We’re nearly halfway through October and you’re running out of time for your spooooky side quests with your party. I’m John a forever dm and adventure writer at dumbestdnd.com. If you want the video format here you go! Otherwise the text is below.
We’ve provided some of our own scary one shots in the description below, but have left ourselves out of this list. So humble. Of course you could go to dms guild and type “horror” into the search bar, BUT I’ve scoured the corners of the realm and put together a list of 38 seriously spooky one shots for you to slide into your campaigns this Halloween season.
I’ve broken the video down into appropriate tiers so if you’re looking for a particular level you can hop through quickly. There are 14 for Tier 1, Levels 1-4 aka Local Heroes, 16 at Tier 2, the heroes of the realm between levels 5 and 10, then 8 more for levels 11 and up, where players start getting into god tier.
If you just want the links, here you go, otherwise we’ve got a breakdown of all 38 one shots below.
- Death House (Levels 1-4)
- Down Came a Blackbird (Levels 1-4)
- Knife to Know You (Level 1)
- The Haunting of Valentyne Manor (Levels 1-4)
- House of Lament (Level 1)
- Valley of the Gilded Tower (Level 2)
- Horror at Havel’s Cross (Level 2)
- Camp Clearwater Massacre (Level 3)
- Death is only the Beginning? (Level 3)
- The Madhouse of Tasha’s Kiss (Level 3)
- Banquet of the Damned (Level 4)
- The Horror of Ashwood Crypt (Level 4)
- Rise of the Pumpkin King (Levels 3-4)
- Chapel on the Cliffs (Level 3)
- House of the Midnight Violet (Levels 4-6)
- Biting the Bullet (Levels 5-10)
- Phandalin After Dark (Level 5)
- The Horror Within (Level 8)
- Shadow Over Pinewood (Level 10)
- Rise of the Necromancer (Level 5)
- Well in the Woods (Level 6)
- Eve of Fall (Levels 5-6)
- Realm of the Pumpkin King (Levels 5-7)
- The Liching Hour (Levels 5-8)
- Night of Fright (Level 5)
- Happy Jack’s Funhouse (Level 6)
- The Haunt (Level 5)
- Berdusk Till Dawn (Levels 8-10)
- Ship of the Damned (Level 6)
- The Lamenting Lighthouse (Levels 5-10)
- Death’s Rider (Level 11)
- Tomb of Horrors (Levels 10-14)
- Adrift (Levels 13-16)
- House of Horror (Level 15)
- Dr. Malcontent and the Forces of E.V.I.L. (Levels 10-12)
- They Came From The Deep (Levels 17+)
- The Frostpine Horror (Level 20+)
- Don’t Say Vecna (Level 20)
Full video transcript
1. Death House
Death House is the perfect introduction to Curse of Strahd—it’s a haunted mansion with a sinister secret. The Durst family once lived here, but as your players explore, they’ll uncover that the family was tied to a dark cult. The house seems ordinary at first, but as they descend, things get worse. Twisted hallways, secret rooms, and ghostly figures guide them deeper into the mansion’s dark heart.
The real horror? Beneath the house lies a hidden, sacrificial chamber where the players will face a deadly creature—trapped and desperate to survive. It’s a brutal, atmospheric dungeon crawl that sets the tone for everything that follows in Barovia.
Free from wizards of the coast and perfect for introducing level 1 parties to Barovia, possibly even an early sign of if running Curse of Strahd would be good for your group.
2. Down came a blackbird
For those fans of hitchcockian nightmares, try down came a blackbird on for size. It’s designed to fit perfectly into Ghosts of Saltmarsh, but you can easily drop it into any coastal town for party levels 1 through 4..
Saltmarsh is in chaos. Birds have become vicious, and the locals are being slaughtered in their homes. A group of children accidentally triggered this disaster, and now they’re in serious danger. As your players dig deeper, they’ll uncover a dark ritual and an unholy alliance between two sinister forces. It’s a race against time to break the curse and free the town from this ancient evil.
This adventure’s packed with social and skill-based encounters, giving your players plenty of ways to interact with a colorful cast of characters while they fight to save Saltmarsh from an avian apocalypse.
