Every month, the Geek Native community votes for an indie publisher to step into the spotlight. For December 2025, you chose GearGames.
Typically, this feature includes a deep-dive interview with the creative minds behind the games. However, the reality of indie publishing often involves small teams juggling massive workloads. The GearGames team is currently heads-down on production and navigating the busy post-holiday period, meaning we will have to wait a little longer to sit down with them properly.
While we wait for the team to emerge from the studio, the show must go on. GearGames has carved out a unique niche in the RPG scene, transitioning from steampunk tactical action to one of the most intriguing genre mashups of the last year.
Quiet Online, Loud at the Table
While their digital channels might be quieter than usual as they work, their physical presence in Europe remains remarkably loud. GearGames maintains a frantic pace of organised play, supporting Friendly Local Game Stores with events that often push the boundaries of a traditional session.
It serves as a reminder that for many publishers, the “real” work happens face-to-face with fans. Just this weekend, for example, the Titan Gaming Center hosts Lode al Leader (Praise the Leader), a massive multi-table event for their steampunk game Vulcania. In these ambitious setups, decisions made by one group of players ripple out to affect others in real-time. You can see the scale of these community-driven events on Eventbrite, where the studio continues to drive footfall into local shops.
High School Cthulhu: 90s Drama Meets Cosmic Horror
The studio’s breakout hit of 2025 is undoubtedly High School Cthulhu. The premise is a “terrifyingly fun blend” of cosmic horror and 1990s teen drama. If you ever wondered what would happen if Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Dawson’s Creek took place in Innsmouth, this is the answer.
The game uses the “Director’s Cut” system, a cinematic engine made famous by fellow Italian studio Two Little Mice (creators of Household and Outgunned). The mechanics eschew complex simulation in favour of narrative momentum. Players build dice pools to match symbols rather than hitting target numbers, a system designed to keep the action flowing like a TV show.
In High School Cthulhu, players take on the roles of classic high school archetypes – the Jock, the Rebel, the Popular Kid – but their “Prom Night” worries are compounded by the crushing realisation that uncaring entities govern the universe.
The product line has expanded rapidly on DriveThruRPG, and for those looking for a risk-free introduction, the High School Cthulhu Quickstart is available for free. Other recent releases include:
Latest GearGames Products
Over at DriveThruRPG, we can see what GearGames’ most recent publications are.
- 3rd November, 2025: High School Cthulhu – Extra Curricolar Horrors [sp]
- 3rd November, 2025: High School Cthulhu – Audrey’s Diary
- 3rd November, 2025: High School Cthulhu – Blasphemous Deck
- 3rd November, 2025: High School Cthulhu – Ancient Kit
- 1st November, 2025: HIGH SCHOOL CTHULHU – The Halloween Party
What Makes Them Stand Out?
GearGames distinguishes itself by committing to a specific aesthetic. Their books often look like in-universe artefacts; High School Cthulhu mimics a battered school notebook, complete with doodles and margin notes. It is this attention to the product’s physical (or digital) feel that elevates them above many peers in the crowded 5E-compatible market.
By adopting the Director’s Cut engine, they have also signalled a willingness to collaborate and use proven systems rather than reinventing the wheel. For a small indie team, this is a smart survival strategy that allows them to focus on what they do best: setting, tone, and art.
You can follow GearGames on Facebook and Instagram to see what classes (or cults) they announce next.
