Though I've long been enamored with fantasy worlds and tabletop gaming, it was not until five years ago that I embarked on my first Dungeons & Dragons campaign. The first session was a bit daunting, as myself, my husband, and five of our friends sat elbow-to-elbow around a tiny coffee table littered with dice, maps, sourcebooks, player guides, and half-baked character sheets. After much deliberation on races, classes, and ability scores, my first original character was born: Filauria, a Wood-Elf Druid with a skill for communing with wildlife, a tragic backstory involving necromancy (it's probably better we don't get into that), and a penchant for whittling dragon statuettes to avoid conversation in moments of downtime.
I loved playing as a Druid. Over the course of that first campaign, I'd wildshape into everything from a house cat to a gorilla, and frequently cast Giant Insect to build a small army of enormous spiders to fight by our side—much to the chagrin of our Dungeon Master. But part of the beauty of D&D is the freedom to explore, building new characters and establishing new lore. And so when a new quest began last year, I set out as Pip, a Half-Elf Bard who long performed with a circus troupe, engaging in quite a bit of petty theft along the way. (Okay, somewhat dubious in the dependability department, but unparalleled success on acrobatics checks.)
Just who I'll choose to be after Pip's adventure concludes is still undetermined, but what remains certain is the unique wonder and enduring appeal of roleplaying games. This year, D&D is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its release. Since 1974, millions of players have gathered with a group of people—be they friends, family, or strangers—to build a story from the ground up, together. Driven solely by imagination and companionship, these adventures take us to places beyond comprehension through the eyes of creatures and beings with otherworldly abilities. These are worlds and characters that offer escape, all with the grounding element of exploring them alongside a tight-knit community of likeminded folks. And in its purest form, there's no air of self-consciousness or pretension to it—it's just good, inventive fun, alive with the undercurrent of human connection.
It's no wonder we've kept those D20s rolling for five decades and counting. Here's to all the campaigns past and all the journeys still to come. Celebrate alongside us, fellow adventurers, by diving into these genre-spanning listening recommendations tailored to your chosen Dungeons & Dragons class. May the dice be ever in your favor!
Note: The classes featured below are representative of those outlined in the fifth edition of the Dungeons and Dragons Player's Handbook, published in 2014, and the rulebook expansion, Tasha's Cauldron of Everything. Please also note that 5E is the latest edition of the game as of article publication.
Artificer
"Masters of invention, artificers use ingenuity and magic to unlock extraordinary capabilities in objects. They see magic as a complex system waiting to be decoded and then harnessed in their spells and inventions....The magic of artificers is tied to their tools and their talents, and few other characters can produce the right tool for a job as well as an artificer." —Tasha's Cauldron of Everything
When gifted thief Sancia Grado unknowingly lifts an artifact imbued with tremendous power, she makes daunting enemies and is thrown into a battle for reality itself.
When it comes to artificers in the real world, MythBusters alum and longtime special effects fabricator Adam Savage is as close as it gets. His guide to getting creative is pure magic.
Looking for a take on artificers that's more cozy than steampunk? Tamora Pierce's endlessly endearing tale of the quirky Circle of Magic is alive with enchanted craftwork.
More listens for Artificers
Barbarian
"For some, their rage springs from a communion with fierce animal spirits. Others draw from a roiling reservoir of anger at a world full of pain. For every Barbarian, rage is a power that fuels not just a battle frenzy but also uncanny reflexes, resilience, and feats of strength." —D&D Player's Handbook (2014)
Ask your resident Barbarian about their favorite fictional counterpart, and they might just name Logen Ninefingers. Fantasy meets noir in Abercombie's viciously entertaining series.
While your Barbarian OC may have near-innumerable hit points, that invincibility doesn't translate to the real world. Luckily, Endure unlocks the science behind the next closest thing.
Ferocious warrior Red Sonja—Hyrkani's own Barbarian, previously of Conan fame—gets a reinvention for the ages in acclaimed comics writer Gail Simone's forthcoming adventure.
More listens for Barbarians
Bard
"Whether scholar, skald, or scoundrel, a Bard weaves magic through words and music to inspire allies, demoralize foes, manipulate minds, create illusions, and even heal wounds." —D&D Player's Handbook (2014)
If you ever imagined a Bard plucked straight from a college house party, do we have the hero for you. Throw in a magic portal and plenty of talking animals, and voilà: Spellsinger.
Any player who's strummed a lute or charmed with a lyre can attest to the power of music. But that strength is no fiction—sound can do everything from lower stress to repair DNA.
A modern classic of Bard storytelling, Sing the Four Quarters follows a quartet of heroes embodying the four elements through political intrigue, squabbling, and adventure.
