Another year, another gift guide for D&D fans, plus a few D&D adjacent/general gamer gifts and one for those who enjoy exploring the final frontier.
Buying for a child a little too young to play? The Dragons of the Realms official D&D coloring book is sure to spark their interest in dragons and adventure.
Speaking of sparks, Igniting the Spark: The Story of Magic the Gathering is now out, and it’s a worthy successor to their prior documentary, Eye of the Beholder: The Art of Dungeons & Dragons. Directors Brian Stillman and Kelley Slagle get everyone on the record so even the most devoted fan will learn something new. Prime members can screen both movies, and they’re available for sale or rent in at the usual sources.
It was a good year for role-playing game-related fiction. Ravenloft: Heir of Strahd by Delilah S. Dawson was appropriately creepy and some of its plot twists surprised me, which isn’t easy to do.
Critical Role – Vox Machina: Stories Untold was a terrific anniversary gift to fans. The anthology spans time periods and narrators with Trinket the bear being the POV character for one tale.
Tusk Love, the story Jester reads to her companions on and off throughout the Mighty Nein. Thea Guanzon turned those snippets into a rousing adventure with a romantic thread or romantasy, depending upon how you label it, and it also has a good mystery at its core.
If you or your giftee hasn’t jumped on the Legends & Lattes’ bandwagon, what are you waiting for? Travis Baldree’s latest book, Brigands & Breadknives leans a bit more toward D&D-style adventure than the pure cozy fantasy of the prior two books, but it’s still a complete delight. It’s also fairly standalone since the connection between Fern and Viv is established early and then everything from there on movs independently/.
If someone you’re buying for is a parent, new parent or soon-to-be parent, How to Dungeonmaster Parenting by Shelly Mazzanoble is a terrific choice. It’s funny, smart, and full of empathetic advice from a mom and dungeon master who has been there herself.
If you’re buying for a Stranger Things fan, the only question is whether they bought D&D Stranger Things: Welcome to the Hellfire Club already themselves. It’s especially appropriate to go with the final season.
And, of course, there’s this year’s official D&D books. For fans of steampunk/pulp adventure, Eberron: Forge of the Artificer is a great supplement. If they’re dragon fans, Dragon Delves is the way to go.
Know someone new to D&D or D&D curious? The new D&D Starter Set: Heroes of the Borderlands is a great choice.
For those into classic fantasy adventure, Forgotten Realms: Heroes of Faerun and Forgotten Realms: Adventures in Faerun are excellent choices.
Looking for something a bit offbeat using the 5E rules? Shotguns & Sorcery by Full Moon Enterprises is adventure in a grim, gritty realm ruled by the Dragon Emperor lets you fight legions of zombies.
Gamers rarely have “enough” dice. Black Oak Workshop has a cool selection, like their Moonbeam cat dice, and they started the Advent-ure Dice Calendar trend others are copying.
Robin’s Nerd Supplies has even more dice options and a monthly dice subscription. In addition to classic resin dice, they have silicone, hollow dice, my favorite, sharp edge, and more.
And while I usually stick to D&D-related gift suggestions, this year I’m also recommending the Star Trek Adventures 2nd Edition 23rd Century Campaign Guide. It’s a terrific read for Trek fans, covering in-world history from the beginning to the most recent series.
Happy holidays and best wishes for good gaming in 2026!
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