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Dungeons & Dragons was originally published in 1974 by the company TSR (Tactical Studies Rules) and is often referred to as the grandfather of all roleplaying games. D&D blends communal storytelling with traditional tabletop wargames, in a fantasy setting that owes a great deal to J. R. R. Tolkien's magnum opus, The Lord of the Rings.

A group of players create characters that they bring to each gaming session. A Dungeon Master (DM) presides over play—setting up the adventure, narrating the story, determining the outcome of rules questions, and controlling the monsters and nonplayer characters (NPCs) that the characters encounter. The characters are initially defined by their race (elf, halfling, human, and so on), and character class (paladin, rogue, priest, and so on), with their game statistics (constitution, dexterity, charisma, and so on) provided by dice rolls.

The adventures players share are limited only by the imagination of the DM, and usually include exploring all sorts of terrain—yes, including dungeons; battling all sorts of monsters—yes, including dragons; embarking on quests; finding treasure, and solving puzzles. Encounters earn experience points for the characters, who advance in level as the game progresses, becoming stronger and better-equipped.

Core equipment to play the game includes a set of multisided dice, paper and pencils, and a copy of the Player's Handbook. DMs should also have copies of two other rulebooks, the Dungeon Master's Guide and the Monster Manual, which, like the Player's Handbook, are currently published by Wizards of the Coast, the company that bought TSR in 1997. Miniature figures and erasable maps are also helpful.

Wizards of the Coast provides organized play opportunities for Dungeons & Dragons, such as tournaments and conventions. An online version, Dungeons & Dragons Online: Stormreach, was released in early 2006.

Two movies directly based on the franchise have been released: Dungeons & Dragons in 2000, and Dungeons & Dragons: Wrath of the Dragon God in 2006.