Critical Role’s Thresher Premieres Tonight

Tonight marks the beginning of the next mini-campaign from Critical Role! As we’ve covered before, the team puts together these experiments and short adventures while they’re crafting their next huge epic quest. In the recent past we’ve had the summer camp romp Wildemount Wildlings and before that, the four-part miniseries Exandria Unlimited. Up until now, most of CR’s shows have been comedic adventures. That’ll change in a big way with this next one.

It’s called Thresher, and it’s a two-parter presented in cooperation with 12-Sided Studios and Paragon Pictures. It’s Critical Role’s first cinematic actual play horror game. Here’s how they describe it:

Set in the crushing silence of the ocean’s abyss, the series follows a fractured crew aboard a claustrophobic submersible on a mission to investigate Rán Boer Station, a long-abandoned geothermal facility lost to time and pressure. As paranoia sets in and mutiny brews, ancient forces begin to stir in the deep.

Blending sci-fi horror with signature Critical Role storytelling, Thresher is a chilling descent into psychological unraveling, buried secrets, and monstrous threats, where survival depends on more than air supply. Crafted using the Illuminated Worlds system, the series features immersive Unreal Engine environments and a cast of powerhouse talent from across TTRPG, gaming, and screen.

Said talent includes players Abubakar Salim (House of the Dragon, Raised by Wolves), Jacqueline Emerson (The Hunger Games, Good American Family), Mark “Sherlock” Hulmes a.k.a Mara (High Rollers, Candlekeep Mysteries), Jane Douglas (Outside Xbox, Oxventure) and Noshir Dalal (Red Dead Redemption 2, Horizon Forbidden West), with Jasper William Cartwright (3 Black Halflings, Dimension 20) serving as Game Master.

Thresher starts tonight at 7 PM Pacific / 10 PM Eastern, at any place Critical Role traditionally broadcasts from: Twitch.tv/CriticalRole, YouTube.com/CriticalRole, and beacon.tv.