8 Starter Actual Plays for 8 Different Kinds of Listener
A show for every angle
Actual plays are a little like podcasts, a little like TV, a little like improv, and a little like listening in on someone else’s game night. That means the “best” one to start with depends heavily on what kind of listener you are. Some people want big fantasy drama. Some want jokes. Some want the rules to actually matter. Some want something spooky, polished, chaotic, short, or easy to jump into.
So instead of giving you one official starting point, here are eight good actual plays to try based on what you’re already into.
By Ted from APW
#1
The Big Fantasy Epic Listener
*Pick: Critical Role* Start here if you want the huge, sweeping, character-heavy version of actual play. Critical Role is the obvious giant in the space: long campaigns, deep lore, dramatic character arcs, big emotional moments, and a table full of professional voice actors. It is not the smallest commitment, but if what you want is “fantasy series I can live inside for a long time,” this is the classic gateway.
#2
The Comedy Listener
*Pick: Not Another D&D Podcast* Start here if you want something genuinely funny that still turns into a real adventure. NADDPOD has a small cast, fast table chemistry, and a nice balance between silly bits and actual character investment. It is easier to get into than some of the huge video-first shows, and it does a good job proving that “joke-heavy” does not have to mean “nothing matters.”
#3
The Short-Season TV Listener
*Pick: Dimension 20* Start here if a 400-episode backlog sounds insane. Dimension 20 is built around shorter seasons with strong concepts, great casts, and a more TV-like sense of pace. It is especially good for people who want actual play to feel edited, shaped, and energetic rather than like a raw recording of a home game.
#4
The “I Want to Learn the Game” Listener
*Pick: Tabletop Gold* Start here if you want the game rules to be visible without taking over the whole show. Tabletop Gold is a Pathfinder 2e actual play that makes the system feel clear, tactical, and approachable. It is a good fit for someone who wants to understand how this kind of game actually works at the table, not just hear a fantasy story that happens to have dice in it. Alternative if you want D&D specifically: [The Dungeoncast’s](https://actualplay.world/show/superquest-saga-ef91ebe8-3eea-4454-9297-3090e513c949) actual play material.
#5
The Audio Drama Listener
*Pick: Worlds Beyond Number* Start here if you care more about atmosphere, language, character, and mood than jokes-per-minute or constant combat. Worlds Beyond Number feels lush and deliberate, with a cast that is very good at making small scenes feel important. It is still an actual play, but it is a good bridge for people who already like fiction podcasts or more literary fantasy.
#6
The “Just Make Me Laugh” Listener
*Pick: Dungeons and Daddies* Start here if you want the premise to do half the work immediately: four suburban dads are thrown into a fantasy world and have to rescue their kids. It is loose with D&D and not especially interested in being a rules tutorial, but that is part of the charm. The show is built for momentum, jokes, bad decisions, and surprisingly sincere turns when you least expect them.
#7
The Horror Listener
*Pick: The Glass Cannon Network* Start here if you want a table that can be funny one minute and genuinely brutal the next. The original Glass Cannon Podcast is Pathfinder rather than D&D, but for horror-leaning or danger-loving listeners, the broader Glass Cannon world is one of the safest bets in actual play. Get in the Trunk, their Delta Green flagship, is especially outstanding and consistently highly-recommended. Their tables tend to make danger feel real, which is not always true in the genre. Honorable mention: [Pretending to be People](https://actualplay.world/show/pretending-to-be-people-53915d0d-fe77-4927-bdd7-c21e9795e790)
#8
The “I Want Something Polished but Friendly” Listener
*Pick: Tales from the Stinky Dragon* Start here if you want something accessible, produced, and easy to recommend without a lot of caveats. Tales from the Stinky Dragon has a lighter, friendlier feel than many big actual plays, with voice work and production that make it approachable even if you are not already a tabletop person. It is a strong “family room” entry point: funny, clear, and not too intimidating.
