The most popular book genres among adolescents are Fantasy and Young Adult (YA) Fiction. Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and Twilight have sold millions of copies all over the world. These fantasy stories serve as an escape from the stressful life of, well, living! But books aren’t the only way to escape: Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) is another popular way. It’s packed with fantasy, fiction, and creativity; mystical creatures, mystery, and malicious intent teem inside of it. The most popular board game worldwide, Dungeons and Dragons can suit your serious or silly gameplay.
Other-worldly Settings
Storylines the campaign follows are determined by Dungeon Masters. When thinking about the setting of a campaign, you may picture a medieval or renaissance setting; however, it’s a bit more complex than that. On the Dungeons and Dragons Beyond Official site, the published settings are probably the ones you think of: specifically, places like Grayhawk (one of the earliest campaign settings), The Forgotten Realms (The D&D movie and Honor Among Thieves took place in this setting), and Magic: The Gathering (such as Ravnica, Theros, and Strixhaven). However, some settings can be created by the Dungeon Master. A Dungeon Master may “Homebrew” a map, designing it her/himself. This style allows for complete creative freedom, but would take longer to develop.
Popular Faces in the Community 
Dungeons and Dragons is the most popular board game worldwide, and is still growing today: D&D publisher Wizards of the Coast has seen its annual revenue grow from $761 million in 2019 to $1.17 billion as of October 2024. The company estimates that 85 million people have played the game since it was first introduced in 1974. Dungeons and Dragons is also featured in popular shows such as Stranger Things, and video games like Baldur’s Gate 3. However, it’s not just the characters in the show: popular actors like Jack Black, Deborah Ann Woll, and Finn Wolfhard play D&D. Woll is a prominent figure in the community; she’s been playing since 25 and has grown to love D&D. In an interview with Rob Wieland, Woll discusses her passion: “‘Part of why I like acting is that I’m not in charge of the words. As an actor, my job is subtext. It’s everything that isn’t said…[D&D has] allowed me to gain confidence in my ability to improvise on the spot, [and] my ability to not be literal and to keep the subtext.’” In Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, the cast played for 2 hours to get a hold of the plot, the action, and the movie’s relation to the actual game. Chris Pine, actor for Edgin Darvis, describes the value D&D may bring to schools: “’I think a D&D class at schools would be so fun. You get disparate people to sit down together, and even if they have nothing else in common, it’s virtually impossible not to get sucked into the fun of the game.’”
What’s so Good About D&D?
What exactly makes D&D so popular? After talking to members of the Dungeons and Dragons club, it seems there are many things to love! Dungeons and Dragons brings people together and creates strong bonds with the community. “I made my first friends at Weddington because of [D&D],” according to one student. Others enjoy the artistic aspect of D&D. You get to design your own character’s appearance: personality, skills, and stats are up to you! You pick the species, and character past and profession. The diversity alone can draw you in; gameplay ranges from serious to silly to suit your taste. There’s infinite variety in settings, characters, and bosses to face! You make your own story: that’s one of the best things about Dungeons and Dragons.
Sources:
https://ew.com/events/comic-con/dungeons-dragons-honor-among-thieves-cast-preview-comic-con-2022/
https://www.dndbeyond.com/posts/1480-what-is-dungeons-dragons#dnd-settings
