The Best Call of Cthulhu Scenarios for Beginner Keepers

Running Call of Cthulhu for the first time can feel overwhelming. The tone is different from most TTRPGs. The system is percentile based and your players are likely walking into the unknown with wide eyes and no weapons strong enough to save them.

But here's the secret: It's not about getting it perfect - it is about finding the right scenario to guide you and start you off.

These five hand-picked scenarios are perfect for first-time Keepers, offering clear structure, flexible pacing and horror that's easier to manage behind the screen. Whether you're coming from D&D, are new to GMing entirely, or just want to start strong, these are the stories that won't leave you fumbling through the rulebook when the madness begins.

The Haunting:

Starter Set/Free Quickstart PDF

The Haunting is the gold standard for first time Keepers. You get a haunted house, a suspicious landlord, creepy history and a final confrontation that can be scaled up or down based on how the session is going. Everything you need is clearly laid out and it's easy to roleplay the limited NPCs. Best of all? If you mess this one up, it's still fun!

• Keeper Bonus: Great pacing and tons and tons of advice online, including my own article located here!
• Session Length: As short as 2 hours.
• Setting: Boston, 1920s or modern.
• Best Use: Absolute first-time run or as part of a beginner mini campaign. Both Cat's Cradle and Of Wrath and Blood are also additional scenarios that act as sequels of a sort to this Scenario

Edge of Darkness:

Call of Cthulhu Starter Set

Edge of Darkness is like The Haunting's older cousin. It introduces ritual magic, moral ambiguity and the first real Mythos monster most groups will face. The final ritual scene teaches Keepers how to balance tension and horror without railroading the players.

• Keeper Bonus: Plenty of tools for adding tension - undead threats, visions and optional skill rolls for the Climax. I have an article on advice for running Edge of Darkness here!
• Session Length: Closer to 3-4 hours in my experience
• Setting: Rural New England, best as 1920s, can be altered for modern.
• Best Use: Groups that come from D&D or Pathfinder or as a follow-up to the Haunting.

Dead Man Stomp:

Included in the 7e Rulebook

It looks like a jazz noir mystery - and then the zombies start showing up. Dead Man Stomp blends social roleplay, urban exploration and supernatural violence in a way that can keep new players, action lovers and RP oriente groups interested. As a Keeper you get to explore a more populated setting (Harlem), practice switching between NPCs and control the tension across multiple scenes.

• Keeper Bonus: Easy to adjust the pacing or scale of the climax depending on your group's interest between action vs. atmosphere. I have an article on my advice for running Dead Man Stomp here!
• Session Length: Closer to 3-4 hours
• Setting: 1920s Harlem
• Best Use: Groups that want a bit more character drama and roleplay over pure investigation and combat.

The Lightless Beacon:

Free Download from Chaosium

It’s short. It’s tight. And it’s designed to be your first one-shot. Set on an isolated island during a rising storm, The Lightless Beacon teaches Keepers how to introduce mystery, manage a compact map, and pace an escalating horror encounter without prep overload. Best of all, it's structured so you can improvise without breaking the story.

This is the first Scenario I ever ran for Call of Cthulhu and it is still my favorite introduction to this day.

• Keeper Bonus: A great opportunity to practice time pressure, sandbox layout and monster pacing. I have an article on advice for Lightless Beacon here.
• Session Length: As short as 2 hours, usually more like 3.
• Setting: 1920s, Massachusetts
• Best Use: Convention One Shots or an introduction with limited time.

Missed Dues:

Keeper Screen Pack

This one turns the formula on its head: the players start as criminals. It’s a heist-gone-wrong tale with pulp flavor and street-level weirdness. And for first-time Keepers, that means a straightforward timeline, tight location structure, and NPCs with strong, memorable personalities.

It’s also very forgiving if you’re not confident in the Mythos yet—the weirdness builds gradually and doesn’t demand deep lore knowledge to run.

• Keeper Bonus: Great introduction to Cosmic Horror, forgiving in that it is almost expected for all your players to die in this one.
• Session length: 3-4 hours
• Setting: New York criminal underworld, 1920s
• Best Use: A one shot that you want to end in carnage and few survivors.

Final Thoughts:

Being a Keeper isn’t about memorizing every rule or tracking every stat—it’s about telling a story your players will feel. These five scenarios help you do just that, with tools that make your first session smoother, spookier, and more memorable.

If you’re ready to step behind the screen, these are the best places to start.