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The Apocalypse Players

The Apocalypse Players

By: The Apocalypse Players
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Summary
 A Call of Cthulhu actual play podcast. Dice-driven cosmic horrors supplied by Dominic Allen, Joseph Chance, Danann McAleer and guests. --- The Apocalypse Players is an actual play (or live play) TTRPG podcast focused on horror tabletop roleplaying games. Think Dimension 20 or Critical Role, but fewer dragons, more eldritch horrors, and more British actors taking their roleplaying very seriously (most of the time). We primarily play the Chaosium RPG Call of Cthulhu, but have also been known to dabble with other systems, most of which can be found on our Patreon: www.patreon.com/apocalypseplayers We now have a free Discord server where you can come and worship at the altar of the Apocalypse, play Call of Cthulhu online, and meet like-minded cultists who will be only to eager to welcome you into the fold. New sacrifices oops we mean players are always welcome. Join here: discord.com/invite/kRQ62t6SjHCopyright 2021 All rights reserved. Art Entertainment & Performing Arts
Episodes
  • An Uncommon Burial 39: “Golgotha”

    An Uncommon Burial 39: “Golgotha”
    Nov 2 2026

    ...or “Forensic Dentistry”.

    In which a susurration of Marjorie is invoked, Herbal Ventolin inhaled, and a bedraggled Scrooge figure is impersonated, before the arrival of an old acquaintance stops the fun and games...

    A Call of Cthulhu scenario by Danann McAleer. Episodes released weekly.

    Cast:

    Dr. Henry Carraig-Muir - Joseph Chance

    Rev. Peregrine McCutcheon - Dan Wheeler

    Lady Helen Marjorie Bjarmia Potts - Dominic Allen

    Keeper of Arcane Lore - Danann McAleer

    CW: This podcast contains mature themes, strong language and cosmic horror. Human discretion is advised.

    The Apocalypse Players is an actual play (or live play) TTRPG podcast focused on horror tabletop roleplaying games. Think Dimension 20 or Critical Role, but fewer dragons, more eldritch horrors, and more British actors taking their roleplaying very seriously (most of the time). We primarily play the Chaosium RPG Call of Cthulhu, but have also been known to dabble with other systems, most of which can be found on our Patreon: www.patreon.com/apocalypseplayers

    We now have a free Discord server where you can come worship at the altar of the Apocalypse, play Call of Cthulhu online, and meet like-minded cultists who will only be too eager to welcome you into the fold. New sacrifices oops we mean players are always welcome. Join here: discord.com/invite/kRQ62t6SjH

    For more information and to get in touch, visit www.apocalypseplayers.com

    The Apocalypse Players are:

    Dominic Allen @domjallen

    Joseph Chance @josephchance.mj.bsky.social

    Danann McAleer @DanannMcAleer

    Dan Wheeler @DanWheelerUK

    Music and SFX from Epidemic Sound

    With particular special thanks to Marianne McAleer for the use of her recording of ‘She Moved Through the Fair’ (traditional) from the album Sweet Nightingale, Marianne McAleer

    Kevin MacLeod, at Incompetech:

    Vanishing by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4578-vanishing License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

    Virtutes Instrumenti by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4590-virtutes-instrumenti

    License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

    With very special thanks to Finn McAleer for the use of his fiddle music, especially his album ‘Rough As Folk’ (with The Great Bearded Tits). More of Finn’s music can be found here:

    https://www.youtube.com/@finnnnn

    Epidemic Sound:

    Radestsky March - Trad.

    When I am Calling Your Name - Giant Ember

    Ave Maria - Trad.

    String Quartet in D - Andante (Trad.)

    Scorpion Dance - Mike Franklyn

    Sneaky Fingers (T. Mori)

    Trollmors Vaggsang (String Quartet Version) - Trad.

    Prayer - Arvid Svenungsson

    The Spy - Wendy Martini

    Hallucinarium - Kalak

    Lucky Bird - River Run Dry

    Polska Fran Knaggalve - Trad.

    Persapojkarnas Polska - Trad.

    Joyful Occasions - Ludvig Moulin

    Folksong on Piano - Trad.

    Horror Composition 5 (SFX Producer)

    Vivaldi - The Four Seasons, Violin Concerto in E Major, Op. 8 No. 1, RV 269 “Spring” II. Largo e pianissimo sempre - Michelle Ross

    Vivaldi - The Four Seasons, Violin Concerto in G Minor, Op. 8 No. 2, RV 315 “Summer” III. Presto - Michelle Ross

    Largo from Xerxes - Trad.

