Summary
Creating aDungeons and Dragonsgame is a tall order. With so many different worlds, realms, cities, creatures, spells, and rules, it can be hard to get bogged down in the details and settle on an idea. But surprisingly, most studios that have tried their hand have delivered an excellentD&D-themedrole-playing game.
RPGs by definition should be immersive, as players need to feel as though they are part of their world, and they have a say in conversations, events, and maybe even the story at large, as the pen and paper players definitely do. Thankfully, there are someDungeons and Dragonsgames that certainly deliver an authentically immersive experience.
Updated July 24, 2025 by Mara Cowley:The world of Dungeons and Dragons is vast, containing numerous different settings with vastly unique themes and stories to tell. Almost all of these realms have crossed over to video games, as numerous developers have tried their hand at translating the pen-and-paper game into the medium of video games.
Part of what makes D&D so popular is the player immersing themselves into the campaign, embodying a character that will engage in puzzles, combat, RP, and exploration. It follows that developers would try to make video games just as immersive, and in a lot of cases, they succeeded. This article already contained many of them, but a few more have been added for those in need of even more options.
One might not expect an MMO to be quite as immersive as other games, and while it may not be the most immersiveD&Dgame, it’s still worthy of consideration nonetheless. With it having access to the license for the tabletop game,Neverwinterimplements nearly all the 5e campaigns on offer with some changes for it to fit into an MMORPG. Thrilling boss fights, exploration, and teamwork are all part of the package, much like a tabletop game.
With players given the freedom to design their characters, play with friends, and experience campaigns, they can truly immerse themselves into the worlds and stories on offer, even with all thegrinding they may need to doto complete some quests.
9Dungeons And Dragons: Ravenloft Series
A World Of Fantasy Horror Inspired By One Of D&D’s Best Settings
By far, one ofD&D’sgreatest settingsis Ravenloft and the other Domains of Dread, injecting multiple genres of horror into the fantasy world ofD&D. Strahd, the Lord of Barovia, is known to be one of the best villains in the tabletop game thanks to his story of betrayal, doomed love, and vampiric horror. TheRavenloft Seriesbrings his villainy to video game format and introduces players to a world of gothic horror.
Exploration, character creation, and interactivity are hallmarks of this old-school adventure, ensuring every player feels immersed in a land of dread and despair, even despite its aged appearance.
In the second installment in theNeverwinter Nightsfranchise, the player character and their party uncover an evil plot by the corrupt wizard Black Garius to absorb the King of Shadows to tap into his powers. It is up to them to put a stop to his machinations, or there may be none who are safe from his blackened reach. Separated into three acts and left on a cliffhanger ending, the writing inNeverwinter Nights 2is more than enough to rival the first.
It’s the quality of this writing that truly draws players into the world and setting. They will feel just how high the stakes are, and how much they need to put an end to Black Garius and his plot. They also have the freedom to build their own character, which always helps players feel as though they are truly a part of the world.
The second installment in theDark Allianceseries sees animprovement on the firstwhile incorporating some similar elements, such as a selection of preset characters with different strengths and combat styles, real-time hack-and-slash action, and plenty of quests set in a fantasy world, but with new additions such as a crafting system, and more NPCs inhabiting the game world players can talk to.
This is where the immersion comes in, as the world feels more alive with people, and the players are free to interact with them. Not only that but depending on what preset the player chooses may have some influence on the conversations they share with these characters, adding another layer of realism.
Neverwinter Nightsis one of the olderD&Dthemes RPGs released, but is no less immersive than some of the newer titles. In the hands of the RPG-creating studio giant BioWare,Neverwinter Nightstook players on an adventure set mostly in the eponymous city itself, a locationD&Dfans will be familiar with.
Like most RPGs, players will need tocreate their characterbefore they embark on their adventure and then will be faced with a main story, choices to be made and side-quests to be undertaken. These side quests can craft sub-plots that endure to the final act, ensuring players get closure on these quests they undertook, and helping them be more immersed in the game when they finally see the results of the choices they made during these missions.
5The Temple Of Elemental Evil
A Thorough Character Creation System
Named after one of thetabletop game modules,The Temple of Elemental Evilis an old but classicD&Dvideo game. Though it was laden with some bugs and performance issues, it was lauded for the faithful implementation of the 3.5e rule set and is one of the games that come the closest to successfully implementing the pen-and-paper system.
The Temple of Elemental Evilhas a thorough character creation system, in which the player can customize each of the playable characters in their party, including their alignment, with the alignment determining the beginning of the campaign. This in-depth character creation and the brilliant implementation of the pen-and-paper system makeThe Temple of Elemental Evilone of the most immersiveD&DRPGs.
MostD&Dfans will know of the existence of Planescape, a place in the fictional universe that is made up of multiple, varied planes of existence, inhabited by different entities and unique magic. Players will mostly reside in Sigil, the city that lies at the top of a spiral tower in the heart of Planescape, connected to all the other planes.
Players take on the role of the Nameless One, an immortal being resurrectedupon each of his death, waking up from their most recent resurrection.Planescape: Tormentplaces more focus on regaining the memories of their past lives and finding a way out of their immortality, with combat taking a secondary place. This focus on the story unbroken by constant combat scenarios allows players to become more deeply immersed in the Nameless One’s story.
3Forgotten Realms: Demon Stone
Written By A Successful Novelist
MostD&Dfans will know the name R. A. Salvatore, as he has penned the legendary Drow character Drizzt Do’urden and his adventures across the Sword Coast and beyond. In the early 2000s, Salvatorelent his mind to the gaming industry, writing the plotline for the gameForgotten Realms: Demon Stone, a tale following three different adventurers and their quest to secure the eponymous Demon Stone.
With the mind of a great novelist behind it, the story ofForgotten Realms: Demon Stoneis second to none, with a captivating storyline and intriguing storyline that allows players to easily become immersed in this world, and the events unfolding across it.
BeforeLarian took the reinsof theBaldur’s Gateseries, BioWare was in charge of creating two fantasticD&Dadventures.Baldur’s Gate 2continues the story from the first game, in the country of Amn.
Baldur’s Gate 2excels in creating an immersive world with a rich story that players can truly lose themselves in and explore, with various factions playing a big part in the locations. Players also hold a great deal of agency, as they will be tasked to make choices big and small, but each one leaves its own mark on the story and the characters, making for a more immersive experience as players will feel like they are truly part of this world.
Larian’sBaldur’s Gate 3was the nextBaldur’s Gategame fans had been waiting for. With over twenty years between installments, the expectations for this game were high, and Larian Studios certainly did not disappoint, delivering the closest experience video gamers will get to an authentic tabletop game. Though there werecertain omissions fromD&D5e, there were still plenty of choices, options, and things taken from the tabletop game to please long-time fans and newcomers alike.
Players would find themselves easily immersed in this impressive RPG, with them being able to interact with almost every facet of every location, and each reaction is met with ripples that if they do not feel immediately, would become relevant later on in the campaign.
