With the digitalization of tabletop games, people are playing online with each other more than ever before, and the primary way of doing this is by playing DnD on computers. This poses the question, can you play DnD on your phone?
Yes, Warriors of Waterdeep is a verified DnD adventure available on Android and iOS. As for playing traditional DnD, there are a lot of useful apps you can use to complement your game sessions. DnD is also available to play on Discord, an app for PC, Android, iOS, and multiple console systems. Roll20 is another very popular app to use when playing DnD on mobile devices.
Read more to find out if the games released on your phone by Wizards’ are anything like real DnD, the positives and negatives of playing on your phone, and much more.
Can You Play DnD On Your Phone?
This matter depends somewhat on what is meant by playing DnD on your phone. There isn’t an app that lets you play traditional DnD on your phone, but there are a bunch of apps that you can use which make your experience better, and certainly makes the game playable digitally with your friends.
The most popular apps to use with digital DnD gaming include Discord. A lot of people start with Discord and then move on to Roll20.
Roll20 is a tabletop simulator that comes complete with dice rolling, maps, characters, and all that you need for playing the game. It’s very popular and has great functionality, but it is more complicated than using Discord, which means that a lot of players start with Discord.
One thing to keep in mind is that to be able to play DnD through Roll20 on mobile devices, you will have to subscribe to Roll20 Premium, which is a paid-for service.
In terms of actual games on your phone, there are a couple. Although they’re not DnD, these games were made by WotC under the DnD brand. Warriors of Waterdeep is the closest you will get to playing DnD.
The mechanics of the game are not based on the mechanics of DnD. It is a tactical-style game that integrates a lot of the characters from the DnD universe. While the game is fun, it is a mobile game that, in my opinion, can’t be compared to the experience of playing “real” DnD.
Another DnD game that is available on your phone is Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realm. It’s one of the many idle heroes-style games that you can play on mobile, and the game is nothing like DnD. However, if you like the aesthetic and presentation of DnD, chances are you might like this game.
Is Playing DnD On Your Phone Fun?
The digital experience of DnD playing is different from the real thing. In the end, it comes down to personal preference. I prefer playing in person rather than on my phone because I find that I have an easier time getting immersed in person.
Discord/Roll20 offers great support for digital play on your phone, however, and the digital experience is hardly going to become worse from here on out. A lot of players find it convenient and fun to play on Discord or Roll20, so don’t let other people’s opinions keep you held.
If you have DnD Beyond, that is a big plus for playing online since they have full integration with both Discord and Roll20.
Read more: Can You Play DnD Over Discord?
What Is The Best DnD App?
It certainly depends on what the purpose of the app is – if you’re looking for a game, then there are not a lot of options out there. Check out the previously mentioned Warriors of Waterdeep and Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realm, they’re two standalone games.
The best DnD app for traditional gaming is in my opinion DnD Beyond. It has a vast supply of digital DnD books, available on everything from phones to tablets. DnD Beyond also has character sheets, rulebooks, and much more. The app itself is free to download, and a lot of the content in the app is free as well.
Is There A Dungeon Master App?
There isn’t one single obligatory app that all DMs have. I have a couple of recommendations for apps that are all very useful for DMs of all levels. These are all optional and in the end subjective, of course.
- Game Master 5th Edition – An amazing app when it comes to tracking your adventures in a boatload of ways. The app is free to download, but it has a premium feature that’s honestly very worthwhile.
- Improved Initiative – The best combat manager in my opinion. It’s completely free and has good functionality which makes it a no-brainer.
- RPG Sounds: Fantasy – An app that plays ambient RPG music for you and your party. This app is hit-or-miss depending on who you are.
There are more apps that DMs use in their games, but these are my top 3. As I touched on before, having apps for DMing in the first place isn’t strictly necessary. Some DMs avoid apps simply because they think it takes away from the project of managing an adventure manually.
Read more: The Best Apps For Dungeons and Dragons
Other Good Apps For DnD
While I think DnD Beyond in general is the best app for DnD on your phone, there are a bunch of other useful apps that I think are worth considering if you want to use your phone when playing DnD. Listed below are some of my favorite apps that I use when playing DnD.
- NPC Generator (Free) – What it sounds like. The app randomly generates NPCs for you. This function can come in very if you’re making homebrew material, or if your players decide to mix things up by going in unexpected directions. Functions include appearance, name, race, and many more things.
- Magwa’s Magic Item Compendium (Free) – Another generator. This app, however, generates items for you. You can randomly generate items in the app complete with a picture, name, information, stats, and mechanics. The other option is to make custom items in the app, which you can save for later use. I like this app because of its functionality and ease of use.
- 5th Edition Spellbook (Paid app, $1) – This app includes a spellbook manager for your player characters and a spell creator which lets you create your spells. very elegant.
- Archivist Elements (Paid app, $1) – This app works for pretty much any TTRPG including DnD. In this app, you can create “elements” in your world at the press of a button. It is one of the other apps that can come in handy when posed with unexpected questions. The elements include NPCs, weather, geography, and more.
Games Similar To DnD On The Phone
If what you’re looking for is a direct way of playing DnD through your phone and are rightfully disappointed by the answer given by this article, there are a few apps that are similar to DnD. Listed below are some of my top picks.
- Knights of Pen and Paper 2 (Free with microtransactions and ads) – This is a retro-style, turn-based RPG game where you control your entire party of characters. It’s quite fun but somewhat streamlined from the first game. If you want a less streamlined and more difficult experience, check out the first game instead.
- Pathfinder Adventures (Free with microtransactions) – Pathfinder Adventures takes the original TTRPG Pathfinder and transforms it into a card game. The systems (character development and so forth) are based on the TTRPG Pathfinder, so people who are looking for a replacement for DnD might like this one.
- Neverwinter Nights: Enhanced ($10) – A mobile version of the classic DnD game Neverwinter Nights. The story is based on the Forgotten Realms campaign, and the mechanics in the game are all based on DnD mechanics.
- Baldurs Gate I & II ($10) – Another classic game based on the Forgotten Realms campaign. The Baldurs Gate series is one of the most critically acclaimed RPG video game series of all time. It’s a must-play, really. I feel like I shouldn’t give too much away about this game. Play it! These two mobile remakes are optimized for tablets, so keep that in mind.