3. Knife To Know you
Love those pun-based names. Your party plays as a group of teenagers lost in the woods, scared and desperate, with no choice but to trust a complete stranger to lead them out. But let’s be honest—things are never that simple. Knife to Know You! is the intro to the SUMMERHAVEN series, a quirky little young adult pulp horror adventure that’s probably unlike anything you’ve played before.
But don’t let the light tone fool you—underneath, you’ve got all the classic D&D ingredients: exploration, discovery, social intrigue, and, of course, thrilling combat. This is a 1st-level adventure for 1-4 characters, designed to be a quick, creepy one-shot. Perfect for Halloween night—dim the lights, gather your party’s favorite snacks and drinks, and get ready for some eerie fun. The question is: can they trust their mysterious guide, or will the woods swallow them whole?
4. the haunting of valentyne manor, oooo (level 1-4)
Over seventy years ago, something terrible happened at Valentyne Manor. A family was ripped apart in a brutal murder, and now, the place is cursed. Every hour, like clockwork, their deaths replay in a gruesome, ghostly display.
Your players? They’re not just there to fight some restless spirits—they have to solve the mystery behind it all. Can they break the curse, or are they going to get stuck, becoming part of the manor’s endless cycle of death?
The Haunting of Valentyne Manor is perfect for characters of levels 1-4, but you can easily scale it for higher-level groups. It works as a standalone or slots right into any campaign. So, if your players are up for a spine-chilling mystery, this adventure’s got everything—creepy atmosphere, cursed spirits, and a riddle they’ll need to solve if they don’t want to end up trapped forever.
5. Back to ravenloft with another classic, the House of Lament at number 5 (level 1)
Your players arrive at The House of Lament, led there by a mysterious message that pulls them through the Mists. At the door, they meet investigators who invite them to explore the house. Seems simple enough, right? But as they start looking around, subtle hauntings begin to manifest.
Things take a turn when they’re asked to join a séance, communing with the spirits trapped within. Depending on which spirit they summon, your players uncover one of the dark tragedies that took place here. But with every séance, the house wakes up, and soon, the party is trapped inside.
To escape, they’ll have to face an ageless evil lurking in the manor. Fail, and they’ll join the ranks of the lost spirits bound to the House of Lament. If your party loves mysteries this is a solid choice for some spooky fun.
6. Number six, The valley of the gilded tower (level 2)
From Kelsey Dionne of the arcane library, Valley of the Gilded Tower is a thrilling one-shot inspired by the works of Edgar Allan Poe. players are drawn into the eerie, haunting forests of the Painted Valley where they meet Baron Henrik Rennet in his sick bed. The baron’s wife? She’s dead… but not gone. Her restless spirit lingers, and it’s up to your players to lay her to rest.
But, wait there’s more! There’s a festering evil hidden within the Gilded Tower called the Mortis Node, a bulbous mass of tentacles, leafy hide, and human anatomy. The only way to end it? Face the darkness head-on. Designed for four to six 2nd-level characters, this one-shot is perfect for a 2-3 hour session. Can your players survive the horrors of the Painted Valley?
7. Number seven, Horror at Havel’s Cross
Keeping it with 2nd level adventures we have Horror at Havel’s Cross, from Winghorn Press (level 2) So, your party gets hired by a group of archaeologists to escort a valuable artifact back to civilization. Simple job, right? Not this time. As they reach Havel’s Cross, things go south fast. Undead monsters are stalking the night, and there’s something stirring in a forgotten temple—something far worse than mere bandits.
To get to the bottom of this, your party’s going to need more than just muscle. It’s going to take courage, wits, and a stomach for horrors that shouldn’t exist. Welcome to Horror at Havel’s Cross!
8. At number eight we’re dialing up some old school horror with Camp Clearwater Massacre (level 3)
Ah Camp Clearwater. An idyllic summer retreat where young adventurers usually go to train, hang out, and, you know, *not* get murdered. But this year? Oh, things are *bad*. There’s something in the woods—someone, actually—with a hacksaw, and they’re just itching to spill some blood. The bodies are starting to pile up, and now it’s a race against time. Your players are gonna roll in, 3rd-level characters, maybe 2nd or 4th if you tweak it, and they have to stop the Camp Clearwater Massacre.
