Critter Hug

"Get ready to do some virtual hugging, Critters! We have a new show that’s all about spreading the love around our incredible tabletop community. Join Matthew Mercer and Mica Burton for Critter Hug as they shine a spotlight on awesome projects, creators, and businesses in the tabletop gaming industry. You may just find a new indie game to try out, learn to DIY some miniature terrain, or start up your bucket list of local game stores to check out on that grand gaming-themed road trip you have planned!"

Originally planned as a monthly short (about twelve minutes) feature for Critical Role's YouTube channel, the COVID pandemic forced a change to a long-form conversational show streaming on Twitch, with a later release on YouTube. It still seeks "to spread love around our TTRPG community by highlighting creators, game stores, projects, and so much more, but with a new style."

The show is presumably named after the "Critter Hug of Death", the fan term for the volume of Critter interest in a website overwhelming and crashing it.