I have very fond memories of a pandemic DND game where the players were making their way through a large puzzle sort of encounter. The confusion, the despair, the panic - so good. And the rising mood when they started to figure it out! And the triumph when they escaped! It was fantastic. One of the players said afterwards “I’ve never been so stressed before” and I was like “that is the greatest compliment you could give me”
I miss that group. Alas, when the pandemic wound down they all returned to real life interests. We’ll never know what the gnome depot was up to in their corporate office, now.
C’est la vie
Edit: if you’re lucky
What the hell game are you playing in where it’s chronic existential dread? Unless the group really blows it’s typically been chill and fun, with occasional drama
The existential dread comes from the high stakes drama you’re experiencing through the characters, not from drama with other players.
But of course, it depends on the play style of the group. For us, the drama is the fun.
For me it’s playing Warhammer Fantasy. Where you roll a peasant and die of cholera.