AdHoc’s Critical Role Game Could Literally Be Dispatch with a Different Coat of Paint, and I’d Be Perfectly Fine With That

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Following the positive reception of their game, Dispatch, AdHoc Studio is now collaborating with Critical Role on a new project. While still in development, this partnership seems incredibly promising. I personally discovered Dungeons & Dragons through Critical Role – it became a welcome distraction during the COVID-19 pandemic when I was looking for a captivating hobby. The collaboration was first announced last summer, and while I was initially interested, I didn’t follow it closely due to a lack of details. However, after experiencing Dispatch, my excitement for the upcoming Critical Role game has grown significantly.

AdHoc Studios delivered a delightful and unique take on superheroes with Dispatch, and fans are eager for a second season. While there’s no official announcement yet, hope remains high. Even if Dispatch doesn’t get a continuation, there’s the upcoming Critical Role game to look forward to. Many would love to see another story-driven superhero game like Dispatch, and Critical Role has the potential to be just as successful. It seems AdHoc Studios plans to use the approach they took with Dispatch in future projects. Some might think this new game is just Dispatch in disguise, but that actually sounds fantastic!

Critical Role is Bound to Feel Right at Home in Dispatch’s Gameplay Loop

Though it’s presented as a superhero comedy, the show Dispatch actually shares a lot with Dungeons & Dragons. It uses a similar storytelling style, highlights how choices matter, and often leads to surprising results – all things that make a D&D campaign exciting. It feels natural to imagine a game like Critical Role using this same approach to gameplay.

Dispatching is Basically a Dice Roll, Anyway

At its heart, Dispatch uses a system similar to rolling dice in Dungeons & Dragons. Outcomes in Dispatch depend on your character’s stats and a bit of luck, meaning things can go really well or really badly – just like in life, even your best efforts don’t always guarantee success. While some players have criticized the game’s reliance on random chance, I actually think it’s one of its strongest features. It makes the game world feel more real, and the unpredictable consequences of your choices create a much more engaging experience. This is the same reason I started playing D&D in 2020 – the frustration of not knowing what will happen next, because so much is left to chance, is surprisingly enjoyable. Dispatch constantly presents you with tough decisions, and I think Critical Role is perfectly suited to explore this kind of gameplay.

Image via AdHoc Studio

The world of Exandria, featured in Critical Role‘s official campaigns, was full of surprises, and AdHoc’s version will stay true to what fans already know from the D&D series. While it might seem like sticking to a proven formula, if it works well, there’s no need to reinvent the wheel. Plus, incorporating gameplay elements from Dispatch could lead to something even more exciting than their previous superhero story.

The game Dispatch will soon be available on Nintendo Switch and the upcoming Switch 2, with a release date of January 28th.

Critical Role Gives AdHoc Studios the Opportunity to Dive Even Deeper Into a Choice-Based Story With Strong Characters

The world of Exandria, featured in three different Critical Role campaigns, offers AdHoc Studios a rich history to draw from. It’s great to see a new story set in Exandria, and we’re especially eager to see AdHoc’s unique take on it. While cameos from popular Critical Role characters like Jester and Grog would be fun, we’re also excited about the new characters this collaboration will create, and the potential for them to become fan favorites.

We don’t know much about the story for the new Critical Role game yet, but player choices will definitely be a major focus. Like its predecessor, Dispatch, this game will heavily emphasize decisions and their consequences – that’s a key part of any Dungeons & Dragons campaign. Because Critical Role’s world, Exandria, has a rich history, the developers have a lot of exciting options and storylines to explore. While Dispatch offered many different outcomes, it was limited by a smaller budget. This new game, benefiting from Critical Role‘s success and resources, has the potential to go much further. The partnership allows for more development time and funding to improve existing gameplay, add new features, and ultimately create an even better experience than the first season of Dispatch.

AdHoc Studios and Critical Role Are a Perfect Fit, But More Info is Hopefully Revealed Sooner, Rather Than Later

Image via Critical Role

Last year was an exciting time for Critical Role. They announced a new game set in Exandria and also launched Campaign 4, with a unique twist: Matt Mercer didn’t serve as Dungeon Master this time, bringing a fresh perspective to the story. What started as a fun Dungeons & Dragons game between friends has grown into a massive celebration of tabletop gaming. The world of Exandria proved to be captivating, and with a new DM, AdHoc, now leading the narrative, many questions remain to be explored.

Honestly, I’m still wondering what’s next for AdHoc’s Critical Role game in 2026. It sounds like we’re going to be waiting a while for any news, which is a bit of a bummer. I know some people are hoping for a new Dispatch chapter, and it’s frustrating that Critical Role is taking up time that could be spent on it. But, I think focusing on Critical Role right now could actually make the next season of Dispatch even better. It’s letting AdHoc Studios really refine things and go all out with the features, and I’m excited to see how it all comes together when they’re ready.

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2026-01-15 19:05