
The Girls of the Genziana Hotel
A downloadable gothic mystery
She only left behind a bloodstained stocking...
The girls of the Genziana Hotel are the chambermaids who serve what few guests sleep in the hotel's rooms. It is the beginning of nineteenth century: the Napoleontic wars have come to an end and the Holy Roman Empire has fallen. The world is changing, but the Genziana is far away from it all, nestled in the Bavarian alps. You don’t care about war or politics. You care that she’s gone missing: Marga, the boyish girl with the wild curls. Nobody is looking for her. Nobody except for you.
During the day, the girls will have to balance their work as maids and their efforts to further the investigation. During the night, the girls will brave the same dark hallways that swallowed their friend. They will deal with the strict head of staff, the entitled guests, the rest of the employees, and night's eerie nightmares, hoping to find those responsible for Marga's fate without suffering it themselves.
You might be into this game if you are into murder mysteries and gothic horror stories. As young women and maids, the girls are at the bottom of the patriarchal hierarchy of the hotel, but this game is about subverting that position by working together. So if you're into female rebellion, this is also for you.
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Players: 2 to 4 girls and 1 Mistress
Duration: 4 to 6 three-hour sessions
Content Warnings: patriarchal oppression, grief and (supernatural) horror
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🔷 The Girls are coming to Gamefound 🔷
Follow the campaign now and pledge for a 64 page, tri-color, staple bound zine later this year. Splurge for a sheet of Memento stickers if you're feeling generous.
. . .
Extended Stay Edition out now.
The Girls of the Genziana Hotel is officially out of ashcan. The game has gone through several versions and extended playtesting. I can confidently say that this edition is close to the definitive form the game will take. In preparation of a physical release, though, the text will go through another round of editing and the layout will be upgraded with additional art.
◈ Play online using the updated Character Keeper◈
Keeper created by: Alex Rybitski.
. . .
Listen to the playlist to get in the mood:
This game is Powered by the Apocalypse, getting some of its best parts from Night Witches and The Warren.
This game is also Carved from Brindlewood, and uses its mystery system to facilitate player-driven investigation.
Updated | 2 days ago |
Status | In development |
Category | Physical game |
Rating | Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars (27 total ratings) |
Author | Hendrik ten Napel |
Tags | carved-from-brindlewood, Horror, Indie, Mystery, PbtA, the-girls-of-the-genziana-hotel, Tabletop role-playing game |
Average session | A few hours |
Languages | English |
Purchase
In order to download this gothic mystery you must purchase it at or above the minimum price of $8 USD. You will get access to the following files:
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Download demo
Development log
- Physical Edition! Follow the campaign today12 days ago
- Working on 'Work Something Out'Mar 28, 2025
- Read the Locations and Suspects from your screenMar 14, 2025
- Download the Extended Stay Edition nowMar 13, 2025
- The Open Hearth Podcast visits the Genziana HotelFeb 11, 2025
- Margot?! Play a whole new mystery in the early 2000sJan 07, 2025
- The First Day of ItchmasDec 13, 2024
- Watch a great GM run The Girls of the Genziana HotelOct 25, 2024
Comments
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I'm going to be running this soon, and I had a question: how many full "days" should I be shooting for per session? Thanks!
Good question! During the first session, you'll probably end the game after the day phase, but if you can get the night in there—great. Then, try for four phases at a minimum, I think, but also: just see what rhythm you settle into. Sometimes a phase goes quick, sometimes it takes extra time because there's too much role-play to enjoy.
Bought it. Read it. Love it.
< 3
I am SO STOKED to get this to my table this summer (and then subsequently run Mynar's Margot Kwan adaptation in the fall!) Congrats on the update and of course, how rad everything is!
Great to hear you're running it, shawk!
Congrats on almost full release, Hendrik!!
Thanks a lot!
Big congrats for the Extended Stay Edition release, Hendrik and team.
Thanks!
Congrats on the milestone!
I'm looking forward to digging into the new version.
I hope you have a great extended stay at the hotel, maybe you could stay... forever?
Congratulations on the new version, wow!!
Thank you!
I've not even finished reading the book, and this looks like a masterful synthesis of a ton of disparate PbtA ideas: not only Carved from Brindlewood stuff, but also (my beloved!!) Night Witches, a Stress track, and an inspired take on something akin to a Darkest Self from Monsterhearts. You've made something really brilliant here! I hope I can get it to the table someday <3
Those are such lovely words to read this Friday morning. I really appreciatie you taking the time to tell me, and I, of course, also hope you can get to play the game!
This sounds really cool!
Thank you!
Very very excited for this!
Thanks! I'd love to hear your thoughts once the ashcan hits the web