Defenders of the Wild Game Review

Into the Commonwood

Defenders of the Wild is a game that flew under the radar, which is surprising given its small box, Root-esque look, and the design backing of Henry Audubon (PARKS) and T.L. Simons (Bloc by Bloc). The game was brought to life as Outlandish Games’ first Kickstarter, which successfully raised over $330,000 from 1,200 backers. There is even a spinoff RPG book titled The Almanac that fleshes out the factions and worldbuilding. Outlandish Games focuses on titles that explore conflict, cooperation, power, and resistance.

The game is thematically rich, immersing players in the world of Commonwood, where the livelihood of the inhabitants is threatened by robotic machines imbued with corrupted magic. Players choose leaders from four partisan factions who mistrust one another but must cautiously unite to face a common enemy. The booklet includes a wealth of backstory for each faction, along with an in-depth narrative about the world as a whole. I was surprised to find so much content about these little critters, but it helped set the stage for the cooperative bout we were about to embark on. This backdrop of collective good is common in the cooperative genre, including titles such as Spirit Island, Aeon’s End, Heredity: The Book of Swan, and Horrified. Critter collusion awaits!

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