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The Apocalypse Players

The Apocalypse Players

By: The Apocalypse Players
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 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
  • As The Waters Cover The Sea 11: The Boar Identity

    As The Waters Cover The Sea 11: The Boar Identity
    Feb 10 2026
    In which Tatler satisfies his cricketing needs, by way of kit and stroke; Blake attempts to secure her personal safety, at some rhinological cost; Philips finds himself weak at the knees, whilst unpleasantly aloft, and Redmark exits in order to return, only to get up close and personal with what Eskdale has become… A modern Call of Cthulhu Scenario by Joseph Chance Cast: Josephine Arundel & Felicity Blake – Belinda Cornish Chris Caldwell & Jonathan Tatler – Dan Wheeler Max Davenant & Tam Philips – Danann McAleer Charlie Westenra & Luther Eliot Redmark – Dominic Allen Keeper of Arcane Lore ­– Joseph Chance CW: This podcast contains mature themes, strong language and cosmic horror. This episode contains the repeated sound of vomiting as well as a significant amount of meta chat. Michael is very briefly mentioned. As ever, human discretion is advised. Music includes: Waves from The Past - Anna Dager & Hannah Ekstrom https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/Kw21NkSu4j/ Celestial Spheres - Ave Air https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/5346c11d-81ac-458e-9d63-f53b8fa91321/ Who We Once Were - Gavin Luke https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/c9e485f8-2969-4b8e-9c75-829fe9ad9079/ Through The Alleyways - Jon Bjork https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/64978412-f992-3301-bdc8-8747a039ffd3/ Hiding in The Shadows - Ludvig Moulin https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/c4f88f81-2c2b-4d98-b64d-f9126470c734/ Tiny Scandals - Creative Cut - Heron Vale https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/tiny-scandals-creative-cut-orchestra/138177 Up To No Good - Alt Version - Score Maestro https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/up-to-no-good-alternative-version/137611 The Ninja Path - Jono Heres https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/album/blue-desert/10972 Hotel Lalo - Harry Edvino https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/a6d57ec3-cb02-405d-af2a-14931d1555aa/ Gravity of Fragile - DEX 1200 https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/6165500f-3d46-4509-b16d-d308229ee352/ Light Footed - Bonnie Grace https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/48833251-ac55-3e3d-9562-e632dde5b5fd/ Mysterious Antics - Dream Cave https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/e8a513fe-c597-39eb-a101-bc8898b50444/ Imber - Christoffer Moe Ditlevsen https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/19d624eb-2516-43ea-8c3a-52e92cdb68c4/ Scandinavian Folk 2 https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/bede20b4-36e0-3965-9fab-3d220dfc0444/ Landscapes - Helmut Schenker https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/f6e96196-103b-4260-b2bc-ec423116c6f9/ Sworn by Blood - Dream Cave https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/75628ecd-c5f2-387f-b01e-839e8b434bc6/ In Santa Ana - First Timer https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/8b74f82a-e721-4f93-b358-d214e6c00086/ Do You Really Wanna Be In Love? - Frigga https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/b94f0ef1-9a8b-311c-b358-537b560c433b/ Missing Memories - Christopher Moe Ditlevsen https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/M5e5wT9Ci7/ Tavore - Anders Schill Paulsen, Anna Dager & Hannah Ekstrom https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/3jAWMYFdtD/ Crucial Calculations - Gavin Luke https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/wJWNbpM3bh/ Sounded Blue Saga https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/Ua4aSty4ml/ Murmur Forest - Rand Aldo https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/7amZAibTX0/ Where the Flowers Grow - Dez Moran https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/EcUT8PAe8b/ The Adjunct Anders Schill Paulsen, Hanna Ekström, Anna Dager Celestial Spheres - Ave Air https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/3ed2z62JCV/ Out of the Window - Farrell Wooten https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/uZpb17J0rN/ Redemption - Sunriver https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/redemption/93323 Bitter Bitter - Dylan Thomas https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/dylan-thomas-bitter-bitter/49435 Bound To Fall Apart - Jon Bjork https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/ecb4e639-62bc-3f2c-b48f-53c23b5b8cf0/ Savage Shadows - Semi https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/savage-shadows/134832 Those Moments - Hampus Naeselius https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/HmZtb2i0sL/ 3000 Years Old - Farrell Wooten https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/7a29bef0-58f0-303b-af94-575197610de9/ Enter The Realm of Shadows - Christopher Moe Ditlevsen https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/003fff05-76b0-44f2-bd5e-2d2b98e2b062/ Ebbas Not Right - Peter Crosby https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/4052c08d-d4c6-4974-b888-6aeaa505c4af/ Vapors - Ethan Sloan https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/yg5J0DyMEz/ Tension Mansion - Kikoru https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/eZkXkCpIjF/ The Prophet - Alec Slayne https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/JK03rRZisV/ Shouldn't Have Met You https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/shouldnt-have-met-you/73261 V1rgo - Ambre Jaune https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/0Pq5JDXcmj/ Hysteria - Anna Dager &...
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    1 hr and 39 mins
  • As The Waters Cover The Sea 10: The Hare, The Shadow & The Italian Job

