Dreamhaven’s development studio Secret Door showed off their game Sunderfolk at the showcase. Sunderfolk is inspired by a deep love of tabletop gaming. Taking place in the peaceful animal village of Arden, players will embark on a thrilling quest to save the village from a mysterious corruption. While Sunderfolk is far from the first game to be inspired by tabletop gaming or bring tabletop gaming to consoles, it’s one of the first to utilize a free downloadable mobile app to allow others to control the game.
Boasting no elaborate setup, rulebooks, or materials needed, Sunderfolk is a very streamlined tabletop RPG experience. Chris Sigaty, studio head of Secret Door, had this to say:
As longstanding tabletop gaming fans, we at Secret Door know all too well how difficult it can be to get new players together for a shared experience. Learning rules, perceived complexity, and setup times can create challenges for playing with our loved ones, our goal with Sunderfolk is to leverage modern technology to make game night something everyone can enjoy.
As anyone who is into tabletop gaming can tell you, tabletop gaming can be like herding cats, and some people just can’t sit long enough for a game setup or get overwhelmed by too many game materials. I’ve struggled to pull tabletop groups together for years and feel like the idea of a tabletop game controlled via a mobile app has been one banging around the industry for years as well. Mike Morhaime had this to say about Sunderfolk:
At its core, Sunderfolk is about the joy of playing together–laughter, strategy, and making memories, just like the tabletop games that inspired it, Sunderfolk creates lasting bonds between friends and family with each session. There is something for everyone to enjoy in the game, whether you consider yourself a seasoned player or someone who’s along for the ride. We look forward to watching your journey unfold in the Sunderlands when Sunderfolk launches on April 23.
Sunderfolk Key Features
- Rediscover Game Night: Up to four players can play Sunderfolk, with each player’s phone or tablet acting as a seamless interface for character management and controlling the action on a television or local/streamed monitor screen for a fresh spin on the classic game night experience.
- Answer the Call to Adventure: Choose to play as one of six distinctive heroes with varying abilities and strategic roles–Arcanist, Bard, Berserker, Pyromancer, Ranger, or Rogue. Heroes can be tailored and customized with weapons, armor, items, and skills as they level up, enabling players to create a robust, well-rounded party equipped to overcome the challenges ahead.
- Step Into a New World: Sunderfolk is a handcrafted fantasy setting full of imaginative locations, exotic creatures, and eccentric characters. Dark forces emerge from the Sunderlands and threaten Arden; it is up to the players to protect the peaceful village and its inhabitants. Arden serves as a base of operations that expands with new shops and services as players progress through the game. Return to Arden between missions to upgrade vendors for more items and equipment and befriend the townsfolk to gain rewards.
- Put Tactics to the Test: In combat, players must strategize positioning and turn order, selecting from their deck of Skill Cards to execute movements, attacks, and use items. Luck is also involved, with Fate Cards playing every turn that can impact their effectiveness. Players gain experience and rewards as they complete missions, gradually unlocking ways to customize decks. The key to victory is understanding the heroes’ strengths and collaborating on a strategy based on the battle map and monsters in play.
Novel idea, sounds good on paper, looks good on the trailer, let’s hope for the best. Sunderfolk releases on PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch on April 23rd, 2025. If you can’t wait, there’s a First Look Demo available via GeForce NOW that has all the playable characters unlocked.
