If you’ve watched Stranger Things, you might recognise the phrase “throw a fireball or cast a protection spell” when they were playing Dungeons & Dragons in the first episode. Often abbreviated as DnD, this game lets you trade the mundane realities of life for a world of fantasy where giants and dragons exist.
Whether you’re a newbie who has never seen a 20-sided die before or just started playing, here are some places to play Dungeons & Dragons in Singapore.
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Dungeons & Dragons is a tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG), where you can role-play as your character through stories of adventure, exploration, and combat. Unlike board games, TTRPGs don’t always need to follow a strict set of rules.
A game master (GM), sometimes known as a Dungeon Master, will lead the game. They’re the world-builder, narrator, and also play the roles of NPCs you’ll meet and monsters you’ll fight. While DnD is a “role-playing game”, you don’t have to speak like your character – you can narrate in 3rd person. How you play is up to what feels comfortable for you.
Image credit: TableMinis via Google Maps
A game of Dungeons & Dragons can be as short as a couple of hours or as long as weekly sessions that last more than a year.
The shortest game, a one-shot, is typically around 3 to 4 hours long. Think of it as a straightforward adventure with a start, middle, and end. The other is a multi-session campaign, in which your character goes through various adventures and plots. One-shots and campaigns are like reading a short story in a night versus reading an entire novel over a couple of weeks.
Image credit: TableMinis via Google Maps
A Dungeons & Dragons session would need at least 1 GM and 1 player. However, most places will require 4 to 7 players, including the GM. So grab a couple of friends before joining a Dungeons & Dragons session in Singapore.
If you’re joining a Dungeons & Dragons session for the first time, don’t worry, your GM will guide you through it. First, you’ll have to choose your character. Some sessions will have pre-generated characters, which is easier than creating one from scratch. Each character will have their own set of abilities and powers.
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The GM will describe and narrate the scenes, and you, as a player, decide what actions you want to take – this is where you can choose to “throw a fireball” or “cast a protection spell”. Rolling the D20 die will determine if the actions succeed or fail, while the dice D4, D6, D8, 2 D10s, and D12 determine damage. Each number corresponds to the number of sides. While the purpose of each die varies for characters, here’s a brief breakdown of the different dice:
| Types of die | Commonly used for | How to read |
| D20 | Attacks, ability checks, saving throws, and initiative (turn order) | Meet or beat the target number to succeed |
| D12 | Heavy weapon damage, some class hit points | The number rolled is the damage |
| D10 | Weapon damage, some spells, class hit points | The number is the damage |
| D8 | Weapon damage, many spells, class hit points | The number is the damage |
| D6 | Many spells, small weapons, sneak attack damage | Roll one or more and add them for total damage. |
| D4 | Small weapons, minor spells, some bonuses | The number is the damage or bonus |
Image adapted from: lee weiming32 & Ai C via Google Maps
TableMinis is the place to visit for your first session of Dungeons & Dragons. If you’re not sure where to start, sign up for their 3-hour Beginners Taster ($26/pax) happening every Monday and Saturday. After selecting a pre-generated character, the GM will guide you through a simple one-shot with other beginners.
Unlike Stranger Things, where the characters play DnD in their basement, you’ll play in a cosy air-conditioned room decked out in vibey lights, music, and sound effects for an immersive playing experience.
TableMinis also hosts regular one-shots (from $38/session), 4 to 6-session short adventures (from $38/session, from $144/full adventure), and multi-session campaigns (from $32/session, from $288/full campaign).
Sign up for a Beginners Taster at TableMinis.
Image adapted from: Olivia Sheylara Shen via Google Maps
A 5-minute walk from Raffles Place or Telok Ayer MRT Station will lead you to GuildHall, located in the heart of the CBD. They organise Learn To Play Dungeons & Dragons sessions ($20/pax) every Saturday for complete beginners, where you’ll learn about the world of DnD, choose a quest to play, and get to bring home a free set of 7 dice.
After your introductory session, consider signing up for a beginner-friendly one-shot ($30/pax). Every session offers different quests that are never repeated, and it’s the best way to play a low-commitment game of Dungeons & Dragons. With 3 DnD studios with lights, 55″ TVs, and 5.1 surround sound, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into another world.
Learn to play Dungeons & Dragons at GuildHall.
Image adapted from: Moiz Malik via Google Maps, Xpidemix
Xpidemix, a game shop located in the neighbourhood of Joo Chiat and Katong, has everything you need for TTRPGs, including a store, 3D print service, events, and workshops. Critical and Fumbles, a community of GMs, organises monthly Learn to Play DnD sessions ($18/pax) for those who want to find out more and experience the world of Dungeons & Dragons.
There are also many ongoing TTRPG campaigns and workshops that you can sign up for. To add more colours to your DnD games, join a Miniature Painting workshop ($20/pax) that includes mini versions of characters and painting materials.
