View source for Company:Darrington Press

{{Short description|Tabletop game imprint}}
{{Infobox publisher
|name=Darrington Press
|image= Darrington Press, 2020 logo.png
|image_size=
|alt=
|caption=
|parent=Critical Role Productions
|status=
|founded={{start date and age|2020|10}}
|founder=<!-- or | founders = -->
|country= United States
|headquarters=
|distribution=International
|keypeople={{Unbulleted list|Ivan Van Norman (company director)|Matthew Mercer (creative advisor)}}
|publications= Tabletop games, books
|topics=
|genre=Fantasy
|website={{URL|https://darringtonpress.com/}}
}}

'''Darrington Press''' is the tabletop game imprint for Critical Role Productions which launched in October 2020. It is led by Ivan Van Norman with Matthew Mercer as the creative advisor.<ref name="IGN on 2020 Launch" /><ref name=":5" /> The publishing label primarily produces board and card games along with role-playing games. It won two ENNIE Awards in 2022 – "Fan Award for Best Publisher" and "Best Setting Gold Award" for ''Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2022 Results – ENNIE Awards |url=https://ennie-awards.com/2022-results/ |access-date=2023-05-31 |language=en-US}}</ref>

The publishing label is named after the fictional [[Software:Player character|player character]] Taryon Darrington played by Sam Riegel in ''Critical Role''<nowiki/>'s first campaign who, in-universe, published a book on his exploits with the adventuring party Vox Machina.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sheehan |first=Gavin |date=2020-10-27 |title=Critical Role Launches New Publishing Wing Darrington Press |url=https://bleedingcool.com/games/critical-role-launches-new-publishing-wing-darrington-press/ |access-date=2023-04-20 |website=bleedingcool.com |language=en |archive-date=2023-04-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230420201415/https://bleedingcool.com/games/critical-role-launches-new-publishing-wing-darrington-press/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

== History ==

In October 2020, Critical Role Productions announced a "new board and card game" imprint called Darrington Press; it is led by Ivan Van Norman with Matthew Mercer as the creative advisor.<ref name="IGN on 2020 Launch">{{Cite web|last=Dornbush|first=Jonathon|date=October 27, 2020|title=Critical Role Announces New Board Game Publishing Label, Darrington Press; 4 Games Planned for 2021|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/critical-role-announces-new-board-game-publishing-label-darrington-press-4-games-planned-for-2021|access-date=October 27, 2020|website=IGN|archive-date=October 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029150541/https://www.ign.com/articles/critical-role-announces-new-board-game-publishing-label-darrington-press-4-games-planned-for-2021|url-status=live}}</ref> ''ICv2'' commented that "Critical Role has broadly influenced tabletop gaming since splitting from Geek & Sundry in 2018".<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=October 28, 2020 |title=Critical Role Ventures into Tabletop Publishing |url=https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/46835/critical-role-ventures-tabletop-publishing |access-date=2023-04-20 |website=ICv2 |language=en |archive-date=2023-04-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230420200924/https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/46835/critical-role-ventures-tabletop-publishing |url-status=live }}</ref> During the launch, Van Norman stated, "Darrington Press is not looking to utilize crowdfunding for any game releases".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hoffer|first=Christian|date=October 27, 2020|title=Critical Role to Publish Their Own Board Games and Tabletop RPGs|url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/critical-role-dungeons-dragons-darrington-press-board-games/|access-date=2020-10-27|website=ComicBook.com|language=en|archive-date=2020-10-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030030438/https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/critical-role-dungeons-dragons-darrington-press-board-games/|url-status=live}}</ref> Darrington Press initially announced a slate of four upcoming games: ''Uk'otoa'', ''Critical Role Adventures'', ''Syndicult'', and ''Guardians of Matrimonia''.<ref name="IGN on 2020 Launch" /><ref name=":5" /><ref name=":0" /> ''Uk'otoa'' released in May 2021 with mixed reviews; ''IGN'' called it a "solid first impression for what Darrington Press will offer in future games" while ''Polygon'' called it a "Critical Role bauble" with unfun gameplay.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Review: UK'OTOA is a Solid First Board Game from CRITICAL ROLE's Darrington Press |url=https://geektyrant.com/news/review-ukotoa-is-a-solid-first-board-game-from-critical-roles-darrington-press |access-date=2023-04-20 |website=GeekTyrant |date=10 June 2021 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Dornbush |first=Jonathon |date=2021-05-28 |title=Check Out Uk'otoa, the First Board Game From Critical Role's Darrington Press |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/check-out-ukotoa-the-first-board-game-from-critical-roles-darrington-press |access-date=2023-04-20 |website=IGN |language=en |archive-date=2023-04-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230420194016/https://www.ign.com/articles/check-out-ukotoa-the-first-board-game-from-critical-roles-darrington-press |url-status=live }}</ref>