But here’s the kicker—it’s a classic horror setup. One dark force, a terrifying villain controlling it all. Perfect for a horror-themed D&D game with hex map, secret locations, and custom monsters all in 31 pages from DMDave and roll20. And, uh, did I mention? It’s free. So, do your players have what it takes, or will they be the next ones running for their lives? Only thing I have left to say is ch ch ch ah ah ah
9. Another 3rd level adventure, we’ve got Death is only the beginning (level 3)
Here’s the deal: your party? Dead. Total party kill. But this time, as the title suggests, death isn’t the end. In Death is Only the Beginning?, your adventurers are brought back as undead by a twisted necromancer. Now they’ve got to escape the dungeon, fight off other undead experiments, and track down their creator.
This mini-adventure is for 3rd-level characters, but you can scale it up for any party. It works as a one-shot, a side quest, or even a way to bring your party back after a wipe. So, can your players return from the dead? Or are they doomed to stay in the necromancer’s grip forever?
10. Another level 3 adventure, The Madhouse of tasha’s kiss (level 3)
The madhouse of tasha’s kiss is grim horror with exceedingly creepy storytelling. The madhouse finds the party wandering into a pocket dimension inside of a jester’s pageant wagon to find a town of lost villagers.
Inside they’ll find all kinds of monstrosities and psychic afflictions, leading many players who play this halloween one shot to go mad. In real life or in game is anyone’s guess, but at a play time of 3-5 hours for level 3 characters, the madness tracker should be enough to tell you this one is going to be a mindbender. It’s the madhouse for a reason.
11. One of my favorite covers from this list, Banquet of the Damned (level 4)
The village of Womford is gearing up for their annual pie contest, but there’s something dark brewing beneath the surface. An ancient evil is lurking, getting ready to make its move and take control of the village’s gluttonous swine.
In Banquet of the Damned, your party of 4th-level characters will have to uncover the mystery and stop this creature before it’s too late. Set in the Forgotten Realms, but easily adaptable to any farming hamlet, this adventure throws your players into a race against time to save Womford from a sinister fate. So, can they stop the evil in time, or will the village fall? Banquet of the Damned lets you really play up Wicker Man or Midsommar vibes.
12. We’ve not had any crypt’s on this list, so let’s take a look at The horror of ashwood crypt (level 4)
This is a brutal, horror-themed one-shot adventure designed to test your players at 4th level. Beneath the ruined church lies a crypt, and something ancient and evil has stirred. Your party is going to dive headfirst into this dungeon crawl, and let me tell you, the threat of character death is very real.
This one-shot can easily fit into any 5th edition campaign or be run as a standalone adventure. It’s a 4-6 hour experience, packed with new monsters—five of them, to be exact—traps, dungeon hazards, and a twisted Infernal Magic system that’ll haunt your players throughout the crawl. Time is working against them, and every wrong move can have terrible consequences.
So, if you’re looking for a true challenge, where horror and danger lurk around every corner, The Horror of Ashwood Crypt is calling your party’s name. I especially like that it gives DMs a little guide on running horror games
13. Rise of the pumpkin king (levels 3-4)
In Rise of the Pumpkin King, the peaceful pumpkin farmers of Goldgrain are in for the shock of their lives when their crops rise up—not to be harvested, but to harvest them. The pumpkins are alive, angry, and dragging corpses off to some unknown place.
Your players, levels 3 to 4, are thrown into a terrifying Halloween-themed adventure to uncover what’s causing this madness. Is it the curse of a dead witch, or something far more sinister? In this one-shot, your party’s survival depends on getting answers before they’re crushed by the wrath of haunted crops.
14. The Chapel on the Cliffs (level 3)
The Chapel on the Cliffs is a 5th edition horror adventure built for 3rd-level characters. Your party is heading to Kennmouth, a village cursed and abandoned for fifty years, where few have dared to tread—and fewer still have returned alive.
This adventure focuses heavily on combat and exploration, but there’s room for roleplaying if your party’s not the “kill everything” type. Will your heroes be the ones to finally rid Kennmouth of its cursed denizens? Only one way to find out.
We’re now venturing into Tier 2, Heroes of the Realm for adventures that fit parties levels 5-10. Bigger, better, stronger party means bigger, badder, scarier monsters.
