You’ll put your controller down a lot while playing “Sunderfolk” — but that’s a good thing. The new tactical RPG video game puts control of its fantasy creatures in the palm of your hand (alongside up to three of your friends) with some revolutionary smartphone controls. Instead of using a PlayStation, Xbox or Nintendo Switch controller, you’ll use an app on your phone to control your character’s movements and attacks as they fight hordes of enemies in turn-based combat. Taking place in a mystical world called the Sunderlands, a peaceful village called Arden, where its denizens are magical, talking animals, is under attack by dark forces. A group of six heroes, including the arcanist crow, bard bat, berserker polar bear, pyromancer salamander, ranger goat and rogue otter, must team up and stop the spread of evil before it takes over the Sunderlands. Related Stories The good vs. evil story is simple and fine enough, but it takes a backseat to the crisp graphics, intricate co-op gameplay and seamless controls from your phone. “Sunderfolk” is the debut game from new studio Secret Door, released by developer and publisher Dreamhaven. Michael Morhaime, the co-founder and former CEO of Blizzard Entertainment, created Dreamhaven with many of his past colleagues, and the charismatic characters and sharp controls of Blizzard’s prestige games shine through in “Sunderfolk.” The goofy grin of the pyromancer as you launch a fireball, the stoic, humorless gaze of the ranger and the bruising hammer slam of the berserker are some of the infectious character quirks that make each animal a joy to play. Popular on Variety With six characters, there are dozens of gameplay combinations to try out and master in “Sunderfolk.” While the game is mean to be played in couch co-op with up to four people, one solo gamer can take control of 2-4 of the heroes and tackle missions just as easily. You can swap characters between missions, and each hero equally levels up and unlocks more powerful abilities as the game progresses, so nobody is lagging behind. If you want to rush in, absorb blows and dole out damage, then the berserker (naturally) is for you. Pairing the berserker with the ranger or bard, who can power up party members and weaken enemies, makes for a good team composition. And more magical users may gravitate toward the pyromancer, who can litter the field with fire and heal itself with the flames, or the arcanist, who deploys decoys on the field and can teleport long distances. There’s a character for every playstyle, and plenty of combinations to fight through each mission. With just the flick of a finger, you can control the movement, choose attacks and do just about everything else from a smartphone. The only time you need to use a normal controller is booting the game up and launching the software, from there you can ditch your controller completely and use your phone. It takes a bit to get used to, but the controls quickly become second nature and intuitive. It may be out of the norm to use a phone for most games (if you’re not playing “Jackbox”), but it makes for a refreshing experience that more titles could surely employ. It’s hard to capture the tabletop magic of playing Dungeons & Dragons with your friends, but “Sunderfolk” comes pretty close. Playing with 1-3 other players in couch co-op makes for strategic gameplay that rewards thought-out combat and combining heroes’ skills. Only one copy of the game is needed to play locally, but on the down-side, gaming online with friends requires screen-sharing or remote play. At a time when co-op games seem to be having a renaissance, it would’ve been easier if “Sunderfolk” had the same online friend pass that recent hit “Split Fiction” used. Nevertheless, assembling a party of heroes or playing solo is just as fun. Overall, “Sunderfolk” is perfect for fans of tactical RPGs or D&D fantasy action. The characters invite you right in, and the strategic, varied levels will keep you hooked.