ALTOONA, Pa. — Penn State Altoona faculty members Brian Onishi, associate professor of philosophy, and Jeff Stoyanoff, associate professor of English and of women's, gender and sexuality studies, have released a new episode of their "Horror Joy" podcast. In the latest episode, Stoyanoff welcomes Damir Debanic, owner of InterHuman Games, to discuss his upcoming board game, Jure Grando, a Croatia-based, vampire-adjacent, folklore horror title on GameFound.

Debanic describes horror’s cathartic link to joy, his path from organizing events in 1990s Croatia to 15 years at sea and why board games are “programming with paper” and a vehicle for story. He explains that horror board games mainly appeal to board gamers drawn in by theme, then outlines Croatian vampire/štrigoi lore, krsnik monster-fighters and how Slavic mythology informed Dracula’s supernatural elements. Jure Grando emphasizes simple folk protections, no dice, minimal combat and a two-phase race against encroaching darkness, a demonic cat, and the endgame arrival of Jure Grando, with multiple scenarios and endings. In the episode, Debanic summarizes prior games (Within Walls, Propuh, and Fear of the Dark) and previews future folklore projects and a possible Jure Grando sequel.

The full episode of "Horror Joy" can be accessed on podcast providers or on Red Circle.