15. We start with The House of the midnight violet (level 4-6)
From the horror one shot master himself comes the house of the midnight violet by jeff c. stevens. The premise is, the party gets hired by an innkeeper, who also happens to be an alchemist (as one does), to recover a rare flower called the Midnight Violet from an old mansion. Simple job, right? Well, the townsfolk have other ideas—they’re warning the party to stay away. But let’s be real, your heroes aren’t the type to back down from a challenge.
The House of the Midnight Violet is a standalone adventure for 5th Edition, designed for level 4 to 6 characters, with scaling options up to level 12. As your players explore the mansion, they’ll uncover the tragic story of the family that once lived there… if they survive long enough to hear it. Rumors, murrrder, and two new creatures for you in this one.
16. Now we head over to the world of Strixhaven for Biting the bullet (level 5-10)
Your players have made a name for themselves at Strixhaven, and now they each have one of those ‘Great’ titles. You know, the kind of thing that makes them stand out. So, naturally, they get this mysterious letter from their college Deans inviting them to take a special test. They head to the Biblioplex, and what do they see? Other Greats. But, uh, spoiler alert—nothing’s as it seems.
This is a 4-hour adventure for level 5-10 characters, and it’s called Biting the Bullet. It’s a murder mystery, but here’s the twist—it takes place in an altered reality of Strixhaven, where the Biblioplex is not what you’d expect. Your players are going to face moral dilemmas, make tough calls, and confront some dark stuff. It’s all about being brave, staying sharp, and holding onto hope, even when everything’s stacked against them.
The best part? This thing’s got tons of replayability. Different leads, different outcomes—it’s not just about figuring out ‘who done it,’ but also how your players get there. You can find Biting the bullet on DMsGuild for $6.99 from Denmother
17. Phandalin after dark (level 5)
It’s not as risque as it sounds, though it is risk-Y. Phandalin, a bustling mining town, has just vanished—completely gone. Not a trace left. Your players are called in to investigate, and what do they find? Turns out the whole town’s been pulled into the Shadowfell. Something dark has taken over Tresendar Manor, that old creepy mansion on the outskirts.
Your players? They’re gonna dive into haunted rooms, deal with angry spirits, and eventually face off with the big bad: a shadow demon named Korrfok. Only by taking him down can they pull Phandalin back to the Material Plane.
This adventure is perfect for a Halloween session, set during Liar’s Night. Plus, it slots right into Phandelver and Below or The Lost Mine of Phandelver campaigns. You can find phandalin after dark on dmsguild as a pay what you want.
18. I mentioned arcane library earlier and they’re back with number 18, The Horror Within (level 8)
Something’s gone horribly wrong at the Monveau Theater. Everyone who attended opening night has gone completely insane, and now it’s up to your party to figure out what’s behind this madness. The Horror Within is a cosmic horror adventure for 8th-level characters, where your heroes will have to uncover dark secrets lurking inside the theater.
It’s a race against time to end the plague of madness without losing their own minds. This one-shot takes 3-5 hours, packed with eldritch horror and mental tension. Get ready for a wild ride. The Arcane library does it again with this gem.
19. Number 19, A shadow over pinewood (level 10)
The small isolated village of pinewood, is being terrorized by something in the mists. People are vanishing—dragged away, screaming. Seems like a simple monster hunt, right? Captain Price certainly thinks so. Silver bullets? Check. Ready to cash in on that reward? Absolutely.
But here’s the twist: this isn’t your average werewolf or troll. A Shadow Over Pinewood is a Lovecraft-inspired horror adventure for 10th-level characters. It looks like a straightforward hunt, but the creature you’re after? It’s smart, it’s deadly, and it adapts to your every move. This thing isn’t just waiting to be killed—it’s actively coming for you. Your players are on the clock, navigating dangerous environments, and facing constant, escalating tension.
The adventure takes around 8 hours, but that depends entirely on your players’ choices—and, let’s be honest, whether or not they survive. So, the real question is: are your players ready to be the hunters? Or will they end up as the hunted?
