Tabletop RPG · since 2014 · #1 most discussed

Dungeons & Dragons 5e

Heroes built from classes and levels explore dungeons, fight monsters, and collect treasure in a high-fantasy world, resolved with d20 rolls.

d20Fantasyd20classestactical griddungeon crawldowntimeCampaignsNeeds a GM

4.7

Geek rating

From 23 firsthand play reports in 5 r/rpg threads. The threads alone average 4.2.

Player rating— / 10

No visitor ratings yet.

Discussion11.7 / 10

10,220 r/rpg posts named it, October 2023 to October 2026.

Rules weight

Medium. Hype 9.7 for its age.

Have you played it?

Rate Dungeons & Dragons 5e from 1 to 10. One rating per browser and device; you can change it any time.

Didn't work for usOne of our best

What players say

At the table

Reports come from long-running tables and from GMs who have run 5e for years. Players at several tables are committed and want D&D specifically. Many of the GMs running it are tired of it. Thread authors often disagree about whether the game is the problem or the length of time they've spent with it.

What works

Long-running groups stay together, and players often want D&D over other systems (thread).
The math is simple enough for players who found PF2e too heavy, and a GM who knows the rules by heart can run it easily (thread).
It offers a heroic power fantasy with real danger, and players don't have to learn new rules (thread).
Players enjoy character building, "number go up" progression and powerful spells. It also works as an entry point for new players up to about 5th level (thread).
Homebrew and third-party material keep it playable for some GMs (thread).

What tables struggle with

Combat can be slow and can take up a whole session. Some GMs find monsters feel like punching bags (thread).
The martial/caster divide leaves martial players feeling boring or worthless. Divination spells can kill mystery, and tier 3 play can grind to a halt (thread).
Prep is heavy and doesn't get faster. Published encounters can take hours to read and still fall flat (thread).
Players who don't learn their class features add to the GM's load. Examples are forgetting cunning action, or that a paladin can cast spells (thread).
Several GMs report burnout, and some feel the rules are restrictive and give little support for non-combat play (thread).

Who it suits

Groups whose players already love D&D and want familiar rules, archetypal classes and a shared culture.
Newer players at low levels, and GMs who know the system well enough to run it from memory.

In players' words

"The big thing that ruined those other games is the fact that my players *want* to play D&D." (thread)
"Every combat, I need to remind my rogue that they have cunning action, or remind my paladin that they can cast spells, etc." (thread)
"I don't hate DnD, I just want a change and my players don't." (thread)

The threads behind it

Each thread is rated for the play it describes, from the firsthand reports in it. Load one here or read it on Reddit.

3.8

I'm not enjoying D&D. Where to go next?

The firsthand 5e reports lean frustrated. New GMs describe heavy prep, a lot of rules, and players who can't keep track of their own abilities, and several burned out or quit the system. A few people say they still have fun, but they give almost no detail. Most of the thread is advice to switch to other games (Shadowdark, OSE, Mythic Bastionland, PF2e), and I ignored those. 7 firsthand · 478 comments

Open on Reddit

3.5

How to scratch my Players' 5e Addiction and get them to shut up?

The thread is a GM asking what to run instead of 5e, so the firsthand 5e reports are mostly from burned-out GMs and one unimpressed new player. They report slow combat, caster/martial imbalance and mystery-killing spells, though players still love character building and keep asking to go back. 6 firsthand · 475 comments

Open on Reddit

4.0

I don't think I like D&D anymore.

The thread is a burnout and 'breaking up with D&D' discussion, so the 5e-specific play reports are thin and mostly come from long-time players who say the game now feels restrictive, combat-centred and unrewarding to run. Most commenters drift into other systems like Fate, Savage Worlds and Shadow of the Demon Lord, which I ignored. A few say 5e is workable or fun at first, usually with heavy homebrew. 5 firsthand · 1,153 comments

Open on Reddit

6.5

My players only want to play D&D

The thread is mostly about a DM who wants to switch systems, not about how 5e plays. The few firsthand reports show a table that has met weekly for six years and loves 5e, while the DM has worn out on it. 3 firsthand · 352 comments

Open on Reddit

6.5

The appeal of modern D&D for my table

The thread is mostly about other games (WWN, PF2e, Masks, B/X, Fabula Ultima) and why the OP's groups bounced off them. The 5e evidence is mainly the OP's six-plus years of running it: the players are happy and committed, while the GM finds the design mediocre but easy to run from memory. 2 firsthand · 428 comments

Open on Reddit

—

Player disengages when we move away from 5e

The thread is mostly about a friend who disengaged when the group moved off 5e, so it covers group dynamics and etiquette. It has almost no firsthand reports of playing 5e, and the one passing mention (a player bored of 5e) is too thin to rate. 1 firsthand · 379 comments

Open on Reddit