If Stranger Things made you want to play D&D, here's where you should start

Stranger Things D&D
(Image credit: Netflix)

With the second part of Stranger Things Season 4 now upon us (no, we're still not OK), you might be tempted to try that D&D game the gang are so obsessed with. And if that's the case, you've got excellent taste. We've been playing for years and can recommend it without hesitation, especially if you're embarking on an adventure with friends - it provides enough memorable moments and in-jokes to last you a long, long time. And thanks to the 4th of July deals, you can get involved for less. Many starter sets and a load of books have been massively reduced in price.

To begin with, you can get the current starter set for $13.29 at Amazon instead of almost $20. As we said in our Dungeons and Dragons Starter Set review, this is the perfect place to learn D&D or introduce it to your friends. It makes the process of playing or running games easy with a story that brings all the classic fantasy goods. There are evil wizards, orcs, towns in peril, weird monsters that wouldn't look out of place in the Stranger Things Upside Down (speaking of which, it's worth noting that a Stranger Things starter set is available from Amazon as well - although it's not quite as good, it's 'written' by Mike and is the campaign he was running when Will got taken all the way back in season one). 

Sure, a new D&D starter set is arriving at the end of July. But we've not been hands-on with that version yet, and it's not likely to get a discount for a little while.

Anyway, we've gone into detail about where you should start and which Dungeons and Dragons books you should prioritize below. Happily, a few are on offer in the early 4th of July deals.

D&D Starter Set |$19.99$13.29 at Amazon
Save 34% -

D&D Starter Set | $19.99 $13.29 at Amazon
Save 34% - If you're going to start anywhere, we'd suggest beginning your D&D journey here. Sure, a new starter set is on the way. But we've played this version from end to end and it's an ideal jumping-off point (it's also on offer, which obviously helps). It provides you with a pre-written adventure that's easy to run and designed specifically for newcomers, a short and sweet version of the rules, pre-generated character sheets, dice, and maps that are handy tools during play.

D&D Essentials Kit | $24.99$18.99 at Amazon

D&D Essentials Kit | $24.99 $18.99 at Amazon
Another solid place to start would be the Essentials Kit, available for a reduced price right now. It's similar to the starter set but is a little more open-ended with missions that can be completed in any order, and it also has rules for sidekicks in games with fewer players.

New D&D Starter Set |$19.99 at Target
Available July 31 -

New D&D Starter Set | $19.99 at Target
Available July 31 - If you're happy to wait, a brand-new starter set is on its way at the end of July. We suspect it'll be good because it promises to give a smoother onboarding process for new players, but seeing as we haven't been hands-on with it yet, we've got no trouble recommending its predecessor instead for the time being. Plus, the older version is on offer - this newer equivalent might not drop in price for a little while.

D&D Player's Handbook | $49.95$22.95 at Amazon
Save 55% -

D&D Player's Handbook | $49.95 $22.95 at Amazon
Save 55% - Once you've gotten your head around the basics, it's worth trying out the official Player's Handbook. This contains everything you need to know about playing D&D (with a lot more detail than the basic rules), so it's an essential purchase for everyone that wants to play long-term.

D&D Dungeon Master's Guide | $49.95$27.97 at Amazon
Save 44% -

D&D Dungeon Master's Guide | $49.95 $27.97 at Amazon
Save 44% - Want to run your own games of D&D like Eddie Munson and Mike do in Stranger Things? This is the book you want. Besides giving you useful rules for being a Dungeon Master, it's got loads of inspiration for worldbuilding, creating characters, making adventures, and constructing storylines. It's pure gold even if you're interested in writing fantasy content, so we can't recommend it enough.

D&D Monster Manual | $49.95$26.90 at Amazon
Save 46% -

D&D Monster Manual | $49.95 $26.90 at Amazon
Save 46% - If you're eager to fill your encounters with kick-ass foes, this book is incredibly helpful. It's crammed with hundreds of creatures (including stats and how to use them) that'll give your sessions a unique flavor. There are classic monsters in here as well as some bizarre alternatives your players will remember for a long time, so it's a solid purchase for beginners.

