Key takeaways
- A 'starter set' is a complete first campaign in a box - it solves the two real barriers to new RPG groups: nobody knowing the rules, and nobody wanting to GM.
- D&D 5e's Starter Set (Lost Mine of Phandelver) is the lowest-friction entry point - the largest community, the most online tools, and pre-made characters mean a new group can play in 20 minutes.
- Pathfinder 2e is the choice when your table wants deeper mechanics - character options are richer but the rules ceiling is higher.
- Tales from the Loop is the indie pick for groups who want story-driven 'kids-on-bikes' play instead of dungeon crawls.
- Buy the Player's Handbook only after your group finishes a starter campaign - it's the next purchase, not the first.
Dungeons & Dragons 5e Starter Set
Pre-built characters, a full first adventure, and the largest online support community of any RPG - a brand new group can play tonight.
Side-by-side comparison
#1Dungeons & Dragons 5e Starter Set 4.7 | #2Pathfinder 2e Beginner Box 4.8 | #3Tales from the Loop RPG 4.8 | #4Critical Role: Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn 4.9 | #5Shadowdark RPG Quickstart Set | |
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| Verdict | The universal $20 TTRPG entry. | Deeper rules than D&D 5e for fans of system complexity. | 1980s sci-fi nostalgia TTRPG with Simon Stålenhag art. | Critical Role lore in canonical setting book. | OSR (Old School Renaissance) starter - 2024 Three Castles Award winner, 4 Gold ENNIE wins. Light rules, gritty dungeon-crawl aesthetic, perfect lapsed-D&D pickup. |
| Price | ~$20Buy on Amazon | ~$36Buy on Amazon | ~$35Buy on Amazon | ~$45Buy on Amazon | ~$50Buy on Amazon |
| Buyer sentiment | Starter Set Quality Value for money Gameplay Buyers praise starter set, quality, value for money and gameplay. Based on 2,042 user mentions | Content Game Content Value for money Adventure Buyers praise content, game content, value for money and adventure. Based on 122 user mentions | Gameplay Artwork Design Setting Condition Buyers praise gameplay, artwork, design and setting. Some flag condition. Based on 34 user mentions | - | - |
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* Prices are approximate. Click Buy to see current pricing on Amazon.
Quick Answer
For a brand new table with zero RPG experience, get the D&D 5e Starter Set - pre-built characters, a full first adventure (Lost Mine of Phandelver), and the lowest-friction onboarding of any RPG on the market. If your group wants deeper character options and doesn't mind a steeper rules curve, get the Pathfinder 2e Beginner Box instead. If you want story-driven play that isn't dungeon crawling, Tales from the Loop is the indie standout.
The 5 Picks, Ranked
1. D&D 5e Starter Set - best for brand new tables
The most-recommended RPG starter set on the planet, and for one reason: it removes every barrier to a first session. You get rules just deep enough for level 1–5 play, pre-generated characters (so nobody spends three hours building before playing), and Lost Mine of Phandelver - a complete published adventure that takes most groups 8–12 sessions to finish.
- Best for: groups with no D&D experience, parents introducing kids 11+, anyone who'd be intimidated by the full rulebooks
- Don't buy alongside: the Player's Handbook (it's the next purchase, not the first)
2. Pathfinder 2e Beginner Box - best for crunch-curious tables
Paizo's Pathfinder 2e is what a lot of D&D players migrate to when they want more mechanical depth. The Beginner Box is structured like D&D's starter - pre-built characters, complete adventure, just-enough rules - but the underlying system gives every character far more meaningful build choices. Steeper learning curve, higher ceiling.
3. Critical Role: Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn - best for fans of the show
This isn't a starter set - it's a 5e-compatible campaign setting built around the world of Critical Role's first campaign. It assumes your table already knows 5e and is looking for a published world to play in. The Darrington Press production quality is excellent and the lore is Critical Role canon.
4. Tales from the Loop RPG - best indie pick
Free League Publishing built this RPG around Simon Stålenhag's iconic art - small-town 1980s alternate-history, weird science breaking through, kids on bikes solving mysteries. Mechanically much lighter than D&D, story-first, and explicitly designed so character deaths can't happen. If your table wants Stranger Things vibes instead of dungeon crawling, this is the pick.
5. D&D 5e Player's Handbook - the next purchase
Not a starter. The PHB is the complete character creation rules - all 12 classes, all 9 races, full spell lists. Buy it after your group has finished the Starter Set's Phandelver campaign and wants to make their own characters for a longer game. Note: the 2024 revised edition is the current version.
Buying Guide: What Actually Matters
Pre-generated characters are the single most important feature of a first RPG purchase. Brand new groups who spend a full session building characters before playing often never come back. The D&D and Pathfinder starter sets both ship with ready-made characters specifically for this reason.
A 'starter set' should include a complete adventure. The D&D 5e Starter Set includes Lost Mine of Phandelver - 8–12 sessions of play. Pathfinder's Beginner Box includes Menace Under Otari. If a 'starter set' doesn't ship with a complete first adventure, it's just an introductory rulebook with the rules trimmed.
One system, then expand. Trying to pick between D&D and Pathfinder by buying both is a classic mistake - both systems take 20+ hours of play to feel comfortable in. Pick one, finish a campaign, then explore.
The GM (Dungeon Master) does the heaviest lifting. Whoever GMs needs to be the player most willing to read the adventure ahead of time. Starter sets are structured to make this easier - the adventures are paced, prepped, and full of read-aloud text.
Sources & Research
- Wizards of the Coast - D&D Starter Set product page
- Paizo - Pathfinder 2e Beginner Box
- Free League Publishing - Tales from the Loop
- Darrington Press - Tal'Dorei Reborn
- r/DnD community
- r/Pathfinder2e community
- r/rpg community
Common Questions
See the FAQ below for player counts, age fit, GM-prep load, and migration paths.
What about the new D&D Heroes of the Borderlands and Shadowdark?
The D&D Heroes of the Borderlands starter launched September 2026 - it limits players to four classic races and four core archetypes (Rogue/Wizard/Cleric/Fighter), explicitly streamlined for tables that found the older Starter Set's character options overwhelming. Shadowdark RPG (Kelsey Dionne) is the indie breakout - a stripped-down OSR-style 5e-compatible game with real-time torches and stricter dungeon scarcity. Both are strong 2026 picks; the Borderlands set is the safer first purchase if you're not sure.
Can you play solo or with just 2 people?
Most starter sets assume 3–5 players plus a GM. For solo play, Ironsworn (free PDF or hardcover) is the standard - built from the ground up for solo or co-op, no GM required. For 2-player games, D&D works with a GM + 1 player if the GM runs a single 'companion' NPC alongside the lone PC, and the Pathfinder 2e Beginner Box explicitly supports a one-PC, one-GM start.
Best RPG for kids and family tables
For kids under 11, Amazing Tales (Martin Lloyd) is the right entry - 50-page rulebook, no character sheets, story-first, designed for ages 4+ with a parent GM. Tales from the Loop (pick #4 above) works well for ages 10+. For a family wanting the D&D experience with younger kids, the D&D Essentials Kit is friendlier than the Starter Set - more visual aids, simpler combat tracker.