    Taproot - Esme Cruz

    Distant Chanting - Jon Bjork

    Vacuum Sealer - Edward Karl Hanson

    It Lurks Below - Trailer Worx

    Godsend - Johannes Bomlof

    Amaranth Fields - Reynard Seidel

    Let Them Try - Hampus Naeselius

    Evil Intentions - Experia

    Trailed By Horror - Trailer Worn

    Av Jord, Till Jord - Silver Maple

    Hold Me Now - Spring Gang

    Eye For Detail - Jay Barton

    It Will Fall - Daniella Ljungsberg

    Scandinavian Folk 10 - Trad.

    Sneaky Steak - Daniel Fridell

    House of Horror - Marc Torch

    Sign Here - Enigmatic

    Serenity’s Reality 5 - August Wilhelmsson

    Jokers - Mary Riddle

    Corrivation - Ethan Sloan

    Fear of the Dark - Etienne Roussel

    Shadows Unseen - DEX 1200

    Onus - Ethan Sloan

    O’Connor’s Jig - Roy Edwin Williams

    Game Over - Daniel Fridell

    The Storage - Lennon Hutton

    Nakaroz - Sada Trio

    The Final Charge - Dian Shuai (D&D style!)

    Campfires Forever - Sam Rankin

    The Worry Dolls - Martin Klem

    Dune by whvle

    https://pixabay.com/music/suspense-dune-cinematic-amp-adventure-205995/
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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • An Uncommon Burial 38: "A Revenant"

    An Uncommon Burial 38: "A Revenant"
    Oct 26 2026
    Our former Oddchester trio face one that walks who should not, before attempting to reach the tumuli upon the moor... A Call of Cthulhu scenario by Danann McAleer. Episodes released weekly. Cast: Dr. Henry Carraig-Muir - Joseph Chance Rev. Peregrine McCutcheon - Dan Wheeler Lady Helen Marjorie Bjarmia Potts - Dominic Allen Keeper of the Arcane Law - Danann McAleer CW: This podcast contains mature themes, strong language and cosmic horror. Human discretion is advised. The Apocalypse Players is an actual play (or live play) TTRPG podcast focused on horror tabletop roleplaying games. Think Dimension 20 or Critical Role, but fewer dragons, more eldritch horrors, and more British actors taking their roleplaying very seriously (most of the time). We primarily play the Chaosium RPG Call of Cthulhu, but have also been known to dabble with other systems, most of which can be found on our Patreon: www.patreon.com/apocalypseplayers We now have a free Discord server where you can come worship at the altar of the Apocalypse, play Call of Cthulhu online, and meet like-minded cultists who will only be too eager to welcome you into the fold. New sacrifices oops we mean players are always welcome. Join here: discord.com/invite/kRQ62t6SjH For more information and to get in touch, visit www.apocalypseplayers.com The Apocalypse Players are: Dominic Allen @domjallen Joseph Chance @josephchance.mj.bsky.social Danann McAleer @DanannMcAleer Dan Wheeler @DanWheelerUK Music and SFX from Epidemic Sound With particular special thanks to Marianne McAleer for the use of her recording of ‘She Moved Through the Fair’ (traditional) from the album Sweet Nightingale, Marianne McAleer Kevin MacLeod, at Incompetech: Vanishing by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4578-vanishing License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Virtutes Instrumenti by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4590-virtutes-instrumenti License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license With very special thanks to Finn McAleer for the use of his fiddle music, especially his album ‘Rough As Folk’ (with The Great Bearded Tits). More of Finn’s music can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/@finnnnn Epidemic Sound: Radestsky March - Trad. When I am Calling Your Name - Giant Ember Ave Maria - Trad. String Quartet in D - Andante (Trad.) Scorpion Dance - Mike Franklyn Sneaky Fingers (T. Mori) Trollmors Vaggsang (String Quartet Version) - Trad. Prayer - Arvid Svenungsson The Spy - Wendy Martini Hallucinarium - Kalak Lucky Bird - River Run Dry Polska Fran Knaggalve - Trad. Persapojkarnas Polska - Trad. Joyful Occasions - Ludvig Moulin Folksong on Piano - Trad. Horror Composition 5 (SFX Producer) Vivaldi - The Four Seasons, Violin Concerto in E Major, Op. 8 No. 1, RV 269 “Spring” II. Largo e pianissimo sempre - Michelle Ross Vivaldi - The Four Seasons, Violin Concerto in G Minor, Op. 8 No. 2, RV 315 “Summer” III. Presto - Michelle Ross Largo from Xerxes - Trad. Taproot - Esme Cruz Distant Chanting - Jon Bjork Vacuum Sealer - Edward Karl Hanson It Lurks Below - Trailer Worx Godsend - Johannes Bomlof Amaranth Fields - Reynard Seidel Let Them Try - Hampus Naeselius Evil Intentions - Experia Trailed By Horror - Trailer Worn Av Jord, Till Jord - Silver Maple Hold Me Now - Spring Gang Eye For Detail - Jay Barton It Will Fall - Daniella Ljungsberg Scandinavian Folk 10 - Trad. Sneaky Steak - Daniel Fridell House of Horror - Marc Torch Sign Here - Enigmatic Serenity’s Reality 5 - August Wilhelmsson Jokers - Mary Riddle Corrivation - Ethan Sloan Fear of the Dark - Etienne Roussel Shadows Unseen - DEX 1200 Onus - Ethan Sloan O’Connor’s Jig - Roy Edwin Williams Game Over - Daniel Fridell The Storage - Lennon Hutton https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/3ae3d030-7a46-4b79-8993-f4d5138ac01b/ Nakaroz - Sada Trio https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/ad030d28-db6d-47df-a452-736458049317/ The Final Charge - Dian Shuai (D&D style!) https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/60cb2b28-4c5e-438a-aec6-f754de402e33/ Campfires Forever - Sam Rankin https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/36016e00-fed5-4e9c-88f7-68467e3e00a3/ Dune by whvle https://pixabay.com/music/suspense-dune-cinematic-amp-adventure-205995/ The Worry Dolls - Martin Klem https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/68cf78fd-da9d-4905-a57f-73d28a823cc4/
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 8 mins
  • An Uncommon Burial 35: Of Factions and Fiefdoms and Flashbacks

