Vaesen RPG Gets Terrifying New Revised Edition

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Since its debut in 2020, Vaesen: Nordic Horror Roleplaying has earned both fan and critical acclaim, offering a bone chilling blend of mystery, storytelling and Scandianvian folkore.

Now, five years after its release, Free League Publishing is pulling back the curtain on a new revised edition of the Vaesen RPG. The upcoming core rulebook (which is coming in late October 2025), introduces a number of key mechanical changes, along with a new introductory mystery along with an expanded gazetteer and all new art from Swedish illustrator Johan Egerkrans.

So is this new version of Vaesen still as horrifying as ever? Below, we step into the frozen darkness to find out.

What’s changed in the new edition “Vaesen” RPG?

The Vaesen Revised Edition preserves the soul of the original game while introducing several significant changes.

• Refined and clarified mechanics: Integration with the Year Zero Engine (the same system that powers theAlien RPG and Mutant: Year Zero) has been reworked for smoother gameplay, faster resolution and clearer investigations (notably, all previous Vaesen supplements still remain fully compatible with the new rules).
• New introductory Mystery: The book includes a new scenario called Dance of Dreams that gives players their first taste of the Mythic North, offering a self-contained case that’s perfect for first-time investigators.
• A detailed gazetteer: The book offers an expanded section on the town of Upsala and the surrounding area, from its snow-covered forests to haunted lakes.
• New monsters: The book features new monstrous foes (known as “vaesen”) with updated artwork of Johan Egerkrans.

How much is the new Vaesen RPG Revised Edition?

There will be a few different options for the new rule book.

• Standard Hardcover: $49.99 USD (plus shipping)
• PDF Edition: $24.99 USD, available via DriveThruRPG.

When is the new revised edition of Vaesen coming out?

The new core rulebook is slated for release on October 28th. Notably, this is the same time a new Vaesen Starter Set will also be available using the new rules.

Why Vaesen Revised Edition is worth picking up

• A solid intro for new players: If you haven’t played Vaesen before, the new revised edition offers a great entry point to get into one of the best horror RPGs of all time (easily holding its own with Call of Cthulhu).
• Works out a few of the kinks: If you are an already a Vaesen fan, you’ll be happy to learn that the book does address some of the minor rules issues that existed in the first edition.
• New lore and content: One criticism with the first edition was that it didn’t include a ton of adventure content (although later supplements filled this gap). The new version offers a solid introductory Mystery plus expanded location material.
• Perfect for the spooky season: With Halloween upon us, if you’re looking for a great horror RPG for a one shots or as an excuse to kick off a new campaign, then the revised Vaesen is a great choice.

Final Thoughts

With its eerie art, atmospheric design and solid mechanics Vaesen: Nordic Horror Roleplaying has rightfully earned a place as one of the greatest horror RPGs of all time. With the new revised edition, Free League Publishing looks to be addressing some of the minor issues that plagued the first edition, while also offering a great jumping on point for new players. In short, there’s never been a better time to enter the frozen terror of the Mythic North.

The new Vaesen revised edition will be available on October 28th from Free League.