I love a good subscription box and have to cull them every few months when I realize I’ve built up way too many mini toiletries or boxes of beer. So I got pretty excited to find out there are DnD subscription boxes and I now wish I’d subscribed to one when I first started playing DnD to stock up my collections of adventures, dice, and minis. I also know what I’m asking for this Christmas.
DnD subscription boxes make excellent gifts or a great treat for yourself. Whether you’re buying for a friend, a kid, or yourself, this guide has the very best DnD subscription boxes out there with all the details you need to make your decision.
Bottom line upfront
The best DnD subscription box out there, in my opinion, is Dungeon in a Box. It offers the best value for money and the most useful product for DnD players, especially those who already have plenty of dice. That said, I’ve narrowed down the best DnD subscription boxes for your DnD needs. Here are my top picks:
- Best overall: Dungeon in a Box
- Best gift for DnD players: DUNGEON CRATE
- Best dice subscription box: Dice Envy
- Best miniatures subscription box: Archer P&P
- Best map subscription box: The Reclusive Cartographer (digital only)
Selection criteria
There are plenty of DnD subscription boxes out there, so how did I narrow it down? Here’s my selection criteria:
- Price: There are some pricey DnD subscription boxes out there and few of us have hundreds lying around every month to spend on DnD goodies (if only we didn’t have bills to pay), so all boxes here are reasonably priced.
- Value for money: Subscription boxes are a monthly expense so it’s vital you’re getting your money’s worth. All of these subscriptions are great value for money and contain plenty of goodies.
- Digital options: Not all of us have the luxury of playing DnD in person, so plenty of the boxes included here, where relevant, have digital options available too.
- Compatibility: Not everyone plays DnD 5e. There are Pathfinder fans, homebrewers, or people like me who also run retroclone games like White Box. Almost all of these DnD subscription boxes are compatible with all TTRPGs.
- Availability: DnD players exist all over the world. I’ve included notes on shipping availability with each suggestion, including where you might have to pay extra for shipping outside of the US.
- Customer reviews: I’ve trawled the online reviews so you don’t have to. Every box on this list has consistently excellent customer reviews.
Read also: Guide to the Best Dungeons and Dragons Merch.
What are DnD subscription boxes?
A typical DnD subscription box is a monthly box posted to you filled with DnD related goodies. Typical items you might find in a DnD subscription box include:
- Adventure books and one-shots
- Maps and terrain pieces
- Miniatures and other game tokens
- Dice
- DnD related accessories such as clothing, hats, stickers, and pins
There are also specialized DnD boxes, such as dice only or miniatures only boxes.
Not all DnD subscription boxes, however, have to be physical boxes. With so many of us playing DnD online, lots of subscription services include digital materials, or use platforms like Patreon to provide digital-only subscriptions for content like maps or one-shots.
How to choose a DnD subscription box
So you’re after a DnD subscription box? Whether you want a box for yourself or you’re buying a box for a friend or family member, here are some things to keep in mind when deciding which box to opt for.
- Price: Remember, you’re paying for a monthly subscription rather than a one-off box (though most boxes offer anytime cancellation). Figure out how much you’ll be paying each month and for how long before making a final decision.
- Frequency: Most subscription box services deliver monthly, but keep an eye out in case you’re paying a monthly fee for a box that only delivers every quarter or similar.
- Discounts: Always check to see if you can save money on your first box with a discount code or if by paying upfront for three, six, or twelve months you can get a per box discount.
- Contents: Look closely at what the boxes include. Lots of subscription box services don’t tell you exactly what the next box will include but they will have inventories for previous boxes. Use these to figure out if this is the box for you.
- Shipping costs: There’s nothing worse than being stuck with an unexpected and hefty shipping fee. Always double check shipping costs, especially if you’re ordering from a country other than where the box ships from. It’s also worth Googling what taxes and custom fees your country might charge you for goods shipping from abroad.
- Digital options: Make sure you subscribe to the box you want — don’t pay for a digital box when you want a physical box! It’s also worth checking whether or not your physical subscription box gives you access to any additional digital content.
