Getting your pals to play board games can be tough. Setting up takes time, learning the rules is a bore, and finding hours to play is a pain. That's where Sunderfolk comes in, a video game by Secret Door. It's like mixing Gloomhaven's complexity with Jackbox's ease. After playing for a bit, it seems fun but may not hook newbies.

The studio head, Chris Sigaty, wants to make game nights simpler. He and the team realized that competitive games aren't for everyone, so they focused on a connective, collaborative game. They saw the barriers: learning curve, setup time, and the feeling that board games aren't for everyone.

Sunderfolk makes gaming easy. You scan a QR code, and your phone becomes your controller. You can play online, but they want you to enjoy it as a couch co-op. Up to four friends pick from six animal heroes, each with their own style. You fight baddies in an average fantasy world together.

Instead of a set order, you decide who goes first each round. This should help you strategize better, but it can get awkward. Once in combat, things work well. You draw paths, choose skills, and pull fate cards. You can tweak your fate cards over time, making luck less important.

The town part of the game lets you talk to NPCs alone, which is a nice break. But it takes away from the cooperative fun that's the game's strength. The biggest issue is that Sunderfolk still needs a time commitment to learn. It might only appeal to those already into board games, not newcomers.

Sunderfolk: The New Way to Bring Friends Together

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