Top Dungeons & Dragons Books of 2025

It's undeniable that Dungeons & Dragons is currently thriving in a golden era. From the surge in popularity spurred by shows like *Stranger Things* and the success of the *Honor Among Thieves* movie, to the proliferation of tabletop-focused podcasts and YouTube channels, and the overwhelming success of *Baldur's Gate 3* in recent years, there's never been a more exciting time to roll the dice and start your D&D adventure.

However, the wealth of content in the nearly decade-long reign of Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition (5E) can be overwhelming for newcomers. With an influx of high-quality material from third-party creators, deciding where to begin can be daunting. If you're new to the hobby and looking for the best places to start, here are our top recommendations for the best Dungeons & Dragons books in 2025. For additional guidance, don't forget to check out our beginner's guide to D&D.

Before we delve into our recommendations, a couple of important notes: Our focus will be on first-party content, as the vast array of third-party material is generally aimed at seasoned players looking to enhance their dungeon-crawling experiences. Additionally, we won't be covering the three essential books: the **Player's Handbook**, the **Dungeon Master's Guide**, and the **Monster Manual**. These foundational texts, updated in 2024, are crucial for any player, and you should definitely acquire them before exploring further. You can find the latest editions of these core rulebooks below, or skip directly to our recommended sourcebooks.

### 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 Amazon

Since its release in 2017, this sourcebook has become essential for expanding player options. It includes over 25 new subclasses, 20 racial feats, and a plethora of new spells. Additionally, it offers valuable tools for game masters, such as trap-building guidelines and optional rules to enhance concepts from the core rulebooks, like managing downtime. While particularly beneficial for players, it's a must-have for any party looking to diversify their options, whether it's Wizards learning War Magic, Paladins taking the Oath of Redemption, or Monks mastering the drunken fighting style.

Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything (Sourcebook)

### Tasha's Cauldron of Everything

5See it at Amazon

Similar to Xanathar's Guide, this sourcebook enriches the game with new player options and expands upon core rulebook ideas. It introduces optional class features for every class, a wide array of new spells, and innovative rules for game masters to manage sidekicks, natural hazards, monster negotiations, and supernatural environments. This book is essential for injecting variety into your D&D party and enhancing gameplay.

Waterdeep: Dragon Heist (Adventure)

### Waterdeep: Dragon Heist

3See it at Amazon

This roleplay-centric adventure, one of the most intriguing published by Wizards of the Coast, is rich with intrigue and deadly feuds. Unlike typical D&D adventures filled with dungeon crawls, Waterdeep offers a narrative driven by social encounters, political conflict, and subterfuge. The story kicks off with the party entangled in a conflict between criminal enterprises, chasing after hidden riches. The book's flexibility allows game masters to swap out antagonists, ensuring fresh experiences even for returning players. If you enjoy this, consider its follow-up, Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage, for a different but equally engaging campaign.

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

### Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse

4See it at Amazon

Planescape, the heart of the multiversal setting, is one of D&D's most fascinating worlds, and this three-book bundle delivers an exceptional experience. Unlike the underwhelming Spelljammer, this expansion is rich in detail. Sigil and the Outlands offers comprehensive setting details, including landmarks and factions with intriguing philosophies. Morte's Planar Parade introduces a variety of creatures for game masters to use, and the adventure Turn of Fortune's Wheel explores unique narrative paths. This bundle masterfully utilizes one of D&D's best settings, and we highly recommend it.

Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk (Adventure)

### Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk

3See it at Amazon

This expansion builds on the beloved Lost Mine of Phandelver, returning players to Phandalin to delve deeper into the mystery of magical obelisks. The campaign unravels a conspiracy that blends mystery with cosmic horror, featuring Mind Flayers as central antagonists. Following the success of Baldur's Gate 3, this adventure taps into current trends while offering a nostalgic return to Phandalin, making it one of the best campaigns to run currently.

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

### Eberron: Rising from the Last War

9See it at Amazon

Set in a war-torn world with floating castles and airships, this sourcebook introduces the unique Eberron setting. It's packed with innovative elements, including new species options called Dragonmarks. The setting's post-war atmosphere provides ample roleplay opportunities and swashbuckling adventures, with the included campaign set in the eerie Mournland, a region filled with dark magic.

Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen (Adventure)

### Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen

1See it at Amazon

This adventure brings the Dragonlance setting to 5E, recently featured in The Practically Complete Guide to Dragons. Ideal for fans of mass combat and dragon-filled battles, it centers on the death knight Lord Soth and his draconian army. The adventure also includes new player options, making it a robust addition to any campaign.

Curse of Strahd (Adventure)

### Curse of Strahd

5See it at Amazon

A classic gothic horror adventure, this remake from the first edition of D&D brings vampires and eerie settings to life. If you enjoy this, consider the supplementary Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft for deeper exploration of the setting, though the core adventure captures the essence of gothic horror perfectly.

The Wild Beyond the Witchlight (Adventure)

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

0See it at Amazon

This adventure, set in the enchanting Feywild, offers a carnival-themed experience with ample roleplaying opportunities. It's perfect for groups that enjoy creative problem-solving beyond combat. The book introduces two new playable species and additional backgrounds, including the chance to play as a carnival worker, fulfilling the dream of running away to join the circus.

Third-party content

While we focused on first-party content, a few standout third-party titles deserve mention:

• Strongholds and Followers by MCDM Productions adds rules for game masters to manage party bases and NPC allies. Its influence is evident in Wizards' upcoming Bastion rules for the core rulebooks.
• Flee, Mortals! by MCDM Productions revamps D&D monsters for more engaging encounters, with a companion book, Where Evil Lives, offering a dungeon adventure.
• Tome of Beasts/Creature Codex by Kobold Press expands the monster roster, especially useful for high-level groups seeking endgame challenges.
• Grim Hollow by Ghostfire Gaming introduces a dark fantasy setting full of war, dark magic, and plagues, offering an alternative to traditional D&D worlds with extensive supporting material.

These are our top recommendations for the books you should consider in 2025. Have we missed any of your favorites? Let us know in the comments, and don't forget to check out our favorite D&D dice sets and D&D merch and gift ideas for more inspiration.