You Should Play… is an irregular series where I talk about analog and tabletop games I think you should play. From new indie games that have caught my eye to older games, I’m currently revisiting. This series is a fun and informal spotlight on things you might have missed.
Hope Is Not A Plan is a solo game based on Wretched And Alone, so you already know it is mechanically fantastic, but what sets this game apart from others is its theme. Rather than traditional horror, it is a game of corporate professional horror.
You have to perform a complex engineering project for a picky client. To do this, you’ll need to manage time, other people, resources, and the client’s opinion of you. If you fail, your reputation will be damaged, and you’ll lose your job.
What makes this game work so well is the journaling prompts. They perfectly capture the stress of project management. As someone who has had jobs involving tough clients, it gave me the worst kind of nostalgia. Basically, it’s the most stressful game I’ve ever played, and I love it to bits. You have to try it!
Jonathon Greenall is a freelance writer, artist, and tabletop roleplaying game designer who has written for CBR, Polygon, Nintendo Life, Gayley Dreadful, Enbylife, and many other publications. They have also published several popular and highly-praised tabletop roleplaying games including “You Have One Ability….The Ability To Fuck This Up,” “Macarons, Milkshakes, And Magic,” and “Wander Wizards.”
Jonathon has always been fascinated by media, from the big hitters to the small, obscure, and often overlooked titles that linger on the sidelines, capturing both the on and off-camera stories that make these shows so fascinating.
Jonathon is also a major anime fan, having been exposed to the medium through shows like Sailor Moon and Revolutionary Girl Utena. Since then, Jonathon has maintained a passion for anime, watching most new shows each season and hunting down overlooked gems from previous ones.