Game Dungeons



Game dungeons are areas commonly found in game-oriented worlds (both tabletop worlds and computer game worlds) that exist as a trial for the player. These are areas that contain a concentrated number of enemies, traps, puzzles, terrain hazards, and other challenges. These areas do not need to be physical dungeons, they can be caves, temples, laboratories, castles, warehouses, sewers, or other places. Game dungeons are home to minions, mini-bosses, and the Big Bad.

Designing Game Dungeons
Structure & Layout
Dungeons can be any type of structure or location (though caves, temples, and ruins are certainly common). When choosing a structure consider what best matches the world it resides in – fantasy-type worlds may lend themselves to actual dungeons, caves, and ruins, while sci-fi worlds may lend themselves to derelict ships, old mining colonies, & infested laboratories.








SCALE & COMPLEXITY
Consider the scale of your dungeon. In game-oriented worlds often scale correlates with the dungeon difficulty, though it is easy to build large dungeons that are easy and small dungeons that are hard for players if that is desired. The same holds true for complexity. Sprawling dungeons can be difficult for players to navigate. This can be used as a challenge for players, but can also lead to frustration as repeatedly becoming lost can halt any sense of progression. For this reason it is suggested that elements like mazes and labyrinths be strongly examined for their impact on player happiness before their inclusion.

Including a dungeon map as a found item can alleviate issues with overly complex areas.
ELEVATIONS
The use of different elevations or ground levels in a dungeon accomplishes two things: it creates intricacies and provides players both increased agency and strategic options. A narrow hallway and a narrow hallway that gently slopes downwards are two different elements and a worldbuilder will want to consider when to use each. In addition, different levels or elevations within a single space, such as a balcony, ledge, bridge, or elevated walkway, allows players to both choose their path and take different strategic approaches (for instance when positioning themselves during a battle).

ENTRANCES & EXITS
An entrance can be an ideal location to provide clues as to what the dungeons may contain. These may be heads on stakes, animal tracks, bloodstains, etc. The entrance itself may also tell a story, a barred door with a shattered lock or an explosion-torn gap in the side of a resort are examples.
It is advisable to design dungeons where the player does not need to traverse back though the space upon completion (this is critical for games where a player is controlling an avatar, but less important for games where such backwards movement can be handled via quick exposition such as in tabletop games). One exception to this are dungeons ending with escape scenarios, where players must retreat back through the dungeon to safety (examples of escape scenarios would be timed bombs, poisonous gas buildup, structural collapses, anything that causes the destruction of the dungeon itself or reason to evacuate). There are a number of ways exits can be handled without subjecting players to an unnecessary time waste.
- Circular Dungeons: Dungeons can be designed to be circular, bringing the player naturally back to the beginning. Bethesda’s Skyrim makes wonderful use of this mechanic through hidden or one-way doors that can only be used once the dungeon is completed.
- Second Exit: A second exit can be employed through which a player may leave immediately after the dungeon is through.
- Means of Transportation: Some vehicle or other means of transportation (built into the dungeon) can be utilized to transport the player from the dungeon. A central elevator bringing players to different levels of the structure or a train bringing them to different areas they must complete would be two examples.
- Hard Cut: In some worlds it will be possible to return a player to a central location immediately after the dungeons completion. A brief cutscene may be employed here.
- Extraction: Some outside element (not contained within the dungeon) can be used which transports the player out of the dungeon, such as a helicopter.

Collapsing an entrance after it’s been used creates a point of no return, forcing players deeper into a dungeon.
Presenting an area or object to a player before they are able to access that area or use that object can help both provide a recognizable goal and build anticipation. Examples of this include locked rooms that require a key, or a piece of machinery that requires fuel.

