Pubblicato il 4/11/2025
Here is the translation, respecting H2, H3, and bold formatting (no asterisks or dashes):
Dungeons & Dragons is, without a doubt, the most famous and widely played role-playing game in the world. According to data from platforms like Roll20 and Fantasy Grounds, D&D 5E accounts for over 60% of online sessions, followed by Pathfinder and Call of Cthulhu with much lower percentages. Thanks to its long history, its numerous editions, and the huge impact of online live shows (Critical Role, Dimension 20, The Adventure Zone), D&D has become synonymous with “role-playing game” for countless enthusiasts.
But why does this dominance continue? Let’s explore the main reasons, supported by market data and 2025 trends.
D&D has become the “Kleenex” of role-playing games—the brand that has swallowed up the entire category. Like McDonald’s in fast food, it created a global standardization effect that flattened the perception of the medium.
This phenomenon has generated a generation of players who approach role-playing games with blinders on, trapped in a comfort zone that deeply limits the gaming experience. It’s a lazy, unaware attitude that reduces the infinite universe of TTRPGs to a single option, out of fear of leaving their “security blanket.”
One of the most frequent arguments is: “D&D is already complex enough, imagine other systems.” But this is a completely false perception. Many role-playing games are incredibly simpler and more intuitive than D&D:
Knave can be learned in 10 minutes
Dungeon World has more fluid and immediate mechanics
Call of Cthulhu uses percentages anyone can grasp
OSR systems like Old School Essentials are minimalist by design
The reality is that those who refuse to try other systems often do so not for complexity, but for lack of curiosity and willingness to experiment.
Many players desperately cling to nostalgia for D&D’s Tolkien-inspired fantasy, refusing anything outside this reassuring mold. It’s a conservative approach that impoverishes the experience: why limit yourself to elves when you could explore the cosmic horror of Call of Cthulhu? Why stay in dungeons when you could plan heists in Blades in the Dark?
For the vast majority of players, D&D was the first RPG they tried. As emerges from Reddit discussions and specialized forums, many people simply don’t know other tabletop role-playing games. The accessibility of the rules, manuals translated into over 20 languages, and an ever-active community make D&D the natural entry point for newcomers.
Once inside this world, it’s easy to stay loyal to your “first love”—so-called ludic imprinting is very strong in the TTRPG sector.
A distinctive element of D&D is the class fantasy: the idea of embodying a specific archetype (barbarian, rogue, wizard) with unique abilities and niche protection. As highlighted in communities: “If I’m the rogue, I’m the best at rogue stuff. I’ll always have my moment to shine.”
Moreover, the level-based progression system offers clear and gratifying goals: players love anticipating new abilities, creating expectation and emotional investment.
Changing systems can seem challenging: you have to learn new rules, settings, and styles of play. Many prefer to stay in D&D’s safe territory where everything is already known. The adventure paradigm in D&D is very clear: you always know what you should do and how to proceed, a comfort element explaining the game’s original popularity.
Podcasts, Twitch and YouTube streams dedicated to D&D have created a true mass culture. Critical Role alone has over 1 million followers and has influenced an entire generation of players. New fans are drawn in by creators, famous campaigns, and recognized settings, feeling a part of a global family.
In 2025, this is further amplified by increasingly professional productions and celebrities joining the table.
D&D is supported by constant production of manuals, adventures, accessories, and digital material. The 2025 line-up includes a remake of the new Starter Set “Keep on the Borderlands”, the Player’s Guide to Forgotten Realms, and more. In physical and online stores, on platforms like Roll20, D&D Beyond, and Fantasy Grounds, it’s the easiest system to find and play with anyone.
The d20 system with its automatic criticals (natural 20) creates memorable moments. Those times when the impossible becomes possible with a single die roll are part of D&D’s heart and generate shared stories for years.
The 2025 RPG scene is vast: indie, horror, sci-fi, narrative, OSR (Old School Renaissance). The sheer quantity can intimidate, causing many to stick to D&D for safety. It’s the paradox of choice: too many options lead to inaction.
