Early this year, I had the idea of keeping a spreadsheet of every piece of media I consumed throughout the year. This ended up including movies, TV shows, musicals, podcasts, and Dungeons and Dragons campaigns. And boy am I glad I did. 2023 was a year with some unprecedentedly amazing media (not to mention the year I caved and bought the Dimension20 subscription). Being able to look back at my thoughts and seeing the exact dates is so interesting to my mind which loves seeing my yearly stats on different websites. So, without further ado, here’s my top Dungeons and Dragons Campaigns.
Disclaimer: I watched a lot of old campaigns this year, so don’t be surprised when I don’t include everything that was published by Dimension20 this year. The list was hard enough to make as it is…
5. Burrow’s End (D20)
Air Dates: 4 October – 8 December 2023
Dungeon Master: Aabria Iyengar
Players: Brennan Lee Mulligan (Tula), Siobhan Thompson (Jaysohn), Rashawn Nadine Scott (Viola), Jasper William Cartwright (Thorn Vale), Erika Ishii (Ava), Isabella Roland (Lila)
This, I’m happy to say, is the first Dimension20 show I got to watch as it was released. Everything else I had binged, and boy was I glad to watch this every single week. This campaign followed a family of stoats who are forced to face the world outside of their burrow for what seems like the first time. They quickly realize the characteristics of the world around them and how dangerous it is, but that doesn’t stop them from trying to make sure their family is safe from harm. You could’ve told me these players had years of experience navigating Dungeons and Dragons with each other and I would have believed you. The chemistry between everyone at the table was insane and they really took the crazy concept and ran with it. Absolutely an amazing way to start of this list.
4. Neverafter (D20)
Air Dates: 30 November 2022 – 12 April 2023
Dungeon Master: Brennan Lee Mulligan
Players: The Intrepid Heroes; Lou Wilson (Pinocchio), Zac Oyama (Puss in Boots), Ally Beardsley (Mother Timothy Goose), Brian Murphy (Prince Gerard of Greenleigh), Emily Axford (Ylfa Snorgelsson), Siobhan Thompson (Princess Rosamund du Prix)
I’m such a horror fan so when I finally caved and bought my Dropout subscription earlier this year, I knew Neverafter was going to be one of the first series I had to binge. It’s a cross-section between classic fairy tales from the Grimm brothers and a sentience with those characters, which I immediately fell in love with. When the real monsters were revealed to be something the characters couldn’t even say out loud, I knew this was going to be a season I didn’t forget. Brennan introduced some really cool homebrew mechanics this season that kept things interesting, specifically the little red marbles that had no explanation until the very end (prepare yourself to get Episode Three-ed).
3. A Court of Fey and Flowers (D20)
Air Dates: 3 August 2022 – 5 October 2022
Dungeon Master: Aabria Iengar
Players: Brennan Lee Mulligan (Captain K. P. Hob), Oscar Montoya (Delloso de la Rue), Surena Marie (Geyndolin Thistle-Hop), Omar Najam (Prince Andhera), Emily Axford (Lady Chirp Featherfowl), Lou Wilson (Lord Squak Airavis)
I only found out about this campaign because a friend of mine said I was legally obligated to watch it, and I’m so glad he pressured me into it. This was my first ever time seeing Aabria on Dimension20 (pre-Burrow’s End) and I instantly fell in love with her storytelling. The politics of this season pushed the role play to a whole new level, especially since there was close to no combat the entire campaign. Everyone playing a high-class fae with their own agenda was wild to watch unfold, and I stand by the fact that this campaign has the best slow burn Dimension20 has ever seen (I’m still crying).
2. Fantasy High (Freshman Year, D20)
Air Dates: 26 September 2018 – 9 January 2019
Dungeon Master: Brennan Lee Mulligan
Players: The Intrepid Heroes; Emily Axford (Fig Faeth), Zac Oyama (Gorgug Thistlespring), Siobhan Thompson (Adaine Abernant), Lou Wilson (Fabian Seacaster), Ally Beardsley (Kristen Applebees), Brian Murphy (Rix Gukgak)
Before I even had a Dropout subscription, I discovered the “Bad Kids” all over the internet and I knew I needed to see their story. This was the first campaign Dimension20 ever ran and I knew I’d like it right from the moment I discovered the series on YouTube. I was familiar with the cast from listening to Not Another D&D Podcast ran by Dimension20 players Brian Murphy and Emily Axford. The campaign followed six high school adventuring students as they went through their Freshman year, learning to navigate popularity and also their own classes. It was like watching a baby learn to crawl – I knew these were masters of the tabletop game and I was seeing their beginning. After finishing the finale, I immediately went and purchased Dropout so I could continue seeing these guys and their shenanigans.
1. A Crown of Candy (D20)
Air Dates: 8 April 202 – 5 August 2020
Dungeon Master: Brennan Lee Mulligan
Players: The Intrepid Heroes; Ally Beardsley (Liam Wilhelmina of House Jawbreaker), Brian Murphy (Sir Theobald Bumbar), Emily Axford (Princess Jet Rocks), Siobhan Thompson (Princess Ruby Rocks), Lou Wilson (King Amethar of House Rocks), Zac Oyama (Chancellor Lapin Cadbury)
Oh to watch this campaign for the first time again. If you know nothing about it, the character names give away quite a bit – think Game of Thrones if it was in your pantry. The main family comes from Candia and find themselves racing against time to fix mistakes from their past while trying to win a war against the rest of the food-countries around them. It was super political and every move was calculated so you know the entire season was insanely tense. My notes on this season say “everyone brought their A game and I was always finding a new character to call my favorite (though, I don’t think anyone can beat out Zac this time around). I was crying at character deaths and laughing at jokes.” This is my Roman Empire. I cannot stop thinking about this campaign.
Wow that was a whole hyperfixation. I don’t even remember typing most of this article… anyway. Thank you for checking out my ranking of Dungeons and Dragon campaigns! If you’re interested in seeing more of my yearly recaps, be sure to check out the links below to other pieces I put together (more will be added as they publish). Have a great time bingeing!
Payton Klaer 
Leave a comment