The table-top role playing game Dungeons and Dragons is so prominent that it is often synonymous with the genre. However, following its publisher's newly announced rules regarding how players can utilize their own homemade content, many are committing to leaving the franchise until a more equitable decision can be made.Though other TTRPGs exist, committing oneself to learning a whole new system while waiting for Dungeons and Dragons to change its tune may seem daunting. For those who are looking to play RPGs in a fantasy setting without the same level of dedication, there are a number of video games more than capable of fulfilling what they may be missing.
Whereas previously players could retain any funds earned from content they made using the popular TTRPG, its proposed new open gaming license (OGL) would mean any endeavors related to Dungeons and Dragons could owe a portion of its proceeds to Wizards of the Coast. For many content creators who stream their campaigns, players who make homebrews into public resources, and fans who enjoy the benefits of access to both, this change to the OGL could prove devastating, which is why players may be looking for alternative activities.
Video Games to Check Out in Lieu of Dungeons and Dragons
What makes Dungeons and Dragons so popular is how it allows players to fully immerse themselves in the world. For those simply favoring a fantasy adventure in a well-defined franchise, The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim will prove to be an obvious choice. The game is already hugely popular, and its world full of dragons and fantasy races has an endless stream of things to discover. For those who are looking to play a game that gives them more of a mix of adventuring and interpersonal challenges, BioWare's Dragon Age series will bring dozens, if not hundreds of hours of entertainment. The series' vast world and political squabbles will satiate any players missing the kind of deeper character beats and discussions one might find in D&D while its OGL is in the balance.
For those who play fantasy RPGs in order to jump into a world where they can learn about all the lore it has to unravel, the Banner Saga Trilogy's Nordic-inspired world set amid a mysterious apocalypse will give fans of deep-diving expansions plenty to read through before they call themselves experts on the Dredge. Meanwhile, players who prefer a min-max style of challenging combat can turn to Dark Souls and its fellows Demon's Souls, BloodBorne, or other FromSoft-inspired titles that are known for their difficulty. To capture the experience of sitting around a table figuring out how to progress a TTRPG session, the 2012 indie title Knights of Pen & Paper serves as a funny, loving take on the culture surrounding Dungeons and Dragons, as well as the people who love it.
With #opendnd trending on social media platforms and several creators making their own TTRPG systems, fans are unlikely to find themselves without a game to play even if Wizards of the Coast doesn't address its mounting concerns soon. Perhaps Dungeons and Dragons' publisher will see the error of its ways and Hasbro will reverse the decision, but if not, the influential TTRPG has left a huge variety of video games in its wake that can provide similar kinds of entertainment.
Dungeons and Dragons is available now. One D&D is in development
