The Vox Machina campaign originated as the home game of the cast, played from 2012 to 2017; the show begins in medias res with the characters regrouping in the city of Emon after approximately 6 months apart and the streamed campaign picks up where the cast's original home game left off. While the adventures prior to the Kraghammer arc (2015) were not formally recorded, some shorter recordings have been released by the cast. This includes audio from the first session of the campaign, which was released as a segment in the third episode of the podcast All Work No Play.[3] Additionally, Liam O'Brien released a recording of the magic carpet being discovered by the party.[4] Episode 36 features a summary of the pre-series history,[5] with artwork created by Wendy Sullivan Green and voice-overs provided by the cast.[6] The comic book, Critical Role: Vox Machina Origins, is an adaptation of the group's game before the show.[7] The animated series, The Legend of Vox Machina, also adapts a canonic story that took place within the pre-stream time frame.[8][9]
Campaign one originally broadcast live on the Geek & Sundry Twitch and YouTube channels between March 12, 2015, and October 12, 2017, for a total of 115 episodes.[10][11] Starting in November 2016, it was also broadcast live on the Alpha streaming service from Legendary Digital Networks. The show on Alpha had a unique overlay that included "real-time character sheets, damage and heal animations, and visualizations".[12] Campaign one's closed captions were transcribed by a fan group who submitted them to Geek & Sundry. Geek & Sundry then added these to the YouTube copies of episodes.[13] The VODs have since been uploaded to Critical Role's own YouTube channel.[14]: 0:41
The episodes of campaign one spilt by year:
Year
Episodes
Originally released
2015
1–36
March 12 – December 17, 2015 (2015-03-12 – 2015-12-17)
2016
37–79
January 14 – December 15, 2016 (2016-01-14 – 2016-12-15)
2017
80–115
January 5 – October 12, 2017 (2017-01-05 – 2017-10-12)
The second campaign began on January 11, 2018, and follows the adventuring party known as The Mighty Nein. The story is set on the continent of Wildemount, which was briefly visited during the Vox Machina campaign. The Mighty Nein campaign is set about 20 years after Vox Machina's final battle against Vecna;[15][16] it takes place at a time where tensions are very high between the Dwendalian Empire and the Kryn Dynasty, two of Wildemount's major powers.[17]
Prior to a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the show had broadcast live, but has been pre-recorded since its return for episode 100 of Campaign Two.[18] In May 2021, the cast announced that campaign two would end shortly, however, "the Mighty Nein's story wasn't finished".[19]Collider reported that "Campaign 2 has spanned 100 hours of battle, 440 slain villains, and 530 total hours of dice-roll-driven adventuring. And that's not even counting the upcoming 7-hour finale".[20] The finale aired on June 3, 2021;[21][22] it was the longest episode at just over seven hours.[22]
The episodes of campaign two split by year:
Year
Episodes
Originally released
2018
1–46
January 11 – December 20, 2018 (2018-01-11 – 2018-12-20)
2019
47–89
January 10 – December 19, 2019 (2019-01-10 – 2019-12-19)
2020
90–120
January 9 – December 17, 2020 (2020-01-09 – 2020-12-17)
2021
121–141
January 14 – June 3, 2021 (2021-01-14 – 2021-06-03)
The third campaign premiered on October 21, 2021 with a simulcast live in Cinemark Theatres along with the regular Twitch and YouTube livestream.[1][23]Critical Role will continue to be pre-recorded for the third campaign.[24][25] Starting with the third campaign, the main campaign of Critical Role will not air new episodes on the last Thursday of every month; instead, other content by the studio will air in its time slot.[24][25][26]
The story is set immediately after Exandria Unlimited which took place 10 years after the events of the second campaign.[27][23][24] Several cast members reprise their roles from Exandria Unlimited.[28] The campaign is set on the continent of Marquet, which was briefly visited during the Vox Machina campaign. SyFy Wire highlighted that Marquet is "home to massive deserts, mountains, and even a volcano" and that it is "uncharted territory for the series".[24]
