10 Best DnD (Dungeons and Dragons) Spots in Singapore

A handful of years ago, telling your colleagues you were going for 'D&D' would end with them telling you to enjoy dinner. But over time, more and more Singaporeans have come to understand 'D&D" as 'Dungeons and Dragons'; the imaginative table-top roleplaying game.

It's hard to pinpoint when and how D&D was first introduced to Singapore's shores. However, it has long survived, squirrelled away into dimly lit basements and cramped HDB rooms. Coming into the light with live-play shows like Critical Role and hit Netflix show Stranger Things, it has since been propelled into mainstream popularity. Not by luck, but by the sheer dedication of its players, becoming a common mainstay in Singapore's tabletop culture.

As Singapore's gaming culture continues to evolve, a growing need for 'Third Spaces' also arose; a space separate from work and home. A place where people can de-stress and experience an escapism from their usual routines. This need pushed D&D beyond it's homebody roots, expanding outside of friends' houses and empty classrooms.

Nowadays, it's not unusual to hear about D&D games being played in a cafe, game rooms or even dedicated gaming studios. While D&D has never been a game that needs any fancy bells and whistles, having a good gaming location can greatly enhance immersion and fun for both new and experienced players!

So let's dive further into the top spots in Singapore for your next D&D campaign!

The Evolution of D&D Play Spaces

The Living Room Era

Arguably the earliest D&D playspace. There is no place more comfortable than your own home.

Hosting a game at your house doesn't cost you anything. You can even arrange your D&D set up as you please. If you're the resident Dungeon Master, all your maps and miniatures will be in convenient reach – and you'd never be late to your own game. Fill up a few bowls of all-time favourite snacks, invite your friends over and you're bound to have a fun campaign in a familiar environment.

But unless you're a D&D enthusiast who has dedicated the time and effort to specially transform part of your house into a dedicated game room, it's probably not the most immersive of set ups. It can also be a little stressful having to rearrange your dining table or study room to accommodate for a game. Exciting moments may too sometimes get hampered by noise complaints from your neighbours. So, while a home game may be cosy, it's likely not the best spot to host your D&D campaigns in the long run.

The Cafe Era

With the rising popularity of TTRPGs, Board Game Cafes naturally opened up accessible spaces for Game Masters and their players. Being already equipped for board gaming, it seems like the best spot to play D&D.

Most Board Game Cafes offer table rentals for fast and easy gameplay. Food and drinks are already on the menu and there are plenty other games to play too.

But despite being catered for games, they aren't tailored towards TTRPGs. You may need to bring your own miniatures or terrain, and your table is likely to be one amongst many others - in close proximity - increasing noise pollution and reducing privacy. While staff may be trained in teaching and recommending many board games, they may not understand the deeper nuances in TTRPGs.

Rise of the Studio Era

In search of a more suitable spot to play D&D, dedicated players started to take matters into their own hand, giving rise to the Studio Era. The frustration with a lack of suitable spots to play D&D spurred many TTRPG retail outlets to expand and start recruiting their own Game Masters to host games. Noisy cafe spots turned to air-conditioned private rooms. New and old players now have opportunities to join campaigns hosted by professional Game Masters, in a tailored space, escaping from the mundane routine of home and work.

That was just the beginning. Studios have come a long way from just tables and chairs. Here are, in our opinion, some of the best spots in Singapore to play D&D.

TABLEMINIS Studio and Store : Going Beyond for TTRPGs

Why stop at simply a private room? Go above and beyond to create the ultimate spot to play D&D - a place where D&D and TTRPGs communities thrive and flourish. Where Dungeons & Dragons isn’t just played, it’s experienced.

From the moment you step through the doors, TableMinis is designed to help you leave the outside world behind and step fully into adventure.

Features:

• Community Space: a welcoming hub for players, GMs, and visitors alike to hang out pregame, post-game or even when you don't have a session that day! Complete with a well-stocked pantry and cosy seating areas, the studio's shoes-off policy makes it feel less like a venue and more like coming home after a long day. Kick back. Settle in. Stay awhile.

