The team behind tabletop web series Critical Role is making its own video game.
Critical Role has become a bit of a juggernaut since its debut over a decade ago, with an animated series on Prime Video, sell out live shows, and more under its belovedly nerdy belt. Its core team is made up of many famous video game voice actors, including Laura Bailey (The Last of Us Part 2, Uncharted 4, Marvel’s Avengers), Matt Mercer (Overwatch, Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Yakuza: Like a Dragon) and Travis Willingham (Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Middle Earth: Shadow of War, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order), to name just three.
But, while there is plenty of video game pedigree there, Critical Role is yet to make its own game – until now.
Critical Role’s game itself is still a way off, but we do know it is being co-developed with the indie team at AdHoc Studio, as reported by Variety. AdHoc Studio was founded by veterans from Telltale Games, Ubisoft and Night School Studio. Meanwhile, the upcoming release will be set in Critical Role’s role-playing game world of Exandria.
The collaboration between Critical Role and AdHoc Studio came about when Willingham auditioned for a role in Dispatch, which is described as “a superhero workplace comedy”, and “an interactive narrative game” that has been “built in AdHoc’s signature style”.
“Just from looking over the audition and game materials, I knew there was something special about what AdHoc was creating and I immediately reached out,” said Willingham. “The design, tone, style and storytelling of Dispatch jumped off the page, and I knew given the pedigree of the folks at AdHoc, this was a team we wanted to collaborate with.
“Critical Role is always looking to build with people who are innovating around new ways to deliver story, character and worldbuilding, and AdHoc fits that perfectly.”
Dispatch is currently set to release later in 2025 in collaboration with Critical Role, and also features the talents of Mercer and Bailey. AdHoc CEO Michael Choung called the collaboration the kind “you hope for”, adding:
“We’ve known the Critical Role team for years, so when we finally started kicking around ideas, it all just clicked. It made sense in the best way possible, so we’re thrilled we get to team up and cause some trouble together.”
As for what the Critical Role game will look like, well it will take some inspiration from Dispatch. “We’re tossing around ideas, what are we thinking about in terms of scope and budget, and some of the things we must have,” Willingham said. “You are going to want to see your favorite characters.”
Willingham added the game will be “something unique in the world of Exandria” and one he believes will “have to be something brand-new in terms of storyline”.
So, are you looking forward to a Critical Role video game?