In January 2022, Darrington Press released the campaign setting sourcebook ''Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn'' which is a revised edition of the out of print ''Critical Role: Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting'' sourcebook published by Green Ronin Publishing.<ref name="ComicBook.com Tal'Dorei Reborn Announcement">{{Cite web |date=July 22, 2021 |title=Critical Role Announces Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn |url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/critical-role-taldorei-campaign-setting-reborn/ |access-date=2021-07-23 |website=ComicBook.com |language=en |archive-date=2022-01-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220119183746/https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/critical-role-taldorei-campaign-setting-reborn/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="ComicBook.com Tal'Dorei Reborn Review" /> In March 2022, the imprint released more development details on both ''Syndicult'' and ''Guardians of Matrimonia''.<ref name="ComicBook.com 2022 Update" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Chancey |first=Tyler |date=2022-03-21 |title=New TTRPG From Matt Mercer Syndicult Sneak Peek |url=https://techraptor.net/tabletop/news/new-ttrpg-from-matt-mercer-syndicult-sneak-peek |access-date=2023-04-20 |website=TechRaptor |language=en |archive-date=2023-04-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230420195052/https://techraptor.net/tabletop/news/new-ttrpg-from-matt-mercer-syndicult-sneak-peek |url-status=live }}</ref> In June 2022, ''A Familiar Problem'' was released for Free RPG Day.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Comments |first=Gavin Sheehan {{!}} |date=2022-06-02 |title=Critical Role's Darrington Press Announces Free RPG Day Project |url=https://bleedingcool.com/games/critical-roles-darrington-press-announces-free-rpg-day-project/ |access-date=2023-04-20 |website=bleedingcool.com |language=en |archive-date=2023-04-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230416224134/https://bleedingcool.com/games/critical-roles-darrington-press-announces-free-rpg-day-project/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":4" />

