Dungeons & Dragons during its early days demanded players gather around a table to sling actual dice, simulate exploration and combat using a hand-drawn or printed map, needing all the players gathered in one place with physical copies of their character sheet.

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D&D can look intimidating to newcomers. Worry not — with these tips and tricks, you’ll be slaying dragons in no time.

But technology has evolved over the years, opening the doors for new ways to play D&D. Now, players don’t have to be in the same room or even the same country to play a game together, gathering people from across the world and forging friendships within the gauntlet of TTRPGs. There are several apps and websites that aid in playing virtual Dungeons & Dragons.

8

Tabletop Simulator

Simulate Thousands of Pre-Made Games — or Create a Custom Game

Tabletop Simulator is a fantastic game available on Steam that allows players who aren’t under one roof to play digital versions of tabletop games, including board games, card games, and even role-playing games.

The sky is the limit for Tabletop Simulator gamers, as they have the tools needed to create their own custom games with countless pre-made assets with the option to upload custom assets to create a brand-new game. As such, there is a thriving Dungeons & Dragons community available, including maps, minis, and even adventures to immerse players in. With VR support included, this could potentially be the most immersive way to virtually experience D&D.

7

Spells List 5e

A Comprehensive Guide to Spells Users Can Utilize on the Go

Spells List 5e is a must-have for the discerning D&D player. It’s a free mobile app available to both Android and iOS users that includes almost every spell available to D&D 5e, including those that are found in supplement books such as Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything. Though some are locked behind a paywall, there are still plenty enough that players can easily find use for the free version.

Being able to search, filter, and browse a very comprehensive spell list makes D&D easy, especially as players can upload a character sheet, making it the perfect way to easily bring up their spells and what they can do during in-person games without having to carry around several heavy books for reference.

6

5e Bestiary

Easily Look Up Enemy Stat Blocks

DMs might have more need of apps than players, as they have far more to juggle than the players who are only responsible for one character sheet. The DM needs maps, encounters, NPCs (friendly, neutral, and hostile), and a good number of monsters for tense encounters.

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There is a mobile app available to help with the latter in particular, which is simply called 5e Bestiary, and it is exactly as the name suggests. It lists countless enemies, from simple bandits to ancient dragons. Users can easily search for any monster they might need and even select their favorites to make searching for the needed stat block even more efficient. This makes it the perfect app for DMs who don’t want to carry around countless books and loose sheets of paper, as they can instead just refer to their mobile screen when running these encounters.

5

Inkarnate

Create Custom Maps

Where does one source maps for online D&D games? Players could source them through paid modules on websites such as Roll20 or D&D Beyond, but what about those running homebrew games, or those who don’t have the funds to shell out for all these campaigns? Inkarnate is here to save the day — a simple map-building website with plenty of assets to get DMs started with building battle maps, dungeons, and even world maps!

Though there are some assets users need to pay for, those that are complimentary for all registered users should be plenty enough for frugal DMs to create some truly exciting and beautiful maps for their games. Thankfully, the software is rather easy to use, so even those who feel like their cartographer skills are somewhat lacking can still create amazing and detailed maps that players will love exploring.

4

Roll20

A Website Hosting Plenty of D&D Content

Roll20 is likely one of the most used websites for Dungeons & Dragons, as it has plenty of tools that make DMing or being a player a breeze. There are countless systems implemented that allow users to access necessary character sheets, stat blocks, spells, maps, and monsters — everything that could be possibly needed for a virtual game of D&D.

There is also a marketplace that sells books that allow DMs to import an entire adventure into their game, as well as a bustling community, so that DMs can host open games that new friends can join — or players can join a pre-existing game to make new D&D buddies. Though there are some spells missing from the compendium, it still has almost everything D&D players could possibly want, making it the perfect website to use for existing groups — or forging a new one altogether.

3

Discord

Gather the Group in a Server to Make Planning and Voice Chatting Easy

Then, there was Skype. And now, there is Discord, a worthy competitor that rose in 2015, taking the throne for the social app for friends all around the world to instantly message one another, make video calls, compose group chats. It even has a few extra additions that Skype didn’t have, such as servers. The integration of servers allows groups of friends to chat in organized channels, such as a dedicated text channel, to share art, memes, general chat, schedules, and a dedicated voice channel for video games and D&D.

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These games provide an immersive and thrilling experience for groups of players thanks to the in-game proximity chat.

These altogether make Discord a perfect app for D&D groups who can’t make it to in-person games, as they can chat using the video and voice chat system. Players can download bots to play music for ambiance, and there’s even a dice-rolling bot that eliminates the need for a separate app or website. Though Discord isn’t a dedicated D&D app, it is one that groups can confidently and effectively use for the purpose of online campaigns.

2

Foundry

Use Pre-Made Modules for a Sophisticated Online Game

Foundry might be the most sophisticated TTRPG website currently available on the market. It can be used for several tabletop systems, with an in-depth implementation of D&D. DMs can set up a game with imported assets, which players can also use to easily add items and spells onto their character sheet, streamlining the experience — especially for those used to pen and paper games. There are also cool little animations to simulate spells and weapon attacks, which can make long sessions of combat far more interesting.

The only caveat is that it can be tough to learn for newcomers, who should avail themselves of the free Foundry demo to get the basics down. And, users will also have to pony up a $50 payment before they can begin their game. But, as it is a one-off payment, groups can cobble together the funds to seal the deal with little issue. Once that is paid, the group then has access to a truly fantastic website that will make their weekly games of D&D all the better.

1

D&D Beyond

Perfect for Physical or Virtual Games

As seen on the popular Dungeons & Dragons web series, Critical Role, D&D Beyond is one of the most popular apps to use for D&D and is suitable for both virtual and in-person games. Almost every book players could need is available, from the 2024 PHB to Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything, and even books for other systems such as Lord of the Rings. Users can buy physical or digital versions of the books to match their preference and use them in tandem with their D&D Beyond account while making their character sheet.

Though players can’t simulate a full game through this app, they can still gain access to many elements they need, such as character sheets, stat blocks, maps, and modules. Most are unfortunately locked behind a paywall, but the subscription fees are affordable, especially if shared among the group. With so many components necessary for Dungeons & Dragons, D&D Beyond makes running a game or playing one a breeze.

Dungeons and Dragons

Franchise

Dungeons & Dragons

Original Release Date

1974

Designer

E. Gary Gygax, Dave Arneson