    As The Waters Cover The Sea 10: The Hare, The Shadow & The Italian Job
    Feb 3 2026
    In which Felicity, Luther and Tam confront Colin, while Jonathan resolves the truth of his capacity to speak Dante’s great vernacular, as well as seeking out a decent set of cricket pads. Another name is uncovered of the six, an ancient walker of shadows is revealed and a mythos legend enters into the frame, by way of colloquy, if not actual personage… A modern Call of Cthulhu Scenario by Joseph Chance Cast: Josephine Arundel & Felicity Blake – Belinda Cornish Chris Caldwell & Jonathan Tatler – Dan Wheeler Max Davenant & Tam Philips – Danann McAleer Charlie Westenra & Luther Eliot Redmark – Dominic Allen Keeper of Arcane Lore ­– Joseph Chance CW: This podcast contains mature themes, strong language and cosmic horror. PLEASE BE AWARE this episode refers to domestic violence and abuse and contains the evident sound of vomiting. As ever, 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 and worship at the altar of the Apocalypse, play Call of Cthulhu online, and meet like-minded cultists who will be only 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 @josephchancemj.bsky.social Danann McAleer @DanannMcAleer Dan Wheeler @DanWheelerUK Music includes: Waves from The Past - Anna Dager & Hannah Ekstrom https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/Kw21NkSu4j/ Celestial Spheres - Ave Air https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/5346c11d-81ac-458e-9d63-f53b8fa91321/ Who We Once Were - Gavin Luke https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/c9e485f8-2969-4b8e-9c75-829fe9ad9079/ Through The Alleyways - Jon Bjork https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/64978412-f992-3301-bdc8-8747a039ffd3/ Hiding in The Shadows - Ludvig Moulin https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/c4f88f81-2c2b-4d98-b64d-f9126470c734/ Tiny Scandals - Creative Cut - Heron Vale https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/tiny-scandals-creative-cut-orchestra/138177 Up To No Good - Alt Version - Score Maestro https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/up-to-no-good-alternative-version/137611 The Ninja Path - Jono Heres https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/album/blue-desert/10972 Hotel Lalo - Harry Edvino https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/a6d57ec3-cb02-405d-af2a-14931d1555aa/ Gravity of Fragile - DEX 1200 https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/6165500f-3d46-4509-b16d-d308229ee352/ Light Footed - Bonnie Grace https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/48833251-ac55-3e3d-9562-e632dde5b5fd/ Mysterious Antics - Dream Cave https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/e8a513fe-c597-39eb-a101-bc8898b50444/ Imber - Christoffer Moe Ditlevsen https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/19d624eb-2516-43ea-8c3a-52e92cdb68c4/ Scandinavian Folk 2 https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/bede20b4-36e0-3965-9fab-3d220dfc0444/ Landscapes - Helmut Schenker https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/f6e96196-103b-4260-b2bc-ec423116c6f9/ Sworn by Blood - Dream Cave https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/75628ecd-c5f2-387f-b01e-839e8b434bc6/ In Santa Ana - First Timer https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/8b74f82a-e721-4f93-b358-d214e6c00086/ Do You Really Wanna Be In Love? - Frigga https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/b94f0ef1-9a8b-311c-b358-537b560c433b/ Missing Memories - Christopher Moe Ditlevsen https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/M5e5wT9Ci7/ Tavore - Anders Schill Paulsen, Anna Dager & Hannah Ekstrom https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/3jAWMYFdtD/ Crucial Calculations - Gavin Luke https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/wJWNbpM3bh/ Sounded Blue Saga https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/Ua4aSty4ml/ Murmur Forest - Rand Aldo https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/7amZAibTX0/ Where the Flowers Grow - Dez Moran https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/EcUT8PAe8b/ The Adjunct Anders Schill Paulsen, Hanna Ekström, Anna Dager Celestial Spheres - Ave Air https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/3ed2z62JCV/ Out of the Window - Farrell Wooten https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/uZpb17J0rN/ Redemption - Sunriver https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/redemption/93323 Bitter Bitter - Dylan Thomas https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/dylan-thomas-bitter-bitter/49435 Bound To Fall Apart - Jon Bjork https://...
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    1 hr and 9 mins
  • As The Waters Cover The Sea 09: There Will Be Old Men

