OSR and old-school D&D adventure modules
One of the most impressive achievements of the OSR movement is the incredible proliferation of finely-crafted adventure modules, including classic dungeon crawls, as well as sprawling megadungeons, hexcrawls, pointcrawls, and tools for procedural generation. Few areas of the contemporary RPG scene can compete with this explosion of creativity when it comes to sheer abundance.
However, this accomplishment should not be measured solely in terms of numbers. Since the beginning, people involved in OSR (including module designers and countless bloggers and forum posters) have been concerned with rigorous investigation into what constitutes a well-made pre-written adventure. This gradual refinement of theory and invention brought about widely accepted standards for dungeon design, writing style, and typographical layout.
Much of this reflection was guided by the rediscovery and careful re-reading of the classic Dungeons & Dragons modules published by TSR, Judges Guild, and others. Their merits were contrasted with later developments in RPG publishing, which, since the 1990s, has been dominated by linear and plot-driven campaigns. The return to old-school mode of play called for a much greater degree of freedom for the players and more at-table usability for the DMs. However, not every single adventure published during the TSR era was considered a success from the OSR standpoint; as a result, the canon of old-school modules popular among OSR players differs from many of the general best-of lists of classic D&D adventures.
It has become something of a stereotype, especially among the veterans of the original editions of D&D, that OSR modules are by default ostentatiously weird or “gonzo”. While many OSR writers, particularly those associated with the so-called “artpunk” scene, prefer wild flights of imagination to the confines of somber traditional fantasy, this is only one colorful region of the entire OSR universe. Indeed, many of the celebrated OSR adventures exhibit great concern for the internal consistency of their worlds, and some of them are straightforward stylistic homages to the original TSR publications.
The following list of modules is based on numerous recommendation threads and blog posts made by the online OSR community. While it includes many old-school D&D adventures, they were not given special consideration when compiling the list; that is, the majority of the sources consulted dealt with general OSR recommendations and not the original TSR releases in particular. This helps to explain why, despite their classic status, they often rank lower than some modules published only a few years ago.
Each item on the list is described by its self-reported system compatibility, the recommended level of player characters, and a descriptive tag, such as “Megadungeon” or “Hexcrawl” (if applicable). The ostensive system compliance should not be taken too seriously (except by the inexperienced DMs), because the majority of OSR modules are designed to be universally compatible, requiring only minor conversions between games. The “Beginner-friendly” tag is intended to identify starter modules that are especially recommended to first-time OSR DMs, typically because they contain extended advice or ease-of-use enhancements.