• Private Game Rooms: Dedicated, cosy adventure spaces designed for focus and immersion. Every table gets its own world, undisturbed and uninterrupted.

• Minimised Noise: Built to reduce noise bleed between rooms, so your epic Beholder fight won’t be disrupted by the screams of a Strahd session next door.

• Dynamic Mood Lighting: Fully controllable lighting in each game room, helping to shape the tone of the session in real time - from icy blue treks through Neverwinter to burning orange descents into Avernus. Explore under Dungeon Green… and prepare to roll initiative when it shifts to Combat Red.

• Immersion Enhancements: Projector, smoke machine, floor lamps and RGB led lighting available to experiment with.

• Extensive Miniature Collection: Shelves upon shelves of miniatures ranging from characters to landscapes, to a giant snail!

• Surround Sound System: Immersion doesn't end at visuals though. Speakers in every room envelop you in ambient soundscapes. Adding in to the Game Masters' carefully timed sound effects - you’re not just describing the moment - you’re inside it.

And all these tools are further elevated by Game Masters (GMs). For many D&D players, there can be an initial hesitation about paying for a GM to run a game. It might feel like stepping into an unfamiliar space or inviting a stranger into your friend group.

But getting a GM for your game is like getting a professional storyteller or emcee. You’re investing in consistent, high-quality gameplay - you know that 1) your sessions are thoughtfully prepared, 2) you're creating a space where players feel more committed to showing up and fully engaging in the story together, 3) your table upholds clear safety guidelines, ensuring boundaries are respected and everyone feels comfortable.

Professional GMs also see this as a craft, something they can continually refine and grow in. From skills like table management and social facilitation to storytelling, narrative design, and artistry, at this level, It’s not just about running a game because it's a hobby. It’s crafting an experience for the players and the table. An experience you can trust.

Beyond their long campaigns, TableMinis also offers  Learn to Play D&D: Beginner Taster Sessions and D&D games for Beginners for those just wanting to try out the hobby.

For budding GMs or those that want to learn more about D&D or other systems, they also provide Workshops and GM Courses.

Games@PI: Orchard's Haven of Board Games, Miniatures and TTRPGs

Credited as Singapore's largest board game shop, Games@PI has expanded itself into a space for TTRPGs. It offers tables for rent for those running their own personal games and also hosts Dungeons and Dragons Adventurers League every Monday and Tuesday. They also host an extensive collection of warhammer minis and paints.

Book a table now to join in the fun!

Location: 220 Orchard Road #03-01 Midpoint Orchard, 238852

Instagram:@games.at.pi

GuildHall

Located at Tan Eng Kiam Building, GuildHall started off as a private club for D&D enthusiasts before opening up to the wider community. They offer beginner workshops, D&D one-shots and long campaigns run by their own cultivated group of GMs. They also run game nights for Warhammer players.

Join the guild at 15 Phillip St, #05-00. Tan Eng Kiam Building Singapore 048693

instagram: @guildhall

TinkerTales

Located at King George's Building in Lavender, Tinker Tales is a cosy studio that runs learn to play D&D workshops. They also run various other TTRPGs, such as Pathfinder, Avatar and Vampire the Masquerade. Their highlight is their live-action roleplaying (LARPs). With thoughtful miniatures, amazing actors and their own gaggle of wonderful GMs, Tinker Tales is a wonderful place to start your next adventure.

Start telling your tale at 328C King George's Ave, Floor 4 King George's Building, Singapore 208568

instagram: @tinkertales.studio

XPidemix

Nestled along Joo Chiat Road, XPidemix offers range of TTRPG services, from D&D Learn to plays to Minature painting workshops. Made of a close-knit community, XPidemix welcomes everyone to the fold. They also support many kickstarters and have their own retail section of board games for enthusiasts to browse to their heart's content. Consider leveling up your next game with XPidemix.

