Dungeons & Dragons is one of the most epic and versatile tabletop games ever created. Using only a set of rules and some paper, Dungeon Masters can transport players to immense worlds of high fantasy. Whether the theme is steampunk, medieval, or outer-space, all D&D needs is a little bit of time investment and imagination. There's no limit to D&D's form, and no two campaigns are ever the same, which makes this pillar of the TTRPG world an absolute delight to play.

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As its popularity has grown over the last few years, D&D has found its way out of the shadows and into the media spotlight. With the release of Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves in 2023, it's safe to say the game is bigger than ever. Luckily, a lot of brilliant shows have had a hand in that growth in popularity. For those who have recently entered the world of Dungeons & Dragons, or for long-time players who want to explore content familiar to their campaigns, there are great shows out there that are similar to D&D. Whether it's actual-play YouTube shows, high fantasy live-action, or imaginative animation - there are brilliant choices for everyone.

6 Critical Role (2015)

Emotional Actual-Play with Long-Term Campaigns

Critical Role is an actual-play D&D show available on YouTube and Twitch. It's been running since 2015, and is currently partway through its third campaign. It features a star-studded cast of voice actors, including The Last of Us's Ashley Johnson and Laura Bailey, as well as Tears of the Kingdom's Matt Mercer. The show is filled with epic highs and lows, and earth-shattering twists.

DM'd by Mercer, the cast use their brilliant acting abilities and fantastic imaginations to create a great group of characters that navigate the impressively vast and intricate original world of Exandria. Although the first campaign began live-streaming halfway through, there's still a whopping 121 episodes available, as well as the entirety of Campaign 2 and a huge chunk of Campaign 3. The show is incredibly fun, but follows a more dramatic and sincere tone than some other shows - making it a great choice for those who want to invest in some passionate high fantasy.

5 Arcane (2021)

Beautifully Animated Original World Inspired by a Game

As the name might suggest, Arcane is a brilliantly unique steampunk-style world concerned with magic and technology. Inspired by the MOBA League of Legends, the show is fantastically complex with distinct characters from all walks of life. It's perfect for those who like great world building and totally original plot points - and for any fans of League, it's full of familiar faces.

Arcane was critically acclaimed upon release, and with the second season right around the corner, it's the perfect time to catch up on the events that took place in Piltover and Zaun. The show has everything, including phenomenal voice acting, complicated characters, and a truly unpredictable plot. Any lovers of D&D will appreciate the originality of the show, and its vast lore - it's believed to be one of the best video game adaptations of all time, making it a worthy choice.

4 Stranger Things (2016)

Supernatural Horror Show Heavily Inspired by D&D

After its release on Netflix in 2016, Stranger Things was celebrated by critics and audiences alike for its 80s nostalgia, heavily aided by the brilliant performances of its young cast members. One of the core elements of Stranger Things, both visually and in its narrative, is D&D itself. The show is inspired by classic 80s movies like Stand By Me and ET, and the most recent season even drew heavily on perceptions of the 'satanic panic' surrounding D&D during the time period.

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Four of the main characters, Will, Mike, Dustin and Lucas, continually play D&D throughout the show, and even name one of the central monsters the "Demogorgon," after an enemy from the game. If that isn't enough, the show has a lot of elements seen in classic campaigns, including a great cast of characters, a seemingly unbeatable enemy, and a lot of heart. The main characters often use D&D terminology to process the supernatural events taking place around them, and at its center, it's all about the unbreakable bond of true friendship - not unlike the chaotic band of PCs featured in most D&D games.

3 Dimension 20 (2018)

Hilarious Actual-Play with a Huge Range of Campaigns

Dimension 20 is Dropout's (formerly CollegeHumor) incredible D&D show, typically DM'd by improv master Brennan Lee Mulligan (with popular DM Aabria Iyengar taking over on occasion) with a revolving cast - although, more often than not, featuring one member from the original roster of Emily Axford, Zac Oyama, Brian Murphy, Siobhan Thompson, Ally Beardsley, and Lou Wilson. The campaigns vary in length, ranging from 4 episodes to 20+.

If any D&D fans feel a little too intimidated by the intense drama and back-catalog of Critical Role, Dimension 20 is the perfect place to enter the world of actual-play D&D shows. With a subscription to Dropout, gamers can access over twenty different campaigns with a plethora of different themes, including fairytales, vampires, and high school. There's seriously something for everyone - and without a doubt there will be a lot of hilarity with some heartfelt moments sprinkled in. Dimension 20 can also be less rigid with the rules, which sometimes makes it an easier choice for players who prefer to sacrifice rules for the story.

2 Dragon Age: Absolution (2022)

Adult Cartoon Based in RPG World

Dragon Age is a longstanding fantasy RPG based in an original world that's been expanded upon across multiple games, comics, and now shows. Dragon Age: Absolution is an adult cartoon based within the world of the games, with a far easier to understand narrative for those who haven't encountered much from the franchise. The show is set in the northern region of Thedas, the fictional world from the series, and follows a rowdy group of mercenaries as they take on a seemingly impossible heist.

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The Dragon Age world is a brilliant example of high fantasy, and this show is only the beginning of the lore available for those who want it. Absolution is also in-canon, so it references events from the previous games and may even be relevant to the upcoming Dragon Age: Dreadwolf. Fans of D&D will find the transition to the world of Dragon Age smooth and relatively familiar, and once again, the eccentric cast of characters resembles that of a D&D campaign very well.

1 The Legend Of Vox Machina (2022)

Adult Cartoon Adaptation of A Beloved D&D Campaign

Those who haven't heard of Critical Role may have come across The Legend of Vox Machina on Amazon Prime Video and not realized that the two are related at all. Fortunately, those who aren't keen to watch the hundreds of hours of actual-play footage can now follow the events of Campaign One's heroic party Vox Machina in animated form. The series, created by the Critical Role company and featuring the original cast voicing their respective characters, is a direct adaptation of the Critical Role show and breaks down the campaign into more digestible plot points.

Since the show is based on a literal D&D campaign, The Legend of Vox Machina is a certified treasure trove for fans of D&D. Players will easily be able to spot the inspiration for certain spells and enemies since they may have encountered them in their own game. It features all the high fantasy of D&D as well as the genuine tomfoolery and ridiculousness of any campaign. It's a truly fun experience with great characters and a brilliant story. With an animated adaptation of Critical Role's Campaign 2 - which will follow the chaotic Mighty Nein crew - seemingly on the horizon, those who prefer their D&D content in cartoon form will be spoiled for choice.

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