    As The Waters Cover The Sea 09: There Will Be Old Men
    Jan 26 2026
    In which Tam, Felicity and Luther begin to investigate the interior of Alfoxton House, while Jonathan pursues greater command of the exterior… A modern Call of Cthulhu Scenario by Joseph Chance Cast: Josephine Arundel & Felicity Blake – Belinda Cornish Chris Caldwell & Jonathan Tatler – Dan Wheeler Max Davenant & Tam Philips – Danann McAleer Charlie Westenra & Luther Eliot Redmark – Dominic Allen Keeper of Arcane Lore ­– Joseph Chance CW: This podcast contains mature themes, strong language and cosmic horror. As ever, 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 and worship at the altar of the Apocalypse, play Call of Cthulhu online, and meet like-minded cultists who will be only 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 @josephchancemj.bsky.social Danann McAleer @DanannMcAleer Dan Wheeler @DanWheelerUK Music includes: Waves from The Past - Anna Dager & Hannah Ekstrom https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/Kw21NkSu4j/ Celestial Spheres - Ave Air https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/5346c11d-81ac-458e-9d63-f53b8fa91321/ Who We Once Were - Gavin Luke https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/c9e485f8-2969-4b8e-9c75-829fe9ad9079/ Through The Alleyways - Jon Bjork https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/64978412-f992-3301-bdc8-8747a039ffd3/ Hiding in The Shadows - Ludvig Moulin https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/c4f88f81-2c2b-4d98-b64d-f9126470c734/ Tiny Scandals - Creative Cut - Heron Vale https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/tiny-scandals-creative-cut-orchestra/138177 Up To No Good - Alt Version - Score Maestro https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/up-to-no-good-alternative-version/137611 The Ninja Path - Jono Heres https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/album/blue-desert/10972 Hotel Lalo - Harry Edvino https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/a6d57ec3-cb02-405d-af2a-14931d1555aa/ Gravity of Fragile - DEX 1200 https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/6165500f-3d46-4509-b16d-d308229ee352/ Light Footed - Bonnie Grace https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/48833251-ac55-3e3d-9562-e632dde5b5fd/ Mysterious Antics - Dream Cave https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/e8a513fe-c597-39eb-a101-bc8898b50444/ Imber - Christoffer Moe Ditlevsen https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/19d624eb-2516-43ea-8c3a-52e92cdb68c4/ Scandinavian Folk 2 https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/bede20b4-36e0-3965-9fab-3d220dfc0444/ Landscapes - Helmut Schenker https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/f6e96196-103b-4260-b2bc-ec423116c6f9/ Sworn by Blood - Dream Cave https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/75628ecd-c5f2-387f-b01e-839e8b434bc6/ In Santa Ana - First Timer https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/8b74f82a-e721-4f93-b358-d214e6c00086/ Do You Really Wanna Be In Love? - Frigga https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/b94f0ef1-9a8b-311c-b358-537b560c433b/ Missing Memories - Christopher Moe Ditlevsen https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/M5e5wT9Ci7/ Tavore - Anders Schill Paulsen, Anna Dager & Hannah Ekstrom https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/3jAWMYFdtD/ Crucial Calculations - Gavin Luke https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/wJWNbpM3bh/ Sounded Blue Saga https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/Ua4aSty4ml/ Murmur Forest - Rand Aldo https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/7amZAibTX0/ Where the Flowers Grow - Dez Moran https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/EcUT8PAe8b/ The Adjunct Anders Schill Paulsen, Hanna Ekström, Anna Dager Celestial Spheres - Ave Air https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/3ed2z62JCV/ Out of the Window - Farrell Wooten https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/uZpb17J0rN/ Redemption - Sunriver https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/redemption/93323 Bitter Bitter - Dylan Thomas https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/dylan-thomas-bitter-bitter/49435 Bound To Fall Apart - Jon Bjork https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/ecb4e639-62bc-3f2c-b48f-53c23b5b8cf0/ Savage Shadows - Semi https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/savage-shadows/134832 Those Moments - Hampus Naeselius https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/HmZtb2i0sL/ 3000 Years Old - Farrell Wooten https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/7a29bef0...
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    1 hr and 18 mins
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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Funny, scary and enthralling.

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

Brilliant stuff

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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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