What Is 'Buckshot Roulette' And Who Is 'The Dealer?' The Viral Indie Horror Game Explained

YouTube's Let's Play community is great at putting indie horror games in the spotlight and the latest focus of their intention is a small game by developer Mike Klubnika called Buckshot Roulette. Beyond its original and disturbing gameplay, the game is being celebrated for its eerie atmosphere, multiple endings and its terrifying antagonist, The Dealer. Here's everything you need to know about Buckshot Roulette.

What Is 'Buckshot Roulette'?

Buckshot Roulette is a short indie horror game by developer Mike Klubnika. It was released on Itch.io at the end of December 2023 and is described on the site as "a tabletop horror game that attempts to re-design the infamous game of Russian Roulette." In this case, "re-design" means playing Russian Roulette with a 12-gauge shotgun against a horrifying, inhuman monster known as The Dealer.

The game has players go through several rounds of Russian Roulette with The Dealer, the player being revived each time they fail leading up to the final round. As the rounds progress, items are made available to both The Dealer and the player that alter the gameplay. The game is available for around $1.20 US and has quickly gained a fanbase online as it becomes the subject of more and more Let's Play videos, including a video by Markiplier that gained over 2.4 million views in a day.

Who Is 'The Dealer' From 'Buckshot Roulette'?

Not much is known about the game's antagonist, simply known as The Dealer. He is depicted as a floating head and hands with a big, sharp-toothed smile and dark eyes, only changing his expression when he gets shot. The Dealer's main role is to play buckshot roulette against the player in a room above a nightclub, keeping a fairly professional and friendly demeanor while doing so.

The game gives us several hints at The Dealer's lore and backstory. At the start of the game, he has the player sign a contract waiver, where it is implied, although unconfirmed, that he won a game of buckshot roulette against God himself. Some also believe The Dealer broadcasts his games of buckshot roulette somewhere due to the presence of lighting rigs in the background, although again, this is unconfirmed.

For the full history of Buckshot Roulette, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.