20. What’s a horror list without some more necromancy? Well here you go, The rise of the necromancer (level 5)
A platinum pay what you want on DMs Guild, The Rise of the Necromancer is a dynamic adventure for 4 players, easily scalable for larger or smaller parties. It starts with the group relaxing at camp when a magical storm forces them to seek shelter in a cave. Inside, they encounter the dark minions of a powerful necromancer as they explore winding caverns and unsettling rooms.
After surviving the cave, the party emerges into the crater of a dormant volcano, where they must fight through undead swarms guarding a shrine. Using knowledge they’ve gained, they’ll break through the necromancer’s defenses and face Zheilver, the Ruler of the Undead, in a final showdown. This sets up future adventures as they battle to halt his dark ambitions.
21. The Well In The Woods (level 6)
The village of Schreckenburg is ancient, surrounded by the once-beautiful Summer Glades, now a dark, twisted forest. For centuries, villagers have followed a grim tradition—sacrificing a child to the Well in the Woods on Hallow’s Eve to keep dark spirits at bay. The practice has kept Schreckenburg safe… until now.
This year, the villagers refuse to sacrifice their children, daring to defy the forest’s ancient power. But something thrives in those shadows, and the Will of the Forest is about to be tested. The Well in the Woods is a 4-6 hour adventure for 6th level characters, where your players will face the consequences of challenging an ancient force that may be all too real.
22. Eve of Fall (levels 5-6)
Fall House has been abandoned for decades, and now a young, ambitious investor wants to claim it. She’s hired your party to escort her to the property and protect her investment, but this isn’t a simple job. The house has a dark past, and your players will have to uncover its secrets, protect their employer, and, if they’re lucky, survive the night.
Whether you need a spooky one-shot for Halloween or a chilling adventure to add to Barovia, Eve of Fall delivers a perfect balance of horror, intrigue, and danger. Your players won’t forget this one.
23. Realm of the pumpkin King (level 5-7)
It’s Last Harvest Eve in Woodswick, and while the townsfolk enjoy the celebration, something far darker haunts the local orphanage. For the past four years, a child has gone missing on this night, and the matron believes the unseelie fey are to blame. But is it truly the fair folk, or something much worse?
In Realm of the Pumpkin King, a loose sequel to Rise of the Pumpkin King, your party faces eerie whimsy that quickly shifts into deeper horror. They’ll navigate the eerie Realm of Fright and explore Hallowgant Manor—a spooky, three-floor dungeon filled with magic, fear, and a demon that needs banishing. It’s a Halloween adventure that blends childhood fear with chilling reality.
24. The Liching Hour (level 5-8)
It’s Liar’s Night in Phandalin, and things are about to get crayzayyyyyy. A goblin necromancer, Fizzbang Frazzlepop, has spent his life chasing schemes to become a lich, and this time, he’s aiming big—he plans to summon Vecna at midnight, the Liching Hour. Problem is, he needs help. The party must decide whether to stop him or assist in his misguided plan.
While Vecna’s power looms, cultists aim to stop the ritual, fearing the chaos Fizzbang’s hubris could unleash. It’s a race against time, and the fate of Phandalin rests in the party’s hands. Another pay what you want from BJ Keeton
25. A night of fright (level 5)
If you’re looking for sillier horror, A night of fright might be for you. Scooby Doo adjacent, or really right on the nose, a night of fright has enough random generation that you could play through several times without ever retracing your steps. Uldryn Beauregard is dead, and he’s left one million gold to anyone who can survive a night in his haunted mansion. Sounds simple, right? Wrong. Spooky things are happening, and Mystery LLC is on the case. In A Night of Fright, you’ll take on the roles of meddling heroes—or their talking gnoll—in a parody one-shot adventure.
This four-hour session is full of traps, ghosts, ghouls, and plenty of surprises. The mansion hides real danger, and your players will need all the help they can get! Be sure to toss in as many Zoinks and Jinkies as you see fit.
26. Happy Jack’s Funhouse (level 6)
This one likely gets the award for creepiest cover image and is going to give nightmares to the person in your group most afraid of clowns and carnivals. Happy Jack rides into town with candy, joy, and a jet-black horse.
As he sets up his attractions for the children of the town, the townsfolk quickly realize something is amiss and seek help from the party. Can they save the town from Jack’s funhouse and more importantly can they survive the dreaded werehippo and Jack’s other insane employees. Perfect for tossing into ravenloft, curse of strahd or the domain of dread.
