How to choose a module
“Best” depends on your group. Before you buy, ask:
- Experience: are the DM and players new to D&D?
- Tone: heroic, horror, comedy, mystery or exploration?
- Length: a few sessions or a year or more of play?
- Prep tolerance: some modules are linear and easy to run, while others are sandboxes that demand more preparation.
- Level range: check the starting level and where the book ends.
Published adventures save time, and most DMs adapt them. Level ranges below are approximate, so confirm them on the book’s listing before buying.
Best for beginners
Lost Mine of Phandelver (levels 1 to 5) is the most common recommendation. It comes in the Starter Set and has goblin ambushes, a frontier town and a classic dungeon crawl. See our Lost Mine of Phandelver guide for a spoiler-aware overview.
Other short, approachable options include the anthology books, which let you run a single story over a few sessions. Many free options are listed in our guide to free D&D adventures.
Gothic horror and mystery
Curse of Strahd (levels 1 to 10) is a gothic horror sandbox in the mist-shrouded land of Barovia, with the vampire Count Strahd von Zarovich as its central figure. It is widely praised, but it is atmospheric and demands more from the DM than a simple dungeon crawl. Discuss content and tone at session 0.
Big epic campaigns
- Storm King’s Thunder (about levels 1 to 11): a giant-themed campaign across the North.
- Tomb of Annihilation (about levels 1 to 11): jungle exploration and a deadly dungeon.
- Princes of the Apocalypse (about levels 1 to 15): elemental cults and dungeon exploration.
- Out of the Abyss (about levels 1 to 15): an adventure in the Underdark.
- Rime of the Frostmaiden (about levels 1 to 12): survival horror in a frozen region.
- Descent into Avernus (about levels 1 to 13): an adventure that travels to the Nine Hells.
These books are large, so expect to supplement and adjust them over many months.
Urban and heist
Waterdeep: Dragon Heist (levels 1 to 5) is a city adventure built around factions and a treasure hunt. It suits groups that enjoy roleplay, investigation and intrigue more than dungeon delving. Some DMs find it needs extra prep to run smoothly.
Exploration and survival
Rime of the Frostmaiden and Tomb of Annihilation both emphasize hazards, travel and resource pressure. They suit groups who like a sense of danger and discovery, but they can be punishing if the party is not prepared.
Short and anthology books
Anthology books, such as collections of short adventures, work well for groups that want standalone sessions or a break between campaigns. They also help DMs sample different styles. Some contain classic dungeons updated for 5e.
Quick comparison table
| Module | Approx. levels | Style | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lost Mine of Phandelver | 1-5 | Classic fantasy | First-time groups |
| Curse of Strahd | 1-10 | Gothic horror | Roleplay, atmosphere |
| Waterdeep: Dragon Heist | 1-5 | Urban caper | Intrigue fans |
| Storm King’s Thunder | 1-11 | Epic fantasy | Long campaigns |
| Tomb of Annihilation | 1-11 | Jungle survival | Dungeon fans |
| Rime of the Frostmaiden | 1-12 | Survival horror | Experienced tables |
Tips for running modules
- Read the entire adventure, or at least the next chapter, before you play.
- Do not be afraid to change names, order or details to fit your players’ characters.
- Take notes on changes. Our guide to D&D note taking offers ideas.
- Ask players about tone in session 0.
- If you are tempted to write your own adventure instead, see how to create a D&D campaign.