Rabbits (podcast)

Rabbits is a mystery pseudo-documentary podcast. Published by Pacific Northwest Stories, it is part of their series of podcasts set in the same fictional universe (such as The Black Tapes and Tanis) which, despite being works of fiction, are presented as legitimate true stories both within the podcast and outside of it; the podcast has no credited writers or performers, as the events and characters are framed as real.

The show revolves around a mysterious, dangerous unnamed alternate reality game nicknamed "Rabbits". The first season follows protagonist Carly Parker, who stumbles upon the game while investigating the disappearance of her friend Yumiko. The second season follows a new character, Riley Bennet, who also comes to investigate the game. A main feature of Rabbits is the use of pop culture references, especially to classic video games like Defender and Space Ace.

A second season was announced and its funding was attempted on Kickstarter; while it did not reach its goal, the season was still published on Stitcher Premium. A three episode spin-off miniseries, The Path was available on Apple in 2021, while a novel written by Miles and also titled Rabbits, a stand-alone story set in the same universe, was released on June 8, 2021. A sequel, The Quiet Room, was published in October 2023.

Season 2
(Available on Stitcher)

The Path
(Available on Apple)

Reception
Time listed Rabbits as one of "The 50 Best Podcasts Right Now," saying it is perfect for "people nostalgic for that moment when we couldn't tell if The Blair Witch Project was real or not." USA Today chose Rabbits as their "Podcast Pick" of the week because part of its fun is that "it feels like it almost could be true." Vox chose Rabbits for a list of "podcasts to get you in the Halloween spirit" because of its "well-acted blend of urban legends, weird fiction, and your average creepypasta." Neil Patrick Harris called Rabbits "addictive."

Wil Williams criticized Rabbits for its writing, acting, and production, along with the other Pacific Northwest Stories podcasts Tanis and The Black Tapes, as well as its pacing and advertising ("How am I, the listener, supposed to feel suspense or concern in an intense plot moment when the host stops her narration to talk about Nature Box?"). Lucia Peters criticized the first episode's writing for relying too heavily on exposition.

Novel
In 2021, a Rabbits novel written by Terry Miles was released. The novel tells a new story set in the same world as the podcast.