One of D&D’s Best 5e Adventures Turns 10 This Year, And We Could Get a Revival

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2026 has started out pretty calmly for Dungeons & Dragons. The team released some new content late last year, which might explain why we haven’t seen a plan for 2026 yet. Fortnite players are getting a D&D experience, and the Warlock project is in development. But when it comes to new rulebooks and adventures, it’s hard to say what’s next. However, some recent playtest material and the anniversary of a popular 5th Edition adventure suggest we might see a particular campaign setting featured in the 2026 D&D releases.

Curse of Strahd is a highly popular adventure for the 5th edition of Dungeons & Dragons. It takes players to Ravenloft, a gothic horror world filled with eerie mists and the enigmatic Count Strahd von Zarovich. Originally released in March 2016, this classic D&D campaign is nearing its 10-year anniversary, and many fans are hoping for a return to the Ravenloft setting in 2026.

What Makes Curse of Strahd Such a Solid 5e Adventure

Many people start their Dungeons & Dragons journey with Curse of Strahd because it’s so well-loved. It was my first experience with the 5th edition of D&D, and I still remember it vividly. The adventure takes players to Barovia, a haunting village within the D&D world of Ravenloft. While Curse of Strahd and its famous vampire villain, Strahd, have been around since the 1980s, it’s often the first time many newer players explore the gothic horror setting of Ravenloft.

The Curse of Strahd campaign is widely considered one of the best horror adventures in Dungeons & Dragons. Unlike many D&D campaigns that involve vast travel, Curse of Strahd challenges players and Dungeon Masters to be resourceful within a limited area. The story confines player characters to the land of Barovia once they enter, and this restriction is a key part of what makes the adventure so engaging. It encourages players to deeply explore and solve the mysteries of a single, well-defined region.

If you’re looking for a Dungeons & Dragons campaign with immersive roleplaying, exciting exploration, and satisfying combat, Curse of Strahd is an excellent choice. It’s a really engaging adventure with vampires, magic, and a touch of horror. It’s also great for both new Dungeon Masters and players because the setting is relatively contained, but still offers plenty of room to create your own unique story. Our group still talks about the amazing things we did in Barovia – it’s become legendary among our friends!

Even though it was released a decade ago, Curse of Strahd is still a hugely popular adventure for Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition. With Wizards of the Coast not planning any new full-length campaigns in 2025, fans are eagerly anticipating what’s in store this year – and many are hoping for a return to the gothic horror setting of Ravenloft.

Why D&D Fans Think New Ravenloft Sourcebooks Could Be Headed Our Way in 2026

As the 10th anniversary of Curse of Strahd approaches in March, fans are eager to see Wizards of the Coast acknowledge the milestone. At the very least, many hope for an updated version of the popular horror adventure, revised to reflect current game rules in 2024. However, due to some intriguing playtest material released in recent years, some fans are optimistic that even bigger things might be coming for the Ravenloft setting in 2026.

Last year, the novel Ravenloft: Heir of Strahd brought us back to the classic land of Barovia. However, official Dungeons & Dragons materials hadn’t explored Ravenloft in depth for several years. The 2021 sourcebook, Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft, provided a lot of detail about the horror setting, but it wasn’t a complete adventure. Instead, it included a single, shorter adventure called The House of Lament to give players a glimpse of the horrors within.

It’s been a decade since the last major Ravenloft campaign, and fans are hopeful a new one is on the way this year. The anniversary of Curse of Strahd, combined with a playtest document released in May 2025, has fueled this speculation. That document included new horror-themed character options for the updated 5th edition Dungeons & Dragons rules. Introducing horror subclasses seems like a perfect setup for bringing players back to the classic Ravenloft setting.

Currently, Dungeons & Dragons hasn’t announced any celebrations for Curse of Strahd or Ravenloft in 2026. However, many fans think this would be a great opportunity for a new adventure set in Ravenloft, or at least something special to honor the enduring popularity of Curse of Strahd.

Have you ever played or Dungeon Mastered Curse of Strahd? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-01-22 00:15