If you’re unfamiliar with Critical Role, chances are, you are not into Dungeons & Dragons. But for fans of the tabletop RPG realm, that name carries significant weight. Comprising a group of eight highly respected voice actors, it has become a cultural phenomenon in the RPG community, thanks to their long-running live-play campaigns and contributions to popularising D&D in mainstream media.
With successful campaigns already adapted into animated series through a partnership with Amazon, the group is now ready to take the next big step: video games.
According to a report by Variety, Critical Role has officially announced its first-ever video game project. The game will be set in the expansive fantasy world of Exandria, an original creation for their Dungeons & Dragons campaigns, and aims to bring the immersive storytelling and character-driven drama the group is known for into an interactive format.
To bring the project to life, the team is partnering with AdHoc Studio, a Los Angeles-based indie developer. The studio is currently working on a narrative-driven superhero game titled Dispatch, which is where the two creative teams initially crossed paths. Several Critical Role members are lending their voices to Dispatch, scheduled for release in 2025.
What is the Critical Role Video Game?
Travis Willingham, CEO of Critical Role and one of the group’s core members, noted that the game’s development is still in its very early stages and will require several years before it’s ready to be revealed to the public. Rather than building a traditional, sprawling RPG, the team is opting for a more narrative-focused experience, one where player choices significantly impact the story, in a style similar to Dispatch.
The game will feature an entirely original storyline, separate from existing campaigns. However, there is interest in incorporating fan-favourite characters from their most iconic parties, such as Vox Machina, the Mighty Nein, and Bell’s Hells, into the new narrative.
The current cast includes Matthew Mercer, Ashley Johnson, Marisha Ray, Taliesin Jaffe, Travis Willingham, Sam Riegel, Laura Bailey, and Liam O’Brien. Their fan base is massive, with approximately 2.5 million subscribers on YouTube and 1.4 million followers on Twitch.
With this new project, Critical Role is aiming to expand its beloved universe into an entirely new medium, promising an experience that blends compelling storytelling, beloved characters, and player-driven choices.