In March 2023, Darrington Press published the two player board game ''Till the Last Gasp'' which received mostly positive reviews.<ref name="Polygon review of Last Gasp" /><ref name=":7">{{Cite web |date=2023-03-17 |title=Till the Last Gasp Is a Two-Player Duel of Missteps and Drama |url=https://gizmodo.com/till-the-last-gasp-review-board-game-critical-role-1850237418 |access-date=2023-04-20 |website=Gizmodo |language=en |archive-date=2023-04-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230416213048/https://gizmodo.com/till-the-last-gasp-review-board-game-critical-role-1850237418 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":8">{{Cite web |last=Stretch |first=Andrew |date=2023-03-14 |title=Till The Last Gasp Review |url=https://techraptor.net/tabletop/reviews/till-last-gasp-review |access-date=2023-04-20 |website=TechRaptor |language=en |archive-date=2023-04-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230420200255/https://techraptor.net/tabletop/reviews/till-last-gasp-review |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":9">{{Cite web |last=van Tonningen |first=James |date=2023-03-14 |title=Till the Last Gasp review — Missing the point |url=https://gamingtrend.com/feature/reviews/till-the-last-gasp-review-missing-the-point/ |access-date=2023-04-20 |website=GAMING TREND |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-04-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230420200304/https://gamingtrend.com/feature/reviews/till-the-last-gasp-review-missing-the-point/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The label also announced that they would reprint two out of print ''Critical Role'' art books in 2023: ''The Chronicles of Exandria Vol. I: The Tale of Vox Machina'' (2017) and ''The Chronicles of Exandria Vol. 2: The Legend of Vox Machina'' (2018).<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 17, 2023 |title=Art Book Announcement: The Chronicles of Exandria Vol. I: The Tale of Vox Machina – Darrington Press |url=https://darringtonpress.com/art-book-announcement-chronicles-of-exandria/ |access-date=April 20, 2023 |website=Darrington Press |language=en-US |type=Press release |archive-date=April 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230420213202/https://darringtonpress.com/art-book-announcement-chronicles-of-exandria/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sheehan |first=Gavin |date=March 18, 2023 |title=Critical Role's The Chronicles Of Exandria Vol. I To Be Re-Released |url=https://bleedingcool.com/pop-culture/critical-roles-the-chronicles-of-exandria-vol-i-to-be-re-released/ |access-date=April 21, 2023 |website=Bleeding Cool |language=en |archive-date=April 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230421044458/https://bleedingcool.com/pop-culture/critical-roles-the-chronicles-of-exandria-vol-i-to-be-re-released/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The imprint's first "State of the Press" in April 2023 released updates on previously announced games and revealed new games in development; this included two new roleplaying game systems – ''Illuminated Worlds'' for short campaigns and ''Daggerheart'' for longer campaigns – which are scheduled to have a public [[Playtest|playtest]] during Gen Con in August 2023. The announcement stated that while ''Guardians of Matrimonia'', being redesigned by Banana Chan and Yeonsoo Julian Kim, and ''Syndicult'' are still in development, ''Critical Role Adventures'' is now on indefinite hold.<ref name="Polygon on DP April 2023 Update" /><ref name="Gizmodo on DP April 2023 Update" /><ref name="April 2023 State of the Press" /> Charlie Hall, for ''Polygon'', stated that "Darrington Press has had mixed success so far with its creations" and commented that ''Illuminated Worlds'' was "perhaps the most interesting of the three new products" announced given co-designer Layla Adelman's background as "an accomplished game developer" who is also a member of the Off Guard Games team which has produced titles such as "the well-regarded ''Band of Blades'' and ''Scum and Villainy''".<ref name="Polygon on DP April 2023 Update" /> Christian Hoffer of ''ComicBook.com'' called the announcement of new fantasy role-playing game systems "notable" since "''Critical Role'' has a massive built-in audience of TTRPG fans, so a good fantasy genre TTRPG offering could make a major splash in the ''Dungeons & Dragons''-dominated TTRPG market. Additionally, many have wondered whether ''Critical Role'' would potentially switch to an in-house TTRPG system for a future campaign, thus breaking away from ''Dungeons & Dragons'' altogether".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hoffer |first=Christian |date=April 20, 2023 |title=Critical Role Announces Two New RPG Systems |url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/critical-role-announces-two-new-rpg-systems/ |access-date=April 20, 2023 |website=ComicBook.com |language=en |archive-date=April 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230421024329/https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/critical-role-announces-two-new-rpg-systems/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In May 2023, Critical Role Productions announced a new monthly horror–themed [[Social:Actual play|actual play]] web series titled ''Candela Obscura'' which will use the Illuminated Worlds System. Darrington Press released the ''Candela Obscura Quickstart Guide'' on May 25, the show's premiere date, which introduces both the Candela Obscura campaign setting and the game system. Darrington Press also announced that they are scheduled to run gameplay sessions of ''Candela Obscura'' at Gen Con and will release the ''Candela Obscura Core Rulebook'' in 2023.<ref name="CandelaObscura-CB">{{cite news |last1=Hoffer |first1=Christian |date=May 9, 2023 |title=Critical Role Announces Candela Obscura, New Ongoing TTRPG Series and Game |language=en |work=ComicBook.com |url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/critical-role-candela-obscura-ongoing-ttrpg-series-illuminated-worlds/ |access-date=May 9, 2023 |archive-date=May 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230509162504/https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/critical-role-candela-obscura-ongoing-ttrpg-series-illuminated-worlds/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":10">{{Cite web |last=Stretch |first=Andrew |date=May 9, 2023 |title=Critical Role Announces Horror Series Candela Obscura, First To Use Illuminated Worlds System |url=https://techraptor.net/tabletop/news/critical-role-announces-horror-series-candela-obscura-first-to-use-illuminated-worlds |access-date=May 9, 2023 |website=TechRaptor |language=en |archive-date=May 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230509164123/https://techraptor.net/tabletop/news/critical-role-announces-horror-series-candela-obscura-first-to-use-illuminated-worlds |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":11">{{Cite web |date=May 9, 2023 |title=Announcing Our New TTRPG: Candela Obscura |url=https://darringtonpress.com/announcing-our-new-ttrpg-candela-obscura/ |access-date=May 9, 2023 |website=Darrington Press |language=en-US |type=Press release |archive-date=May 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230509165702/https://darringtonpress.com/announcing-our-new-ttrpg-candela-obscura/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Games ==
Darrington Press games are set both inside and outside of ''Critical Role''<nowiki/>'s Exandria setting.<ref name="IGN on 2020 Launch" /><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Destito|first=Deanna|date=2020-10-27|title=The world of Critical Role expands with DARRINGTON PRESS|url=https://www.comicsbeat.com/critical-role-darrington-press-ivan-van-norman/|access-date=2020-10-27|website=The Beat|language=en-US|archive-date=2020-10-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031112428/https://www.comicsbeat.com/critical-role-darrington-press-ivan-van-norman/|url-status=live}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="margins:auto; width=95%; font-size: 95%;"
! width="20%" |Title
! width="40%" |Type
! width="25%" |Designers
! width="10%" |Publication
! width="5%"  |{{abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}}
|-
! colspan="5" style="background-color:#ccccff;" | Released
|-
|''Uk'otoa''
|Semi-cooperative card game
|Jeb Havens, Gabriel Hicks
|May 27, 2021
