Sunderfolk review: A casual tabletop RPG in a neat, digital package

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A game truly stands out when someone inquires, “Is it possible for me to do this extraordinary thing?” and the response is affirmative. Sunderfolk, the unassuming digital tabletop RPG developed by Secret Door, fits this description. Admittedly, it might seem hard to believe after just a brief look at it.

As a gamer, I found the graphics of this game quite typical for a mobile title, nothing particularly memorable once you set it aside. That’s a pity because the characters in the game are intricately designed, offering a unique blend of charm and strangeness. There’s a diminutive salamander sorcerer, a hulking bear berserker, an ancient turtle lady, a melodious bat bard, an oddly endearing ogre named Mudmouth, and a host of other creatures that range from cute to downright revolting. The variety in characters is truly impressive. What strikes me as peculiar is that Sunderfolk doesn’t have to be mobile-friendly, given that it can be played using smartphones as controllers.

To enjoy this game with your friends, you can organize parties consisting of up to four participants. Interestingly, only one person needs to own it. You all gather around a TV or stream the game on Discord, and using a free smartphone app, you follow along with what’s happening on the screen. In essence, the television acts as the tabletop where miniature figures would be placed, while your phones serve as character sheets and dice. However, it is essential to note that the phone doesn’t control the game; instead, a PC or console handles the gameplay. This allows for more intricate art styles and animations than what you might typically find in a mobile title from early 2020s.

The setup effectively facilitates an user-friendly experience for Sunderfolk, enabling quick integration. I quickly convinced DBLTAP team members to join me, and within minutes, we got started: I streamed on Discord, they scanned the session’s barcode through their apps, and off we went, selecting our characters and playing without delay.

Moving characters wasn’t always straightforward for us, as the positions we marked on our phones didn’t always correspond with the movements we intended. Having an additional grid on the phone might have made navigation easier for players. Moreover, it was tough to manage both screens simultaneously. At one instance, one of us was unable to make any moves until we figured out that they needed to follow the game instructions first by clicking a precise area on their screen in the game guide to access new information.

The game offered valuable learning experiences for its intended audience, however, it was difficult for us to focus on our phones due to the tendency to concentrate more on larger screens. Unfortunately, the user interface of the phone app wasn’t always self-explanatory regarding navigation, and important instructions were displayed only on the other screen rather than on the phone itself.

Despite a few drawbacks, the gameplay more than compensates for it. This is particularly true once you get past the initial missions, as the game progressively expands with interwoven systems that mirror the intricacy and richness of tabletop role-playing games.

The town in this game can be upgraded, and building trust with non-player characters (NPCs) is possible through dialogue choices, even leading to romantic relationships. Trading items among players is also an option. Collaboration is essential throughout the game; everyone contributes to improving the town’s structures, and then a collective decision is made on how funds should be allocated.

It’s quite fascinating that people have the opportunity to leave an enduring imprint on the world by giving things names. In this game, players might get to name the town market or even choose the nicknames for ogre archers, or perhaps they can title the current plot device. Although Sunderfolk doesn’t offer many significant story choices, this is a delightful and engaging method for a group to personalize their world.

The narrative of this game isn’t particularly unique – it’s your typical rescue-the-town-and-save-the-world scenario – but honestly, that doesn’t make much difference because when you’re cozied up on a couch with friends or chatting with them via voice calls, you’re not likely to focus too intently. However, the way the narrator skillfully modulates her voice to portray various characters, much like a seasoned tabletop role-playing game master would, is worth noting. Although the visual aspect may fall short at times, she more than compensates with her dedication and ingenuity.

The core action of this game revolves around its turn-based combat, set on a hexagonal grid. Each character, offering choices like sorcerer, wizard, ranger, berserker, rogue, and bard, possesses unique abilities and skills. These characteristics are managed within a deckbuilding system. As you progress, you unlock additional abilities, but you’re limited to selecting a few for each mission.

In a tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG), we can simulate dice rolls using another deck of cards, which either increases or decreases the damage of your abilities. By progressing through and enhancing your town, you’ll unlock more cards for your deck, providing numerous passive effects that can assist not only yourself but also your team. This system left us all amazed by its potential to customize our decks according to our characters and playstyles.

Indeed, let’s discuss an interesting point. The classic fantasy character types are skillfully designed. For instance, my diminutive lizard sorcerer hurls fireballs all around, causing significant harm, but the blazes sometimes endanger my companions as well. On the other hand, the Berserker is effective at provoking adversaries and shielding allies, while the Bard generates beneficial effects that other characters can utilize, and so on.

The variety in missions is quite impressive, with some strictly combat-oriented, while others incorporate puzzle elements or require protecting NPCs. Additionally, there’s always the competitive aspect – although you may collaborate to finish a mission, each member collects their own loot and treasures individually. One of our teammates, a bald bard without hair, has gained quite a reputation for his selfishness when it comes to gold and treasure, which is met with applause every time a chest he targeted transforms into a man-eating mimic.

The fierce battle showcased the brilliance of our collaboration and teamwork, instinctively leading us to strategize our next moves as we approached a fresh phase. By the way, there were numerous exclamations of “This is reminiscent of Baldur’s Gate 3!” when we skillfully sent perilous foes tumbling off cliffs for some swift victories.

You might have observed that I frequently use “we” and “us” in my explanation – this is because, although you can play this game individually, it’s truly designed for a group of friends to enjoy. The social aspect is a significant part of what makes this game stand out, enhancing your gaming experience.

As a passionate gamer, I can’t help but be enthralled by Sunderfolk. Though its narrative might seem minor, it truly excels at fostering personal stories and connections among players that transcend the digital realm. In essence, the creators at Secret Door have managed to design a more inviting, digitized take on tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) we cherish, despite areas for improvement. I eagerly look forward to witnessing its evolution and the innovative directions they’ll take it in the future.

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2025-04-18 16:17