LINEAR OR OPEN
With linear dungeons there is only one path a player may take. In open dungeons rooms and spaces are arranged such that a player may take any number of routes while exploring. The decision to create a dungeon that is more linear versus one that is more open is an important one and each has pros and cons. While more linear dungeons can be interpreted as basic and unimaginative, they provide players with clear goals and a definite sense of accomplishment. It is far easier to drive players towards an end state with a dungeon that has been built in a more linear fashion.
More open dungeons require more care in their development. A sense of progression must be fostered still, a player becoming lost must be avoided, and areas that must be visited for potential narrative reasons must have an impetus to be visited. Despite this, more open dungeons provide more agency for players, allowing them to feel more in control of their own destiny.


Use complex mazes and labyrinths wisely and sparingly.
VISTA POINTS
Vista points are areas that provide players a sense of either the dungeons enormity, the obstacles they have yet to overcome (or have already overcome), or their place within the larger world. Consider an outdoor location overlooking a beautiful valley, a window that informs a player they are somehow in space, or a brief view of some terrible monster they will undoubtedly face. Vista points may also be used outside of the dungeon in order to highlight it. Imagine a band of adventurers looking for supplies and finding a half-broken ship perched precariously on the apex of a cliff.
NATURAL ELEMENTS
Particularly if your dungeon is an older structure, consider how the natural world may have reclaimed portions of the area. This may manifest as overgrown flora, or it may be represented by a gaping chasm or ravine that has opened up through a room.
STORY ELEMENTS
Typically in dungeons there are two main types of story elements that may be present: dungeon-specific story elements & greater world story elements. Dungeon-specific elements speak to narratives that exist primarily within the dungeon itself. These may be found journals that describe an adventurer’s travels through the structure, or they may be the position of corpses which tells the tale of how soldiers in a room were overrun. Greater world elements provide context about things residing outside the dungeon and piece into a larger narrative. These could be letters written from some outside force, or an item found within the dungeon that begins a larger quest.

Try to build history for your dungeon and then tell that history through the details you include. This makes for a more interesting dungeon.
TERRAIN HAZARDS & OBSTACLES
Terrain hazards and obstacles are elements often found scattered throughout dungeons. Typically, hazards pose a threat to a player whereas obstacles merely impede movement, though there is overlap between the two. They can be used to increase the peril level, to funnel a player to a specific spot, or to force a player to make strategic choices. These elements will match whatever type of world is being built, as well as whatever flavor of dungeon. Examples of these elements are listed below:
HAZARDS
- Heights
- Lava Streams
- Acid Pools
- Poison Clouds
- Heavy Moving Machinery
- Darkness
- Explosives
- Flowing Water
- Electric Elements
- Visible Traps
OBSTACLES
- Rubble
- Fallen Trees
- Collapsed Structures
- Barricades
- Cliffs
- Containers
- Furniture


Hazards and obstacles will be entirely dependent on what kind of dungeon you are building and it is impossible to list all potential options here. Give thought to what makes sense for your own world!
TRAPS
Traps are a common feature of dungeons and serve to keep players attentive to their surroundings. A few examples are listed below:







Traps may be baited, such as with a rare jewel resting on a pressure plate.
When designing dungeons it’s easy to create traps that players will always trigger and harm the players. This is usually best avoided. In general traps should be something can be found, disarmed, maneuvered around, or escaped from if players are attentive or clever.
PUZZLES
Puzzles exist to test the mental acuity of players and there are many different kinds. Remember to tailor puzzles to your audience – puzzles that are too difficult can lead to frustration while puzzles that are too easy can lead to boredom.
PUZZLE TYPES
- Matching
- Logic
- Math
- Riddles
- Memory

TIMED EVENTS
Timed events can be elements that challenge player in a novel ways. These can be elements that exist in a single area or room, or can encompass the entirety of the dungeon. It is easy to imagine a dungeon that is on fire.
- Collapsing Structures
- Flooding Rooms
- Rising Temperatures
- Timed Explosives
- Atmospheric Re-Entry
- Demonic Summoning
- Sinking Ship
- Imminent Crash

KEYS
Keys allow for entry into a new room, area, or container such as a chest. Keys do not need to be physical ‘keys.’ They can be codes, keycards, missing pieces of artwork or statues, ropes to reach high places, tickets, gasoline, explosives, etc. Keys can be great ways to ensure players make their way through complex dungeons in a specific manner. In this way keys can act as progression markers, guides, and desired items all in one.

