Unlike the other World of Darkness game lines, Orpheus has a specifically planned metaplot and a set number of books that were published.

They are, in chronological order: Orpheus is noteworthy in that it began the trend of White Wolf creating game series with limited numbers of supplements.

This concept continued on with the Chronicles of Darkness games Promethean: The Created, Changeling: The Lost, Hunter: The Vigil, and Geist: The Sin-Eaters, all of which were initially planned as limited releases.

It is assumed that characters work for the Orpheus Group, a company that employs the talents of projectors and spirits to investigate and clear ghostly activity and perform other tasks difficult for those without access to the world of the dead.

Along with ghosts as antagonists, there are also rival projection companies, such as Terrel and Squib, and a new designer drug called pigment or black heroin that allows users to see the spirits of the dead.