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Worlds collide across time and space in Doctor Who: Worlds Apart
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Colin Campbell
It's based on the TV sci-fi franchise Doctor Who, where the Time Lord has travelled across time and space for more than 60 years, outwitting enemies of the universe while making friends and allies. The Doctor's greatest weapon is their wit and intelligence, the loyalty and gumption of their assorted companions, and their trusty TARDIS.
Cards in the game include planets, enemies, assistants, famous moments from the series, and the various forms the Doctor has taken down the years. These include the original played by William Hartnell through Jon Pertwee's and Tom Baker's iconic 1970s versions, right up to more modern iterations such as David Tennant, Jodie Whitaker and current incumbent Ncuti Gatwa.
The cards are all hand drawn. Each has its own bonuses, buffs, and powers. Players defeat opponents by summoning their cards and placing them in the most advantageous slot on the digital game board, which (in true Doctor Who fashion) is set across three time zones. It's easy to play but challenging to master.
The game also includes an additional NFT component, in which players can buy and trade cards. Engagement with NFTs is not necessary to play and enjoy the game.
Doctor Who: Worlds Apart is published by British company Reality+, which was formed in 2020 for exactly this kind of project, partnering with major franchise holders like BBC Studios, FIFA, and ITV to create games that straddle so-called Web2 and Web3.
"The beauty of the Whoniverse is that we can match abilities and make each character feel unique but familiar for fans," says Reality+'s head of marketing Dave Learmont. "Our designers have done an amazing job in making sure players who might not be familiar with the series still get a taste of what these different characters are about."
"The team are passionate about the series," he adds. "I’m always amazed at their depth of knowledge on the characters and storylines, and I think that passion really helps drive both the game and our content in the right direction."
The game's researchers had decades of stories and characters to draw upon. The challenge was choosing what to include. "It’s been really hard, and easy, at the same time," says Learmont. "It’s difficult because there’s just so much information out there. With over 60 years to sift through, it can be hard to know where to start. However, it’s pretty easy as it’s all so interesting. The favorite thing for me has been learning about different characters and stories, not just the iconic ones.
"Everyone knows the Doctors, the Daleks, the Cybermen, but I’ve loved looking at characters such as Skaldak and their stories, which are mega-interesting, and being able to bring that to life through our content."
As with all successful TCGs, the cards themselves are paramount, most particularly the artwork. "I’m always blown away when we receive new artwork for new worlds from the team," says Learmont. "They’re so detailed, from our stunning background worlds we use in creative assets, through to the in-game worlds which have nods to key features from that planet."
He explains how the design team goes about creating cards, which are regularly added to the game through new seasons and updates. "Our design team and artists work closely to make sure that both abilities and the artwork reflect the history,” he says. “Sometimes we will use a top-down approach, where we have a character in mind that we want to bring to life, and sometimes we use a bottom-up approach, where we have an ability we want in game, and we need a character that really fits that.
"I think this brings out the best of both worlds. We know we can bring cards that people will love to the game, such as iconic enemies, companions, or even items, and we can also bring really new, unique mechanics to the game and keep pushing boundaries that way."
One of his favorite recent cards is Clara Oswald, the wily and fierce assistant played by Jenna Coleman between 2012 and 2017. "She’s such an important character, and when I looked at the artwork, I was just blown away at how beautiful it was. It felt like we definitely pushed the boundaries in terms of the use of color, and the subtle nod to her history with the leaves blowing through just took my breath away.
"To add to that, she’s just a super useful, powerful card, and I’m a big fan of the juxtaposition of this gorgeous, summery, ethereal artwork and the power that she can bring to the board. It’s literally awesome." Clara is available via the game's latest season, The Moment.
Doctor Who: Worlds Apart is available now to play for free on Epic Games Store.