Top Dungeons & Dragons Books of 2025

Dungeons & Dragons is currently basking in a golden era, fueled by the surge in popularity thanks to shows like Stranger Things, blockbuster movies like Honor Among Thieves, and the thriving community around tabletop podcasts and YouTube channels. Not to mention, the phenomenal success of Baldur’s Gate 3 over the past few years has only added to the excitement. If you're thinking about joining this vibrant community, now's the perfect time to start rolling for initiative.

For those new to the game, diving into the vast sea of content for Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition (5E) can feel overwhelming, especially with the flood of high-quality third-party creations. If you're a beginner eager to embark on this adventure, we've curated a list of the best Dungeons & Dragons books to get you started in 2025. For further guidance, don't miss our beginner's guide to D&D.

Before we delve into our recommendations, a few points to note: This guide will focus primarily on first-party content, as the extensive array of third-party materials is often aimed at seasoned players looking to enhance their dungeon crawling experiences. We'll also skip over the three foundational books: The Player’s Handbook, the Dungeon Master’s Guide, and the Monster Manual. These essential texts, updated in 2024, are prerequisites for any player. If you haven't picked them up yet, they're available below. Once you have these core rulebooks, you can explore the sourcebooks and adventures we recommend further down.

### Player’s Handbook Core Rulebook

12$49.99 at Amazon### Dungeon Master’s Guide Core Rulebook

7$49.99 at Amazon### Monster Manual Core Rulebook

5$49.99 at Amazon### Xanathar’s Guide to Everything (Sourcebook)

### Xanathar's Guide to Everything

10See it at AmazonArguably the most crucial sourcebook since its release in 2017, Xanathar's Guide to Everything enriches your game with over 25 subclasses, 20 racial feats, new spells, and more. It's packed with tools for game masters, such as trap-building guides, and optional rules that expand on concepts from the core rulebooks, including downtime activities. While it's more beneficial for players, if you're looking to diversify your party's options, this sourcebook is a must-have. It's ideal for those interested in Wizards with War Magic, Paladins with an Oath of Redemption, or Monks mastering the drunken fighting style.

Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything (Sourcebook)

### Tasha's Cauldron of Everything

5See it at AmazonSimilar to Xanathar’s Guide, Tasha's Cauldron of Everything offers a wealth of new player options and expands on core rulebook concepts. It introduces optional class features for every class, new spells, and innovative rules for game masters, including sidekicks, natural hazards, monster negotiations, and supernatural environments. This sourcebook is essential for injecting class diversity into your party, enhancing your D&D experience.

Waterdeep: Dragon Heist (Adventure)

### Waterdeep: Dragon Heist

3See it at AmazonWaterdeep: Dragon Heist stands out as one of the most engaging adventures from Wizards of the Coast, filled with intrigue and deadly rivalries. Unlike many D&D adventures that focus on dungeon crawling, this one emphasizes social interactions, political conflicts, and subterfuge. The adventure kicks off with a famous explorer drawing the party into a bitter feud between criminal factions, promising vast treasures hidden in the city's shadowy corners. With four possible antagonists that game masters can swap, it keeps the adventure fresh even for repeat players. If you enjoy this, consider its sequel, Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage, for a more dungeon-centric follow-up.

Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse (Sourcebook/Adventure Bundle)

### Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse

4See it at AmazonPlanescape, a central hub of the Forgotten Realms, is one of D&D’s most captivating settings, famously featured in the RPG classic Planescape: Torment. This three-book bundle is a comprehensive dive into the multiverse. The setting book, Sigil and the Outlands, is rich with detailed landmarks and fascinating factions. Morte’s Planar Parade offers a variety of monsters for game masters to challenge their players, and the adventure, Turn of Fortune’s Wheel, takes the narrative to intriguing heights. This bundle is a testament to Wizards of the Coast's commitment to delivering quality content, making it a must-have for fans of the setting.

Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk (Adventure)

### Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk

3See it at AmazonPhandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk is an expansive continuation of the beloved Lost Mine of Phandelver, taking players back to the frontier town of Phandalin to explore the mystery of the magical obelisks. This campaign unfolds into a gripping tale of cosmic horror, featuring Mind Flayers—a timely inclusion following the success of Baldur’s Gate 3. It’s a unique blend of nostalgia and fresh narrative that makes it one of the most exciting campaigns to run currently.

Eberron: Rising from the Last War (Sourcebook/Adventure)

### Eberron: Rising from the Last War

9See it at AmazonEberron: Rising from the Last War transports players to a war-torn world filled with floating castles, skyscrapers, and airships. It's a unique setting that introduces Dragonmarks and offers a rich environment for both roleplay and action. The included campaign set in the eerie Mournland provides a thrilling backdrop for adventures, perfect for those looking to explore beyond the traditional Forgotten Realms.

Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen (Adventure)

### Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen

1See it at AmazonDragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen introduces the iconic Dragonlance setting to 5E, complete with mass combat encounters and epic battles against dragons. This lengthy adventure centers on the formidable death knight Lord Soth and his draconian army, offering new player options and a deeply immersive narrative.

Curse of Strahd (Adventure)

### Curse of Strahd

5See it at AmazonCurse of Strahd is a classic gothic horror adventure, a remake of a first-edition favorite. It's packed with vampires, blood, and chilling encounters that promise a thrilling experience. For more depth in this setting, consider Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft, though the essence of the adventure is compelling enough on its own.

The Wild Beyond the Witchlight (Adventure)

### The Wild Beyond the Witchlight: A Feywild Adventure

0See it at AmazonThe Wild Beyond the Witchlight offers an enchanting journey through the Feywild, centered around a mysterious carnival. It's perfect for groups who enjoy roleplaying and solving problems creatively, beyond just combat. The book introduces two new playable species and additional backgrounds, including the option to be a carny—a dream come true for those wishing to run away with the circus.

Third-party content

While our focus has been on first-party content, we can't resist mentioning a few standout third-party titles that you might want to explore:

Strongholds and Followers by MCDM Productions adds innovative rules for game masters to manage player bases and NPC allies. Its influence is evident in the upcoming Bastion rules for the core rulebooks.

Flee, Mortals! also by MCDM Productions, revamps D&D monsters and introduces new ones, with a companion dungeon crawl in Where Evil Lives.

Tome of Beasts/Creature Codex by Kobold Press offers extensive monster options, particularly useful for high-level play.

Grim Hollow by Ghostfire Gaming presents a dark fantasy setting filled with war, dark magic, and plagues, offering a fresh take on D&D worlds with numerous supporting books.

And there you have it: our top picks for Dungeons & Dragons books to buy in 2025. What do you think? Have we missed any of your favorites? Share your thoughts in the comments, and check out our favorite D&D dice sets and merch for more inspiration.