Dungeons and Dragons have quickly come into mainstream media, with the recent release of the Dungeon and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves movie trailer, and the D&D plot relevance in Stranger Things, which released the second part of Season 4 at the beginning of July.
Due to the growing success of the TTRPG, it has made way for different groups to record/live-stream their shows for viewership. Like Critical Role, The Adventure Zone, and Dimension 20, it has gained a lot of traction but these shows span across, sometimes, hundreds of hours across the various campaigns, which can be overwhelming to many new viewers. However, there are many short form series' or one-shots to get a taste of what the shows have in-store.
The Elder Scrolls Online: Blackwood D&D Mini-Series
Dungeon Mastered by Matt Mercer, a well-known voice actor and main game-runner for Critical Role, the Elder Scrolls Online: Blackwood D&D miniseries is played with Sam Riegel, Laura Bailey, Taliesin Jaffe, Aabria Iyengar, and Michelle Nguyen Bradley, all working in a tax-dodging restaurant.
The 3-part series takes place in the land of The Elder Scrolls, a popular game series by Bethesda, and is a great introduction to a version of the TTRPG for those who are already avid gamers with a taste for fantasy. As it stems from an already well-known game series, it's a great start for new D&D players with the use of a humorous cast to show new players how chaotic D&D can be.
The Fiend of Hollow Mine
Created by D&D Beyond, the official D&D stat sheet tool, The Fiend of Hollow Mine is a pre-set campaign narrative originating from 5th Edition's Journeys Through the Radiant Citadel. In the one-shot, Dungeon Master Eugenio Vargas leads Amy Dallen, Anjali Bhimani, Matthew Mercer, Michael Galvis, and Robbie Daymond through the adventure.
The players start out with a magical disease spreading through a small town outside the prestigious city of San Citlán. The party has to work together in order to uncover the dark origins of the plague and fix it before the citizens are all infected. With a cast from the beloved show, Critical Role, as well as official D&D employees, the immersion of the world is second to none.
Tiny Tina's Wonderlands One-Shot
For the release of the Borderlands 3 DLC, Tiny Tina's Wonderlands, those at Critical Role created a sponsored one-shot inspired by the DLC filled with adventurous magical mayhem. Bunker Master, Ashly Burch leads the one-shot for Ify Nwadiwe, Laura Bailey, Ashley Johnson, Travis Willingham, and Robbie Daymond.
The one-shot spans over 3 and a half hours focusing on a band of vault hunter's search for the Queen, after a sudden disappearance, in hopes of making money in return. Along with being led by the voice actor of Tiny Tina, the mechanics of the D&D one-shot mimic that of the video game, allowing players to easily relate and understand. It makes a good watch for first-time D&D players with a knack for mayhem.
Exandria Unlimited: Calamity
As a miniseries to the main world of Critical Role, Exandria Unlimited: Calamity is a prequel to the main three campaigns events. The Dungeon Master for Dimension 20, Brennan Lee Mulligan, guest stars, leading Aabria Iyengar, Luis Carazo, Marisha Ray, Sam Riegel, Travis Willingham, and Lou Wilson through the crafted narrative.
The new four-part miniseries is the newest in the Exandria Unlimited collection, setting itself in the Age of Arcanum, where a hidden corruption is within the walls of the flying city of Avalir. Many fans have enjoyed this installment over the rest due to the complex connections between characters and interesting personalities that the cast brings. New fans may love this as it acts as a conspiracy mystery that the watchers can play along with too, with great role play interrogations.
High Rollers: Purs of Strahd
Fans of the video game Stray will enjoy the High Roller's parody one-shot, Purs of Strahd. The campaign is a cat-like narrative for the popular D&D setting, Curse of Strahd. The game is DMed by Mark Hulmes, with Katie Morrison, Chris Trott, Kim Richards, Rhiannon Gower, and Tom Hazell.
The game was originally played as a charity event to raise money for Cats Protection, the UK's largest cat welfare charity. Following a group of cat detectives, first-time watchers may like this one-shot as it is a nonsensical parody game, that the cast doesn't take too seriously; with it also being compared to D&D's Scooby-Doo and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, due to its comedic elements and antics.
Stranger Things D&D Adventure
Stranger Things has been known for its connections to the TTRPG, Dungeons and Dragons. With the recent release of season 4, Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Priah Ferguson, and Joseph Quinn, led by B. Dave Walters, are brought on their own D&D adventure.
The show sets itself to take from the main Netflix original, while still having some comedic elements, such as Joseph Quinn naming his character Joe Keery, after his co-star who played Steve Harrington. This show is great for first-time watchers who are fans of the show, as it is an introduction to the cast, showing the basics of the game and molding it to an already set-out universe that the fans would instantly recognize.
Escape from the Bloodkeep
From the team at Dimension 20, Escape from the Bloodkeep is a 6-episode mini-series run by Brennan Lee Mulligan, with Amy Vorpahl, Efink Murderdeath, Mike Trapp, Matthew Mercer, Erika Ishii, Rekha Shankar, and Ify Nwadiwe.
The show takes inspiration from Lord of the Rings and a generic workplace comedy, with the cast trying to escape the forces of light after their Lord of Shadows dies. It's comparable to shows like The Office, it is a clear comedic tale filled with many twists and turns. The show, much like many Dimension 20 shows, is extremely hilarious, with the zen-like DM, Brennan flawlessly jumping back and forth between intense narration and friendly conversation which makes it an easy watch for those looking for a calm time-passer.
Dignity: An Adventure with Stephen Colbert
As a charity event to raise money for Red Nose Day, Stephen Colbert, the Late Night TV Host, once again joins Matthew Mercer for an exciting D&D game, along with some other Critical Role cast members, Ashley Johnson, Marisha Ray, and Sam Riegel.
Having previously played for another charity event, Stephen reclaims his character Lucky Jack with an adventure that joins well-loved Mighty Nein characters, Yasha, Nott, and Beau. With a personality like Stephen Colbert on the show, many fans of his comedic skits on The Late Show would like his back and forths with the other cast members, as well as impromptu problem-solving and role play.
CelebriD&D with Game of Thrones' John Bradley
Guest starring in Geek and Sundry's CelebriD&D, John Bradley joins Critical Role's Matthew Mercer, Liam O'Brien, and Laura Bailey, as well as Nerdist's Dan Casey and Jessica Chobot. John Bradley is best known for his Game of Thrones role as Samwell Tarly.
O'Brien and Bailey play their Critical Role Campaign 1 half-elven twins, Vex'aliah and Vax'ildan, in this adventure. Throughout, this is John Bradley's first introduction to the game, and with seasoned veterans of the game joining him, he is quickly immersed into the world. The introduction is a good example of new players within 5th Edition Dungeons and Dragons as they can learn with the celebrity guest, as well as experience the in-depth narration and immersion to D&D worlds.