Yokai Hunters Society is a rules-light pen & paper RPG about monster hunters in Meiji Japan based on Tunnel Goons. The adventures you can play range from facing the monster of the week, to complex investigations or political plots, to routine cleansing jobs.

The year is 1889. After months of deliberation, a Constitution is about to be approved, giving absolute power to Emperor Meiji. In the last two decades, there have been profound political and social reforms that have cleared the way for “modernization:” the abolition of feudal privileges, the establishment of European-style political, police, and judicial systems, restructuring of the army, etc. But not everyone is happy with these changes.

In these convulsive years, yokai sightings and encounters have increased tremendously. Some blame the barbarians, others accuse nostalgics of the bakufu times, and a few even dare to hold His Majesty responsible. The truth is nobody knows the reason behind the uptick in sightings for sure.

The Yokai Gari Kai, or Yokai Hunters Society, has been around for centuries, gathering brave people from any social stratum willing to fight these abominations that lurk in the shadows.

If you want to try the game, the original pamphlet version, created for the Goon Jam back in 2019, is still available as a free demo and includes everything you need to play.

Creating a hunter is quick and easy. However, if you're short on time or need to come up with an NPC on the fly for your session, the Hunter Generator has you covered.

Editions

ENGLISH: PAPERBACK | PDF
ITALIANO: PAPERBACK + PDF (NIGREDO PRESS)
POLSKI: PDF (Rzucaj Nie Gadaj)

РУССКИЙ: PDF

Words, illustrations, and layout design by Chema González.Edited by Tyler Crumrine.Layout design advice by Salva González.

Field Guide to Yokai

A collection of Japanese horrors for use with Yokai Hunters Society or the OSR game of your choice.

The collection was edited in two formats: zine and tarot deck. A few illustrations were updated for the deck, but the text is almost identical. Only the introduction and the description of the yurei have been trimmed down a bit for the deck version.

PAPERBACK (Sold Out) | PDF | PHYSICAL DECK

Snow

It is the autumn of 1878, and the hunters are sent to a Shinto shrine at the top of Mount Asahi, one of the coldest and most inscrutable places in the country. Their mission is simple: deliver a package to priest Iekami.

ZINE | PDF

Gourdian Not

Mysterious deaths have been occurring in Naimura village, and local authorities are attempting to conceal these incidents.

FREE PDF

I'm currently creating a city crawl of Meiji Tokyo for Yokai Hunters Society. This is a big and ambitious project, and with limited time on my hands, I’ve decided to make a live work-in-progress version available through my Patreon. This helps keep me motivated and consistent in my efforts. While still incomplete and unpolished, the file already contains plenty of playable encounters and valuable details for use in your campaigns.

The final version will include an introduction to daily life, transportation, and communication during the era, along with a chronological overview of key events. It will explore all 15 wards of Tokyo, featuring places of interest, maps, notable NPCs, and tables of rumors and encounters.

By joining my Patreon, you can access the evolving draft and help shape its development through your feedback and suggestions.

At the same time, I’m working on a fully updated edition of the original game that will compile all the zines published so far. There won’t be any drastic changes to the rules—this is more of a well-deserved refresh with new artwork, optional rules, and other updates based on player feedback. These include clarifying examples of gameplay, particularly around combat and item use, as well as expanded details about the era, with a special focus on religion and the use of rituals and magical items in the game.

My plan is to release the city crawl independently as a digital edition, which will eventually be included in the upcoming complete edition of the game in physical format.

Third-Party Content

From its inception, this game has inherited the Creative Commons license of the system it’s based on: Tunnel Goons. As a result, creating third-party content is not just allowed—it’s actively encouraged. I’m always thrilled to see scenarios and tools crafted by people who enjoy the game.

While the art and layout of the zines remain copyrighted, you’re free to reference the original text, use it verbatim, or remix it in your own creations.

If you do create something, feel free to include the compatibility logo in your work (though it’s not required). Simply credit the original game appropriately, and you’re good to go!

I’d love to see what you come up with—so if you can, drop me a line. I’d be happy to feature your work in this section.

Random Rambling Press

Dākuhausu - The Dark House
Grave of the Last Warrior
Yokai Case Files Issue 1, Issue 2, Issue 3

Dr. Stuart Ellis-Gorman
The Haunting of Kushu Kaido

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