Sure, if we’re talking officially licensed videogames set in the Dungeons and Dragons universe, Baldur’s Gate 3 is in a class of its own. Even if you remove DnD out of the equation, it’s still one of the best co-op games ever made. However, while its enormous scope and seemingly endless possibilities are what make it so cherished, it can also be a barrier to some. Looking to create a co-op experience that’s much closer to a chilled out DnD game night, and delivering it in a novel way using each player’s smartphone, Sunderfolk is one of this year’s most intriguing new projects. Now, the wait to play it is finally over.
To avoid any initial confusion, given that I just mentioned smartphones: no, this is not a mobile game. Sunderfolk – developed by Secret Door, a team within ex-Blizzard boss Mike Morhaime’s company Dreamhaven – is a turn-based RPG for PC and consoles. The phones, however, replace the need for multiple gamepads or mouse and keyboard inputs. It’s your controller. It’s your inventory. It’s your hand of cards. It’s even your DnD-esque rulebook. You simply boot up the game on your system, hook it up to a shared TV or monitor, everyone downloads the free app and scans the QR code on screen, and you’re all connected to the same game. You don’t all need to buy the game separately, either – just one copy is needed.
While party game fans may have had a similar experience before with the likes of Jackbox, implementing this into a fairly complex co-op RPG is a real novelty. And I don’t mean in a gimmicky way either.
So, that’s the infrastructure out of the way – what actually goes down in Sunderfolk? Well, it’s all about rebuilding and protecting the quaint fantasy village of Arden, which is situated beneath a mystical, life-giving Brightstone. Unfortunately, this Brightstone is corrupted, and that means some unwanted attention for the citizens of Arden.
There are six classes to choose from that all align with the traditional archetypes you see in fantasy RPGs – Arcanist, Bard, Berserker, Pyromancer, Ranger or Rogue – all depicted by an animal character – raven, bat, polar bear, mini-dragon, ram, and shinobi-style otter, respectively. As a team, you get stuck into missions that include turn-based encounters. When it’s your turn, you not only pick an action but also a card that can increase its effect, add a beneficial modifier, or (if luck’s not on your side) work against you by making attacks weaker or applying debuffs.
Once you’ve cleared a mission and kept Arden safe for another day, you retire to the village where you can interact with the locals, get upgrades, and help rebuild this little haven.
While there are some great turn-based RPGs out there, and more extremely promising ones arriving in the coming months, none are as couch co-op focused and innovative when it comes to their delivery as Sunderfolk. Now, you and your pals can get stuck in.
Sunderfolk is out right now on Steam for PC players, as well as PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch.
For more, check out our lists of the best fantasy games and the best co-op games.
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