Sunderfolk Free Weekend on Steam Lets Players Try a Couch Co-Op Tactical RPG With a Smartphone Twist
Sunderfolk is currently free to play on Steam until May 25, giving players a chance to try one of the year’s more unusual co-op tactical RPGs without paying upfront. Even better, the game has also received its biggest discount so far, dropping by 60% to $19.99 for a limited time.
Developed by Secret Door, a studio formed by former Blizzard developers, Sunderfolk blends classic tabletop role-playing atmosphere with digital strategy gameplay. Instead of simply putting players in front of a standard controller setup, the game turns each player’s smartphone into a personal controller, card hand, and character screen. The result is a living-room RPG experience designed to feel closer to a board game night or pen-and-paper session than a traditional video game.
The adventure takes place in the Shardlands, where players team up to face orcs, monsters, dangerous creatures, and tactical boss fights. Up to four players can join together in couch co-op, and only one copy of the game is needed. Friends can connect using the companion app, making it easier to bring a group together without requiring everyone to buy the game.
Sunderfolk offers six playable classes, each represented by an animal-inspired hero. Players can choose from characters such as a ram-like berserker, a fiery salamander-style pyromancer, and a sneaky weasel rogue. Each class brings its own abilities and role in battle, encouraging players to think carefully about team composition and strategy.
Combat is turn-based and takes place on hex-grid battlefields. Success depends heavily on teamwork, positioning, and choosing the right turn order. Players need to combine abilities, protect allies, exploit enemy weaknesses, and adjust their tactics depending on the mission. This focus on cooperation is one of the game’s strongest features, especially when played with a group in the same room.
While Sunderfolk can be played solo with a mouse and keyboard, its main appeal is clearly couch co-op. The smartphone control system helps each player manage their own cards and character information privately, while the main screen keeps everyone focused on the shared battlefield. This gives the game a party-game feel while still offering the depth of a tactical RPG.
Critics have highlighted the game’s accessible controls, strong cooperative design, and atmospheric narration as major strengths. The narrator helps bring the fantasy world to life, adding a tabletop-style storytelling layer that fits the game’s overall design. However, some criticism has been aimed at the story, which has been described as fairly familiar, along with limited character customization and missions that can occasionally feel repetitive.
Even with those drawbacks, Sunderfolk has earned a positive reception from players. Review aggregation scores place it in solid territory, while Steam user reviews are especially strong, with a large majority of players recommending the game. That suggests the experience is connecting well with its target audience, particularly fans of co-op strategy, board games, and tabletop-inspired adventures.
The timing makes this a good opportunity for anyone curious about the game. Sunderfolk normally costs around $50, but the current 60% discount brings it down to $19.99 until June 4. Since the free Steam weekend runs until May 25, players can try it first and decide whether the discounted price is worth it.
Sunderfolk is also listed as Verified for Steam Deck, but the game’s best experience is likely still on a bigger screen with friends gathered around. Its smartphone-based control system, shared decision-making, and party-focused battles are clearly built around social play.
For players looking for a new tactical RPG to enjoy with friends, Sunderfolk stands out thanks to its blend of turn-based combat, tabletop storytelling, couch co-op, and smartphone controls. With the free weekend now live and the game available at its lowest price yet, this is one of the better Steam deals for fans of cooperative fantasy adventures.
