An abandoned house at night with one lit window

Whispers in the Walls

a solo horror journaling game

“If the walls could talk,” they always said.

But you know better. In the late hours, during the absolute darkness, the walls will open their maws and whisper their secrets, shared through the cries and wails and mimicry of the horrors within.

You are a private investigator with the unique talent of teasing out their mysteries and piecing together their meanings. Draw cards from your Whispers Deck, learn what the walls, floors, hollows and the dead wish to show you, keep notes on what it all means, and conclude the truth in a grand finale.

A short session solo game — 15 to 60 minutes. Each play-through is unique.

A word of caution

This is a horror game and has gruesome depictions, body horror, infestation, and asks you to imagine scenes of abuse. If at any time a selection becomes overwhelming, take a break, discard the current card, or walk away from the game. Your safety is more important.

Prepare the investigation

Difficulty
How to play
  • Build the decks. The Hollows Deck is the 13 spades plus the jokers. The Secrets Deck is the hearts, diamonds and clubs. Draw 3 cards from the Hollows and 6 from the Secrets without looking, shuffle them together — this is your 9-card Whispers Deck.
  • The location. Flip the first card face up and find its value on the Locations table. Name the location, answer its questions, then place the card face down as the discard pile.
  • Each turn. Draw from the top of the Whispers Deck, read the prompt for that suit and value, and write your findings in the journal. Then draw again.
  • Jokers. Resolve them in the order drawn — the first is The First, the second is The Second. If both jokers are revealed, resolve the second and go immediately to the Joker ending.
  • The ending. On the final card, resolve its prompt, then read the ending for that card’s value. Conclude the truth.
  • Tips. Let the location mold every narration and decision after it. After each prompt, your investigator finds themselves back in the room where they started.
Original game Whispers in the Walls 2nd Edition by Andrew Boyd, Pandion Games
pandiongames.com — licensed under the ORC License.
Artwork in the book copyright 2023 Overshia and Turtle76.
Web version created by Marcus Draper.

The Investigation Report

The Location

Card 1 of
The first card is turned face up…

Investigation notes

The Ending

A single candle burning in a dark room

The full journal

Your conclusion

Original game Whispers in the Walls 2nd Edition by Andrew Boyd, Pandion Games
pandiongames.com — licensed under the ORC License.
Web version created by Marcus Draper.

Investigation Journal