South Park: The Fractured But Whole

Ubisoft – 2017

South Park:
The Fractured But Whole

Game Design Lead – PC / PS4 / Xbox One / Nintendo Switch

// overview

Turn-based RPG with licensed IP at the center

The Fractured But Whole is the sequel to South Park: The Stick of Truth, shifting from a fantasy setting to a superhero parody. It's a turn-based tactical RPG in which players build a superhero identity and fight through South Park alongside the show's cast.

The game was developed in close collaboration with South Park Digital Studios – Matt Stone and Trey Parker were actively involved throughout production, which meant the design had to hold up to both game design scrutiny and the IP owners' creative standards simultaneously. As Game Design Lead, I was responsible for the night time “dungeon” missions besides the combat systems and companion AI.

I used tabletop prototyping methods – physical playtesting with cards and tokens – to validate the combat system before committing to production. Getting the feel right on a table first meant far fewer expensive pivots once it was in-engine.

// what I designed

Design contributions

  • Turn-based combat system Directed the design of the grid-based tactical combat – positioning, ability interactions, status effects, and the balance between player agency and encounter challenge. The system had to feel tactical without alienating a broad audience that came for the South Park humor first.
  • Night Missions Led the design efforts for the dungeon-like night time missions.
  • Companion AI Designed companion behavior systems through the player story arc – how characters grew, how abilities unlocked, and how the meta-progression reinforced the game's superhero identity premise.
  • Licensed IP collaboration Worked directly with South Park Digital Studios throughout production, managing the creative tension between systemic game design and IP fidelity. Every system had to feel like it belonged in South Park's world, not just bolted onto it.
  • Tabletop validation methodology Prototyped the combat system using physical tabletop methods before moving to in-engine implementation – a practice I've applied across multiple titles to pressure-test designs cheaply and quickly.

// details

StudioUbisoft San Francisco
RoleGame Design Lead
ReleasedOctober 2017
GenreTurn-Based Tactical RPG
IP PartnerSouth Park Digital Studios
PlatformsPC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
Licensed IP Turn-Based RPG AAA Tabletop Prototype
Official trailer IGN review (9/10) Metacritic Official site

// trailer