Alice is Missing is a tabletop role-playing game played in silence through text messaging. Players investigate the disappearance of a high school girl. The game was designed by Spenser Starke and published by Hunters Entertainment in 2020 after raising over $138,000 on Kickstarter.[1] In 2022, Paramount Pictures began developing the game into a movie.[2]
 | |
| Designers | Spenser Starke |
|---|---|
| Publishers | Hunters Entertainment |
| Publication | 2020 |
| Genres | tabletop role-playing game |
| Players | 3-5 |
| Playing time | 2 hours |
| Chance | High |
| Skills | role-playing, writing |
| Website | Alice is Missing |
In 2023, Alice is Missing received an expansion, Silent Falls, which introduced 38 new cards to the game.[3]
In 2024, Alice is Missing expanded into the digital realm with the launch of Alice is Missing: Digital Edition, developed in collaboration with Pixel Table. This browser-based version enhances the original gameplay by automating clue assignments, allowing for character customization, synchronizing the game timer and soundtrack, and providing a streamlined, immersive experience.
Emily St. James for Vox Media compared the game to Twin Peaks, praised its suitability for remote play, and called it "sublime."[4]
Starke has stated the game’s setting and tone as being heavily inspired by indie video games Life is Strange, Oxenfree, Firewatch, and Gone Home.[5]
Alice is Missing won the 2021 Gold ENNIE Awards for "Best Game," "Best Rules," and "Product of the Year."[6] It also won the 2021 IndieCade award for tabletop design.[7]
Gameplay
editAlice is Missing is designed for 3–5 players, with each player being assigned a character. The game begins with each player receiving a character card, detailing their character’s name and prompts about the character’s background, motivations, and relationship to Alice. The most experienced player is assigned the role of facilitator, and is tasked with running the game. The facilitator role is comparable to a Game Master, but plays a character as well. The initial forty-five minutes are dedicated to setup; establishing characters, relationships, and important locations in the story. Following the setup, the actual game lasts for ninety minutes and is communication is held entirely through text messages on players’ cellphones. [8] The game is timed using an official “Animated Timer” available on YouTube, which consists of music designed to match the atmosphere of the game.
The bulk of the gameplay consists of interacting with the other players as the assigned characters, both in a main group chat and in separate private conversations, with the objective being to figure out what happened to Alice. At certain times throughout the game, new evidence and information as to Alice’s whereabouts is revealed.
Characters
editAlice is Missing has five main characters assigned to the players:
- Charlie Barnes– “The One Who Moved Away”
- Dakota Travis– “The Best Friend”
- Julia North– “The Secret Girlfriend”
- Jack Briarwood– “The Older Brother”
- Evan Holwell– “The One With The Crush”
The Silent Falls expansion introduced four new playable characters:
- Morgan Bridges– “The One Who Moved Away” (replaces Charlie if chosen)
- Jordan Foster– “The Childhood Friend”
- Hollis Briarwood– “The Younger Sibling”
- Steven Yates– “The Ex-Boyfriend”
References
edit- ^ Han, Karen (2020-08-25). "Alice is Missing is an RPG you can play solely through texts". Polygon. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
- ^ Goslin, Austen (2022-06-29). "A Critical Role publisher is producing an Alice is Missing movie". Polygon. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
- ^ Carter, Chase (2023-01-31). "Alice Is Missing expansion takes the RPG's silent storytelling in challenging directions". Polygon. Retrieved 2025-02-12.
- ^ James, Emily St (2020-11-30). "One Good Thing: An amazing game played entirely via text message". Vox. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
- ^ "Alice is Missing: An Interview with Spenser Starke (Hunters Entertainment)". EN World D&D & Tabletop RPG News & Reviews. 2020-06-22. Retrieved 2025-02-14.
- ^ Jarvis, Matt (2021-09-20). "ENnie Awards 2021 winners: Alice is Missing and Heart: The City Beneath named best RPGs of the year". Dicebreaker. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
- ^ "2021 AWARD WINNING GAMES – IndieCade Anywhere & Everywhere". Retrieved 2023-04-14.
- ^ "Review of Alice is Missing: A Silent Role Playing Game - RPGnet RPG Game Index". www.rpg.net. Retrieved 2025-02-12.