    An Uncommon Burial 35: Of Factions and Fiefdoms and Flashbacks
    Oct 5 2026
    In which our investigators - and players - take stock across time and space, attempting to comprehend potencies and plots greater than themselves, including the revision of missing moments, resulting in a return from the meta-table to the Whitby Abbey camp, even finding a dash of hard won clarity to accompany the ongoing mystery... Cast: Dr. Henry Carraig-Muir - Joseph Chance Rev. Perregrine McCutcheon - Dan Wheeler Lady Helen Marjorie Bjarmia Potts - Dominic Allen Keeper of Arcane Lore - Danann McAleer CW: This podcast contains mature themes, strong language and cosmic horror. Human discretion is advised. This episode also contains more meta chat than is normally safe to attempt in an Actual Play Podcast and has been edited to include naturalistic, around the game table moments, terrifying for their realism - from the 23 minute mark up to the 50 minute mark. Those averse to the sound of gamers speaking with their mouths full and theorising without careful reference to notes or documents should be warned. The Apocalypse Players is an actual play (or live play) TTRPG podcast focused on horror tabletop roleplaying games. Think Dimension 20 or Critical Role, but fewer dragons, more eldritch horrors, and more British actors taking their roleplaying very seriously (most of the time). We primarily play the Chaosium RPG Call of Cthulhu, but have also been known to dabble with other systems, most of which can be found on our Patreon: www.patreon.com/apocalypseplayers We now have a free Discord server where you can come worship at the altar of the Apocalypse, play Call of Cthulhu online, and meet like-minded cultists who will only be too eager to welcome you into the fold. New sacrifices oops we mean players are always welcome. Join here: discord.com/invite/kRQ62t6SjH For more information and to get in touch, visit www.apocalypseplayers.com The Apocalypse Players are: Dominic Allen @domjallen Joseph Chance @josephchance.mj.bsky.social Danann McAleer @DanannMcAleer Dan Wheeler @DanWheelerUK Music and SFX from Epidemic Sound Kevin MacLeod, at Incompetech: Vanishing by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4578-vanishing License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Virtutes Instrumenti by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4590-virtutes-instrumenti License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license With very special thanks to Finn McAleer for the use of his fiddle music, especially his album ‘Rough As Folk’ (with The Great Bearded Tits). More of Finn’s music can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/@finnnnn Epidemic Sound: Radestsky March - Trad. When I am Calling Your Name - Giant Ember Ave Maria - Trad. String Quartet in D - Andante (Trad.) Scorpion Dance - Mike Franklyn Sneaky Fingers (T. Mori) Trollmors Vaggsang (String Quartet Version) - Trad. Prayer - Arvid Svenungsson The Spy - Wendy Martini Hallucinarium - Kalak Lucky Bird - River Run Dry Polska Fran Knaggalve - Trad. Persapojkarnas Polska - Trad. Joyful Occasions - Ludvig Moulin Folksong on Piano - Trad. Horror Composition 5 (SFX Producer) Vivaldi - The Four Seasons, Violin Concerto in E Major, Op. 8 No. 1, RV 269 “Spring” II. Largo e pianissimo sempre - Michelle Ross Vivaldi - The Four Seasons, Violin Concerto in G Minor, Op. 8 No. 2, RV 315 “Summer” III. Presto - Michelle Ross Largo from Xerxes - Trad. Taproot - Esme Cruz Distant Chanting - Jon Bjork Vacuum Sealer - Edward Karl Hanson It Lurks Below - Trailer Worx Godsend - Johannes Bomlof Amaranth Fields - Reynard Seidel Let Them Try - Hampus Naeselius Evil Intentions - Experia Trailed By Horror - Trailer Worn Av Jord, Till Jord - Silver Maple Hold Me Now - Spring Gang Eye For Detail - Jay Barton It Will Fall - Daniella Ljungsberg Scandinavian Folk 10 - Trad. Sneaky Steak - Daniel Fridell House of Horror - Marc Torch Sign Here - Enigmatic Serenity’s Reality 5 - August Wilhelmsson Jokers - Mary Riddle Corrivation - Ethan Sloan Fear of the Dark - Etienne Roussel Shadows Unseen - DEX 1200 Onus - Ethan Sloan O’Connor’s Jig - Roy Edwin Williams Game Over - Daniel Fridell The Storage - Lennon Hutton Nakaroz - Sada Trio The Final Charge - Dian Shuai Nysno - Sandra Marteleur
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 46 mins
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All stars
Most relevant
An absolute must for anyone who enjoys horror, comedy and wants to listen to four grown men having fun going stark raving mad on the regular. Hilarious and genuinely frightening, the acting and banter are wonderful across the scenarios. My personal favourites are:

