We’ve put together a quick list to get you started on your path to tabletop freedom. There are thousands of choices out there, but we’ve handpicked 7 of the best free D&D adventures that are fun, easily accessible, and most important of all, free. Here’s a quick snapshot:
- The Secrets of Skyhorn Lighthouse – Water, pirates, quick and dirty, ‘nuff said.
- The Wild Sheep Chase – Wolf in sheep’s clothing or puns gone bad? You decide.
- The Crypts of Kelemvor – Small cramped spaces and skeletons galore. I hope you’re not afraid of the dark.
- Shackles of Blood – Ready for a bloody rescue mission? Look no further.
- King Zadwer Balanescu – Airships and rebels. Isn’t that what you’ve always wanted?
- Grammy’s Country Apple Pie – Gargantuan forces collide over…Apple pie. Bring an appetite. It’s going to get messy.
- Outlaws of the Iron Route – Non-stop ride from start to finish. Zach Snyder meets D&D.
- Bonus Adventures – Adventures that were too eccentric to miss out on.
The Secrets of Skyhorn Lighthouse
Ready for a water-themed adventure? The Secrets of Skyhorn Lighthouse is a 5–7-hour adventure that kicks off at level 5. Negotiate with pirates, fight underwater, and get familiar with aquatic life. This adventure comes packed with:
- Four new monsters – eelfolk, eelfolk hunter, eelfolk scourge, and eelfolk stormcaller.
- Printable handouts – for monsters, PCs, treasure, maps, and references.
- Online resources – including Arcane Library and Fantasy Grounds.
With over 300 5+ star reviews and 10k downloads, it’s hard to go wrong with our first pick.
The Wild Sheep Chase
I hope you’re ready for some b’aad puns as The Wild Sheep Chase is our most wholesome pick. This adventure plays between 3-6 hours. This is a light-hearted adventure meant to break up or fill time in campaigns.
Prepare to fend off assassins and wizards in the magical grudge match of the century. Complete with full-size environments (and lots of laughs), this short journey will have you in stitches from start to finish.
The Crypts of Kelemvor
The Crypts of Kelemvor is a one-shot for characters between levels 3 and 5. Fantastic to use as filler material for your campaign, this campaign has beautifully illustrated pages complete with maps, puzzles, extra monsters, and fun bosses.
Taken directly from a quest in the popular online game Neverwinter Online, this one is sure to feel nostalgic. Traverse the Crypts of Kelemvor, solve puzzles, and ultimately (hopefully) thwart the lich Idris’s efforts in his attempts to destroy Neverwinter. Perfect for a group looking for an extra challenge.
Shackles of Blood
Shackles of Blood is an official D&D Adventurer’s League story packed full of helpful guidance for dungeon masters and players of all skill levels. This adventure is meant for levels 1-4 and will play for about 4 hours.
Nobody feels safe leaving the city with the number of disappearances lately. Join the Red Plumes in investigating a disturbing trend of missing people and help solve the mysteries surrounding the city of Hillsfar. You’re bound to be the hero reuniting families and farmlands once more.
King Zadwer Balanescu
King Zadwer Balanescu is a 30-page monster complete with tokens and map packs for print or digital use. Ensure you hop over and check out Mad Mage Game’s Kickstarter as the follow-up to this campaign.
Get ready for high flying action as a rebel group called the Black Scarves attempt to highjack the airship King Zadwer Balanescu. Rescue crewmates from peril, prevent the ship from crashing, and make it back in one piece. This adventure is sure to leave you wanting more.
Grammy’s Country Apple Pie
Grammy’s Country Apple Pie has to be the most fun we’ve had with a module. The entire premise is ridiculous and plays out to be a stretch of comedy that many campaigns could use.
The ancient wizard Tyndareus has a thirst for nostalgia that will only be satisfied by his favorite apple pie from Grammy’s Bakery. Tyndareus isn’t the only one after the pie. Goblins have overrun the bakery and are looking to hoard it for themselves.
This module is a 2-hour adventure for players levels 1-4. As a bonus, all combat can be avoided by clever stealth and magic for those looking to help rehabilitate a murder-hobo or two.
Outlaws of the Iron Route
Outlaws of the Iron Route are part of the D&D Expeditions series for the Adventurer’s League. Optimized for five level 2 characters, this adventure occurs in the Moonsea region of the Forgotten Realms. Outlaws plays for roughly four hours as you follow a group of knights to maintain order in the area. This adventure is broken into four parts:
- Riot in Phlan – Cull the insurrection and restore peace.
- Grimshackle Jail – Interrogate or coerce to get some answers.
- King’s Pyre – Nail down the outlaw chiefs on their turf.
- Orc Assault – Massive assault takes place. Escape!
This campaign is wild from start to finish winning our action-packed pick.
Bonus Adventures
With thousands of free D&D adventures out there, there were bound to be just a few that didn’t make our top 7. Here’s a few worth mentioning:
- Tales Trees Tell – A short tale for levels 1-4. Diplomatic and to the point. Keep the commonfolk from Phlan safe from the elves they trespassed against. Be the Lorax!
- Nicholas the Gift-Giver’s Northern Palace – An obvious play on an obvious holiday trope. Help bring joy to the millions across the Forgotten Realms.
- Death House – Usually used as an introductory adventure for the Curse of Strahd. This house isn’t named lightly. Can you survive?
Related Questions
What’re the Best D&D Adventures?
Short answer? Whatever adventure the dungeon master makes the best D&D adventure.
What are the Best D&D Adventures for Beginners?
Curse of Strahd is the most beginner-friendly adventure that we can think of. Honestly, most of this is up to the dungeon master to decide. A good dungeon master can make anything work for a beginner.
Can I Get Old D&D Edition Modules for Free?
A lot of the older versions of D&D have had their works published for use. Here is a list of 300+ modules for you to rip apart and use in your campaign. Remember, these are before 5e, so they may take some retrofitting.
Wrapping Things Up
We hope you’ve enjoyed our list. If you’re just getting into D&D, check out these campaigns before you spend money on more expensive books. Then you can decide what you think before dropping too much cash.
If you’re a veteran player, consider using these to break up a longer campaign. It can be super helpful to shake things up by injecting something new into the mix. Having a fresh perspective can revive a dead game and give both dungeon masters and players a new outlook, and these free modules can do just that!
