Summary
Dungeons & Dragonshas seen its fair share of controversy throughout its long and storied history.Back in the 1980s, there was the famed"Satanic Panic,“in which many feared thatDnDpromoted demonic worship and that the tabletop game was actually a kind of occult tool. Although nowhere near bizarre and panic-inducing now, controversy still exists around the TTRPG, specifically with Wizards of the Coast and its many disliked decisions of late.
This isn’t the only period of time in which Wizards of the Coast made decisions that much of the fan base weren’t fond of. After the revised third edition ofDungeons & Dragons, the company looked at making the now infamous fourth edition. Because of the choices made for this new edition,DnD’s biggest rival in the fantasy TTRPG space was born, and it was entirely of Wizards of the Coast’s own making.
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How D&D Created Its Biggest Rival In Pathfinder
A 3.75e Made By Someone Else
Pathfinderhas existed as a strong alternative toDnDfor a while now, sharing a similar world and familiar races. It even has some hold in the video game space with the two CRPGPathfindertitles by Owlcat Games and many consider it to beDnD’s greatest competitor. Funnily enough, it only exists because of concerns aboutDnD’s fourth edition prior to its launch, instead offering an experience closer to the revised third edition, leadingPathfinder1e to be unofficially referred to as 3.75e.
Pathfinderis published by Paizo, butthe publishing company used to work with Wizards of the Coast onDnDmagazinesuntil the contract was terminated in 2007. In that same year, Wizards announced the fourth edition ofDnD. Many at Paizo were concerned about the more restrictive game license that came with the new edition, so instead of continuing to supportDnD,Pathfinderwas made by modifying 3.5e and itsOpen Game License.
Although similar,Pathfinderis set in a different world toDnD,called Golarion.
Many hated the fourth edition ofDnD.It is ill-regarded by the community to this day, especially since it followed the wildly loved 3.5e that many still play, currently. WithPathfinderbeing a modification of the more popular, older edition, as well as being compatible with it, it thrived in this period and was known as a game for TTRPG diehards. It continues to thrive with its second edition and, although it isn’t as popular asDnDis with 5e, it has carved out its own, respectable place in the TTRPG genre.
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How One D&D Could Repeat History
Another Rival Could Take Its Place
Whenever there is a new edition ofDnDbeing released there will always be a section of the fan base that won’t move on with it.One D&D is more than a new edition, encompassing digital tools, but it will launch with anewPlayer’s Handbook(Dungeon Master’s GuideandMonster Manualto follow) and has the unenviable task of following up the incredibly successful fifth edition. Not everyone is going to be happy with changes and the situation does seem very similar to the transition to 4e, as 3.5e and 5e are both adored by theDnDcommunity.
5e has been going strong for around ten years, having been released on August 13, 2025.
Wizards of the Coast does not have the best reputation at the moment. There are cries from the community to stop buying products from the company ever sincea boycott movement began in January 2023 following the changes to the Open Game License for One D&D. When the new edition arrives, many could look at leavingDnDbehind for another tabletop game or simply stick with 5e, since many have learned how to play the game during this edition’s run.
What TTRPGs Could Benefit From One D&D?
Could There Be Another Pathfinder?
Pathfinderwill always be a worthy alternative toDnDandcan be played for free.It is the more complicated system and the perfect game to play for those that aren’t a fan of the streamliningdesign philosophy that Wizards of the Coast has been using forDnD. Still, this isn’t the only rival that could boom after One D&D’s launch. Many systems use or modify 5e, such asRuins of Symbaroum, in somewhat similar ways toPathfinder1e’s modifications of 3.5e, although they tend to be more drastic.
Ruins of Symbaroumis a modification of the originalSymbaroumsystem made to fit inDnD5e’s ruleset, offering a more serious tone with its dark setting.
Critical Role Productionsseems to be taking an eerily similar path to Paizo, with the company seemingly looking to split withDnDand make its own TTRPG system.Daggerheartis from the minds of Matt Mercer and others, and withCritical Role’s massive following, could become one of One D&D’s biggest rivals when it launches.Daggerheartwill be familiar enough to 5e players, since it is fairly streamlined, but the use of cards offers adistinct difference toDnD.
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Should Wizards Of The Coast Be Worried About One D&D?
Dungeons & Dragons Is The Biggest TTRPG In The World
Dungeons & Dragonsis a monolith in the TTRPG spaceand very little will change that. Almost every other tabletop RPG lives in its shadow, and the backing of Hasbro will make it difficult for any game to take its throne. The launch of One D&Dmight be an opportunity for another game to pick up in popularity, but it will likely never eclipseDungeons & Dragons,especially since players can stick with 5e if they want to, like how people stuck with 3.5e.
Still, this is an opportunity for another TTRPG to boom in popularity if OneDnDdisappoints a portion of the fan base, as 4e did.PerhapsPathfinderwill continue to grow and come closer to matchingDungeons & Dragons’player count, however unlikely that is. PerhapsCritical Role’sDaggerheartwill rise to the challenge and be another rival for Wizards of the Coast to keep its eye on. With the launch of One D&Don the horizon, it will at least be an eventful time for the TTRPG genre.
Dungeons and Dragons
Dungeons and Dragons is a popular tabletop game originally invented in 1974 by Ernest Gary Gygax and David Arneson. The fantasy role-playing game brings together players for a campaign with various components, including abilities, races, character classes, monsters, and treasures. The game has drastically expanded since the ’70s, with numerous updated box sets and expansions.