The episodes of campaign three split by year:
Year
Episodes
Originally released
2021
1–8
October 21 – December 16, 2021 (2021-10-21 – 2021-12-16)
2022
9–43
January 6 – December 22, 2022 (2022-01-06 – 2022-12-22)
2023
44–81
January 5 – December 21, 2023 (2023-01-05 – 2023-12-21)
Exandria Unlimited (ExU) is an anthology series and is a spin-off of the main Critical Role series. The first season was originally broadcast from June 24 to August 12, 2021. That season is set in the city of Emon on the continent of Tal'Dorei 30 years after Campaign One and 10 years after Campaign Two.[29][30] The players in this season are Ashley Johnson, Robbie Daymond, Liam O'Brien, Aimee Carrero, and Matthew Mercer.[31][32] The season's game master is Aabria Iyengar (known for other streaming shows such as Happy Jacks RPG, Dimension 20, and Saving Throw).[33][30]Anjali Bhimani guest stars in episodes four through six.[34][35][36] In March 2022, a two-part adventure sequel, Exandria Unlimited: Kymal, was released. It followed Dorian Storm returning to his friends after his time in Campaign Three. Daymond, Mercer, Carrero, Bhimani and Iyengar reprised their roles; Erica Lindbeck also joined the cast.[37][38][39]
IGN reported that "Exandria Unlimited will be considered canon within the wider Critical Role story, and 'will affect future environments and timelines across the overall lore of Critical Role.' So as fans await what may come from Campaign 3 of the core CR cast, Unlimited looks to offer a new vantage point into the world of Exandria".[40]IGN also highlighted that "it's likely not the only such story planned; the announcement for the series teases that 'Within the world of Exandria, there are an unlimited amount of stories to be told - and we have only just begun'."[40]
The second season, titled Exandria Unlimited: Calamity, was broadcast from May 26 to June 16, 2022. It follows a group of heroes from the Age of Arcanum – an age 1,500 years before the Critical Role series[41] – who attempt to prevent the Calamity.[42][43]
Title
Episodes
Originally released
Exandria Unlimited
8
June 24 – August 12, 2021 (2021-06-24 – 2021-08-12)
Exandria Unlimited: Kymal
2
March 31 – April 1, 2022 (2022-03-31 – 2022-04-01)
Exandria Unlimited: Calamity
4
May 26 – June 16, 2022 (2022-05-26 – 2022-06-16)
One-shots
In addition to their main campaign series, Critical Role has also broadcast many one-shots – short adventures that take place within a single session of play.[44][45][46][47] As of October 2023,[update] seven of these one-shots are considered canonical; with four listed on the show's official timeline published in June 2021.[48][47] Most of the seven are epilogue episodes to one of the first two campaigns. The Search for Grog and The Search for Bob, however, cover events within the storyline of the last episode of Campaign 1 that required telling outside the time frame of the main show. Other one-shots have only a tangential relationship to the campaigns. These are set in the world of Exandria or feature established canon characters but are not considered canonical themselves.[47][49] Still other one-shots have no connection at all with the campaigns or the world of Exandria.[44][47] Some one-shots promote other intellectual properties commissioned by sponsors.[47][50]
Academics Lisa Horton and David Beard, in the book The Routledge Handbook of Remix Studies and Digital Humanities, explained that Critical Role's one-shots "use pastiche, parody, and other forms of obvious remix", highlighting that Critical Role has "mashed-up Harry Potter with The Breakfast Club and Peter Pan with the Wizard of Oz, and the results are entertaining, but they live and die within a single evening". They argued while these one-shots are fun and "achieve positive fan response", the one-shots are also "unchallenging" and "uncomplicated" as "creative dead ends" in comparison to Critical Role's campaigns.[51]
Canon
The following one-shots are listed as canonical parts of the official timeline.[48][47]
List of canon one-shot episodes
Title
Dungeon master
Cast players
Original air date
"The Search for Grog"
Matthew Mercer
All main cast present
February 22, 2019 (2019-02-22)
Set during the final episode of the series, Vox Machina head to Pandemonium to recover Grog's soul after his use of the Deck of Many Things.
