Dead Man's Pass

Game premise and objectives

Dead Man's Pass is a narrative-driven game where you act as the keeper of a mountain checkpoint. Your main task is to evaluate travelers who arrive at the checkpoint after dark, deciding who can proceed to the nearby village. Each traveler presents a pass that includes information such as name, age, home, destination, trade, issue date, and seal. You compare these details to the physical appearance of the traveler in front of you. Your judgments can either send humans back on the road or allow yokai, creatures hiding in human form, to pass through.

Judgment mechanics

You can challenge two entries on each traveler’s pass to verify their authenticity. The game involves detecting discrepancies in the information provided, such as a forged seal or details that don’t add up. You must listen to the travelers’ responses carefully and make a decision before the incense burns out. A wrong judgment can have dire consequences, such as execution for excessive human rejections or jeopardizing the village's safety by allowing too many yokai entry.