If you’re looking for systems rather than adventures, I also maintain a list of fantasy OSR games.
B2: The Keep on the Borderlands
by Gary Gygax
B/X D&D · Level 1–3 · Beginner-friendly
5 figs out of 5
Tomb of the Serpent Kings
by Skerples
System-neutral · Level 1 · Beginner-friendly
5 figs out of 5
Barrowmaze
by Greg Gillespie
LL · Level 1+ · Megadungeon
4.5 figs out of 5
The Hole in the Oak
by Gavin Norman
OSE · Level 1–2 · Beginner-friendly
4.5 figs out of 5
Winter's Daughter
by Gavin Norman
OSE · Level 1–3 · Beginner-friendly
4.5 figs out of 5
B4: The Lost City
by Tom Moldvay
B/X D&D · Level 1–3 · Large
4.5 figs out of 5
Deep Carbon Observatory
by Patrick Stuart
LotFP · Level 3–5 · Large
4.5 figs out of 5
Tower of the Stargazer
by James Edward Raggi IV
LotFP · Level 1 · Beginner-friendly
4.5 figs out of 5
Castle Xyntillan
by Gábor Lux
S&W · Level 1–6 · Large
4.5 figs out of 5
The Black Wyrm of Brandonsford
by Chance Dudinack
System-neutral · Level 1–3
4 figs out of 5
T1: The Village of Hommlet
by Gary Gygax
AD&D · Level 1 · Beginner-friendly
4 figs out of 5
Prison of the Hated Pretender
by Gus L
System-neutral · Level 0–1 · Beginner-friendly
4 figs out of 5
The Incandescent Grottoes
by Gavin Norman
OSE · Level 1–2
4 figs out of 5
U1: The Sinister Secret of Saltmarsh
by Dave J. Browne and Don Turnbull
AD&D · Level 1–3
4 figs out of 5
The Waking of Willowby Hall
by Ben Milton
Knave · Level 3
4 figs out of 5
B10: Night's Dark Terror
by Jim Bambra, Graeme Morris, and Phil Gallagher
B/X D&D · Level 2–4 · Hexcrawl
4 figs out of 5
DCC #67: Sailors on the Starless Sea
by Harley Stroh
DCC · Level 0 · Beginner-friendly
4 figs out of 5
The Gardens of Ynn
by Emmy Allen
System-neutral · Level 3–5 · Generative
4 figs out of 5
X1: The Isle of Dread
by David “Zeb” Cook and Tom Moldvay
B/X D&D · Level 3–7 · Hexcrawl
4 figs out of 5
N1: Against the Cult of the Reptile God
by Douglas Niles
AD&D · Level 1–3
4 figs out of 5
B1: In Search of the Unknown
by Mike Carr
B/X D&D · Level 1–3 · Beginner-friendly
4 figs out of 5
The Dark of Hot Springs Island
by Jacob Hurst, Gabriel Hernandez, Evan Peterson, and Donnie Garcia
System-neutral · Level unspecified · Hexcrawl
4 figs out of 5
Death Frost Doom
by James Edward Raggi IV and Zak Smith
LotFP · Level 1–3 · Negadungeon
4 figs out of 5
The Stygian Library
by Emmy Allen
System-neutral · Level unspecified · Generative
4 figs out of 5
The Evils of Illmire
by Zack Wolf
OSE · Level 1–2 · Hexcrawl
3.5 figs out of 5
Rappan Athuk
by Bill Webb
S&W · Level 1–20 · Megadungeon
3.5 figs out of 5
X2: Castle Amber
by Tom Moldvay
B/X D&D · Level 3–6 · Large
3.5 figs out of 5
Maze of the Blue Medusa
by Zak Smith and Patrick Stuart
System-neutral · Level unspecified · Megadungeon
3.5 figs out of 5
The Halls of Arden Vul
by Richard Barton
OSRIC · Level 1–12 · Megadungeon
3.5 figs out of 5
I6: Ravenloft
by Tracy and Laura Hickman
AD&D · Level 5–7 · Large
3.5 figs out of 5
In the Shadow of Tower Silveraxe
by Jacob Fleming
OSE · Level unspecified (low)
3.5 figs out of 5
Broodmother SkyFortress
by Jeff Rients
LotFP · Level unspecified
3.5 figs out of 5
Dyson's Delve
by Dyson Logos
LL · Level 1–6 · Large
