MYSTERY SQUAD is a rules-light RPG for 3-6 players and 1 MC (the Mystery Controller). Players create young detectives (16 to early 20s) in the small town of Oaks Hollow who investigate weird local happenings.

Along the way they'll need to cleverly use their wits and their tools, from cameras and sports equipment to artifacts and spells. They'll face down terrifying monsters as often as selfish and cruel humans abusing their power. They'll learn strange secrets and every answer will lead to more questions. In Oaks Hollow, nothing is what it seems...

Why should we play it?

• You're a fan of Gravity Falls, Scooby-Doo, Ash vs. Evil Dead, or Astrid & Lilly Save the World.
• You want a game with quick, evocative character creation based on classic tropes from 80s and 90s cartoons and movies.
• You want a game that rewards player thinking over rolls of the dice — players are encouraged to use their items in interesting ways and create elaborate schemes that give them the advantage. In the perfect position with the right tools? You just do it, no need to leave things to the chance of the dice!
• You want a game that leans into the campy aspects of horror, a healthy mix of comedy and terror. You'll smack zombies' heads off with a baseball bat while scrambling back to the van, conduct unsettling arcane rituals, or flee from the Shady Hills Shambler, and while your characters might be literally scared to death, the players should have a good laugh about what's happening at the table.
• You want a game about investigating a monster-of-the-week that you can set up in minutes and play a full and satisfying session of in as quick as 2 hours.

This game is a hack of Tunnel Goons by Nate Treme. It is not associated with Highland Paranormal Society. General design inspiration based on Canal Goons by Michael T. Lombardi and Yokai Hunters Society by Chema González.