More listens for Bards
Cleric
"Clerics are intermediaries between the mortal world and the distant planes of the gods. As varied as the gods they serve, Clerics strive to embody the handiwork of their deities. No ordinary priest, a Cleric is imbued with divine magic." —D&D Player's Handbook (2014)
This story's Voices of the Ancestors, those dedicated to the preservation of the Wheel, are quite like Clerics in devotion and power. Voice Maskelle is as complex as she is revered.
If you're setting out on your own journey of spirituality, take along this bestseller on how to live fully in the moment, find contentment, and embrace your true self.
Fantasy fans know that no one does it quite like Brando Sando. One of three central characters in this epic, Gyorn Hrathen of Fjorden is a devout priest on a mission. (Sound familiar, Clerics?)
More listens for Clerics
Druid
"Whether calling on the elemental forces of nature or emulating the creatures of the animal world, Druids are an embodiment of nature’s resilience, cunning, and fury. They claim no mastery over nature. Instead, they see themselves as extensions of nature’s indomitable will." —D&D Player's Handbook (2014)
Drawing his power from the natural Earth, Arizona's own Atticus O'Sullivan is a Druid in the truest sense—and he also happens to be a shape-shifting, bookshop-owning wisecracker.
As a former Druidic player myself, I feel comfortable in assuming that many of us are also fairly green in real life. For my fellow treehuggers, there's this gorgeous love letter to the Earth.
Rooted in mythology and fairy tales, Daughter of the Forest begins a series painted with the heritage of Celtic storytelling and alive with themes of love, family, duty, and identity.
More listens for Druids
Fighter
"...perhaps the most diverse class of characters in the worlds of Dunegons & Dragons. Questing knights, conquering overlords, royal champions, elite foot soldiers, hardened mercenaries, and bandit kings—as Fighters, they all share an unparalleled mastery with weapons and armor, and a thorough knowledge of the skills of combat. And they are well acquainted with death, both meting it out and staring it defiantly in the face." —D&D Player's Handbook (2014)
Be it martial perfection or the imprecise fury of unbridled rage, the style of every Fighter imaginable is represented in the exquisite Red Rising series. War, intrigue, and unparalleled character development abound.
While the Fighters among us will never have to roll for initiative in their day-to-day, Sun Tzu's immensely influential guide to strategy and success on the battlefield is applicable to so many of life's little conflicts.
Need a story as sharp as your blade's edge? Featuring edge-of-your-seat sword fights and heartrending queer romance alike, this sci-fi-infused dark fantasy world is genre-defiant, atmospheric, and high-stakes.
More listens for Fighters
Monk
"Whatever their discipline, Monks are united in their ability to magically harness the energy that flows in their bodies. Whether channeled as a striking display of combat prowess or a subtler focus of defensive ability and speed, this energy infuses all that a Monk does." —D&D Player's Handbook (2014)
Protagonist Fraa Erasmus shares much with typical Monk origins: living in the solace of the Concent of Saunt Edhar, he spends his time in isolation until the world beyond draws him out.
To tap into your Ki and embody powerful energy, grace and meditation are key. And few understood this philosophy of mind and movement in the real world quite like Bruce Lee.
Three siblings share the epic that unfurls after their emperor father is murdered while the heir to the throne, Kaden, is away in a monastery, devoting himself to the Blank God.
More listens for Monks
Paladin
"Whatever their origin and their mission, Paladins are united by their oaths to stand against the forces of evil. Whether sworn before a god’s altar and the witness of a priest, in a sacred glade before nature spirits and fey beings, or in a moment of desperation and grief with the dead as the only witness, a Paladin’s oath is a powerful bond. It is a source of power that turns a devout warrior into a blessed champion." —D&D Player's Handbook (2014)
T. Kingfisher brings her flare for fantasy and rich world-building to the Saint of Steel series, an arc that follows curious heroes like the broken Paladin Stephen, a hero tied to a dead god.
All oaths aside, the strong sense of ethics embodied by Paladins can be just as valuable in daily life. This listen explores real leaders who emulated courageous conscientiousness.
Elizabeth Moon's The Deed of Paksenarrion series is a feat that follows a headstrong farm girl who rejects the life set out for her and instead seeks the oath of the Paladin.
More listens for Paladins
Ranger
"Far from the bustle of cities and towns, past the hedges that shelter the most distant farms from the terrors of the wild, amid the dense-packed trees of trackless forests and across wide and empty plains, Rangers keep their unending watch." —D&D Player's Handbook (2014)
Prophecy! Heroism! Warring kindgoms! Dungeons & Dragons fans will find much to love in the Echoes Saga, a story that sees Outlander of the wilds Asher come into his own.
