D&D puzzle ideas! Dungeons are made, in many cases, by traps and puzzles. Dungeon masters can use puzzles and traps to create memorable RPG sessions for their players.
Since that is the case, dungeon masters and game masters always need traps and puzzles on hand to use in RPG sessions. This list compiles outstanding resources containing D&D puzzles and traps.
Wally DM’s Journal of Puzzle Encounters
Wally DM’s Journal of Puzzle Encounters includes sixty dungeon puzzles for use in D&D. Here’s a bit from the DriveThruRPG description:
“Within this journal you will find 60 puzzles that you can use to add an element of mystery, intrigue, and fun to your fantasy role-playing games. Your players will have their characters swapping out gems of an owl statue to open doors, turning their hand to stone to unlock a portal, or tasting a cube to see if it’s bitter or sweet in order to solve a puzzle.
“Also included is a table of 100 weird rooms that you can use to populate your dungeons and bring out the creativity of both yourself and your players. As you peruse the puzzles within these pages please remember that each puzzle is simply an idea for you to use “as is” or as the foundation of building your own encounters and ideas.”
If you are looking for dungeon puzzles and D&D puzzle ideas, this book is a great option.
Grimtooth’s Ultimate Traps Collection
Five classic RPG books rolled into one. Grimtooth’s Ultimate Traps Collection contains 500 traps, yes 500.
The PDF clocks in at 627 pages and includes puzzles, comics, and articles on dungeon traps.
Your Dungeons & Dungeons campaigns will benefit from these unique and devious traps. Never have a dull dungeon ever again.
Book of Challenges: Dungeon Rooms, Puzzles, and Traps (3e)
The Book of Challenges: Dungeon Rooms, Puzzles, and Traps (3e) is the granddaddy of all D&D trap and puzzle books. This is a PDF of the original book that was published in 2002.
Here’s a quote from the product description on DriveThruRPG:
“The greatest threat to any adventuring party is a devious Dungeon Master. This book is spring-loaded with ideas, both subtle and sinister, that will ensure every gaming session is appropriately hazardous, including:
- Over fifty encounters designed to be dropped into any campaign.
- Scalable scenarios that can be pitted against characters from 1st to 20th level.
- Advice for creating your own deceptive and deadly situations.
“Dungeon Masters who want to keep their players on their toes will be inspired by the invaluable material within these pages.
“To use this accessory, a Dungeon Master also needs the Player’s Handbook, the Dungeon Master’s Guide, and the Monster Manual.”
The Game Master’s Book of Traps, Puzzles and Dungeons
The Game Master’s Book of Traps, Puzzles and Dungeons contains more than 60 challenging puzzles, 60 unique traps, and 50 modular dungeon chambers.
From the description: “The Game Master’s Book of Traps, Puzzles and Dungeons provides GMs with endless options for populating their adventures with challenging riddles, puzzles, spiked pits, Rube Goldberg-style deathtraps and much more – everything they need to push player character to their limit and bring new levels of excitement (and anxiety) to their game play.”
This book is geared to dovetail with D&D 5e and uses random tables to help dungeon masters to create dungeons with traps and puzzles.
Even More Dungeon Traps and Puzzles
Of course, there are many RPG resources that provide amazing traps and puzzles for dungeons. However, there are several other impressive resources for D&D traps and puzzles.
- Lethal Legacies: Traps of the World Before
- Portfolio of Perplexing Puzzles: 50 puzzles
- The Wurst of Grimtooth’s Traps
- Floor Puzzles
Dungeon Traps and Puzzles for D&D
Creating engaging dungeons is a huge job for dungeon masters. These resources listed here are essential pieces in a dungeon master’s toolkit.