The 20 Best D&D Halloween One Shots (Updated for 2026)
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Another All Hallows Eve has arrived and for Dungeons & Dragons fans it’s the perfect time to celebrate. It helps that 2026 was a particularly frightening year for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that we were treated to the new Ravenloft: The Horrors Within supplement and tie-in materials during the Season of Horror.
That being said, you don’t need to run an entire campaign set in the Domains of Dread to experience horror in D&D. In fact, there are a ton of spooktacular one-shot adventures that are perfect for Halloween and can be wrapped up in a single night of terror.
Below, we’ve put together a few of our favorites for both D&D 5E and 5.5E. For ease of reference, we’ve also scared up the price, the time it takes to play and the recommended character levels. So grab your PCs and pumpkin spice as we carve up… the 20 best D&D Halloween one shots for 2026.
20. Shadows of Sithicus
Price: Free
Time: 3-4 hours
Levels: 1-3
Why We Picked It: Released as an exclusive adventure for the in-store D&D Encounters program, this is actually a collection of four standalone adventures, each of which can be wrapped up in about 3 hours each and are designed for Level 1 character. Notably, it was also given out as a bonus for pre-orders of The Horrors Within, so it might be tricky to track this one down. That being said, if you can find it, these are some near perfect Halloween one shots.
19. Hold Back the Dead
Price: Free
Time: 5-6 hours
Levels: 1
Why We Picked It: Released back in February 2025, Hold Back the Dead is a great Halloween one shot if you’re looking to add a little guts and gore to your horror. The adventure involves players defending a keep from waves of flesh hungry zombies, while also dealing with hostile NPCs and managing dwindling resources. It’s a blood spattered blast for fans of the undead.
18. House of Lament
Price: N/A
Time: 5-6 hours
Levels: 1-3
Why We Picked It: Included as the bonus adventure in 2021’s Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft “The House of Lament” is a perfect offering for Halloween (although you might not be able to get it wrapped in a single night). It takes place in a haunted house that is literally both a Domain of Dread and a Darklord. It’s a fantastic option if you’re looking for something that blends the best of dungeon crawls and jump scares.
17. Gravehurts: A Halloween Adventure
Price: $3.95
Time: 4-5 hours
Levels: 3-5
Why We Picked It: A pitch perfect seasonal one shot, this adventure is also one of the rare examples that supports mid-level play. The story involves the character searching for a prize winning pumpkin only to find themselves facing dark necromancy and the powers of the dreaded Pumpkin King. It’s a unique blend of folk horror with some amazing locations and NPCs.
16. Fear the Reaper
Price: $2.95
Time: 3-4 hours
Levels: 1-3
Why We Picked It: If you’re looking for a Halloween one shot that’s heavy on atmosphere, this is a fantastic option. The story starts with the players forced to take shelter in a remote inn, only to discover a terrible secret within its depths. It’s a twisty, roleplaying-heavy option with some disturbing NPCs and a genuinely clever and creepy narrative.
15. The Hungering House
Price: $6.66
Time: 4-5 hours
Levels: 4-6
Why We Picked It: This survival horror one-shot is all about players trying to stay alive for as long as possible. The adventure also uses some of D&D’s lesser-used rules, including possession and madness. The action takes place in the depths of a haunted house filled with traps, puzzles and demonic forces, all of which can’t simply be hack and slashed away. Notably, the adventure also includes maps, character hand outs, new monster stat blocks and even its own atmospheric sound effect files.
14. Nerzugal’s Tome of Horrifying Adventures
Price: $6.99
Time: 1-4 hours per adventure
Levels: 1-16
Why We Picked It: This particular collection features not just one, but 10 one shot adventures filled with tricks, traps and terror, almost all of which can be wrapped up in a single evening of play. While most of the adventurers are for lower levels, they also include a number of high level options, with the settings and plot ranging from icy wastelands to a hag-haunted bog. It’s a genuinely creepy collection of one shots that horror fans will love.
13. A Night of Fright
Price: $4.95
Time: 4 hours
Levels: 1
Why We Picked It: In this loving D&D parody to Scooby Doo, players take on one of five pre-made characters (all based on the original Mystery Team, of course). Together they’ll explore a haunted mansion full of monsters, traps and puzzles. It’s hilarious, clever and surprisingly fun, making it a great option for players looking for something a little more light hearted on Halloween.
