AdHoc’s Critical Role Game Could Literally Be Dispatch with a Different Coat of Paint, and I’d Be Perfectly Fine With That

AdHoc Studios brought a fresh and charming take on the superhero genre that has left a lot of fans craving more. There’s still no official word about Dispatch Season 2, but the hope for more chapters is continuing to grow. Even if AdHoc Studio doesn’t make a Season 2, there’s still comfort in knowing that the unnamed Critical Role game is currently in the works. Of course, there are plenty who would prefer another superhero-based story-driven game, but Critical Role could prove to be on par with the indie hit. AdHoc’s approach to Dispatch is bound to be its go-to forward from now on. Some may see this as Dispatch simply wearing a Critical Role costume, but I don’t care. That actually sounds pretty awesome.

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Critical Role is Bound to Feel Right at Home in Dispatch’s Gameplay Loop

Dispatch may be a superhero office comedy, but it has way more in common with D&D than it sounds at first. Between its approach to storytelling, emphasis on in-game choices, and unexpected outcomes, Dispatch already has many of the key features that make a D&D campaign so compelling. A Critical Role game with the same kind of gameplay only makes sense.

Dispatching is Basically a Dice Roll, Anyway

The core mechanic of Dispatch is essentially the game’s own version of a D&D dice roll. Based on stats and chance, Dispatch‘s outcomes can either be great or detrimental. Just like life, players can do their best in both Dispatch and D&D and still fail. Dispatch‘s use of RNG has ignited criticism from some players, but I think it’s ultimately one of the best features in the game. It turns up the dial on immersion, and the uncertainty of outcomes and consequences makes it a far more compelling experience. It’s the same reason I finally got invested in D&D in 2020. Not knowing how a story is going to turn out because so many results are up to chance is frustrating in the most wonderful way. Dispatch‘s hardest choices pop up all through the game, and Critical Role is an ideal successor to take on this mechanic.

Image via AdHoc Studio

Critical Role‘s Exandria storyline had plenty of unpredictable moments in its official campaigns, so AdHoc’s take on the world will simply match what the D&D series has already established. There’s the issue of this feeling repetitive on AdHoc’s part, but if a formula works so well, then why change it? Using Dispatch‘s gameplay could ultimately pave the way for something even better than the superhero tale.

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Critical Role Gives AdHoc Studios the Opportunity to Dive Even Deeper Into a Choice-Based Story With Strong Characters

The world of Exandria spans three different Critical Role campaigns, so AdHoc Studios has a lot to work with lore-wise. A fresh Exandria story is exciting enough, but seeing what AdHoc does with the world is going to be equally fascinating. There’s the opportunity to showcase some beloved Critical Role characters in cameos, like Jester and Grog, but the original characters this partnership is bound to bring to life could introduce some new fan favorites.

Right now, there’s really nothing known about the Critical Role game’s story, but one thing is certain: choices are going to be front and center. Beyond the actual dispatching mechanic, choices were at the heart of Dispatch, and if a D&D campaign is full of anything, it’s choices. Since Critical Role‘s Exandria has so much lore to play off of, AdHoc can really sink its teeth into a treasure trove of options and paths for players to take. Dispatch had an impressive number of outcomes, but being a fresh IP with a smaller budget may have confined it from going bigger. Critical Role, on the other hand, may be a very different story. The success of Dispatch and a partnership with a franchise as popular as Critical Role ultimately means more time and money to really refine existing mechanics, take them to the next level, and even introduce new ones that raise the bar for the hoped-for Dispatch Season 2.

AdHoc Studios and Critical Role Are a Perfect Fit, But More Info is Hopefully Revealed Sooner, Rather Than Later

Image via Critical Role

Last year was a big one for Critical Role. Not only was an Exandria game confirmed, but Campaign 4 kicked off. This time, Matt Mercer stepped away as the DM, bringing a new, fresh energy to this chapter. For a web series that started off as a few voice actor friends getting together to enjoy D&D, Critical Role has turned into one of the biggest celebrations of the tabletop game. Exandria was fascinating, and now that AdHoc is taking the reins and crafting a new story within the world, there are plenty of questions that have yet to be answered.

It’s unclear what 2026 has in store for AdHoc’s Critical Role game. Unfortunately, it will likely be a while before a fresh update is offered. For some, it’s probably frustrating that the Critical Role game is taking time away from a potential new Dispatch chapter. However, this could ultimately be the key to making a new Dispatch season that much better. Critical Role opens the door for AdHoc Studios to go bigger and better with its key features, and that will be really cool to watch unfold when the time comes.

Released

October 22, 2025

ESRB

Mature 17+ / Blood, Crude Humor, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs and Alcohol

Developer(s)

AdHoc Studio

Publisher(s)

AdHoc Studio