Too many players adopt a passive, follower mentality when it comes to role-playing games. They wait for someone else to suggest, organize, or bring novelty to the table. This is a mistake that impoverishes the whole group’s experience.
A good player is also an instigator: propose alternatives, take advantage of campaign breaks to experiment, take responsibility for bringing freshness and new stimuli into the group. Don’t be afraid to say, “Hey, what if we try something different for this one-shot?”
D&D has become a mainstream pop-culture phenomenon, fed by memes, media references, and a sense of belonging to a global community. But this social dimension often overshadows what matters most: the actual quality of the gaming experience.
Many players identify more with the idea of playing D&D than its actual practice. It’s brand fetishism that limits growth and discovery.
Still, the banquet of role-playing games is extraordinarily rich. Here are some of the most appreciated and discussed alternatives in online communities:
Pathfinder 2E — The classic rival of D&D, with 23 base classes and over 30 ancestries. Perfect for those who want crunch and unlimited customization. Known as “D&D 3.75” for its mechanical proximity but with more freedom.
Call of Cthulhu — The third most popular game worldwide according to Roll20. Lovecraftian investigative horror with elegant mechanics.
Dungeon World — Powered by the Apocalypse; narrative and accessible. Ideal for those who want fewer rules and more story.
Knave 2E — Modern OSR representative; minimalist but deep.
Dawn of Pripyat — A scenario featuring mutants, anomalous and devastating weather phenomena, and desolate places not far from civilization.
ICRPG (Index Card RPG) — Fast-paced, cinematic system by Runehammer.
Blades in the Dark — For heists and crime stories in an industrial-fantasy setting. Innovative mechanics with flashbacks.
From discussions on r/rpg and r/DnD, these hot titles stand out:
Mythic Bastionland — New project by Chris McDowall (Into the Odd)
Legend in the Mist — High expectations for the narrative approach
Grimwild — Dark fantasy with Forged in the Dark system
Starfinder 2E — Pathfinder’s sci-fi evolution
Pendragon 6E — The return of the Arthurian classic
Coriolis: The Great Dark — Nordic space opera
Heart: new edition — The narrative dungeon delving game by Rowan Rook & Decard
Every system brings new experiences, styles of play, emotions, and unexpected stories. As the community points out: “We’re living a golden age with record-setting Kickstarters, public playtests, and communities increasingly driving game development.”
Some systems excel at one-shots, others at epic campaigns. Some favor tactical combat, others narrative improvisation. There is no “perfect game,” but there is the perfect game for you and the story you want to tell.
Limiting yourself to D&D out of intellectual laziness is like eating the same dish for your whole life. Sure, you may like it, but you’re missing flavors, cooking techniques, culinary traditions that could hugely enrich your experience.
Lack of curiosity in gaming is a symptom of a closed mindset that impoverishes not just the individual player, but the whole group. Those who fear “making mistakes” or “not understanding” a new system are dramatically self-limiting.
D&D dominates for good reasons: accessibility, editorial support, global community, tried-and-true mechanics. But limiting yourself just to this means living in a self-referential bubble that impoverishes the gaming experience.
It’s time to stop making excuses. It’s not too hard, not too expensive, not too complicated. It’s simply a matter of being willing to leave the comfort zone.
If you’ve never tried an RPG besides D&D, maybe it’s time to set intellectual laziness aside and discover how rich the table really is. 2025 offers more options than ever: your next favorite game might already be there waiting for you, but you’ll never know if you keep hiding behind the excuse that “D&D is good enough.”
Take the initiative. Be an instigator, not a follower. Propose something new to your group. Use campaign breaks to experiment. Organize a different one-shot. Role-playing games are much bigger than D&D—and you deserve to discover that.
So, do you still dare say you “only play D&D” or are you finally ready to explore? Tell us your story in the comments!
Blog Call of Cthulhu, Critical Role, D&D alternatives, Dungeon World, Dungeons & Dragons, Fabula Ultima, game design, live show, new games, Pathfinder, role-playing games, RPG, TTRPG 2025
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