12. The Witch of Underwillow
Price: $1.50
Time: 2-3 hours
Levels: 1-3
Why We Picked It: One of the creepiest adventures of all time, this DnD one shot is perfect for Halloween. The story kicks off in a villager surrounded by a haunted forest, with the players hired to track down a missing child who was seemingly taken by a pack of wolves. But as the characters venture deeper into the haunted woods they discover something more sinister lurks in the woods, with dark and bloody secrets threatening to consume them all.
11. Halloween in Phandalin
Price: $3.99
Time: 4 hours
Levels: 3-5
Why We Picked it: A a tie-in to the popular Lost Mine of Phandelver campaign set in the Forgotten Realms, this spooktacular DnD Halloween one shot can be set in just about any campaign or fantasy location. The story takes place in the town of Phandalin, with players exploring a set of ancient underground tunnels located beneath the settlement. The party soon finds itself encountering a variety of undead creatures and dark powers drawn forth by an ancient curse. The adventure, however, is more than just a monster mash n’ slash, with plenty of roleplaying, exploration and problem solving – not to mention some surprisingly creepy moments. It also includes six original magic items and player handouts to add to the spine-tingling atmosphere.
10. Curse of the Headless Horseman
Price: $2.99
Time: 3-4 hours
Levels: 1-3
Why We Picked It: This 20 page adventure – which can also be dropped into just about any campaign setting – follows the titular Headless Horseman, a legendary Dark Lord who also appeared in previous editions of Ravenloft. Based loosely on Washington Irving’s Legend of Sleepy Hollow story, the adventure finds the players in the village of Kinderhook, where a Halloween-style festival is taking place. Unfortunately, the townsfolk are also being threatened by the spirit of a dark rider searching for his missing head. It’s up to the players to help stop the threat and uncover the mystery behind the horrifying horseman.
9. Rise of the Necromancer
Price: Free
Time: 4 hours
Levels: 1-5
Why We Picked It: An incredibly unique and atmospheric one shot, Rise of the Necromancer is great for any time of the year but seems especially suited for Halloween. The adventure begins outside a troubled village with a magical storm driving players deep into a nearby cavern system. What seems like a simple refuge quickly turns into a desperate struggle for survival as players face twisted undead and dark magic. With optional tie-ins for future adventures, its a pitch perfect adventures that delivers a creepy, self-contained story filled with plenty of twists, turns and things that go bump in the night.
8. The Liching Hour
Price: $2.99
Time: 4-5 hours
Levels: 5-8
Why We Picked It: Created specifically for Halloween, this one shot also takes place in the town of Phandalin in the Forgotten Realms. The story kicks off on Liar’s Night – a time meant to celebrate all things supernatural. The players soon encounter a goblin necromancer named Fizzbang who is attempting to turn himself into a lich by summoning the dreaded undead wizard Vecna. The party will have until midnight (aka “the Liching Hour”) to either help or hinder Fizzbang in his nefarious efforts to achieve immortality. The adventure includes 8 unique new magical items, 7 new monsters and NPCs, plus several detailed VTT maps and tokens.
7. A Night of Masks and Monsters
Price: Free
Time: 2-4 hours
Levels: 3
Why We Picked It: As the name suggests, this DnD one shot also a perfect for choice for Halloween, offering up a blend of costumes, creatures and critical hits. The story takes place in Ibrido, a sprawling city inspired by Renaissance Italy (although you can easily tailor the adventure for about any setting). The players are invited to a lavish masquerade ball and soon find themselves caught up in a strange and unsettling mystery involving sinister monsters and supernatural forces. The adventure includes a campaign guide, printable cards, maps and a lore supplement, making it a solid Halloween one shot for players looking for something a little more cerebral with their scares.
6. Treat or Trick: A Halloween Adventure
Price: $2.00
Time: 3-4 hours
Levels: 2
Why We Picked it: Another perfect Halloween one shot, the story takes place in the small village of Willowton. When the players arrive, the village is celebrating an annual festival known as Reaping Days, a Halloween-like event that pays homage to death and rebirth. But when the festivities get out of hand, it’s up to the players to save the town from a dark curse. The challenges, however, are all based on the games played during the festival – each of which is incredibly fun and features a magical twist. The adventure also includes three new Halloween-themed monsters, along with maps, adventure hooks and fully fleshed out NPCs.