27. A trilogy here at number 27, The Haunt (level 5)
Montarthas Manor stands as the last remnant of a town destroyed by orcs long ago. Now, it’s the only building for miles, shrouded in mystery and fear. Some say it’s haunted, others speak of treasure within, but there’s a darker truth—something evil lives in the manor itself.
In this one-shot, 6-8 hour horror adventure for 5th level characters, your party must brave the haunted halls of Montarthas Manor, unlock its secrets, and drive back the evil that lurks within. Do they dare enter? The first in a three-part series, The haunt is in a rare class as an adamantine best seller on DMs guild.
28. Berdusk til dawn (8-10)
Your party is heading to Berdusk, but this isn’t the bustling trade city it used to be. It’s become a literal ghost town. Paranoia has torn it apart, with citizens accusing each other of corruption. Now it’s up to your adventurers to find Mayor Hawkins and team up with the local resistance in a chaotic tavern scene straight out of From Dusk Till Dawn or Shaun of the Dead.
Bodies are drained, bats are everywhere, and there’s a deadly vampire behind it all. For 8th to 10th level characters, Berdusk Till Dawn throws your party into a tense, vampire-hunting adventure and gives them all the spooky fun they’re looking for. For levels 8-10 this is a pay what you want adventure on dms guild. Get ready for some serious mayhem.
29. The Ship of the Damned (level 6)
There’s a nightmare terrorizing the high seas, and it’s up to your party to hunt down the infamous Captain Catacomb, the vampire pirate leaving destruction in his wake. The Ship of the Damned is a 6th-level adventure for 5th Edition, designed for 4-5 characters, but easily adjusted for 3-6.
This one-shot is packed with Halloween staples—vampires, witches, a mad scientist’s lab, graveyards, wolves, and undead everywhere. If your party’s ready for classic horror tropes and nonstop undead action, this is the perfect adventure to sink your teeth into. DM Monkey and Limithron team up for this haunt on the open waves.
30. The Lamenting Lighthouse (level 5-10)
Another Adamantine best seller, I ran the lamenting lighthouse last year, dropping into my ghosts of saltmarsh campaign and it. Is. creepy. Toss on some atmospheric music and watch as your party uncovers the mysteries of the lighthouse, what lurks below, and what has turned the keepers to madness. It plays out like this: Your party is approaching the treacherous northern Moonshae Isles, with a horrific storm at their backs, only to find the lighthouse—usually the one beacon of safety—completely dark. The party must race against time to restore the light before their ship is lost to the storm. But what happened to the keepers? And what dark secret does the lighthouse hide? Will your heroes restore the beacon, or join the lighthouse’s lament?
The Lamenting Lighthouse is a 4-hour, nautical-themed adventure for 5th to 10th-level characters, filled with undead, mystery, and horror.
Alright, now we make our way into Tier 3, the masters of the realm with a few horror one shots for levels 11 through 16.
31. First in this tier we have Death’s Rider
If you’re wanting to treat your party like Ichabod Crane, Death’s rider might be for you. a headless horseman is haunting the village of Fallow, murdering anyone unlucky enough to cross his path and taking their heads for some dark, twisted purpose. Every night, he rides back to the ruins of Clermont Castle, leaving terror in his wake.
The people of Fallow are desperate for help—willing to pay anyone who can end the horseman’s reign of terror.
Death’s Rider is a Fifth Edition one-shot for a party of level 11 characters. So, will your players be the ones to bring him down? Or will they end up as his next victims?
32. Don’t shiver too much when I say the name of this one, but at number 32 we’ve got Tomb of Horrors
That’s right, Welcome to the meatgrinder aka The Tomb of Horrors—one of the most infamous dungeons in D&D history. In the far reaches of the world, beneath a desolate hill, lies a labyrinthine crypt. Inside? Horrifying traps, deadly monsters, and riches beyond imagination. But somewhere within rests the true danger: the evil Demi-Lich.
Players, levels 10 to 14, will be tested like never before. We’re talking classic, brutal D&D. Included in the module are DM notes, pre-designed characters, and illustrations to show the players—perfect for setting the tone as they navigate this horrifying deathtrap. Best to run the original, but the reprint in tales of the yawning portal will also do. The name alone should be enough to strike fear in their hearts.