|<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sheehan |first1=Gavin |title=Critical Role Announces Darrington Press' Inaugural Game: Uk'otoa |url=https://bleedingcool.com/games/critical-role-announces-darrington-press-inaugural-game-ukotoa/ |access-date=May 12, 2021 |work=bleedingcool.com |publisher=Bleeding Cool |date=May 12, 2021 |ref=BCMay21 |archive-date=May 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512193711/https://bleedingcool.com/games/critical-role-announces-darrington-press-inaugural-game-ukotoa/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|''Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn''
|Campaign setting book for Exandria (''Dungeons & Dragons'' 5th edition)
|Matthew Mercer, Hannah Rose, James Haeck
|January 18, 2022
|<ref name="ComicBook.com Tal'Dorei Reborn Review">{{Cite web|last=Hoffer|first=Christian|date=January 18, 2022|title=Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn Review: New Threats and Intrigue Emerge|url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/taldorei-reborn-campaign-setting-guide-critical-role-dungeons-dragons-review/|access-date=January 18, 2022|website=ComicBook.com|language=en|archive-date=January 18, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220118130906/https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/taldorei-reborn-campaign-setting-guide-critical-role-dungeons-dragons-review/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|''A Familiar Problem''
|One-page roleplaying game
|Grant Howitt, Marisha Ray
|June 25, 2022
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sheehan |first=Gavin |date=2022-06-02 |title=Critical Role's Darrington Press Announces Free RPG Day Project |url=https://bleedingcool.com/games/critical-roles-darrington-press-announces-free-rpg-day-project/ |access-date=2022-06-25 |website=Bleeding Cool News And Rumors |language=en |archive-date=2022-06-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220625023731/https://bleedingcool.com/games/critical-roles-darrington-press-announces-free-rpg-day-project/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|''Till The Last Gasp''
|Two player ([[Software:Player versus player|PvP]]) [[Engineering:Board game|board game]]
|Will Hindmarch, Alex Roberts
|March 14, 2023
|<ref name="Polygon review of Last Gasp">{{Cite web |last=Theel |first=Charles |date=March 15, 2023 |title=Critical Role's Till the Last Gasp straddles the line between board game and RPG |url=https://www.polygon.com/reviews/23641281/critical-role-board-game-till-the-last-gasp-review |access-date=March 15, 2023 |website=Polygon |language=en-US |archive-date=March 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230315180240/https://www.polygon.com/reviews/23641281/critical-role-board-game-till-the-last-gasp-review |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sheehan |first=Gavin |date=March 15, 2023 |title=Critical Role's Darrington Press Releases Till The Last Gasp |url=https://bleedingcool.com/games/critical-roles-darrington-press-releases-till-the-last-gasp/ |access-date=March 15, 2023 |website=Bleeding Cool |language=en |archive-date=March 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230315130138/https://bleedingcool.com/games/critical-roles-darrington-press-releases-till-the-last-gasp/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|''Candela Obscura Quickstart Guide''
| Basic rules for the Candela Obscura setting (''Illuminated Worlds'' system)
|Taliesin Jaffe, Chris Lockey, Spenser Starke, Rowan Hall
| May 25, 2023
|<ref name=":10" /><ref name=":11" />
|-
|''Queen by Midnight''
|Battle royale deck-building game
|Kyle Shire
|August 22, 2023
|<ref name="Polygon on DP April 2023 Update">{{Cite web |last=Hall |first=Charlie |date=April 20, 2023 |title=Critical Role is branching out from D&D by publishing two new RPG systems |url=https://www.polygon.com/tabletop-games/23691117/critical-role-new-rpg-system-illuminated-worlds-daggerheart-queen-by-midnight |access-date=April 20, 2023 |website=Polygon |language=en-US |archive-date=April 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230420160611/https://www.polygon.com/tabletop-games/23691117/critical-role-new-rpg-system-illuminated-worlds-daggerheart-queen-by-midnight |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="QBM Release">{{cite web |title=Now Available: Queen by Midnight – Darrington Press |url=https://darringtonpress.com/now-available-queen-by-midnight/ |website=Darrington Press |access-date=30 October 2023 |date=22 August 2023 |language=en-US |type=Press release}}</ref>
|-
|''Caper Cards: Bell's Hells''
|Blackjack style card game 
|Manny Vega
|October 10, 2023
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 27, 2023 |title=New Critical Role Game Announced |url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/critical-role-game-announced-caper-cards/ |access-date=August 1, 2023 |website=ComicBook.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=October 10, 2023 |title=Now Available: Caper Cards: Bells Hells |url=https://darringtonpress.com/now-available-caper-cards-bells-hells/ |access-date=October 12, 2023 |website=Darrington Press |language=en-US |type=Press release}}</ref>
|-
|''Candela Obscura Core Rulebook''
| Campaign setting book for Candela Obscura (''Illuminated Worlds'' system)
| Spenser Starke, Rowan Hall
| November 14, 2023
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Myers |first=Maddy |date=2023-10-17 |title=Critical Role's take on D&D, Candela Obscura, goes on sale in November |url=https://www.polygon.com/23920732/candela-obscura-release-date-critical-role-dungeons-and-dragons-dnd |access-date=2023-10-17 |website=Polygon |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
! colspan="5" style="background-color:#ccccff;" | Upcoming
|-
<!-- Indefinite hold (April 2023): https://critrole.com/big-news-queen-by-midnight-and-two-new-rpgs/|-
|''Critical Role Adventures''
|Cooperative legacy-lite campaign game
|
|TBA
|--->
|-
|''For the Queen 2E''
|Card-based story-building game
|Alex Roberts
|May 14, 2024
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 24, 2024 |title=Critical Role's Darrington Press Announces 'For the Queen 2E' |url=https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/56077/critical-roles-darrington-press-announces-for-queen-2e |access-date=January 25, 2024 |website=ICv2 |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|''Guardians of Matrimonia''
|Cooperative deck card game
| Banana Chan, Yeonsoo Julian Kim
|2024
|<ref name="ComicBook.com 2022 Update"/><ref name="Gizmodo on DP April 2023 Update"/>
|-
|''Illuminated Worlds''
| D6 roleplaying game system for short campaigns
|Stras Acimovic, Layla Adelman
|{{tba}}
|<ref name="Polygon on DP April 2023 Update"/><ref name="Gizmodo on DP April 2023 Update">{{Cite web |last=Codega |first=Linda |date=April 20, 2023 |title=Darrington Press Unveils New Board Games and Tabletop Systems |url=https://gizmodo.com/darrington-press-critical-role-state-of-the-press-2023-1850357290 |access-date=April 20, 2023 |website=Gizmodo |language=en |archive-date=April 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230420160347/https://gizmodo.com/darrington-press-critical-role-state-of-the-press-2023-1850357290 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|''Daggerheart''
|Roleplaying game system for long campaigns
|{{tba}}
|{{tba}}
|<ref name="Polygon on DP April 2023 Update"/><ref name="Gizmodo on DP April 2023 Update"/>
|-
|''Syndicult''
|Modern magic roleplaying game
|{{tba}}
|{{tba}}
|<ref name="ComicBook.com 2022 Update">{{Cite web |last=Hoffer |first=Christian |date=March 19, 2022 |title=Critical Role Teases Two Brand New Games |url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/critical-role-darrington-press-game-reveal/ |access-date=March 21, 2022 |website=ComicBook.com |language=en |archive-date=March 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220322015952/https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/critical-role-darrington-press-game-reveal/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="April 2023 State of the Press">{{Cite web |date=April 20, 2023 |title=Big News: Queen by Midnight and Two New RPGs |url=https://critrole.com/big-news-queen-by-midnight-and-two-new-rpgs/ |access-date=April 20, 2023 |website=Critical Role |language=en-US |type=Press release |archive-date=April 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230420160031/https://critrole.com/big-news-queen-by-midnight-and-two-new-rpgs/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|}

