Briar & Bramble for Windows

Free tabletop RPG

Briar & Bramble is a powered-by-the-apocalypse roleplaying game developed by Drunken Wizard. It is a free tabletop RPG where you play as a community of wayward animals. Here, you will explore the English countryside and make your way through human lands to find a new home.

Briar & Bramble is a game about community and survival. It leans on inspirations, such as The Animals of Farthing Wood and Watership Down. Unlike other animal games, it invites emotional investment. It features conflict and flirts with despair. Note, however, that the game exists as an ashcan. It is still under development.

What is Briar & Bramble?

Briar & Bramble takes players in the English countryside at the turn of the 20th century. Here, humans have expanded into what were once peaceful woodlands. They have chopped down trees, filled in ponds, and redirected rivers, all for the sake of industrialization. These destructions forced a small community of woodland animals to band together, despite their differences, and travel the countryside to look for a new home.

Players will take on the role of these wayward animals and guide them as they make their way through the human lands. Together, they will overcome obstacles, such as traveling in dangerous environments, negotiating with other animal communities, and avoiding humans. They will also need to forage for food and find shelter. Of course, there will also be threats of external predators, such as wolves, snakes, and hawks.

Despite its animal theme, Briar & Bramble is a dark game that is about survival. Its setting and tone are baked into the mechanics. It is about keeping hope alive during sad and desperate situations. Only by working together can the animals survive the cruelties of nature. Although if you are keen on details, you will find that some elements in the game are not historically accurate.

Is the game good?

Overall, Briar & Bramble is an emotional-heavy game. Although you play as fluffy animals, it tackles a thorny issue. The game is not only about exploring to find a new home, but it will also expose issues that a community needs to face as a whole. It has some inaccurate details. Nevertheless, it will fill a niche in your heart and make you excited for the final release.