Ravensburger has officially announced Horrified: Dungeons & Dragons, and it’s exactly the kind of crossover that feels both inevitable and surprisingly fresh. Scheduled for release this fall, the game throws players into a cooperative showdown with some of D&D’s most recognizable monsters—and brings a few twists to the Horrified formula along the way.
But with only four monsters confirmed, and some very notable creatures missing from the lineup, I’ve got some thoughts (and hopes).
Confirmed Monsters (So Far)
According to Ravensburger’s announcement, players will face off against:
- Beholder – The “Sphere of Many Eyes” is a classic, dating all the way back to the original Dungeons & Dragons release in 1974. Expect vision-based mechanics and chaotic effects.
- Mimic – A fun, thematic pick. If this monster uses hidden information or traps disguised as item tokens, it could be one of the most interactive foes in any Horrified game to date.
- Displacer Beast – A creature known for bending reality and being hard to hit. This could lead to a movement or targeting twist that keeps players guessing.
- Red Dragon – A pure powerhouse. I’m hoping to see something with area control, fire effects, or a lair that needs to be infiltrated or defended against.
It’s a compact set of monsters (for now), but each one offers room for rich, puzzle-like gameplay. The publisher also teased “new gameplay elements inspired by the mechanics of D&D,” including the use of a d20—a big departure from previous entries in the series.
New Dice, New Depth?
The introduction of a 20-sided die opens the door for more variable, RPG-like interactions. Could we see monster abilities that scale based on rolls? Maybe item tests that simulate skill checks? This kind of randomness—if handled carefully—could elevate the tension and give each session more narrative flavor.
It also hints that this may be more than a simple re-skin. And that’s exactly what I was hoping for.
What’s Missing? Iconic Monsters We Still Want to See
Let’s be real—the four confirmed monsters are a solid lineup. But in the world of Dungeons & Dragons, they barely scratch the surface. And if this game wants to live up to the “D&D” name, I’m hoping this is just the beginning. Here’s who didn’t make the cut (yet):
- Mind Flayer – One of D&D’s most iconic villains. Psionics, domination, brain-eating tension—it’s begging for a unique gameplay twist.
- Lich – The idea of players racing to uncover and destroy a hidden phylactery would be a perfect fit for Horrified’s multi-step objectives.
- Gelatinous Cube – A weird and wonderful threat. Could’ve been a great terrain hazard or trap-based monster.
- Demogorgon – The original, two-headed demon prince—not the Stranger Things version. Big, dramatic, and full of chaos.
- Tarrasque – Okay, maybe this one’s a bit much, but imagine a one-vs-all scenario or a final boss mode.
There’s still hope some of these creatures could appear in expansions or alternate modes, but for now, it feels like a missed opportunity to leave out monsters so deeply embedded in D&D’s identity.
What I’m Hoping This Game Delivers
Deeper Monster Interactions – Not just unique objectives, but monsters that affect the game world in dramatically different ways.
Thematic Hero Roles – Give us RPG-style classes with asymmetric powers. Let me be a cleric who heals citizens or a rogue who can safely investigate Mimics.
Scenario Variants – Even a light campaign mode or branching scenarios would make this feel more like an adventure and less like a one-shot.
Final Thoughts
Horrified: Dungeons & Dragons has real potential to be the most immersive and thematic entry in the series so far. The monsters they’ve chosen are flavorful and mechanically distinct, and the addition of a d20 could finally bring the system closer to the adventure-game feel it’s been flirting with since the original.
But I’d love to see them go even bigger. D&D is about memorable villains—and some of the most iconic ones are still waiting in the wings.
What Do You Think?
Which D&D monsters should have made the cut? What kind of mechanics would you want to see tied to a Lich, a Mind Flayer, or a Tarrasque? Drop your picks in the comments or join the conversation on Facebook!
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