=== Reviews ===
Charles Theel, in his review of ''Uk'otoa'' for ''Polygon'', wrote: "The good news is that, as a visually attractive curio, this product makes a great collector's item. The bad news is that the gameplay itself isn't all that much fun. [...] I was hoping for a design that captured some of the feel of friction-heavy board game classics, such as ''Lifeboats'' or ''Survive: Escape From Atlantis'', dressed up in the trappings of Exandria. What I got was a Critical Role bauble which can chew up a half hour of time. Sadly, anyone seeking out a truly noteworthy tabletop experience is better off looking elsewhere".<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Theel|first=Charles|date=2021-06-09|title=Review: Critical Role stumbles with its first board game, Uk'otoa|url=https://www.polygon.com/reviews/22526199/ukotoa-critical-role-board-game-review|access-date=2021-06-10|website=Polygon|language=en|archive-date=2021-06-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210609235501/https://www.polygon.com/reviews/22526199/ukotoa-critical-role-board-game-review|url-status=live}}</ref> However, Tommy Williams of ''GeekTyrant'' viewed it as "a fun game" with "very interesting" gameplay; Williams called ''Uk'otoa'' "a great start to Darrington Press’ library".<ref name=":2" /> Theel, Williams and Jonathon Dornbush of ''IGN'' all commended the visual design of the game<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> with Dornbush stating, "the card and box art offers a beautiful interpretation of the titular serpent and the nautical setting, the deck tiles offer a solid base that conveys a bit of the worn nature the ship is probably in, and the meeples, as mentioned before, offer a bespoke, adorable terror that suits the scene. And the game's centerpiece, the Uk'otoa mini, is impressively detailed".<ref name=":3" />

''Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn'' was the Gold Winner for the 2022 ENNIE Awards in the "Best Setting" category.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2022 Nominations – ENNIE Awards |url=https://ennie-awards.com/2022-nominations/ |access-date=2022-07-08 |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-07-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220708195359/https://ennie-awards.com/2022-nominations/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite tweet|number=1555732561065906177|user=ENnies|title=Best Setting Silver goes to: Jiangshi: Blood in the Banquet Hall Gold goes to: Tal Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn|author=ENNIE Awards|date=August 5, 2022|access-date=August 5, 2022}}</ref> Chris King, for ''Polygon'', called the sourcebook "''The Silmarillion'' of campaign settings" and commented that the ''Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn'' is over 150 pages longer than the original edition; it includes updates to various factions in the world along with new threats and organizations.<ref name="King-2022">{{Cite web |last=King |first=Chris |date=2022-01-21 |title=The new Critical Role campaign book is one part D&D setting, two parts history lesson |url=https://www.polygon.com/reviews/22894838/critical-role-tal-dorai-reborn-campaign-setting-book-review |access-date=2022-01-21 |website=Polygon |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-06-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220603042126/https://www.polygon.com/reviews/22894838/critical-role-tal-dorai-reborn-campaign-setting-book-review |url-status=live }}</ref> King concluded that "despite not being a truly system agnostic book, this is an incredibly well-realized world filled to the brim with interesting characters and stories to tell. Even if it just ends up sitting on your coffee table to peruse during regular Thursday-night livestreams, ''Tal’Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn'' is well worth the $49.99 price tag".<ref name="King-2022" /> Benjamin Abbott, for ''GamesRadar+'', commented that "Tal'Dorei Reborn reminds me of the lavish, encyclopaedic companion books for franchises like Lord of the Rings and Star Wars that I used to obsess over as a kid".<ref name="Abbott-2022">{{Cite web |last=Abbott |first=Benjamin |date=January 18, 2022 |title=Should you buy Tal'Dorei Reborn? Everything you need to know about the new Critical Role book |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/should-you-buy-taldorei-reborn/ |access-date=January 18, 2022 |website=GamesRadar+ |language=en |archive-date=January 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220118185540/https://www.gamesradar.com/should-you-buy-taldorei-reborn/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He wrote that the book is worth purchasing — "even if you're not a huge fan of Critical Role, it'll impress with its skillful worldbuilding and overall design-quality. Indeed, it's rather lavish and looks fantastic. Sure, I enjoyed our last look at the world of Exandria in ''Explorer's Guide to Wildemount''. But this is a step up in many ways, and I'm eager to dig in more".<ref name="Abbott-2022" />

