Apocalypse Keys vs City of Mist
Compare Apocalypse Keys and City of Mist side by side. See differences in complexity, dice, genre, and more.
| Apocalypse Keys | City of Mist | |
|---|---|---|
| Genre | Horror, Modern | Modern |
| Tags | Playbook-Driven, Mystery, Investigation, Corruption, Drama, Fiction-First | Narrative, Investigation, Mystery, Roleplay-Heavy, Fiction-First, Noir, Urban Fantasy, Drama, Tag-Based |
| Core Mechanic | Roll 2d6 and spend Darkness Tokens (up to 3) to add to the result instead of a fixed stat modifier. 7 or less is a miss, 8–10 is a complete hit, and 11+ is a catastrophic success: you achieve your goal but your monstrous power causes collateral damage. Bonds with other characters add +1 or −1. Darkness Tokens accumulate through roleplaying triggers specific to each playbook; exceeding 5 tokens forces a crisis that costs either a Bond or advances your Ruin track toward becoming a Harbinger of the apocalypse. | Roll 2d6 + invoked tags. Characters have no numerical stats: instead they invoke narrative tags from their Mythos (legendary) and Logos (mundane) themes. 7–9 partial success, 10+ full success. Statuses replace HP on a 1–6 tier track. |
| Dice | 2d6 | 2d6 |
| Complexity | Low | Medium |
| Availability | Paid | Free quickstart |
| Runnability | 4 of 5 book tools | 4 of 5 book tools |
| License | CC BY-SA 4.0 (text) | Community content (Cauldron of Mist) |
| Third-Party Publishing | Not yet researched | Not yet researched |
| Publisher | Evil Hat Productions | Son of Oak Game Studio |
| Year | 2023 | 2019 |
| Languages | English | English, Italian, German, Spanish |
| Best For | Groups who want emotionally intense, mystery-driven play as monstrous agents investigating apocalyptic threats: where the real tension comes from relationships and the risk of losing yourself to your own power. | Groups who want noir-style investigations in a modern city where characters channel mythological archetypes: balancing mundane lives with legendary powers. |
| Highlights | Darkness Token economy replaces static stats with a dynamic risk/reward resource that escalates tension throughout play. Catastrophic success mechanic means the strongest rolls carry the most dangerous consequences. Seven playbooks built around emotional wounds rather than combat archetypes. Five pre-assembled mysteries plus detailed guidance for creating custom ones. | Tag system makes every character unique, investigation mechanics are well-designed, layered interplay between mythic and mundane identity |
| Considerations | Requires buy-in for emotionally vulnerable roleplay: characters are designed to hurt and be hurt. No tactical combat system; conflict resolution is narrative. Mysteries have no pre-written solutions, which demands improvisational confidence from the Keeper. Mature themes including body horror, mind control, and moral degradation are baked into the core premise. | Tag-based resolution takes adjustment from traditional RPGs, heavily tied to its urban noir setting, two-book format can feel expensive, prep-intensive for the MC |