This episode was recorded live on January 19, 2019 at The Theatre at the Ace Hotel and premiered on Twitch on February 22, 2019 before being released via YouTube and Twitch VOD the following day.[52][53] Travis Willingham's character for this one-shot episode—Sir Bertrand Bell—returned in the opening episodes of Campaign 3.[54][55]
"The Search for Bob"
Matthew Mercer
All main cast present
June 23, 2019 (2019-06-23)
After reuniting Grog's soul with his body, Vox Machina must now find Bob to recover the items he took as they need these items to be able to leave Pandemonium.
"Dalen's Closet"
Matthew Mercer
All main cast present
August 29, 2019 (2019-08-29)
In 813 PD, a year after the defeat of Vecna, the surviving members of Vox Machina reunite with the intent of celebrating Vex and Percy's wedding renewal. However, this destination event is interrupted by Sylas Briarwood who is seeking revenge.
"The Adventures of the Darrington Brigade"
Matthew Mercer
All main cast present
November 29, 2019 (2019-11-29)
In the year 826 P.D, set roughly a decade after the first campaign and a decade before the second campaign, Taryon Darrington recruits a new batch of adventurers for his non-profit Darrington Brigade to join him on a new adventure in Wildemount.
This episode was recorded live on November 23, 2019 at the Bass Concert Hall and premiered on Twitch on November 29, 2019, with the YouTube VOD being made available on December 1, 2019.[56]
In 837 PD, six months after the destruction of Lucien, the Mighty Nein are scattered across Wildemount. Uk'otoa's minions steal the last Cloven Crystal after attacking Fjord, Jester, and Kingsley at sea. The Mighty Nein reunite to recover the crystal.
In addition to being streamed on Twitch and YouTube, both parts of The Mighty Nein Reunited were simulcast in Cinemark Theatres in both the United States and South America.[57][58]
The Mighty Nein must regroup after the events of the Apogee Solstice[b] in 843 PD and deal with emerging dangers as magical chaos unfolds. They discover that Trent Ikithon has escaped and seeks revenge against Caleb and The Mighty Nein for his imprisonment.
This episode was recorded live on October 25, 2023, at the OVO Arena Wembley.[61][62] It was then broadcast on October 26, 2023 at 7 p.m. PT on Twitch and YouTube; additionally, it was shown in Cinemark Theatres in the United States and in Cineplex Theatres in Canada at 7 p.m. local time the same evening as the premiere.[63][64]
TBA
Matthew Mercer
All main cast present
TBA
The next great adventure: the marriage of Jester and Fjord.[65][66]
This episode will be recorded live on October 7, 2025 at the Radio City Music Hall as part of Critical Role's tenth anniversary live show tour.[65][66]
Shared world or characters
These one-shots are set within the world of Exandria or feature established characters from the main campaigns. They are not, however, deemed canonical—having no impact on the main storyline.
List of episodes within Exandria
Title
Dungeon master
Cast players
Guest players
Original air date
RPG system
"Critical Role Q&A and Battle Royale!"
Matthew Mercer
Marisha Ray, Travis Willingham
Will Friedle, Wendy Sullivan Green, Mary Elizabeth McGlynn
In the first half, the cast and guests answer questions sent in by the audience. In the second half, they use their Vox Machina characters in a Battle Royale-style player versus player game.
"Critical Role Q&A and Battle Royale: Take II"
Matthew Mercer
Taliesin Jaffe, Ashley Johnson, Liam O'Brien, Marisha Ray
–
May 26, 2016 (2016-05-26)
D&D
In the first half, the cast answer questions sent in by the audience. In the second half, they use their Vox Machina characters in a Battle Royale-style player versus player game.
"The Return of Liam"
Liam O'Brien
Travis Willingham, Sam Riegel, Laura Bailey
Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, Ashly Burch
September 1, 2016 (2016-09-01)
D&D
Also titled as: "The Screw Job".
"Bar Room Blitz"
Sam Riegel
Liam O'Brien
Eric Bauza, Ashly Burch, Brian Wayne Foster, Mary Elizbeth McGylnn
August 31, 2017 (2017-08-31)
D&D
A group of misfits find themselves swept up in a bar room brawl in a tavern on the outskirts of Jorenn Village near the Umbra Hills.