''A Familiar Problem'', written by Grant Howitt and Marisha Ray, was included in ''Polygon''<nowiki/>'s "Free RPG Day" roundup. Charlie Hall, for ''Polygon'', wrote: "now that I've had a chance to get a look at it I'm really impressed. It has all the charm I've come to expect of the crew of actual play stars, and all the randomness and open-ended design that Howitt's work is known for. It's the perfect ice breaker for an event like Free RPG Day, or perhaps for your next regular at-home game".<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Hall |first=Charlie |date=2022-06-24 |title=Free RPG Day is back — grab these 5 great games, including one from Critical Role |url=https://www.polygon.com/tabletop-games/23180137/free-rpg-day-best-games-2022-critical-role |access-date=2022-06-25 |website=Polygon |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-06-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220624215534/https://www.polygon.com/tabletop-games/23180137/free-rpg-day-best-games-2022-critical-role |url-status=live }}</ref>

Theel, in his review of ''Till The Last Gasp'' for ''Polygon'', wrote that the game "bleeds potential. This is a singular design which offers a structured yet story-oriented tabletop experience that pulls from traditional board games as well as indie RPGs. [...] After the misstep of ''Uk'otoa'', I'm frankly shocked at how effective and moving this game manages to be".<ref name="Polygon review of Last Gasp" /> Linda Codega of ''Io9'' stated that the game "is a well-designed, tightly focused two-person game that is a love letter to the most dramatic of showdowns across media. [...] ''Till the Last Gasp''<nowiki/>'s greatest strength and greatest weakness is that it is exactly what you make it".<ref name=":7" /> They highlighted that "although the mechanics are what move the story forward, arguably the roleplaying is the far more important part of the game, even as it has no traditional mechanical value. And when ''Till the Last Gasp'' is played in earnest, it is a lively, low-pressure game that allows for immediate investment and clear resolutions".<ref name=":7" /> Andrew Stretch, for ''TechRaptor'', viewed it as both a "completely unique game" and "a fantastic game of short-form collaborative roleplay".<ref name=":8" /> However, James van Tonningen of ''Gaming Trend'' viewed it as "an empty shell of a game" that "fundamentally misunderstands why people enjoy roleplaying games".<ref name=":9" /> van Tonningen wrote that "what ''Till the Last Gasp'' has done is make a fighting game with no way to track damage done, a combat simulator where both players pause and soliloquise their intentions, and a roleplaying game where the dice are rolled, but have no impact. It’s a drama school assignment masquerading as a high-stakes duel".<ref name=":9" />

== References ==
{{reflist}}


[[Category:Card game publishing companies]]
[[Category:Board game publishing companies]]

{{Sourceattribution|Darrington Press}}