3.5 figs out of 5
Slumbering Ursine Dunes
by Chris Kutalik
LL · Level 2–4 · Pointcrawl
3.5 figs out of 5
Many Gates of the Gann
by Guy Fullerton
OSRIC · Level 3–5 · Large
3.5 figs out of 5
Tomb of the Iron God
by Matt Finch
S&W · Level 1–2 · Beginner-friendly
3.5 figs out of 5
S3: Expedition to the Barrier Peaks
by Gary Gygax
AD&D · Level 8–12 · Large
3.5 figs out of 5
S2: White Plume Mountain
by Lawrence Schick
AD&D · Level 5–10
3.5 figs out of 5
T1-4: The Temple of Elemental Evil
by Gary Gygax and Frank Mentzer
AD&D · Level 1–8 · Large
3.5 figs out of 5
Through Ultan's Door
by Ben Laurence
System-neutral · Level 1–2+
3.5 figs out of 5
Fever Swamp
by Luke Gearing
LotFP · Level unspecified · Hexcrawl
3 figs out of 5
Operation Unfathomable
by Jason Sholtis
S&W · Level 1+ · Large
3 figs out of 5
DCC #66.5: Doom of the Savage Kings
by Harley Stroh
DCC · Level 1
3 figs out of 5
Tegel Manor
by Bill Webb, Thom Wilson, and Gabor Lux
OD&D/S&W · Level unspecified · Large
3 figs out of 5
Trilemma Adventures
by Michael Prescott
System-neutral · One-page dungeons
3 figs out of 5
The Sleeping Place of the Feathered Swine
by Logan Knight
LotFP · Level 1 · Beginner-friendly
3 figs out of 5
Dwimmermount
by James Maliszewski, Alexadner Macris, and Tavis Allison
LL/ACKS · Level 1+ · Megadungeon
3 figs out of 5
The Sky-Blind Spire
by Michael Prescott
System-neutral · One-page dungeon
3 figs out of 5
AA#01: The Pod Caverns of the Sinister Shroom
by Matthew Finch
OSRIC · Level 2–4 · Large
3 figs out of 5
S1: Tomb of Horrors
by Gary Gygax
AD&D · Level 10–14 · Large
3 figs out of 5
The Forbidden Caverns of Archaia
by Greg Gillespie
LL · Level 1+ · Megadungeon
3 figs out of 5
Dolmenwood
by Gavin Norman
OSE · Campaign setting / Hexcrawl
3 figs out of 5
The Sunless Citadel
by Bruce R. Cordell
D&D 3e · Level 1 · Large
3 figs out of 5
Veins of the Earth
by Patrick Stuart
LotFP · Level unspecified · Generative
3 figs out of 5
Ultraviolet Grasslands
by Luka Rejec
System-neutral/SEACAT · Pointcrawl
3 figs out of 5
Better Than Any Man
by James Edward Raggi IV
LotFP · Level 1–4
3 figs out of 5
The God That Crawls
by James Edward Raggi IV
LotFP · Level 1–2
3 figs out of 5
The Tomb of Black Sand
by Jacob Hurst and Donnie Garcia
D&D 5e · Level 4–5
3 figs out of 5
L1: The Secret of Bone Hill
by Lenard Lakofka
AD&D · Level 2–4
3 figs out of 5
C1: The Hidden Shrine of Tamoachan
by Harold Johnson and Jeff Leason
AD&D · Level 5–7 · Large
3 figs out of 5
Fever-Dreaming Marlinko
by Chris Kutalik
LL · Level 2–5 · City
3 figs out of 5
Hideous Daylight
by Brad Kerr
OSE/Cairn · Level 2? · Hexcrawl
3 figs out of 5
Yoon-Suin
by David McGrogan
System-neutral · Level unspecified (low) · Campaign setting
3 figs out of 5
B3: Palace of the Silver Princess
by Jean Wells
B/X D&D · Level 1–3 · Beginner-friendly
3 figs out of 5
Highfell
by Greg Gillespie
LL · Level 1+ · Megadungeon
3 figs out of 5
Ironwood Gorge
by Eric Jones
LL/OSRIC · Level 2–5
3 figs out of 5
I1: Dwellers of the Forbidden City
by David “Zeb” Cook
AD&D · Level 4–7
3 figs out of 5
Misty Isles of the Eld
by Chris Kutalik
LL · Level 2–5 · Pointcrawl
3 figs out of 5
Halls of the Blood King
by Diogo Nogueira
OSE · Level 3–5
3 figs out of 5
Goblin Gully
by Dyson Logos
