A New D&D Game Will Let You Live Every Adventurer's Dream

Polygon RSS Feed✍ Francesco Cacciatore📅 August 26, 2026⏱ 3 min read(about 3 hours ago)

Overview & Key Takeaways

D&D Long Rest Tavern is a tavern sim set in the Forgotten Realms, launching on PC next year.

There's a new Dungeons & Dragons game in town, and I'm not talking about Warlock, the much-anticipated action-adventure game presented during Gamescom Opening Night Live. You might ask: What's better than playing a kick-ass warlock with the coolest patron in D&D? Managing a cozy tavern for adventurers, of course.

Developed by Homo Ludens and published by Dotemu, Dungeons & Dragons: Long Rest Tavern is a tavern sim set in the Dalelands region of the Forgotten Realms setting, coming to PC in 2027. Players will assume the role of an entrepreneur who takes over a decrepit building, turning it into a tavern for the many adventurers of the region. You can expand and decorate the building, hire staff, and craft recipes for food and drinks, before getting ready for the evening service rush. If your adventuring customers are happy, you'll be able to send them on quests, which will be rewarded with rare ingredients you can use in your recipes.

D&D Long Rest Tavern game key art Image: Homo Ludens/Dotemu

Long Rest Tavern is not just a management sim. The developers are big fans of D&D and understand that the game's appeal comes from storytelling and lore. As you progress in the game, you will also discover an overarching plot involving the ghost bard that came with the building you acquired. You will also have a chance to interact with some iconic Forgotten Realms characters, including everyone's favorite ranger and his miniature space hamster companion, Minsc and Boo.

The game loop is made up of four sequences: expand the tavern, craft recipes, serve clients, and send them on quests. This provides variety in gameplay, and the gradual unlocking of story bits should keep you invested as the game progresses. Unfortunately, this isn't really an RPG and you can't take control of the adventurers during quests but the developers made sure to include at least some D&D elements in the game. Quests are resolved with a D20 roll against a set difficulty, but the composition of the party and how well you've fed them will grant bonuses. Selecting the right party for the right job will be crucial to success.

It might be hard to imagine a D&D game that's not an RPG. However, I had a chance to speak with game director David Ranineau during a hands-on preview this past April, and I was impressed by his knowledge and passion for the tabletop game. These qualities truly come out in Long Rest Tavern: the game is filled with great flavor text and lore references that will speak to diehard D&D fans. For example, a certain obnoxious writer/traveler/guide, who also makes an appearance in Baldur's Gate 3, will author a review of your tavern, so you'd better make sure the service is top-notch.

Dungeons & Dragons: Long Rest Tavern will launch in 2027 on PC.

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