15 Best Dungeons & Dragons Video Games

D&D has been a part of popular culture for more than 40 years.

The founder, Gary Gygax, could not have imagined the extent and popularity that this pen-and-paper tabletop game would reach. 

Naturally, its success has let it enter various forms of media. Video games are not excluded.

The Dungeons & Dragons video games have largely followed their RPG formula. They also transform the intricate rulesets of tabletop games into exciting gameplay mechanics that allow players to create and personalize characters. 

Additionally, many of the games on this list have amazing writing and narrative because of an abundance of written literature and tabletop-related content for D&D.

Let’s take a look and find out which games provide the greatest enjoyment to play within the D&D franchise.

Note: Except as otherwise stated, the video games in this list are only available for the PC (either Windows, Mac, or Linux).

15. Solasta: Crown Of The Magister

Dungeons & Dragons Video Games

Solasta: Crown of the Magister is a game based on a version of the 5th edition Dungeons & Dragons rules. It has most of the things that are typical of D&D.

Players can make their own characters from scratch or use one that has already been made.

The overall quest is to find the pieces of a powerful and valuable artefact in the ruins of an old Elven Empire.

The setting of this story is a post-apocalyptic fantasy world, but that’s all the player is told at first.

In terms of D&D lore, the location of this story is never specified because it’s not a strict D&D game.

The story isn’t the most complicated, but the fights and graphics are easy for anyone to understand, even if they have never played a D&D game before.

14. Dungeons And Dragons: Daggerdale

A standard D&D adventure set in the Forgotten Realms and based on the Heroes series. It’s not amazing, but what makes this one different is that it’s available on more than one platform.

Bedlam Games made this game in 2011. It can be played on PC, PS3, and Xbox 360, and it has both single-player and multiplayer modes.

Players can take part in the campaign or just explore the world on their own, levelling up and making their characters look how they want.

Keep in mind that this is a ten-year-old game based on 2nd edition rules. It doesn’t have as many options as newer games in the same genre, since you can only choose from four classes and four races.

13. Pillars Of Eternity 2: Deadfire

This role-playing game gives you a lot of choices that let you make the experience your own.

Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire is one of the few Dungeons and Dragons games that does a better job of recreating the experience.

It has different character classes, different skills, and choices at every turn.

Most other D&D games from this time period were based on the 2nd or 3rd Edition rules and didn’t have as many options.

This game came out in 2018, so if you want a new Dungeons and Dragons game, you should play it.

It got mostly good reviews and is one of the most important Dungeons and Dragons games to come out in the last few years.

12. Eye Of The Beholder

Even though text-based games aren’t as popular as they used to be, their legacy lives on in modern games.

If you want to go back to a simpler time, you can play the classic Eye of the Beholder. The first version of the game came out in 1991 and was made for MS-DOS.

Later, it was ported to the SNES and Sega consoles.

The game takes place in the famous Dungeons & Dragons city of Waterdeep. A group of adventurers must go down into the sewers below the city and face the Beholder Xanathar in his lair.

It was an instant hit with gamers, even those who had never heard of D&D or played the tabletop version.

Its popularity led to a number of follow-up games. Even though it’s simple, it’s one of the best D&D games.

Read Also:  Spiritual Weapon 5e D&D Guide

11. Dungeons & Dragons Online

In 2006, Dungeons & Dragons Online (DDO) is the first major attempt by the franchise at an MMO game.

The first time it was released, DDO played online multiplayer and scratched the desire with third-person perspective combat as well as cooperative quest-based advancement and build paths that could be customized.

The graphics are functional in the sense that they were adequate to meet the basic requirements of the game.

Unfortunately, DDO hasn’t aged gracefully in terms of its graphics engine or gameplay.

However, it deserves the right place on this list because it’s an excellent first attempt at an online D&D gaming experience. 

The good news is that it was released prior to the time that D&D as a brand really became popular among Internet fans, so perhaps there’s still a chance to make another similar game with a multiplayer component.

10. The Temple of Elemental Evil

It was released in 2003. The Temple of Elemental Evil is based on the RPG formula used in D&D video game titles released in the past decade.

The game does, however, take participants away from the Forgotten Realms setting, which has become an enthralling source of D&D content.

Instead, we’re transported to Greyhawk the first of the worlds created by Gary Gygax for the tabletop’s initial edition.

The Temple of Elemental Evil uses turn-based combat and a lot of its mechanics are based on the D&D 3.5 Edition ruleset that was released in the same year.

The adherence to the rules of the tabletop makes it one of the highlights overall but it’s not equipped with the same storytelling punch and writing skills as other video games within the D&D franchise. Still, it’s a fun game to play if you’re a huge player of D&D overall.

9. Stories From Candlekeep: Tomb of Annihilation

It was released in October 2017 Tales from Candlekeep: Tomb of Annihilation is set in the Chult region of the Forgotten Realms, one of the most popular settings in D&D.