This episode was pulled from Critical Role's official channels in July 2023.[67]
"Grog's One-shot"
Travis Willingham
Laura Bailey, Taliesin Jaffe, Liam O'Brien, Sam Riegel
–
November 2, 2017 (2017-11-02)
D&D
Grog runs some of the members of Vox Machina through a game of "Bunions and Flagons" (an in-world version of Dungeons & Dragons).
"Marisha's Honey Heist"
Marisha Ray
Sam Riegel, Matthew Mercer, Taliesin Jaffe, Liam O'Brien
Brian W. Foster
November 9, 2017 (2017-11-09)
Honey Heist
Titled on Geek and Sundry as Trinket's Honey Heist. Uses the one-page RPG system called Honey Heist.
This episode was pulled from Critical Role's official channels in July 2023.[67]
"Epic Level Battle Royale One-shot"
Matthew Mercer
Taliesin Jaffe, Liam O'Brien, Marisha Ray, Sam Riegel, Travis Willingham
–
December 7, 2017 (2017-12-07)
D&D
The cast use their Vox Machina characters at level 20 in a Battle Royale-style player versus player game.
"Honey Heist 2: Electric Beargaloo"
Marisha Ray
Sam Riegel, Matthew Mercer, Taliesin Jaffe, Liam O'Brien
Brian W. Foster
August 10, 2018 (2018-08-10)
Honey Heist
Uses the one-page RPG system called Honey Heist.
This episode was pulled from Critical Role's official channels in July 2023.[67]
"Liam's One-shot: The Song of the Lorelei"
Liam O'Brien
Laura Bailey, Sam Riegel, Travis Willingham
Erica Luttrell, TJ Storm
August 31, 2018 (2018-08-31)
D&D
A werewolf adventure in Wildemount.
"Honey Heist 3: Tova's Honeys"
Marisha Ray
Laura Bailey
Krystina Arielle, Dani Carr, Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, ND Stevenson, Brittany Walloch-Key
A Red Nose Day one-shot where Mercer runs a special one-on-one D&D adventure for Stephen Colbert. Colbert plays Capo, a half-elven bard, who sets out to solve mystery on the Menagerie Coast in Wildemount.
"Vox Machina x Mighty Nein"
Matthew Mercer
All main cast present
–
June 18, 2021 (2021-06-18)
D&D
A 4x4 Battle Royale between Vox Machina (represented by Pike, Scanlan, Vax'ildan, and Percy) and the Mighty Nein (represented by Beauregard, Jester, Fjord and Mollymauk). The cast reprised their characters at level 15.
This episode was a stretch goal reward from Critical Role's 2019 Kickstarter.[68]
"Guest Battle Royale"
Sam Riegel
–
Anjali Bhimani, Darin De Paul, Will Friedle, Sumalee Montano, ND Stevenson
January 27, 2022 (2022-01-27)
D&D
Five warriors are pulled from different points of Exandria’s timeline to fight on Garyon Garrington’s Plunder Games – an alternate reality TV show. Various guests will reprise their characters in this Battle Royale-style player versus player game: Darin De Paul as Sprigg, Will Friedle as Kashaw Vesh, and ND Stevenson as Tova from Campaign One, Sumalee Montano as Nila from Campaign Two, and Anjali Bhimani as Fy’ra Rai from Exandria Unlimited.
This one-shot episode was a stretch goal reward from Critical Role's 2019 Kickstarter.
"Dignity: An Adventure with Stephen Colbert"
Matthew Mercer
Ashley Johnson, Marisha Ray, Sam Riegel
Stephen Colbert
April 28, 2022 (2022-04-28)
D&D
A Red Nose Day one-shot where Mercer runs a D&D adventure for Stephen Colbert; Colbert plays as Lucky Jack, a human fighter, seeking his temple's reliquary Dignity which was stolen during an attack on his temple which left his mentor dead. He was joined by several Critical Role cast members reprising their Mighty Nein roles at level 5. Red Nose Day donors had the ability to choose various aspects of the game between March 23 to April 1.[69][70][71]
This Red Nose Day campaign won two 2022 Shorty Impact Awards – the Gold Honor in "Best Fundraising Campaign" and the Audience Honor in "Best Influencer & Celebrity Partnership".[72]
"A Familiar Problem: Sprinkle’s Incredible Journey"
A Red Nose Day one-shot where Mercer runs a D&D adventure for Tony Hale and Sam Richardson who are joined by several Critical Role cast members. The adventure was set in the Shattered Teeth.
