Sunderfolk’s Phone Controllers Revolutionize Co-Op Gameplay and TTRPG Culture

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In the near future, the innovative game known as “Sunderfolk” is set to revolutionize the way tabletop gaming is experienced in the digital realm. By leveraging mobile devices for both remote and shared couch play, Dreamhaven’s fantasy tactical RPG will bridge the gap between video games and traditional tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs), marking a significant stride in their convergence.

Although Sunderfolk isn’t exactly a virtual tabletop game, but rather a video game that strongly incorporates TTRPG mechanics, conventions, and culture, the way it replicates the TTRPG experience within a video game is intriguing. Game Rant had an opportunity to chat with the Sunderfolk team, including studio head Chris Sigaty, who discussed the difficulties in transforming tabletop roleplaying gameplay into asymmetric cooperative play between phones and controllers.

Sunderfolk’s Phone Controllers Bring A New Twist To Virtual Tabletop Gaming

Replicating Tabletop With Phone Controllers

While many CRPGs concentrate on translating tabletop RPG mechanics into a digital format, Sunderfolk prioritizes the cultural aspects of TTRPGs. This game promotes local multiplayer experiences and real-time player interaction. Reminiscent of how TTRPG players use their character sheets, players in this game utilize their smartphones as controllers. Sigaty discussed the rationale behind this approach and how it will be realized within the game.

Using a phone controller offers several advantages, particularly in games where some information should remain concealed from the players’ party. This is a prevalent feature in tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) and board games. For instance, in TTRPGs, each player has a character sheet displaying their unique stats, equipment, background, etc. Game masters might share private information with individual players or provide notes that only their characters would know. The phone controller makes it possible to manage these discreet interactions smoothly, an aspect traditional controllers may find challenging.

As a passionate gamer, I can’t help but be thrilled by Sigaty’s insights! The merging of a phone controller with turn-based gameplay in Sunderfolk allows us not only to strategize the game itself but also to bond over our lives and shared passions. This blend of strategy and connection is what makes tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) so captivating, and it seems that Sunderfolk is set to carry on this tradition.

Traditional couch co-op gaming is becoming less popular, but the unique human connection and personalized, cooperative experience offered by TTRPGs remain their key appeal. It’s this focus on both aspects that makes me confident that Sunderfolk will be a success. Furthermore, the asymmetric approach with phone controllers addresses some limitations of couch co-op, such as split-screen issues. I can hardly wait to see how this innovative game unfolds!

Making The TTRPG Experience Accessible

Despite the fact that the traditional tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) which influenced Sunderfolk offer an immersive experience unmatched by video games, the streamlined character sheet and phone controller usage, coupled with Anjali Bhimani’s narration acting as a stand-in Dungeon Master, might significantly narrow that gap. Enhancing this even more is the collaborative play among friends and family. While it doesn’t quite replicate the feeling of playing a tabletop game in person, Sigaty shared an account of a beta tester’s experience:

After people try our phone controller, they realize its true potential. One delightful feedback we received during our recent Closed Beta was about a family playing Sunderfolk together, marking a rare instance in recent times where a phone was used constructively for face-to-face social interaction. Incidentally, this is precisely the kind of experience we aim to provide, and the phone controller plays a significant role in making it happen.

The technology behind Sunderfolk might require some adjustment, but once players are adequately introduced to it, it could potentially captivate individuals in the atmosphere of tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) more effectively than any other game. The cooperative tabletop encounters provided by Sunderfolk are exceptional, and its unique approach sets it apart. This blend could enable newcomers to partake in a comparable experience without being burdened by the mental strain of learning extensive rules or relying on a Dungeon Master (DM).

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2025-04-21 20:37