Last updated 19/09/2023
In this game, one person plays the Confessor and the other plays the Confidant. The Confessor has a secret which they’re trying not to tell—but they also really want to. A romantic confession is one possibility, but many others are too. See Preparations below for ideas.
The Confessor doesn’t know how the Confidant will react, so they might drop hints, then watch with covert eagerness for a response, or in a moment of weakness let something slip. How does the Confidant react?
This game is played in one short session, divided into three phases: preparations, playing through scenes, and the reveal.
You will need:
This game tells your characters to be vulnerable and judge each other. It makes each player keep information from the other. See the TTRPG Safety Toolkit for resources you can use to support yourself.
Choose who will be the Confessor and Confidant. Flip a coin if you can’t decide.
Agree on these questions together:
Then, each make your secret preparations.
CONFESSOR, go somewhere where the Confidant can't see--turn your back or crawl under the table or something. What is your secret?
I quit / I love you / I stole / I broke / I did / I didn’t / I think / I am...
On an index card, write “I…” on one side, and your secret on the other. Turn it “I…” side up. On another card, write, “Do you (still) ____?” respect me / need me / want me / love me / trust me / think I’m cool / want to talk to me… Turn it blank side up. Put the cards in front of you, between you and the confidant. (make sure the ink doesn’t bleed through!)
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CONFIDANT, go somewhere the Confessor can’t see. Flip a coin. Heads, you would accept the confidant. Tails, you wouldn’t. Keep this secret. This is what it is now, but it might change later.
On an index card, write “I would have…” on one side, and “Accepted” or “Rejected” on the other. Put it in front of you, between you and the Confessor. (make sure the ink doesn’t bleed through!)
Play happens in scenes. The Confessor starts every scene and the Confidant ends it. Each scene can be as brief or as lengthy as you need.
CONFESSOR, describe the place where you two usually are.
Both players, describe what your daily life is like. Use this scene to establish facts about your relationship, informed by your secrets. Both of you must not talk about secrets (and definitely not THE secret). You should think about secrets really loudly.
CONFIDANT, end the scene by asking, either to the Confessor or the air, “Are you hiding something from me?”
Either way, you don’t get an answer.
CONFESSOR, You want to tell them a story. A dinnertime story, a bedtime story, a water cooler story, a road trip story. But the story’s about the Secret, so you tell a different one instead. They definitely won’t realise what it’s actually about.
CONFIDANT, humour them. Help them finish the story.
End the scene by saying, “I think you have a secret.” Obscure your face and mouth your best guess as to what the secret is.
CONFESSOR, you need to know if you can tell the Confidant the secret. Describe what you do to get your information. Don’t say why.
CONFIDANT, help them or hinder them according to your hunches and your “I would…”.
End the scene by telling the Confessor how you think of them differently now.
CONFESSOR, you think you’re keeping your boiling emotions in check, but really it’s painfully obvious. What do you do when you think the Confidant isn’t looking?
CONFIDANT, see the Confessor, then turn away.
End the scene by writing your guess (“Are you / did you…?”) on an index card, turning it face down, and putting it in front of you.
Now the Confessor and the Confidant speak together. The Confessor tells their secret. The Confidant takes their guess. Flip over the relevant cards while you’re at it.
CONFESSOR: “I…”
CONFIDANT: “Are you / did you… ?”
Ready? 1… 2… 3… go.
Confessor, ask your “Do you…?” question.
Confidant, answer honestly. Your “I would have…” card from the beginning remains face down unless the Confessor turns it over.
Decide what happens next.