The Horrified series has always walked a fine line between accessibility and challenge. The original game was a massive success, blending cooperative gameplay with classic Universal Monsters to create something both thrilling and family-friendly. The sequels that followed—Horrified: American Monsters and Horrified: Greek Monsters—received mixed reviews, with some fans feeling they lacked the same spark. Now, Ravensburger is hoping to recapture that original magic by merging the series with one of the most beloved franchises in gaming history: Dungeons & Dragons. The result is Horrified: Dungeons & Dragons—but does this fantasy-themed crossover bring the series back to its glory days, or is it another miss roll?
What’s in the box?
Horrified: Dungeons & Dragons comes loaded with familiar components for fans of the series: a central board, a collection of monster and hero standees, and plenty of tokens, cards, and dice. What sets this edition apart is the addition of the iconic D20—a perfect thematic fit for D&D—and a cast of new playable heroes, each representing one of five fantasy classes.
The four featured monsters are instantly recognizable to any D&D player: the Red Dragon, Beholder, Mimic, and Displacer Beast. Each monster has its own unique objectives and methods of defeat, all inspired by their D&D lore. The Red Dragon guards a treasure hoard that must be unlocked by solving a randomized slide puzzle. The Beholder requires you to “disable” its many eyes one by one, weakening it before the final confrontation. The Mimic, in true fashion, lurks until you uncover treasure and unwittingly summon it to the board. And the Displacer Beast, ever elusive, teleports unpredictably around the map, keeping heroes on their toes.
It’s clear that great care went into the thematic design—each monster feels authentic to the D&D world, even if the overall challenge level skews toward the easier side.
Gameplay & Design
One thing that stands out immediately is the attention to detail. Every element in this game—from the hero classes to the perk cards—feels like a love letter to Dungeons & Dragons. The artwork, terminology, and even the way you roll for abilities make it feel like a mini D&D campaign condensed into a classic Horrified experience.
The D20 mechanic is easily the most significant addition, and it’s implemented elegantly. Certain hero abilities now rely on D20 rolls, with higher results granting stronger effects. Some monsters also use the D20 mechanic in creative ways—for example, the Beholder’s eye attacks depend on how well you roll. It’s a nice evolution of the base Horrified formula, adding just enough randomness to make things unpredictable without overwhelming the cooperative strategy.
Huge Thank you to Ravensburger for this Awesome giftbox!
There’s also a fun bonus item: a promo candle that players can light during a session. It smells surprisingly good, but more importantly, it lets you reroll a single D20 roll once per game—a cheeky little 4th-wall nod that fits the tabletop spirit of D&D perfectly.
However, while the D20 adds flavor, it also contributes to how easy the game can feel. The only way to “miss” on most rolls is by rolling a natural 1, which means you have a 95% success rate on almost every action. During multiple playthroughs, I never once rolled a nat 1, meaning my heroes were practically unstoppable. A slightly higher failure range—say, 1 through 5—would’ve created more tension and made success feel more rewarding.
Feedback
The monsters themselves are the highlight of this edition. Each encounter feels distinct and thematic, but I couldn’t help but notice the reduced monster count. Previous Horrified games featured five villains, while this one only includes four. That’s not a dealbreaker, but it does leave the game feeling a bit lighter, especially for returning players.
Adding a fifth creature—perhaps a Lich or Gelatinous Cube—would have gone a long way toward rounding out the roster. These monsters practically define D&D and would have added both visual variety and gameplay spice. The good news? This setup practically begs for expansions. There’s so much potential for Horrified: Dungeons & Dragons to grow, especially if future add-ons include new monsters, classes, or campaign-style modes.
Final Verdict
Horrified: Dungeons & Dragons successfully blends two beloved tabletop worlds, offering a cooperative experience that’s both familiar and fresh. The attention to theme is excellent, the D20 mechanic adds a clever twist, and the monster selection—though small—captures the spirit of D&D wonderfully.
That said, longtime fans might find the challenge level a bit too forgiving, and the reduced monster count feels like a step backward. But for casual players, families, or D&D fans looking for a lighter, more accessible way to enjoy their favorite monsters, this game delivers.
While it may not fully recapture the tension of the original Horrified, it’s a fun, flavorful entry that proves the series still has plenty of life—and room to level up.