If you know nothing about Call of Cthulhu:
● 'The Lightless Beacon’ – kicks off quickly and features a guest who has never played before, so all the rules are explained as they play.
● For a more detailed and visual introduction, you can watch Dom GM a brilliant Agatha Christie-style scenario he wrote over on YouTube, called ‘NRB Plays Call Of Cthulhu (Ep 1 of 3)’. It introduced me to Call of Cthulhu, made me laugh like a loon, and sent me hunting for this podcast.


If you know the game or are happy to figure it out as you go:
● 'Bleak Prospects' - only just started, but it's a phenomenonal opening episode. Strong characters and immediate horrorifying tension contrasted with some of the funniest player conversations in their whole catalogue. Incredible work everyone, especially Dom as keeper and whoever's on editing. The character sheet reveal had me in stitches!
● ‘A Christmas Inheritance’ and ‘A Residence at the Bay’ – written by Danann in the style of M R James. A must for anyone who loves slow-build, atmospheric horror like ‘Dark Matter’ by Michelle Paver. Wonderful Jamesian horror with humour and domestics giving way to increasingly uncanny and terrifying occurrences. Inspired me to go and listen to all the free M R James stories on Audible. I am now impatiently waiting for Part 3 and for Danann to write a novel!
● ‘Machine Tractor Station Kharkov-37’ – one of the tensest scenarios in an endlessly bleak setting and the normal mythos horror augmented with the chilling dynamics of Stalinism.
● ‘Saturnine Chalice’ – an oldy but a goody! Dom is a hilariously evil keeper clearly having the time of his life. The other 3 are playing prison escapees who just broke down outside the wrong haunted house. No one is prepared, least of all the NPCs!
● ‘Crimson Letters’ – starts slow but builds towards an amazing episode 6 and just keeps getting better from there. A side-splittingly chaotic and creepy witch-hunt.
● ‘The Afflicted’ – the most disturbing of the scenarios so far, although the humour is still thankfully present. The stunning music soundscape by Dan & co. and the players responding to some genuinely upsetting scenario moments make this one really stand apart. Increasingly devastating police cases and city-wide dreams in a New York heatwave. I now have an actual fear of saxophone music as I listened to this while experiencing a 60+ hour bout of insomnia!
● ‘Il Portico di San Luca’ – wonderful trip to Italy! Felt like going on summer holidays.

If you enjoy the scenarios here, their Patreon is absolutely worth the price of admission, especially for the wonderfully creepy, claustrophobic 1 player vs Keeper Dom games and for the post-scenario discussions.

Fantastic for gamers and non-gamers alike

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The best at what they do plain and simple great work guys keep it up

Always top tier

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A very talent crew of hilarious characters, not just worth a listen but best to binge every session.

Great podcast

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What a star-studded team of Investigators! from the core crew of Dom, Dan, Dannan and Joseph to guests like Jeany Spark, each tale of terror is beautifully enacted, with horrors galore, as the Keepers of Arcane lore guide the hopeless, and oft times luckless, teams to their doom!! fans of Lovecraft, M.R. James, and other masters of the macabre will enjoy these feasts of fear!

Calling Cthulu...

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Funny, scary and enthralling.

Lovely to hear people having so much fun, while making something so good.

Brilliant stuff

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