Monsters of the Multiverse | $49.95$29.97 at Amazon
Save 40% -

Monsters of the Multiverse | $49.95 $29.97 at Amazon
Save 40% - This new book brings together a variety of content from older releases, but the real headline is that it collects all character races players can use outside of the standard ones featured in the Player's Handbook. Owl people? Goblins? Centaurs? You've got it. It's super helpful as a result so is worth a look.

Once you've started your D&D journey, we've got a few guides you might find useful. For starters, here's how to create your first character in D&D and the best D&D class for beginners

Naturally, D&D isn't the only roleplaying game out there. If you'd rather try something a bit different, don't miss our guide to the best tabletop RPGs. And if you'd like some models to go with your pen-and-paper adventures (it can make combat a lot easier to visualize), don't miss the best WizKids miniatures.

More D&D deals

Not feeling the deals above? You can check out the offers from our bargain-hunting software below - it's always on the lookout for the lowest prices.


This is just the start of July's discounts - we're staring down the barrel of Prime Day gaming deals, not to mention Prime Day video game deals. You can look forward to Prime Day board game deals and Prime Day Lego deals later this month as well, so check in with our guides for tips on saving as much money as possible.

TOPICS
Benjamin Abbott
Tabletop & Merch Editor

I've been writing about games in one form or another since 2012, and now manage 12DOVE's tabletop gaming and toy coverage. You'll find my grubby paws on everything from board game reviews to the latest Lego news.

Read more
D&D character sheet and cards from Heroes of the Borderlands box set
The new D&D Starter Set is the first one I've been excited about in years
A selection of lifestyle images showing four of the best tabletop RPGs in use
Best tabletop RPGs 2025: Must-have adventures you need to try
A selection of the best Dungeons and Dragons books, with a GamesRadar+ cross in the middle
Best D&D books 2025 that need to be on your shelf
A bunch of tabletop deals pictured
A game master's starter pack to get your first campaign going, D&D or otherwise
The One Ring Starter Set box, map, cards, and dice on a wooden table against a dark backdrop
If you want to try tabletop RPGs, I think this one may be better than D&D
An adventuring party points at a tower in the distance
New D&D not piquing your interest? Dragonbane's newest free old-school quickstart adventure will surely sate your appetite instead
Latest in TV
Fallout
Fallout season 2’s dazzling and dystopian New Vegas is coming to life in a new leaked video
Diego Luna as Cassian Andor
The first three episodes of the best Star Wars show are now available to watch for free ahead of the Andor season 2 premiere
Penn Badgley and Charlotte Richie in You season 5
You season 5 trailer introduces Joe's new love interest and teases familiar faces in the final installment of the Netflix thriller
Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn in Joker 2
Wednesday star Jenna Ortega teases Lady Gaga's appearance in season 2 of the Netflix show: "It was just a really, really special environment"
The Last of Us season 2 trailer shows spores
The Last of Us season 2 is bringing in one of the biggest game omissions from season 1 – and the showrunners say it's for a "good reason"
Daredevil: Born Again
Vincent D'Onofrio responds to a fan who thinks Daredevil: Born Again has "ruined" Kingpin: "Thanks for the support dumbass"
Latest in Deals
PDP Riffmaster hands-on image of the guitar's plastic body
The PS5 Riffmaster Guitar controller falls to its lowest-ever price, and I think I know why
MTG Final Fantasy Bundle: Gift Edition and Limit Break Commander deck box on either side of a 'in stock' GamesRadar+ badge, all against a pink background
Where to buy MTG Final Fantasy products
Image of the Nintendo Switch box art for Princess Peach Showtime, Ys X Nordics, Unicorn Overlord and Super Mario Jamboree on a GamesRadar pink background.
Mario Day's colossal savings on these games is enough to make me forget about the Switch 2 for now
Gemma from Monster Hunter Wilds with glowing RX 7800 XT GPU next to hand
The RX 7800 XT is the only mid-range GPU at a remotely reasonable price right now, and it comes with Monster Hunter Wilds
Red Rising game box and components
From the designer of Scythe, this board game has dropped to its lowest price of just $11
Lego Grogu with Hover Pram displayed on a shelf
This Lego Grogu set is at its lowest ever price