The Best DnD subscription boxes
Dungeon in a Box
- Price: $36 a month
- Availability: International — non-US customers are responsible for customs fees and charges
- Digital option: Yes — $14.95 a month
- Compatibility: DnD 5e and Pathfinder 2e
- Value for money: 5/5
Dungeon in a Box does what it says on the tin — you get everything you need for a DnD dungeon in a box. Except, Dungeon in a Box is doing so much more than this too, which is why it gets my vote for best DnD subscription box.
What do I get?
- The physical box contains an adventure book full of monsters, tables, and encounters, each of which form part of a yearly campaign arc created by Dungeon in a Box (this year, it’s Voyage of the Fallen Star) but can also be used for individual games or your own homebrew.
- In addition to the adventure books, you get digital access to Dungeon in a Box’s ‘Wondrous One Shots’, which are added to every month.
- You’ll also get two big encounter maps with terrain tiles, some smaller adventure maps, 3D terrain pieces, two sculpted minis, and a selection of ‘skinny’ cardboard minis. All of these are very high quality, the art alone is gorgeous, and can be used for multiple games.
Dungeon in a Box also has a cheaper, digital option (physical subscribers get access to this too), which is especially good for those of us who run most of our games online. You get access to a whole library of content, maps, and the monthly adventure content. I’ve had a digital subscription for three months and always find useful content for my homebrew there.
Is it worth it?
Yes. In my opinion, Dungeon in a Box are providing exactly what DnD subscription boxes should be. They provide an ongoing campaign for you and your players to pick up with very high quality materials, maps, and minis and full access to their digital library.
And everything you get can be used again in other campaigns and homebrews, so you really are getting your money’s worth.
DUNGEON CRATE
- Price: $35.95 a month
- Availability: International
- Digital option: Yes — $9.95 a month
- Compatibility: All TTRPG systems
- Value for money: 5/5
DUNGEON CRATE is one of the best value DnD subscription boxes out there and is the best box to buy as a gift for DnD fans, especially since you can get a discounted price for buying three, six, or twelve months upfront.
I’d highly recommend this as a gift for kids who are budding DMs or any new DM.
What do I get?
The DUNGEON CRATE box varies every month, but their website provides a selection of the kinds of contents and goodies included in previous boxes, such as:
- One-shots, adventure books, and maps
- Game tokens including metal coins, terrain pieces, dice, and miniatures
- Game tools such as hit-point trackers, item cards, and monster stat cards
- Accessories including enamel pins and patches
- Special, limited edition gifts and accessories
With a DUNGEON CRATE subscription, you also get full access to their digital crate, which is available for a standalone subscription and includes PDFs of adventure books, one-shots, maps, and stat cards.
Is it worth it?
The physical DUNGEON CRATE is definitely worth it, with the $103 3-month subscription being an especially great gift. You get plenty of content and accessories, so any budding DM can build up a collection of materials, gaming tokens, and some great quality accessories very quickly.
The digital subscription alone may not be worth it — $10 a month for a few one-shots and maps rather than access to a full library isn’t the best offering out there — but it’s great that this is included in the physical subscription.
Dice Envy
- Price: From $16 a month
- Availability: International
- Digital option: No
- Compatibility: All TTRPG systems
- Value for money: 5/5
Okay, I am not a dice goblin. It may come as a shock, but I have my one set and that does me just fine. But I know there’s a lot of you out there that can’t get enough dice and if I was going to add any more to my collection, I’d buy them from Dice Envy.
Their dice are SO cool. Mostly because I am lusting after some wooden dice.
What do I get?
Dice envy subscription boxes come in three levels:
- Envy: A resin or acrylic 10-piece dice set, often including a giant d20, a giant d6, and an odd-numbered die — $16 a month.
- Pride: Same as above but the dice are premium material, such as wood, polymer, metal, or stone — $36 a month.
- Gluttony: The Pride and Envy boxes combined — $50 a month.
Is it worth it?
The Envy subscription box is a great price for a high-quality dice subscription box. That said, if you’re a true dice goblin after some unique dice to add to your ever-growing collection, I would recommend splurging on the Pride box.