The main story of the game is based on the same plot threads the same way as D&D Fifth Edition’s Tomb of Annihilation adventure module.

In contrast to the previous video games within the series, Tales from Candlekeep shies away from the mechanics of its game completely on one version of the D&D rules.

Combat follows an amalgamation of rules which resembles a regular D&D game but is specifically tailored to a dungeon-crawler focus.

In this way, the gameplay is similar to the turn-based combat of the XCOM series in the previous D&D game videos.

The players can select the members of their primary group from a list of pre-made adventurers, each having their own distinct specializations which allow you to create numerous variations of strategies and combinations.

As is typical in RPGs Adventurers advance by taking on quests that award the player with experience, gold, and other items as well as all sorts of fun things.

The game also has an engine for map generation that allows for many replays, so it’s likely going to keep you entertained for a long time.

8. Neverwinter

The game is not related to other Neverwinter-themed titles (which we’ll talk about in the future), Neverwinter is a free-to-play MMORPG accessible across PC, PS4, and Xbox One.

The game is set in the eponymous city of Neverwinter in which players are able to undertake diverse quests and narratives.

The narratives and the locations are based on stories that were written within the Forgotten Realms setting. 

The most recent content, however, contains tie-ins to the official module that were created to play the game tabletop.

Additionally, you can experience user-generated content via this game’s “Foundry” feature.

Neverwinter was initially a game with mechanics that were based on the D&D 4th edition rules. 

The game involved players making characters that were based on the eight class types, each having a distinct role as well as abilities (typical gameplay in D&D).

Players could form teams or groups of up to five people while working on the content. With the advent of D&D’s 5th edition, the game changed its class balance in the year 2019 and will be more in line with the rules of the most recent edition.

As with similar MMORPGs, your characters become more powerful through leveling up and getting higher-quality equipment. Though now you can do it in D&D-style!

7. Icewind Dale: Enhanced Edition

The isometric RPG takes place in Icewind Dale, a region within the D&D’s Forgotten Realms setting.

Read Also:  Greater Restoration 5e D&D Guide

Based on the Icewind Dale Trilogy by R.A. Salvatore, the game boasts fantastically-written dialogue and hours of content through quests and exploration.

The players create and manage an adventuring group that includes as many as six characters. 

Each character has a unique classification and stats, that determine their performance in combat, their skill access, and their spellcasting abilities.

You can also upgrade your character with experience points through missions and battles.

The Black Isle Studios (who are the creators of many other fantastic games on this list) created the original Icewind Dale game.

Then, Beamdog was the one to take over the Enhanced Edition remake, which was included in the original DLCs, as well.

The Enhanced Edition features improved graphics, UI changes, bug fixes, and tweaks to the gameplay.

For both experienced and new D&D players, I’d suggest Icewind Dale will definitely scratch the classic RPG scratch.

6. Neverwinter Nights: Enhanced Edition

The first Neverwinter Nights had been developed by Bioware and Bioware, with Beamdog as the game’s remake in 2012.

This book contains many hours of content that is set within D&D’s Forgotten Realms.

Alongside the main storyline, there are numerous subplots and sidequests. 

Players can earn rewards (such as items and experiences) in exchange for finishing content outside of the main storyline, which means there’s plenty of motivation to take part in engaging with different characters and exploring the world—a major part of your Neverwinter Nights experience.

The gameplay mechanics themselves are mostly inspired by D&D’s 3rd edition ruleset. It provides a wide range of possibilities for making your characters unique.

The majority of what you do is based on chance and a 20-sided dice roll. You can influence the outcomes based on your character’s skills and stats, but there is always some degree of randomness in the success and failure.

It also comes with modding support, which can add more replay value with the creation of fanmade mods (and there are many in total). 

There’s plenty of reason to choose an Enhanced Edition since it already comes with the DLCs that are included.

5. Neverwinter Nights 2

A top-down view RPG title was released through Obsidian Entertainment. The game of 2006 gave players the chance to see the possibilities this developer had using the RPG genre (and certain players may recognize Obsidian for their later development of Pillars of Eternity and The Outer Worlds).

The story is set in the same place and same setting as Neverwinter Nights. This sequel title has equally impressive writing and rich content compared to the first.

This game improves upon some of the original game’s shortcomings makes it stand out and gives it an advantage on this list.

Neverwinter Nights 2 faithfully adapts the D&D 3.5 edition ruleset in order to give players the authentic tabletop gaming experience that you can play on your computer.

The players go through a complex character creation process similar to the game played on tables, which allows for customization and optimization.

The game also includes three DLCs available, but only two of them were created by Obsidian. 

However, with these additional DLCs, gamers who played the basic game can go into the expansions to get some very enjoyable extra content.