System-neutral · Level 1 · One-page dungeon
3 figs out of 5
Neverland
by Andrew Kolb
D&D 5e · Hexcrawl
2.5 figs out of 5
B5: Horror on the Hill
by Douglas Niles
B/X D&D · Level 1–3
2.5 figs out of 5
G1-2-3: Against the Giants
by Gary Gygax
AD&D · Level 8–12 · Large
2.5 figs out of 5
Gunderholfen
by G. Hawkins
OSRIC · Level 1–10+ · Megadungeon
2.5 figs out of 5
The Halls of Tizun Thane (White Dwarf #18)
by Albie Fiore
AD&D · Level 1–2
2.5 figs out of 5
Tomb Robbers of the Crystal Frontier
by Gus L
OSE · Level 1
2.5 figs out of 5
Carcosa
by Geoffrey McKinney
LotFP · Level 1+ · Campaign setting / Hexcrawl
2.5 figs out of 5
A1-A4: Scourge of the Slave Lords
by David “Zeb” Cook, Allen Hammack, Harold Johnson, Tom Moldvay, Lawrence Schick, and Skip Williams
AD&D · Level 4–11
2.5 figs out of 5
Willow
by Lazy Litch
S&W · Level unspecified · Hecrawl
2.5 figs out of 5
The Darkness Beneath (Fight On! #2–10)
by various
OD&D? · Level 1+ · Megadungeon
2.5 figs out of 5
The Temple of the Blood Moth
by Jacob Butcher
System-neutral · Level 1–5
2.5 figs out of 5
Night Below
by Carl Sargent
AD&D 2e · Level 1–10 · Large
2.5 figs out of 5
Wyvern Songs
by Brad Kerr
OSE · Level 1–6 · Anthology
2.5 figs out of 5
X5: Temple of Death
by David Cook
B/X D&D · Level 6–10
2.5 figs out of 5
X4: Master of the Desert Nomads
by David Cook
B/X D&D · Level 6–9
2.5 figs out of 5
Scenic Dunnsmouth
by Zzarchov Kowolski
LotFP · Level 2–5 · Village
2.5 figs out of 5
The Sanctuary Ruin
by Eric Jones
LL/OSRIC · Level 1–3
2.5 figs out of 5
Woodfall
by Lazy Litch
System-neutral · Level unspecified · Hecrawl
2.5 figs out of 5
Lorn Song of the Bachelor
by Zedeck Siew
System-neutral · Level unspecified
2.5 figs out of 5
Lost City of Barakus
by W.D.B. Kenower and Bill Webb
S&W · Level 2–6 · Large
2.5 figs out of 5
DCC #79: Frozen in Time
by Michael Curtis
DCC · Level 1
2.5 figs out of 5
The Monolith from Beyond Space and Time
by James Edward Raggi IV
LotFP · Level unspecified
2.5 figs out of 5
WG4: The Forgotten Temple of Tharizdun
by Gary Gygax
AD&D · Level 5–10 · Large
2.5 figs out of 5
The Tomb of Abysthor
by Clark Peterson, Bill Webb
D&D 3e · Level 2–8
2.5 figs out of 5
Temple of the Moon Priests
by Will Doyle
System-neutral · Level unspecified · One-page dungeon
2.5 figs out of 5
Temple of 1000 Swords
by Brad Kerr
OSE · Level 3
2.5 figs out of 5
The Ruins of Undermountain
by Ed Greenwood
AD&D 2e · Level unspecified · Megadungeon
2.5 figs out of 5
The Alchemist's Repose
by Ben Milton
System-neutral · Level unspecified · One-page dungeon
2.5 figs out of 5
DCC #81: The One Who Watches From Below
by Jobe Bittman
DCC · Level 1
2.5 figs out of 5
Demon Driven to the Maw
by Brad Kerr
Cairn · Level
2.5 figs out of 5
Where the Wheat Grows Tall
by Camilla Gree, Evlyn Moreau
System-neutral · Level unspecified
2.5 figs out of 5
A Thousand Dead Babies
by Zzarchov Kowolski
System-neutral & NGR · Low level · Beginner-friendly
2.5 figs out of 5
S4: Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth
by Gary Gygax
AD&D · Level 6–10
2.5 figs out of 5
The Gnomes of Levnec
by Zzarchov Kowolski
System-neutral & NGR · Low level
2.5 figs out of 5
The Red Prophet Rises
by Malrex, PrinceofNothing
For Gold & Glory · Level 3–5
2.5 figs out of 5
