Pursue your Agenda
A secret Agenda gives each player a different ambition. Build a settlement that serves yours.
Sonderland
Every life has a story.
What will yours become?
Build a settlement, negotiate with your neighbors, and pursue a secret Agenda. Your next trade could help you both—or bring someone else closer to winning.
Welcome to Sonderland
A settlement shaped
by your choices.
Each player has a different goal, written on a secret Agenda. You decide how to reach yours through the cards you keep, the skills you develop, and the trades you make.
Your personal deck keeps its order. Choosing what to keep or release changes the opportunities you draw next.
Read the development rulebook PDF · September 2026This draft documents the digital prototype. Physical setup, exchange pairing, and victory checks are being adapted for tabletop play. It is not yet a standalone physical playtest guide.
Plan your future
Your deck never gets shuffled. Plan what cards go into your deck and in what order so you draw the cards you need at the right time.
Adapt to the seasons
Monthly survival and seasonal effects change the rhythm of work, development, and trade.
A decision at the table
A little help.
A future obligation.
An illustrative trade using the current draft rules.
You need Food.
A neighbor has a Food share. You offer one of your Favors in exchange. They can accept, counter, or decline.
They see an opportunity.
The Food helps your immediate plans. Your Favor gives them a debt they can call in later. Neither of you has to reveal your secret Agenda.
The bargain matters later.
On an eligible turn, they can return your Favor to control your unused, available worker for the month. Was the help worth what you gave up?
A note from the designer
Why each player has a different goal.
People are complicated. We can look at the same situation and want very different things.
In Sonderland, each player has a unique goal. An action that makes sense to one person might seem puzzling to someone pursuing something else. That difference is part of the game.
I chose this approach so players can use their creativity to find their own way to a goal. I want Sonderland to bring friends together for an experience they can play from different perspectives.
Spencer Russ · Designer
A closer look
Explore the prototype cards.
Resource, Concept, Community, and Misfortune.
These cards are from the current playable prototype.
Select a card to see its artwork and rules up close.
The turning year
Plan around
the calendar.
Each month moves through Free Time, Development, Work, and Resolution. Resolution includes resolving cards, paying for survival, and cleanup. Seasonal effects and changing survival needs make the calendar part of your strategy.
March · April · May
Begin again.
The game starts in March. Spring brings growth: Wheat gains a share in each spring month. What you plant now can support the months ahead.
Playtesting & development
Be part of what comes next.
I’m Spencer Russ, and I’m developing the physical version of Sonderland. Join for occasional looks at the prototype, playtest opportunities, and release news. Playtesting is optional; you can simply follow along.
Before you settle in
A few useful answers.
What kind of game is Sonderland?
A strategic card-driven board game about building a settlement, developing six skills, trading with other players, surviving each month, and completing a secret Agenda.
Is it a physical or digital game?
Sonderland is being developed for a physical board-game release. A rough physical prototype is already being played, and a Unity prototype also supports development. The next step is refining the physical components and testing with more players. Final production specifications are not set.
How long does a game take?
Play time is still being evaluated as the physical rules and player counts are tested. Sonderland is designed for a longer strategy session; a tested duration estimate will be shared as development progresses.
Will there be a crowdfunding campaign?
Crowdfunding and direct sales are being evaluated. No campaign, price, or funding target has been announced. Join the list to hear about the chosen release plan.
When will it be available?
Sonderland is in development. There is no announced release date yet. Join the list to hear when release plans are ready.
How can I support development?
Join the mailing list, mark your interest in playtesting, and share this page with your gaming group. Playtest opportunities will be announced as they become available.
Questions about Sonderland? Contact Spencer.