We like to call Rusałka a cult game. Even here in Italy, it has become something of an urban legend-- that bizarre print-and-play game about Slavic folklore that turns up unbidden at random conventions, enthralling players along the way.

There is no such thing as coincidence, and the first Italian translation of the game was made by Cristian "spacerunner" Sisto, whose own game was published by NessunDove earlier this year. It's the version we first learned to love, and so we want him to tell you the story of how we discovered Rusałka. This project would not have happened if not for him.

I first played Rusałka during a local convention, ArCONate 2023 (with my friends Diego, Marco, Roberto and Lorenzo, who ran the game for us with English cards). It was an intense game, with epic and dramatic moments. The game's rules are lean but poignant, so they helped us get a running start and let ourselves be carried away by the tale-- of spirits who were once women with dreams and relationships, now faced with mortals carrying wishes both deep and desperate.

To put it bluntly, I fell in love at first sight.

That same evening, as soon as the game ended, I was already brainstorming how to bring Rusałka to Italy, to introduce it to all my friends and all the people who enjoy this kind of intimate, introspective game as much as I do.

With plenty of spare time, no less than three online dictionaries plus a physical one, and a heap of helpful advice, I finally managed to release a fan translation, available for free in CC-BY just like the original. But I'd always wished in my heart of hearts that someone else would find Rusałka and give it a more professional adaptation, one that could do justice to its visuals as well.

That moment has indeed come, and by a curious twist of fate it's thanks to NessunDove, the very team who published my own Barbabianca. For once, it is a wish gone right: they've given extra love to the text, and enriched the whole game with evocative art. And the seed we planted in Italy has come full circle, with a new edition in English. Believe me, I could not be more enthusiastic.

I'll see you around when the next unforgettable game comes out of the labyrinth.