Alongside being able to support mods, Neverwinter Nights 2 (like its predecessor) has an active mod community, so players will find plenty of replay value in this game also. We highly recommend this game if you’re interested in PC gaming.

4. Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition

Baldur’s Gate takes place in the popular Forgotten Realms setting, specifically (and not surprisingly) located in the City that is Baldur’s Gate.

The characters are immersed in an intricate story of intrigue and conspiracies that could ignite an open war in the region.

During your journey, your growing hero might be joined by many colorful characters. You might even meet some famous celebrities of Faerun fame, such as Drizzt Do’Urden.

Original and remake game’s mechanics are based on those of the 2nd Edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons ruleset.

To be clear, the original “Baldur’s Gate” from 1998 is a masterpiece in its own right. It was described as one of the greatest RPGs ever made.

However, I must give credit to Beamdog for revamping “Baldur’s Gate: The Enhanced Edition” into a more advanced title that is more up-to-date with the current standards.

In addition to looking more attractive, in addition to looking better, the Enhanced Edition stays true to the majority of the gameplay mechanics. 

Read Also:  What is Worldbuilding in D&D?

However, it also includes many hundreds of quality-of-life improvements in addition to the ability to play with different content and options for players. 

I’m sure it’s reasonable to say that gaming has evolved significantly over the last twenty years.

The remake also comes with an original Baldur’s Gate expansion pack, Tales of the Sword Coast as well as an exclusive, DLC, Siege of Dragonspear.

3. Baldur’s Gate 2: Enhanced Edition

In the world of video games, there is a sequel curse, where the best piece of work can be followed up by a less-than-great sequel.

I’m pleased to announce that Baldur’s Gate 2 has shaken this curse off the table.

The sequel builds on what made the first memory stick. This time focused on the nation of Amn, Baldur’s Gate 2 takes the player further into the Forgotten Realms.

Similar to the first Baldur’s Gate story, here you’re plunged into an epic journey that is a sizeable one to match or even surpass its predecessor’s tale. 

Through a variety of class options, you’ll eventually grow your character into an entire army that is accompanied by a swarm of fleshed-out available companions.

Similar to its previous D&D remakes, Beamdog’s version of Baldur’s Gate 2: Enhanced Edition polishes graphics by utilizing a much more sophisticated engine, while also introducing several modern improvements (such as the ability to play multiplayer).

The remake maintains the exactness of its predecessor, the 2nd Edition of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons.

The Enhanced Edition keeps to what it was that made the 2000 game an outstanding RPG with its compelling story, rich characters, and hours of action.

2. Planescape: Torment

The top spot in this ranking is taken by Planescape: Torment and its remake, Planescape: Torment: The Enhanced Edition.

I must admit that the remake is a success in helping bring the graphics more up-to-date with the standards that gamers are used to.

Not only can you say that Planescape: Torment is the best D&D game ever created, but many would claim its position as the most excellent RPG game ever developed. Period.

You are an immortal protagonist with amnesia who is known as the Nameless One.

While located in the center of Sigil the City of Doors, you must face the dangers and complexities that are part of The Planescape multiverse (imagine the universes that exist).

What is your goal?

You have to search through your past and discover how you arrived at your eternal state. Of course, your journey will never be as easy as it sounds. The game’s environment is a reward that could bring one unforgettable highlight after the next.

One could only imagine the sheer hilarity and bizarreness that will result when you mix animals from all over the world Sometimes, they are of completely different moral inclinations.

The writing is excellent for keeping up with all the potential in the multiverse of this game.

Planescape: Torment just hits all the perfect RPG beats you’d like to find in an RPG.

A wonderful setting where you never know what to expect. The story is well-written and intricate, with sharp dialogue and an engaging story. A chance to complete your group with captivating characters with their own stories to work out.

Finally, it is a gaming system that allows various builds and design variations.

No matter if you’re brand new or a veteran of this RPG game, Planescape: Torment is an absolute must-play.

1. Special Mention: Baldur’s Gate 3

Although Baldur’s Gate 3 hasn’t seen the light of day yet (as at the time of writing), I thought it deserved an honorary mention as the most talked-about D&D gaming game on video in the last few years since Planescape: Torment: Enhanced Edition was released.

The game will be presented by Larian Studios, developers of the critically acclaimed Divinity: Original Sin game series.

What we do know about the game so far is it’ll occur (again) in the Forgotten Realms, and the gameplay will be based on some elements from D&D’s 5th Edition ruleset.

Fans must also be excited about the possibility of meeting the frightening Mind Flayers, an infamous creature that is more a part of Lovecraftian mythology than the usual tabletop fantasy.

Although Larian Studios and Wizards of the Coast have kept the details of this game in the dark, Baldur’s Gate 3 promises to be an absolute RPG experience, if the previous games are anything to be proud of. Keep an eye on the news for the game’s release as we enter the 2020s.