Imagining Critical Role without Matt Mercer is Nigh Impossible, but He’s Right—It Would Be for the Best

by

When people think of live Dungeons & Dragons games, Critical Role is usually the first thing that comes to mind, and Matthew Mercer is central to its success. He’s the voice actor and Dungeon Master who has led the show through hundreds of hours and three full story arcs. Thanks to Mercer’s guidance, Critical Role has grown from a group of voice actor friends playing a game into a major force in online entertainment.

For over a decade, Matthew Mercer has been the Dungeon Master for Critical Role. However, during the show’s fourth campaign, Brennan Lee Mulligan from Dimension 20 took on that role. Mercer doesn’t plan to leave Critical Role anytime soon, but it’s possible he could in the future. While it’s hard to imagine the show without him, Critical Role could continue successfully – and even flourish – with a different Dungeon Master.

Critical Role Can Exist Without Matt Mercer

In a recent Variety interview, Mercer and Mulligan discussed Critical Role, their experiences with Dungeons & Dragons, and the role of a game master. Mercer shared a story about being asked what he planned to do after creating the successful Critical Role franchise. He admitted he didn’t have any further ambitions, stating, “I’m okay with that.” Mercer explained he’d already achieved more than he ever expected in his life, and anything beyond that would simply be a bonus.

What began as a fun idea among a group of well-known friends unexpectedly grew into something much bigger than Matthew Mercer anticipated. The intense pressure of building a leading tabletop role-playing game nearly led to burnout while he was Dungeon Master for Critical Role. Taking a break from DMing allowed him to recharge, though it means fans now see less of Mercer on the show than before.

Image via Critical Role

Matt Mercer is such a central part of Critical Role that it felt difficult to picture the show continuing without him as Dungeon Master, or even him leaving the project altogether. His well-known work as a voice actor in video games and within the tabletop RPG community has also been a major factor in Critical Role‘s success, leading to worries that the show’s audience might decline if he were to step down.

Image via Critical Role

While initially built around well-known personalities like Matt Mercer, Liam O’Brien, Laura Bailey, and Travis Willingham, Critical Role has evolved beyond its dependence on them. Mercer’s own popularity now allows him to showcase the talents of his colleagues. He believes his platform should be used to highlight others’ passions, and he demonstrated this by letting Brennan Lee Mulligan lead Critical Role Campaign 4. By stepping back, Mercer creates opportunities for others in the tabletop role-playing game community and builds anticipation for his return as Dungeon Master.

Mercer Hasn’t Even Been In Every Critical Role Show

Image via Critical Role

Although Matthew Mercer is a prominent figure in most Critical Role campaigns, he isn’t featured in every single one. A clear example is Campaign 4, which focuses on a large cast of 13 characters divided into three teams: Soldiers, Seekers, and Schemers. Mercer plays Sir Julien Davinos, who is part of the Seekers. Since the Seekers’ storyline is just beginning after the Soldiers completed theirs, Mercer will appear in roughly one-third of the episodes, similar to the other players involved.

In addition to the main series, several other Critical Role projects haven’t featured Matt Mercer. Side stories like Exandria Unlimited: Downfall, Exandria Unlimited: Calamity, and Wildemount Wildlings were created and played without him as a player or Game Master. He also hasn’t appeared in every Critical Role one-shot, including promotional events for video games like The Elder Scrolls Online, Tiny Tina’s Wonderland, and Mortal Kombat 1.

Image via Critical Role

And that’s not all! Critical Role’s Beacon streaming service also features other shows not involving Matthew Mercer, like Re-Slayer’s Take and campaigns set in the world of Midst.

Though none of these shows quite matched the huge audiences of Critical Role‘s biggest campaign endings, they’ve all done well. Even when Matt Mercer only makes quick appearances in Critical Role Campaign 4’s weekly broadcasts on Twitch, thousands still tune in. While Mercer has been key to Critical Role‘s success, the show truly thrives thanks to the hard work of a large team of people, both on and off screen.

The Future of Critical Role Looks Bright

Campaign 4 of Critical Role has revitalized the show with its innovative storytelling and gameplay. Having Brennan Lee Mulligan as Dungeon Master adds a unique energy and introduces viewers to different DMing approaches than what they’re used to with Matt Mercer. This not only expands perspectives but also helps counteract the tendency for players to imitate Mercer’s style, and it’s a fantastic way to showcase Dropout’s Dimension 20 series.

Image via Dropout

As a critic, I see my role here not as a performer, but as a facilitator. My job isn’t to be the passion, but to provide a stage for others’ passions to shine. It’s about lifting up their work and giving it the spotlight it deserves, and that’s what I feel most responsible for.

As a huge Critical Role fan, I’m so excited about everything they’re doing! They recently launched their own tabletop RPG, Daggerheart, and it’s getting a massive expansion called Hope & Fear this summer. Plus, they’re using their Beacon streaming service to support other creators – I’m really looking forward to Viva La Dirt League’s new Daggerheart campaign, Azerim! And it’s not just streaming! The first season of The Mighty Nein animated series just finished, we’re getting another season of The Legend of Vox Machina later this year, and to top it all off, the team behind Dispatch is actually making a full-on Critical Role video game! It’s a fantastic time to be a fan.

Matt Mercer isn’t leaving Critical Role anytime soon. The show has five live performances scheduled for its 2026 Echoes of Exandria tour, and Mercer will be leading four of them. He’s not planning to retire and hand the show over to someone else; instead, he’s focused on helping other creators and fans get involved. If he ever does decide to move on, he can be confident that Critical Role will continue successfully with capable people at the helm.

Read More

2026-02-05 21:11