Red Nose Day donors had the ability to choose various aspects of the game. While O'Brien was originally announced as a player, he later withdrew and was replaced by Riegel.[75][76]
"Chicago Live Show"
Matthew Mercer
All main cast present
–
TBA
D&D
The audience will vote on which main Critical Role campaign characters the cast will play in this one-shot.
This episode will be recorded live on April 10, 2025 at the Wintrust Arena as part of Critical Role's tenth anniversary live show tour.[65][66]
"Sydney Live Show"
Matthew Mercer
All main cast present
–
TBA
D&D
The cast will play as main Critical Role campaign characters in interconnected one-shots facing a common threat, starting in Sydney, Australia.
This episode will be recorded live on June 19, 2025 at the ICC Sydney Theatre as part of Critical Role's tenth anniversary live show tour.[65][66]
"Melbourne Live Show"
Matthew Mercer
All main cast present
–
TBA
D&D
The cast will play as main Critical Role campaign characters in interconnected one-shots facing a common threat, finishing in Melbourne, Australia.
This episode will be recorded live on June 25, 2025 at the Rod Laver Arena as part of Critical Role's tenth anniversary live show tour.[65][66]
Promotional
These one-shots were made as promotions for other properties or groups.
A Diablo themed one-shot for BlizzConline, the virtual replacement for BlizzCon, was aired on the main Blizzard Entertainment streaming channel. The game is set in the fictional location of Sanctuary.[81][82] The VOD was then made available on Critical Role's YouTube channel.[83]
"Elder Scrolls Online: Blackwood Part 1 – Death & Taxes"
These are one-shots which feature the Daggerheart system published by Darrington Press, the tabletop game imprint for Critical Role Productions.[97][98][99] Cheryl Teh of Business Insider noted that the Critical Role cast "appears to be embracing, once again, the funhouse chaos of its early-day Twitch streams" by returning to the livestream format for the Daggerheart episodes.[98] Tara McCauley of The Escapist described the three episodes featuring The Menagerie adventuring party as a "one-shot-turned-short-campaign" which allowed Critical Role to "demonstrate Daggerheart and its open beta evolution with their signature actual play antics".[99]
List of Daggerheart one-shot episodes
Title
Game master
Cast players
Original air date
"Critical Role plays Daggerheart"
Matthew Mercer
All main cast present
March 12, 2024 (2024-03-12)
A group of adventurers called The Menagerie, in the realm of Lochspire, investigate the corruption within the Velvet Grove and cleansed Boko, the guardian of the Grove.
The one-shot showcases the beta version of Daggerheart. Features Bailey as Sweetpea Betabean, Jaffe as Sir Danté Terrapin, Johnson as Oppenheimer Betabean, O'Brien as Xarlo Grandall, Ray as Bunnie, Riegel as Pango Small and Willingham as Kexon Peros.[97][100]
"The Menagerie Returns!"
Matthew Mercer
All main cast present
May 14, 2024 (2024-05-14)
The Menagerie trace the source of the corruption to the town of Lolvale and the Kroatona family. While infiltrating a hideout, the party battled members of the Kroatona family and were forced to flee into the sewers when backup was called. However, Bunnie and Sweetpea were captured during this escape.
The one-shot showcases the beta version of Daggerheart.[101][98]
"Ménagerie a Trois"
Matthew Mercer
All main cast present
June 13, 2024 (2024-06-13)
During Mortimer Kroatona's interrogation, Sweetpea and Bunnie manage to escape and regroup with the rest of the Menagerie. The party investigate nearby mines which were closed by the local baron on behalf of the Kroatona family and eliminate a source of corruption there.
