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Get a first look at Ravenloft: The Horrors Within in the only official D&D actual play series, Dungeon Masters
Wizards of the Coast is dropping previews of their upcoming Ravenloft: The Horrors Within sourcebook into Dungeon Masters' first two episodes.
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The news that Dungeons & Dragons maker Wizards of the Coast is finally dabbling in the Actual Play genre is surprising only because it has taken them so long to see the value in their own show after years of Critical Role and Dimension 20 bringing in massive viewership and loyal fans. However, it is clear that WotC views their Dungeon Masters show as more than just a way to showcase D&D to fans; it is a way to preview the content of upcoming rulebooks.
When Wizards of the Coast announced that they were producing their own D&D Actual Play series, it was big news for fans of the format. With players that include voice actors from Baldur’s Gate 3, a writer for Dispatch, and a Critical Role guest star, there are lots of familiar faces to draw people in. However, the big appeal for D&D players and DMs might be the sneak peek it is giving into the upcoming Ravenloft campaign setting.
As reported by Polygon, who watched the first two episodes of Dungeon Masters before they go live on April 22, 2026, much of the show will focus on the iconic horror setting of Ravenloft, with the first campaign arc taking place in Sithicus, a Realm of Dread that wasn’t featured in the previous Ravenloft campaign setting, Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft. This certainly seems to suggest that Dungeon Masters is serving as a preview to the new Ravenloft: The Horrors Within sourcebook.
You can see the corporate synergy at play in other ways, with Wizards of the Coast offering tools to recreate the encounters in Dungeon Masters for those who pre-order Ravenloft: The Horrors Within. This could be what sets Dungeon Masters apart from other Actual Play series like Critical Role and Dimension 20, offering insight into the mechanics of the series along with the entertainment value of watching people play D&D.
The first episode of Dungeon Masters airs on April 22, 2026 on the D&D YouTube Channel.
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