Francesca Viganò
Before I start this review of Vaesen: City of My Nightmares, I would like to thank Free League for providing us with a copy of the game. It is the latest addition to the line of Nordic horror roleplaying games from the Swedish publisher.
If you would like to purchase it after reading our review, you can find the physical version in the publisher’s official store for 438 Swedish kronor (approximately €38). Like Vaesen: A Wicked Secret and Other Mysteries and Vaesen: Seasons of Mystery, this volume is a collection of four adventures and therefore cannot be enjoyed without the basic manual containing the game rules. If you don’t already have this title among your favourites, read our review to change your mind!
Consisting of around 120 pages printed on thick, porous paper, the volume is accompanied by Johan Egerkrans‘ wonderful images. Some of the illustrations are shared with the basic manual, while others are completely original.
A Love Letter to Stockholm
Unlike other adventure supplements, this time the plot is the work of Kiku Pukk Härenstam. In her introduction to the volume, the author recounts her connection to the Swedish city and her love for it and its libraries.
Spanning a period of about a year, these four adventures shift the focus from the dark forests of the countryside to the bustling city and the Vaesen that inhabit it.
One of Vaesen‘s most popular features is probably its blend of fiction and historical reality. While most of the details are invented, many of the places, people and events described in the plots have historical foundations.
Similarly, some historical figures and events have been altered in terms of time and place. This was clearly done to adapt them better to the plot, which is entirely fictional. Throughout the narrative, we encounter historical figures such as the renowned botanist Carl Linnaeus and the magnate August T. Lysander. Both men are introduced in a paragraph that recounts their history and main characteristics. Anton Vitus is responsible for their depiction.
The city is described in detail, with the most important places of the era listed. This provides excellent material for these and any other adventures set in the city. Similarly, the most important and well-known citizens are presented with key characteristics, bringing them to life and enabling them to be introduced into the story.
Vaesen: City of My Nightmares Aesthetics Review
We have become accustomed to the consistently high quality of this editorial line, and fans will once again be thoroughly satisfied. While many illustrations are taken from previous volumes, Johan Egerkrans’s artwork remains as beautiful as ever. Anton Vitus’s masterful portraits of the non-player characters (NPCs) fit perfectly into the game context, punctuating the storylines and making them more vivid and lifelike.
To help us immerse ourselves further in the atmosphere, the manual also contains reproductions of prints typical of that time. This is an interesting and useful feature that allows us to better imagine Stockholm and its buildings as they were back then.
The Adventures of Vaesen: City of My Nightmares
Inside the book, we find four adventures that, when played together, create a whole campaign. The plots must be played in the order they appear, although other mysteries can be added in between. Without making too many spoilers, I will try to convey the flavour and atmosphere of the stories contained in City of My Nightmares.
- Scent of a Killer: August T. Lysander contacts the Society, claiming that he needs their help to solve a series of gruesome murders in Stockholm. The police are at their wits’ end and Lysander suspects that a Vaesen is responsible. This mystery introduces several NPCs who will feature throughout the proposed plots.
- Song to the Moon: Lysander has contacted the Society again, inviting them to his summer residence on Goose Island in the Stockholm archipelago. The occasion is a Conclavium Sub Rosa, a secret meeting of individuals who know about pacts and agreements with the Vaesen.
- The Haunted Library: Following the events on Goose Island, Lysander learns that Linnaeus’s lost writings on the Vaesen, which Lysander is particularly interested in, may be hidden in a secret library. This library is located beneath the National Archives on Knights Island in Stockholm. However, only someone with Sight can find the hidden chamber in the catacombs.
- City of My Nightmares, from which the book takes its title, sees the characters once again being summoned back to the capital. Stockholm is becoming increasingly turbulent, and this time it leads to an unexpected new acquaintance. They are in for an encounter with the ghost of Carl Linnaeus.
Additional Materials
As with all other volumes in the Vaesen series, City of My Nightmares includes valuable and beautiful handouts. At the end of the book, you will find all the letters and clues needed to support the plots. Notable examples include first-class train tickets from Uppsala to Stockholm and a newspaper clipping.
But what will really make your eyes light up is the map of Stockholm. On the reverse of the A2-sized sheet (42×60 cm), you will find a page from the City Gazette dated 14 October. This important element of the plot will make a great impression during your sessions.
Final Thoughts
Although some may consider it a minor product compared to the much better-known Alien or Blade Runner, Vaesen is a game that, from manual to manual, broadens its horizons without abandoning its nature.
Vaesen: City of My Nightmares is the fourth published campaign — or, if you prefer, the fourth collection of adventures — bringing the editorial line to a total of seven volumes.
The mysteries in this collection are closely linked and can easily be completed in two or three sessions at most. As always, I do not recommend playing them as one-shots. Doing so would force you to cut essential elements of the atmosphere due to time constraints. Vaesen is a game that requires breathing space to fully appreciate its details and profound coherence.
Of all the supplements, this one focuses most on the Society’s past. The culture and history of Sweden shine through, transporting you to a world caught between tradition and modernity. And let’s not forget that, for Thursday’s Children, magic is always just around the corner.
If you’re a fan of the Vaesen TTRPG, City of My Nightmares is a must-read. If you are not yet familiar with the game, there is still time to remedy that. Either way, I think this is a manual not to be missed!