33. Adrift (level 13-16
A storm like no other is building in the Dark Mist Sea, and if this thing hits, coastal cities are going down under massive tsunamis. An evil entity is behind it, using powerful magic to hide its location. But there’s hope—a brilliant artificer has built a device to track it. The catch? The device has to stay in the water, and it has to survive.
Your party will be facing 50-foot waves, deep-sea nightmares, and horrors rising from the depths. It’s going to be chaos. So, strap in, because you’re about to go adrift and face the storm head-on! Oh, and watch out for the swarm of hallucinogenic jellyfish that may overwhelm your players into wanting to eat their own fingers.
34. House of Horror (level 15)
In this 15th-level adventure set in Waterdeep, your party is investigating the disappearance of a teenager, which leads them to an old, haunted mansion. What starts as a missing persons case quickly turns into a deadly fight for survival.
The haunted mansion hides dark secrets, and your players are about to become prey for something terrifying lurking in the basement. This adventure is designed to be possibly deadly—so if you’re planning to run it, prepare for a serious challenge. Can they survive the House of Horror?
35. Dr. Malcontent and the forces of EVIL (level 10-12)
For years, the Extremely Vile Intelligence League—or E.V.I.L.—has wreaked havoc across the world. After months of hunting, your party has finally tracked down their lair and the mad scientist behind it all, Dr. Malcontent.
This is the final showdown. Inside the Doctor’s lab, you’ll face twisted experiments and unhinged plans, as the party battles to stop him before they become his next victims. Can they take down E.V.I.L. once and for all, or will they fall prey to the Doctor’s horrifying experiments? Time to find out.
Look, once we dip into Masters of the world tier play, finding solid one shots can be a bit tough. BUT, I found 3 for you to try out, the third being my favorite.
36. They Came From the deep
Taag’thrith, a powerful illithilich, is on the verge of casting a 10th-level spell to assimilate all knowledge—at the cost of every sentient life on the Material Plane. Your heroes must navigate the corpse of a dead god, delve into Taag’thrith’s watery lair, and turn the lich’s enemies against one another to stand any chance of stopping this disaster.
But the path is treacherous. The Eternal Spirals are filled with nightmarish threats, and one wrong step could doom them all to sink beneath the surface forever. Time to stop the end of everything!
37. The Frostpine Horror (level 20+)
Your players are summoned by an old mentor, Colonel Bartimaeus Maximar, who’s ready to retire from a lifetime of adventure and pass on his personal sword, Equalizer. But what was meant to be a quiet retirement in the woods of Frostpine has taken a dark turn. Something’s gone wrong—fear, depravity, and corruption now haunt his once peaceful life.
This is no simple handoff of a blade. Your players must uncover the grim truth behind Maximar’s isolation and face the forces that threaten his final days.
38. A level 20 adventure and last on our list, it’s Don’t Say Vecna
If you’ve ever wanted to run a level 20 one shot, this is your chance. A free adventure on dnd beyond, Don’t say Vecna takes place in a wizard’s tower once owned by three scholars who made a fatal mistake: researching Vecna. The archlich noticed, and in classic Vecna fashion, he planeshifted their entire tower to Limbo, the plane of chaos, where he imprisoned and tormented them until their untimely deaths. Trigger warning, there’s torture and body horror in this one shot.
Now, Vecna uses the tower as a trap, luring in anyone curious enough to learn about him. Inside, your players will face deadly traps, uncover forbidden knowledge about Vecna, and may even find a gate leading to Vecna’s own sanctum. It’s a dangerous, high-stakes adventure and even if the party wins, Vecna will be back in 1d100 years.
Whew, alright, 38 one shot adventures for you to run during halloween or really any time where you want to add some spooky fun to your games. If you’re just looking for some terrifying monsters I went through a list of 19 to add to your games a few weeks ago, and will add a card here.
But what did I miss? Let me know what other horror one shots you’ve enjoyed running or playing and if there are others I should check out. We’ll aim to gather some more of these for the major holidays, but are there other themes or genres you want to get some one shots for?
Let us know in the comments. Until next time, roll high, stay ridiculous, and thanks for watching.