Okay, so maybe you can't find familiar, but you can gain real advantage on tracking, hunting, and survival checks. Donny Dust takes listeners on a journey of making it in the wilderness.
An official installment set within the Forgotten Realms, this listen offers players a fresh tale against a familiar backdrop. Join Zaltys as she journeys into the Underdark.
More listens for Rangers
Rogue
"Rogues rely on skill, stealth, and their foes’ vulnerabilities to get the upper hand in any situation. They have a knack for finding the solution to just about any problem, demonstrating a resourcefulness and versatility that is the cornerstone of any successful adventuring party." —D&D Player's Handbook (2014)
Okay, imagine your entire party consists of Rogues—sorry, DMs!—and you're all setting out on the heist of a lifetime. If the premise sounds intriguing, you'll love Six of Crows.
We've all encountered a Rogue or two within our own realities, whether we realize it or not. Laci Mosley, host of the Scam Goddess podcast, exposes the why-and-how of such grifts and cons.
Fantasy meets slick crime fiction in this seamlessly crafted listen following the titular amateur thief’s rise in an underground crime syndicate that's admittedly fun to root for.
More listens for Rogues
Sorcerer
"Sorcerers carry a magical birthright conferred upon them by an exotic bloodline, some otherworldly influence, or exposure to unknown cosmic forces. One can't study sorcery as one learns a language, any more than one can learn to live a legendary life. No one chooses sorcery; the power chooses the Sorcerer." —D&D Player's Handbook (2014)
Much like the very best Sorcerers, Malik wields a powerful, intrinsic magic—and like our favorite OC backstories, he also has a mysterious past and fascinating family history.
For the magic-curious, Maia Toll's memoir and craft guide offers listeners a starting point for tapping into their own magical birthright, sharing her own story along the way.
The Brothers Grimm classic "The Goose Girl" takes a dark turn in this re-envisioning that sees young Cordelia parsing the creeping cruelty of her mother, an evil sorceress.
More listens for Sorcerers
Warlock
"Warlocks are seekers of the knowledge that lies hidden in the fabric of the multiverse. Through pacts made with mysterious beings of supernatural power, Warlocks unlock magical effects both subtle and spectacular. Drawing on the ancient knowledge of beings such as fey nobles, demons, devils, hags, and alien entities of the Far Realm, Warlocks piece together arcane secrets to bolster their own power." —D&D Player's Handbook (2014)
No good deed goes unpunished in the story of Lord Penric, who stops to help an ailing elderly woman and is instead bequeathed a mysterious connection to a powerful chaos demon.
While Warlocks are sworn to serve their patron and are thus beholden to their directives, there's never a bad time to brush up on boundary-setting and healthy interpersonal dynamics.
Though Elric is technically a Sorcerer, he edges into Warlock territory thanks to pacts sworn to otherworldly beings. Either way, come for the fan-favorite antihero, stay for the sentient sword.
More listens for Warlocks
Wizard
"Wizards are supreme magic-users, defined and united as a class by the spells they cast. Drawing on the subtle weave of magic that permeates the cosmos, wizards cast spells of explosive fire, arcing lightning, subtle deception, and brute-force mind control. Their magic conjures monsters from other planes of existence, glimpses the future, or turns slain foes into zombies. Their mightiest spells change one substance into another, call meteors down from the sky, or open portals to other worlds." —D&D Player's Handbook (2014)
Hear the tale of how legendary Sorcerer Ged came into his own in this origin tale of his apprenticeship, training, and all the hijinks that ensued on his journey toward mastery.
You may not be able to cast like a Sorcerer, but you can learn like one. Take to the books with this essential, international history of the world of magic and superstition.
Sorcerers are marked by their studious nature, a dedication to learning magic. But add the edge of collegiate life, and the trials of early adulthood (sex, friendship, parties) complicate matters.
More listens for Wizards
Further listening for D&D fans
Nonfiction and cultural commentary on D&D
Exploring the origins of the game and its unwavering appeal, these listens are perfect for curious players.
Resources for all adventurers
Handbooks, lore, rules of play—it can be a little overwhelming. Here are refreshers for players of all skill levels.
Resources for Dungeon Masters
Prefer to take on the role of DM? Keep things running smoothly with the help of these listens.
Journey alongside Critical Role
In these must-listens, a cast of seasoned voice actors roleplays their way through engaging arcs.
More D&D actual play podcasts
Interested in hearing a campaign played through in real time? These podcasts offer just that.
Explore more Dungeons & Dragons stories
Set within the realms of the official universe, these listens are as expansive as they are enchanting.
Audiobooks for young adventurers
These official series are perfect for the tiniest of heroes just entering the world of D&D.