Book a Dungeons & Dragons session at Xpidemix.
Image adapted from: @bxbyqueen & @nine_realmz via Instagram
To learn everything you need to know about Dungeons & Dragons, register for a 3-hour DnD Crash Course ($25/pax) at Lore Obscure. Using pre-generated characters and character sheets, a GM will bring you through the session and answer any questions you have about DnD.
The unique thing about this beginner session is choosing between an adventure of a Classic High Fantasy or Southeast Asian Fantasy. Instead of stories with goblins or elves, it’s based on Southeast Asian folklore, legend, and culture.
Lore Obsure also hosts 3-hour Flash Games (from $25/pax) – a one-shot, which aren’t only fantasy adventures with dragons and elves, but also futuristic and locally inspired TTRPGs. More experienced players can opt for 3 to 6-session campaigns (from $25/session).
Register for the Dungeons & Dragons Crash Course at Lore Obscure.
Image adapted from: Iswandi A Rahim via Google Maps
Gamersaurus Rex looks like any other game shop, but you can also play a session of Dungeons & Dragons there. GMs from The Legitimate Business organise weekly DnD sessions here every Monday. The table fee for 1 session is only $10 per player, and it also includes a free bottled drink.
However, their sessions are not the most beginner-friendly, as GMs might request character details and logs before games. You can only sign up for a game at Gamersaurus Rex online, and remember to let them know if you need a pre-generated character before your session.
Sign up for a session at Gamersaurus Rex.
Image for illustrative purposes only.
Image credit: ozym via Unsplash
Similar to the many places that host DnD games, Experience Point offers newbie sessions ($15/pax). But what sets it apart from many other places is its campaigns ($60/month). After creating your character from scratch, you’ll play 3-hour sessions with the same group of people weekly. The GMs run their campaign games in seasons, which means that 1 campaign can last from a few months to more than a year.
However, their multiple ongoing campaigns take place in the same world, which means your choices will affect the campaigns played by other people, like the butterfly effect. The GMs may also organise interparty sessions where you’ll meet other players, and you’ll be able to choose to work together or against each other. Experience Point is open by appointment only.
Book an appointment at Experience Point via WhatsApp.
Image adapted from: @unnatural20_ via Instagram
Unnatural20 is created by TTRPG GMs who aim for unique character-driven Dungeons & Dragons games, believing that DnD can be customised for everyone. Sign up for a 3-hour Learn to Play session ($25/pax) or one-shot ($25/pax) with pre-made character sheets, and experience the exciting roleplaying, exploration, and combat of Dungeons & Dragons. Players who sign up for 3-hour sessions also enjoy free-flow snacks and drinks.
Pick from campaigns ($30/session) ranging anywhere from 6 to 30 sessions, some of which can last up to 6 months – but don’t be intimidated. You’ll learn to create and develop your own character, and play adventures with your character’s backstory, which is written in. To make the experience more immersive, there are over 1,000 miniatures and terrain pieces for you to use.
Sign up for a session of Dungeons & Dragons at Unnatural20.
Address: Ubi Techpark, 10 Ubi Crescent, Singapore 408564
Opening hours: By appointment only
Contact: Unnatural20’s Instagram
A DnD game at Rogue’s Passage (left) & a charity event with Red Cross Singapore.
Image adapted from: @roguespassagesg via Instagram, SmilingDMs via Facebook
SmilingDMs is a group of GMs that host DnD sessions at The Narrative Forge, Utopia Games, and soon at Rogue’s Passage. They also often organise games to raise funds for Red Cross Singapore.
A session at Utopia Games with 1 free drink is $10/pax, and it’s $15/pax for a session at The Narrative Forge, which comes with free-flow drinks, and $15/pax for a session with a can drink at Rogue’s Passage. Visit SmilingDMs’ Instagram for updates on upcoming events.
Book a Dungeons & Dragons game with SmilingDMs.
The Narrative Forge
Address: 22 Lorong 21A Geylang, #07-01, Prosper Industrial Building, Singapore 388431
Opening hours: 10am-10pm, Daily
Contact: 83215111 | The Narrative Forge’s Instagram
Rogue’s Passage
Address: 321 Alexandra Road, #03-23, Singapore 159971
Opening hours: 10am-10pm, Daily
Contact: Rogue’s Passage’s Instagram
Now you know where to play Dungeons & Dragons in Singapore. While it might be a little nerdy, it is not an intimidating hobby to try as long as you’re open-minded. After all, it’s a collaborative and immersive experience where you and your friends are the protagonists of the story.
Read on for more game-related articles:
Cover image adapted from: lee weiming32 & Olivia Sheylara Shen via Google Maps, SmilingDMs via Facebook
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