Ma Nishtana: Why is this Night Different?
2023 Indie Groundbreaker Award nominee for Best Art
2023 Indie Groundbreaker Award nominee for Best Rules
A Passover Storytelling Tabletop Game
Ma Nishtana: Why is this Night Different? is a story game created by Gabrielle Rabinowitz and Ben Bisogno with art by Katrin Dirim, modeled on a Passover Seder—specifically the one the authors share in their family. The seder is a ritual meal and collaborative re-telling of the Jewish Exodus from Egypt. In Ma Nishtana, there are opportunities to eat all of the ritual foods or perform more abstract (and remote play-friendly) rituals.
What do I need to play?
- Guidebook
- Materials for rituals
We have detailed two lists of ritual components in the Guidebook: one for in-person play and one for remote play or more abstract ritual interpretations. However, feel free to break out of this binary. You are more than welcome to mix and match or introduce new elements of your own. Whatever is most fun for your table is best.
- If playing remotely: Character Keeper
We have commissioned a custom digital character keeper for Ma Nishtana by Ben Bond/Arktosaur which includes safety mechanics, fillable character sheets, and other handy references. You can create your own shareable copy here: https://www.arktosaur.us/keepers/manishtana.
I'm not Jewish. Is it okay for me to play?
Ma Nishtana encourages us to leave an open chair for all who come bearing an open heart. This is a story for all of us: Jews, non-Jews, and the Jew-“ish” alike. All are welcome around the table, especially those who are playing with family or friends or are far from home.
Praise for Ma Nishtana
"Ma Nishtana is one of the most joyous, engaging, accessible games I have seen in a long time, maybe ever. The skill Gabrielle and Ben have brought to this, to evoke such interesting conversations, is impressive. I look forward to seeing what they do next!"
- Meguey Baker
"I felt welcomed into the culture and history that inspired this game, the rituals generously pulled me in and asked me to truly make it my own story with everyone else."
- Rae Nedjadi