5. Rise of the Pumpkin King
Price: Pay What You Want
Time: 3-6 hours
Levels: 3-4
Why We Picked It: What’s Halloween without pumpkins? Fortunately, players will definitely get their fill in this amazing one shot. The adventure takes place in Goldgrain, a sleepy village whose legendary pumpkin-farmers now find themselves living in fear when their crop is afflicted by a magical curse that turns them into gore-spattered gourds. It’s up to the players to determine the root cause and face down a mysterious force who commands the foul, orange-skinned monsters. It’s worth noting that the adventure was such a Halloween hit that it even spawned a sequel entitled Realm of the Pumpkin King, making this a must-have for fans looking for a pumpkin smashing blast on All Hallow’s Eve.
4. The Chapel on the Cliffs
Price: $5.95
Time: 6-10 hours
Levels: 3
Why We Picked It: While this one shot might be a little longer to run than most, it’s absolutely worth it. It’s brilliantly written and blends action, exploration and roleplaying with some genuinely creepy vibes that are perfect for Halloween. The story takes place near the abandoned village of Kennmouth, with players tasked with lifting an ancient curse. The book features some impressive color illustrations, detailed maps, nnew monsters and magic items, and even new rules about running from a shambling horde of undead. In short: it’s an absolute masterpiece of adventure design.
3. The Haunt
Price: $6.95 (PDF)
Time: 6-8 hours
Levels: 4-5
Why We Picked It: Combining old school DnD dungeon crawling with modern horror sensibilities, this one shot takes place in the depths of a long-abandoned town. There, the players encounter a decrepit old manor that contains both untold riches and a dark, bloodthirsty power. The end result is one of the most genuinely terrifying one shots of all time, in addition to offering up a pitch-perfect blend of combat, exploration and puzzle solving. If you’re looking to give your players a good scare on All Hallow’s Eve, it doesn’t get much better than this.
2. The Madhouse of Tasha’s Kiss
Price: $6.95 (PDF)
Time: 3-5 hours
Levels: 3-10
Why We Picked It: One of the best DnD horror one shots ever made, this adventure is designed to scale to players of almost any level and can be completed in a single blood-soaked night. The story follows the exploits of Tasha’s Kiss, a once beautiful and skilled jester who is possessed by a demonic entity. Players soon find themselves transported to “The Madhouse,” a pocket dimension filled with deadly, sanity-warping tricks and traps designed to amuse the merciless demon. It’s an incredibly innovative and genuinely frightening one shot that’s perfect for players looking for something more sinister to celebrate the scariest night of the year.
1. Happy Jack’s Funhouse
Price: $6.95 (PDF)
Time: 4-8 hours
Levels: 3-10 (Scalable)
Why We Picked It: Let’s face it: nothing is creepier than clowns. That’s what makes Happy Jack’s Funhouse the perfect DnD Halloween one shot. The story centers around the titular Happy Jack, a Pennywise-style demonic clown who sets up a traveling carnival in the midst of a remote town. It’s up the players to stop Happy Jack from claiming the souls of the townsfolk, while surviving a funhouse filled with traps, monsters and deadly surprises. The award-winning adventure is an amazing blend of exploration, roleplaying and combat, alternating between whacky to downright bone chilling. The end result is the ultimate tabletop trick r’ treat.
OTHER ONE SHOTS: For more holiday goodness, check out our list of the best DnD Christmas one shots and the best DnD Thanksgiving one shots.
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Jason Volk is the Publisher of Dungeons & Dragons Fanatics and lives in the wilds of Western Canada. He has been playing D&D for over 25 years and is a huge fan of Dragonlance and the Forgotten Realms. His favorite character of all time was a Necromancer named Neek who spent most of his adventuring career resurrecting the corpses of slain monsters. When he’s not playing TTRPGs, Jason enjoys video games, Magic: The Gathering, Warhammer 40K, watching football and spending time with his wife and adorably nerdy children.
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