Live from the UK Games Expo 2026 floor, Montford Tales is making the retail debut of Asher’s Ridge, a tabletop roleplaying game inspired by the eerie atmosphere of 90s paranormal television. Available at stand 3A-412, this marks the first opportunity for the general public to purchase the standard edition of the game directly from the publisher.
While the retail edition is available now at the Birmingham NEC, Kickstarter backers are just days away from receiving their own copies. Crucially, backers have not been short-changed by the show floor availability; they are receiving a uniquely coloured version of the book with a striking red edge, making the slight wait for their exclusive edition well worth it for a great-looking game.
Walking the convention floor, a distinct trend is emerging among the roleplaying games on display: a heavy influence from shows like Twin Peaks and The X-Files. Asher’s Ridge captures this perfectly, but rather than relying on a typical American setting, it places players in a dark, beautiful, and picturesque part of the Lake District in the United Kingdom. It is a remote town surrounded by dense woods and high hills; a place where life is slower, tourists come and go, and a facade of normalcy hides something sinister lying underneath.
Designed for one to four players, the game bridges traditional roleplaying and collaborative storytelling board games. Players begin by foreshadowing the incoming threats to the town in cinematic, short interludes before tangling the setting in a messy plot of drama. The game employs a letter tiles mechanic designed to keep the narrative moving forward, ensuring the continuous development of theories and surprising plot twists reminiscent of the mystery TV shows that inspired it.
Geek Native previously spoke with Rori Montford during the game’s crowdfunding campaign in 2025, exploring why fans of small-town paranormal mysteries would be drawn to the setting. For those who missed the Kickstarter and want to direct and star in their own collaborative drama, the UK Games Expo provides the perfect opportunity to pick up a copy and investigate the woods.