The one-shot showcases the beta version of Daggerheart.[102]
"A Daggerheart Critmas Story LIVE"
Matthew Mercer
All main cast present
December 19, 2024 (2024-12-19)
This episode was recorded live on December 7, 2024 at the Freedom Mortgage Pavilion and will premiere on Twitch, YouTube, and Beacon on December 19, 2024, with the YouTube VOD being made available on December 23, 2024.[99][103][104]
"Indianapolis Live Show"
Matthew Mercer
All main cast present
TBA
The first Daggerheart one-shot set in Exandria.
This episode will be recorded live on August 2, 2025 at the Fishers Event Center as part of Critical Role's tenth anniversary live show tour.[65][66]
Other
These one-shots are not set within Exandria, nor are they promotional.
Laura Bailey, Taliesin Jaffe, Sam Riegel, Travis Willingham
–
June 30, 2016 (2016-06-30)
D&D
The cast, playing as themselves, start in a mundane voice acting session when extraordinary events leave them struggling to survive in a Lovecraftian horror adventure based on popular movies and video games.
"Liam's Quest: Full Circle"
Liam O'Brien
All main cast present
–
April 20, 2017 (2017-04-20)
D&D
Sequel to "Critical Role EXTRA – Liam's Quest!"
"Thursday by Night Part 1"
Taliesin Jaffe
Laura Bailey, Matthew Mercer, Liam O'Brien, Marisha Ray, Sam Riegel, Travis Willingham
Taliesin acts as a Game Master for the first time, leading the cast (playing as themselves) through a Vampire: The Masquerade game set in the Geek & Sundry offices.
"Thursday by Night Part 2"
Taliesin Jaffe
Laura Bailey, Liam O'Brien, Sam Riegel, Travis Willingham
–
October 26, 2017 (2017-10-26)
Vampire: The Masquerade
The Vampire: The Masquerade campaign concludes as the surviving cast members find their way through the outside world.
"Sam's One-shot"
Sam Riegel
–
H. Michael Croner, Yuri Lowenthal, Molly Ostertag, ND Stevenson, Amy Vorpahl, Stefanie Woodburn
November 16, 2017 (2017-11-16)
D&D
Titled on Geek & Sundry as Once Upon a Fairytale Cruise.[107]
"Sam Riegel's Crash Pandas One-shot"
Sam Riegel
Matthew Mercer, Marisha Ray, Liam O'Brien, Laura Bailey, Travis Willingham
Blair Herter
September 21, 2018 (2018-09-21)
Crash Pandas
Also titled: Crash Panda's Too Trashed Too Curious
"Critical Role and the Club of Misfits"
Laura Bailey
Travis Willingham, Taliesin Jaffe, Liam O'Brien, Sam Riegel
Brian W. Foster
October 25, 2018 (2018-10-25)
D&D
At the magical school of Shmogwarts, five students escape detention.[108]
This episode was pulled from Critical Role's official channels in July 2023.[67]
"The Night Before Critmas"
Liam O'Brien
Taliesin Jaffe, Ashley Johnson, Matthew Mercer, Marisha Ray, Sam Riegel, Travis Willingham
A science fiction survival horror story. The homebrew rule system uses elements from the games Mothership by Tuesday Knight Games and Alien RPG by Free League.[109][110] This episode was a stretch goal reward from Critical Role's 2019 Kickstarter.[111]
Notes
^Includes two episodes from the continuation Exandria Unlimited: Kymal
^Beau and Caleb, as NPCs played by Mercer in Campaign Three Episodes 50 & 51, were among the many people who failed to stop Archmage Ludinus Da'leth from utilizing the solstice in a ritual which resulted in the red moon Ruidus being locked in the sky and arcane powers across Exandria going awry.[59][60]
^"Critical Role: The Legend of Vox Machina Animated Special". Kickstarter. Retrieved May 9, 2019. ... the first few episodes of our animation will focus on a brand new Vox Machina adventure, which takes place before our show began streaming live on Twitch.
^Williamson, Evan (October 14, 2019). "Wendy's expands its focus beyond food". Western Courier. Archived from the original on August 7, 2020. Retrieved February 23, 2020. the episode has since been taken down