TTRPG Sunderfolk Is A Blast, And Even Better For Friends Looking To Jump Into Tabletop Games

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In 2025 at GDC, I tried out Sunderfolk, an upcoming game that offers a cooperative turn-based tactical RPG adventure experience, similar to playing a tabletop RPG with friends. Unlike traditional games of this kind, you don’t need physical maps or rulebooks because the entire game is controlled via smartphones. This means you and your friends can enjoy the game regardless of location. I found Sunderfolk incredibly enjoyable due to its user-friendly structure and straightforward combat system, which make it much easier to learn compared to games like Dungeons & Dragons 5e, Pathfinder 2e, or Vampire: The Masquerade 5e. I believe many groups who have been curious about tabletop RPGs but haven’t had the time or resources to get involved will find Sunderfolk appealing.

In the realm of Sunderfolk, each player chooses one of six distinct characters to control: The raven Arcanist is a conventional spellcaster, the bat Bard strengthens and heals allies using melodies, the polar bear Berserker takes charge at the forefront armed with a mighty hammer, the goat Ranger deals more damage as they move farther from the action, the weasel Rogue attacks enemies in close quarters, while the salamander Pyromancer unleashes powerful fire blasts. Their mission is to safeguard Arden, a tranquil town inhabited by anthropomorphic animals, against an ominous darkness that has been escalating from minor irritations into colossal perils.

In my gameplay of Sunderfolk, I selected the Ranger character, and two members from the development team Secret Door joined me as the Bard and Berserker. While Sunderfolk can be played solo, managing multiple characters much like Baldur’s Gate 3, I found the most fun in collaborating with my teammates to strategize on how best to combine our unique abilities for combat situations. The game allows for up to four players simultaneously, and a group of three or four seems to provide the optimal experience in Sunderfolk.

As we watched events unfold on the TV, we individually managed our characters using our smartphones. Each character had a unique deck of cards; for instance, the Ranger possessed a card capable of firing a shot that hit multiple targets sequentially, while the Bard carried a card that temporarily captivated an enemy and moved them to a new location on the hexagonal game board. Unlike Sunderfolk, there is no set turn order, granting us the freedom to decide both our actions and the sequence in which we perform them. My team and I would engage in quick discussions to strategize, sometimes interrupting each other’s turns mid-planning so one could go before the other.

In the battle sequences I experienced, our goal was to vanquish a group of villains who were undergoing mutations, transforming them into potent beasts. Tickers above their heads indicated the number of turns remaining before each transformation. The developers shared that Sunderfolk will encounter various combat scenarios with objectives other than defeating enemies, such as defending a position against continuous enemy waves. I’m intrigued to see how these different objective types play out, but I can’t predict their nature. Some characters had cards that seemed mismatched in a scenario focused on quickly eliminating enemiesfor example, the Ranger could halt an enemy’s advance and then leapfrog away. I ponder if those cards would have felt more rewarding to utilize when confronted with a distinct type of objective.

During breaks from missions, all players typically make their way back to Arden, a central hub town. Here, players can level up and acquire new passive abilities, as well as unlock new cards to customize their decks. Interactions with NPCs in the town may lead to friendship or romantic relationships, and loot can be used to purchase improvements for the town that benefit the entire party. While others are busy working on their deck, socializing, or exploring the town, individuals have the freedom to take a break, perhaps to use the restroom or grab a bite to eat, as the gameplay switches from the main screen to each player’s personal device.

One fun aspect I appreciate during leisure time is the ability to label items or places. For instance, once our gaming group successfully funded the repair of a bridge, the one who contributed the most gold was allowed to name it. This name would then appear on everyone’s device whenever we visited the bridge in-game. Furthermore, NPC characters would use this designated name when discussing the bridge. There were other delightful instances of this as well, such as an NPC asking the Bard to remind her about a specific item, and then she’d use the name the developer assigned when I, the Ranger, conversed with her. It’s a subtle narrative detail, but it empowers you and your friends to create your unique Arden world and weave stories within it. This storytelling mechanism extends to various aspects of the game too. If a player develops a romantic relationship with an NPC, this is reflected in conversations with that character for other players, and they receive a special gameplay bonus related to their romance. Their connection is consistently mirrored throughout the gameplay.

In this game, a single actor, Anjali Bhimani, provides voices for every character, the storyline, and even the narration during combat. She skillfully changes her speech patterns to make each major character distinct while using her own voice for guidance if players need it. This is like playing a traditional tabletop RPG with a Game Master, but without anyone needing to take on that role. After experiencing Amelia Tyler in Baldur’s Gate 3, I hope this approach becomes common for games of this type. Game Masters are essential for some tabletop RPGs, and after understanding their importance, I find it hard to enjoy certain video games without the guiding, all-knowing voice they provide. This seems to be a missing element in many TTRPG video games.

What I’m trying to convey is that Sunderfolk was my top pick among demos at GDC this year, and it’s a game I’m really looking forward to in 2025. I can hardly wait until I can get my friends involved when it releases for Xbox Series X|S, PS5, PC, and Switch on April 23.

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2025-03-25 22:10