Looking for a quirky alternative DnD gift for your dice goblin friend? DiceBomb is a self-care-meets-DnD gift as each month you’ll be delivered a d20-shaped bath bomb that, as it dissolves in your bath, reveals dice inside. At $16 a month, I love this fun take on the dice subscription box.
Archer P&P
- Price: $49.99 a month
- Availability: International — BUT non-US shipping is an additional $20 a month
- Digital option: No
- Compatibility: All TTRPG systems
- Value for money: 4/5
If you’re serious about your DnD minis, Archer P&P (Print & Paint) is the best miniatures subscription box you can buy.
What do I get?
In an Archer P&P box you get eleven minis, the most minis in any DnD minis subscription box and they are all unique and high quality. New subscribers also get a bonus mini in their first box.
Is it worth it?
Archer P&P may be more pricey than other DnD miniatures subscription boxes, but the number of minis and their quality reflect this and they work out at less than $5 a mini.
While cheaper alternatives like the Magic Mini Mystery Box may have three minis along with additions like dice bags and painting tools (making it another great subscription box), Archer P&P is the box to get if you want to increase your minis collection considerably with truly unique minis.
I knocked a point off the value for money as this box increases in price by $20 if you need it shipped outside of the US.
The Reclusive Cartographer
- Price: From $3 a month
- Availability: International
- Digital option: Yes – this is a digital only subscription
- Compatibility: All TTRPG systems
- Value for money: 5/5
The Reclusive Cartographer is a digital subscription via Patreon, rather than a traditional physical subscription box, but if you need maps for your games it’s by far my favorite.
What do I get?
The Reclusive Cartographer has a range of tiers and you pay per map pack released, but you can cap your monthly maps to one new release a month, meaning as a Journeyman Surveyor, the cheapest available level, you can get access to a ton of maps for just $3 a month.
The Journeyman Surveyor subscription includes the following:
- Access to the entire Reclusive Cartographer archive of battlemaps, regional maps, city and town maps, and dungeon maps
- Day/night, gridded/ungridded, and seasonal versions of all maps
- Access to the Asset Vault, which is full of high-quality map tokens for creating your own maps
- A vote in monthly polls on the next month’s content theme
Higher-cost subscriptions offer additional versions of all maps and eventually the commercial license to include maps in your own publications, if you’re a DnD content creator, and the option to request custom maps.
Is it worth it?
Absolutely. I’ve subscribed to the Reclusive Cartographer for over a year now and make use of these maps in so many of my games. I find the maps so inspiring I often create encounters and locations based on them. Plus, this subscription provides everything you need to make your own maps with a wide range of map tokens.
FAQs
Question: Are DnD subscription boxes worth it?
Answer: All of the DnD subscription boxes included on this list are well worth it. Plus, if you no longer want the subscription after a month or two, you can easily cancel. DnD subscription boxes are worth it so long as you choose a box that has the content and goodies you want and need.
Question: How much are DnD subscription boxes?
Answer: A typical DnD subscription box is $30-50 a month. Some specialized boxes, such as dice subscription boxes or digital subscriptions, are cheaper.
Question: Is a D&D Beyond subscription worth it?
Answer: D&D Beyond is the official online platform for DnD players that offers a subscription service for upgraded access to the platform’s tools, including unlimited characters. D&D Beyond isn’t a subscription box service and doesn’t provide digital content beyond tools. If you use this platform for multiple games, especially if you’re a content creator who streams your games, a D&D Beyond subscription might be worth it, but I find my free plan has everything I need.
Final thoughts
A DnD subscription box is a thoughtful gift and a great way to build up your collection of DnD-related goodies and content. Dungeon in a Box is my top recommendation, especially if you’re buying a DnD subscription box for yourself, but DUNGEON CRATE makes an excellent gift.
Whichever you choose, you or your lucky friend or family member will have something to look forward to every month and will enhance their DnD games as a result.
- Best Alternatives to Dungeons & Dragons - August 23, 2023
- Wyverns 5e Guide: The Chickens of the Dragon Family - September 5, 2022
- Best DnD Dice Tray Ideas for Players and DMs - August 22, 2022