Brandon Sanderson has been turning his Cosmere books into tabletop games with Brotherwise Games, and now he has weighed whether to do the same with his other series. When IGN asked him about adapting the Skyward novels and related Cytoverse stories, he said yes — but with a firm caveat.
“I would love to! We’ve talked about it. However, I also want to be aware of asking my fans for too much,” Sanderson told IGN. “There are a lot of great books out there, and a lot of great games. I don’t want or need it to be all Brandon Sanderson all the time. We try to be very deliberate and careful about these kinds of collaborations, to only be doing what will feel the most exciting to my fans.”
What Sanderson Actually Said
Sanderson did not shut the door on Skyward board games or a role-playing adaptation. He acknowledged interest while noting his caution about overloading fans.
“We try to be very deliberate and careful about these kinds of collaborations, to only be doing what will feel the most exciting to my fans,” he said.
Why Skyward Has to Wait
Skyward is not nearly as popular as the Cosmere, but it has potential to grow. A successful TV series could change that balance fast. Sanderson has not said it will happen soon.
The Mistborn movie is not expected until 2031 or later. Given that timeline, a Skyward tabletop game is likely years away even if the TV show takes off.
What Is Coming Next
Sanderson is not idle while Skyward waits. He has several Cosmere projects in development with Brotherwise Games.
- The Cosmere RPG is getting its Mistborn expansion in November
- A massive War for Roshar strategy game is also in the works
Those two releases give fans plenty to play through before any Cytoverse adaptations arrive.
Why This Is Good News
Sanderson’s willingness to say no is the story here. Many creators would jump at the chance to expand their brand into board games, but Sanderson is thinking about the people who follow him. He knows his fans have limited time and attention, and he is not eager to fill it with more Sanderson.
That restraint is rare. It is also a sign that he treats his creative partnerships seriously.
The Cytoverse will get its moment eventually, but it will not crowd out the work that got him here first. For now, fans have the RPG expansion and the War for Roshar game to look forward to.
Source material: “Brandon Sanderson Says He 'Would Love to' Create Tabletop Adaptations of His Cytoverse Books,” IGN.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.