Visit them at 473A Joo Chiat Rd, 2nd Floor, Singapore 427681

instagram: @xpidemix

Criticals&Fumbles @Xpidemix

Made of a small team of passionate individuals, Criticals & Fumbles helps to host a range of games, from your classic D&D adventure campaigns to more grimdark modules like Grim Hollow. They also provide 'Learn to Play' workshops and often host their game at XPidemix.

Fumble along at Battle Quarters @ Xpidemix: 473A Joo Chiat Rd, 2nd Floor, Singapore 427681

Instagram: @criticalsandfumbles

The Guild by Neo Tokyo Project

Down on Lower Delta road, resides The Guild by Neo Tokyo Project. A cosy studio stocked full with all varieties of miniatures and terrain pieces. The Guild provides short to long term campaigns, workshops and also lists their studio as available for rent for the gungho GMs wanting to run their own personal games!

Join the Guild at 1091 Lower Delta Rd, #03-06, Singapore 169202

Instagram: @neotokyoproject

Unnatural20

Another close-knit group in Singapore, Unnatural20 hosts regular and dedicated D&D games at Ubi Techpark. Their GMs offer Learn to Play Workshops and long term Campaigns, all paired with their bounty of miniatures and terrains for people to play with to their heart's content.

Roll at Ubi Techpark, 10 Ubi Cres, Singapore 408564

instagram: unnatural20_

The Narrative Forge

Prospering in Prosper Industrial Building, The Narrative Forge hosts beginner friendly TTRPG sessions, ranging from D&D to Starforge to Pathfinder. They also offer their various tables up for rent to the public. Be sure to keep an eye out because they accommodate different sizes of groups!

Forge ahead at 22 Lorong 21A Geylang, #07-01, PROSPER Industrial Building, Singapore 388431.

Instagram: @thenarrativeforge

The Legitimate Business

The Legitimate Business hosts games at Gamesaurus Rex, using the official Adventures League (AL) module. Their GMs can be contacted to run more beginner friendly games if you're not to D&D or TTRPGs in general. Just make sure that you sign up early because they may have a waitlist for certain games!

Gamersaurus Rex, 259A Upper Thomson Rd, Singapore 574386

Instagram: @thelegitimatebusiness

Choosing the right venue for you and your friends!

Now that you're empowered with the knowledge of some of the best spots to play D&D in Singapore, it can be tricky to figure out the right location for you, especially if you're planning on joining some long term campaigns. Luckily there are a few guidelines that you can help you decide if a D&D venue is for you.

The first is travelling time. Is your venue of choice close to an MRT or bus stop. Is it easy for you to make your way there weekly or more? Is a good meet up spot for you and your friends if you're coming as a group? If it's too far, it might help to find a place that's more convenient.

The second is Amenities and Facilities. Does your venue have any nearby hawkershops or spots that you can head with your friends to grab a bite or drink, and discuss the aftermath of your adventures? If you're playing a game late into the night, are there good supper spots that you can go to after? Does the studio itself provide any snacks for your game?

Lastly, does the venue fit what you're looking for? Some places cater to beginners and those who are new to D&D, while others might be for more experienced players who want to dive straight into deep roleplay or try to min-max combat. Some venues might offer exclusively combat focused games or only run particular modules. It's a good idea to do your research into the courses or campaigns a studio offers. It can even help to visit a place in person before committing to a campaign to get a feel of the 'vibes' of an area. Some studios will even offer a short tour if you're interested.

We've put together a quick table to help you choose your next game location!

D&D is a game that can be played nearly anywhere with only a handful of dice, paper and pens and a bunch of good friends. However, that doesn't mean you should settle for less. Studios and game rooms exist to give you an enhanced experience. Dedicated fans and passionate players of D&D have gone out of their way to transform TTRPGs into an art form. D&D is more than just a game for most. It is an experience and an expression of your creativity in the stories you tell.

Beyond even that, it is a community of shared experiences and stories. Hopefully this guide has helped you in deciding where you're going to play your next game of D&D. We can't wait to see what stories you tell. May the dice roll in your favour!