Post-apocalyptic horror actual play podcast tries to hold back humanity's extinction
The six-part series from BlackwaterDnD takes an unflinching look at mortality, hope and grief amidst a desperate fight for survival
Afterlight is an actual play podcast series using a mechanics-light version of the Blades in the Dark TTRPG, and features a full original score, detailed and immersive sound design and compelling and devastating performances from its cast of Amelia Som (Unprepared Casters, One Shot Network, 'Beyond the Tavern' TTRPG Book), Em Carlson (BlackwaterDnD, Godkiller: Balance / Oblivion), Gina Susanna (Godkiller: Balance, The Heart is a Dungeon, The Panic Table) and Sean Depner (Riverdale, Billy The Kid, BlackwaterDnD). The series is helmed by Si Rutherford as Game Master, who also composed a full original soundtrack for the show.
Into The Dark
Afterlight focuses on the last vestige of human civilization on the brink of extinction as it desperately seeks to survive following a cataclysmic event: a dimensional rift that scorched the sky and let loose terrifying monsters upon the earth. What’s left of a city is surviving under the protection of the only thing that seems to keep the terrors at bay: light. Lots of light. But the tenuous balance of survival is not sustainable, and the rest of the world is swallowed in darkness. The series follows the group tasked with restoring power to the city, as they step out into the dark and do their best not to lose their sanity along the way.
Fresh from concluding the award-winning actual play series Godkiller: Balance in 2025, BlackwaterDnD are back to dive deep below the surface and explore themes of life and death once more. Afterlight keeps the dice rolls light to tell a narrative-heavy tale as the characters stray further and further from the safe zone and find out what they are willing to sacrifice to save others, and what they are willing to do for the ones they love. The cast take big swings and lay everything on the line, telling a beautiful and moving story about hope and survival at the end of the world.
The full six-part series is now available to listen to in its entirety wherever you get your podcasts. Episodes are tightly edited and produced, and average a run time of around 1 hr 40 mins (after a longer Episode 1 introduces the listener to the world and the terrors that await).
Afterlight is sponsored by Evil Hat Productions and Bookwyrm Games. Cover art by Hannah Harder and character art by Lesly Oh.
