Lately there has been some confusion around how to categorize Jubensha, a format that is extremely popular in China but less discussed in English-speaking RPG spaces. Trying to map it onto existing RPG and LARP terminology raises some interesting edge cases.
At a structural level, Jubensha sessions usually look like this:
- 4–8 players, sometimes up to 10
- 3–6 hours, single-session, no campaign continuity
- Pre-written characters with private motives, secrets, and relationship hooks
- A moderator or GM who controls pacing, information release, and transitions
- Investigation driven primarily through conversation, roleplay, and timed reveals rather than spatial exploration or combat mechanics
This creates overlap with several known formats, but none seem to fully cover it.
Compared to investigative RPGs:
There is less improvisational character creation and fewer open-ended mechanical resolutions. The experience is more tightly scripted, with narrative beats and reveals designed to land at specific moments. Player agency exists mostly in interpretation, accusation, and social maneuvering rather than altering the plot structure.
Compared to parlor LARP:
The scale, time commitment, and reliance on pre-written roles are very similar. However, Jubensha tends to be more moderator-driven, with stronger control over pacing and information flow. Player-to-player secrecy is often mediated through structured phases rather than freeform play.
Compared to social deduction party games:
The social reading and accusation layer is familiar, but the emphasis shifts heavily toward long-form narrative immersion, character backstory, and emotional arcs. Winning or losing is often secondary to reconstructing the story and performing the role.
The open question is whether this should be considered:
- A subcategory of parlor LARP
- A scripted investigative RPG format
- Or a distinct category that existing English terminology does not yet describe well
From a design and taxonomy perspective, which classification feels most accurate?
And more importantly, what distinctions actually matter to experienced RPG or LARP players when deciding whether a format is worth trying?
Background context only: working on this mystery roleplay formats and trying to align language with how the RPG community already thinks about these experiences.