If your dungeon contains more than one key, consider making them different in appearance in some way.
HIDDEN AREAS
Dungeons often contain secret areas. These are satisfying for players to discover and can serve a number of roles – they can allow for strategic flanking, they can contain additional narrative elements, and they can hide important items and treasure. Often these are hidden behind false walls, tapestries & paintings, or bookshelves.
- Rooms
- Passages
- Stairwells
- Elevators
- Tunnels
- Ducts
- Elevated Walkways
- Sewers
CLUES
Consider placing clues that hint at the existence of a hidden area or point players towards its’ entrance. This may be a faint arrow on the floor, a skeleton pointing at a hidden lever, or a book that is less dusty than its’ neighbors.

ENEMIES
Enemies can often be found scattered throughout a dungeon. They may provide difficult fighting challenges, or they may be obstacles that players must sneak around undetected. While dungeons can be present in all world types, below is a table of common enemies found in fantasy worlds. Consider the types of enemies that would populate your dungeons, if any.

Enemy | Description | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rat | Simplify | Woods, Roads, Underground, Seas, Towns, Graveyards, Dungeons, Swamps, Jungles, Coasts, Sewers, Castles | Mundane, Beast | Mundane, Beast | A regular rat. Does it carry disease? |
Giant Rat | Simplify | Woods, Roads, Underground, Towns, Graveyards, Dungeons, Swamps, Jungles, Coasts, Sewers, Castles | Beast | Beast | Would you look at the size of that rat! It's huge! |
Wolf | Simplify | Woods, Roads, Mountains, Frozen, Swamps, Badlands | Mundane, Beast | Mundane, Beast | A regular wolf. Are there more? Looks hungry |
Dire Wolf | Woods, Roads, Mountains, Frozen, Swamps | Mundane, Beast | Mundane, Beast | A larger, more vicious wolf | |
Bat | Woods, Roads, Hell, Underground, Towns, Graveyards, Dungeons, Swamps, Jungles, Sewers, Castles | Mundane, Beast | Mundane, Beast | A regular bat | |
Slime | Simplify | Underground, Towns, Dungeons, Swamps, Jungles, Coasts, Sewers, Castles | Beast | Beast | Looks like jello but moves. Hello neighbor! |
Giant Centipede | Woods, Underground, Swamps, Jungles | Beast | Beast | A massive centipede with just too many legs | |
Spider | Woods, Underground, Towns, Dungeons, Swamps, Jungles, Sewers | Mundane, Beast | Mundane, Beast | A regular spider | |
Giant Spider | s | Woods, Underground, Towns, Dungeons, Swamps, Jungles, Sewers | Beast | Beast | Good gods! Look at the size of that spider! |
Giant Fly | Woods, Roads, Hell, Underground, Towns, Graveyards, Swamps, Sewers | Beast, Flying | Beast, Flying | Gross | |
Goblin | Simplify | Woods, Underground, Mountains, Dungeons, Swamps, Jungles, Badlands, Coasts, Castles | Humanoid | Humanoid | A crafty, green creature |
Imp | Hell, Graveyards | Demonic | Demonic | A small, mischevious demon | |
Demon | Simplify | Hell, Graveyards | Demonic, Mythological | Demonic, Mythological | A being of Hell |
Sphinx | Desert | Beast, Mythological | Beast, Mythological | What is half lion, half person and loves riddles? | |
Bear | Woods, Mountains, Badlands | Mundane, Beast | Mundane, Beast | A regular bear | |
Troll | Woods, Roads, Underground, Mountains, Frozen, Swamps | Beast | Beast | A large brute. May not like fire | |
Dragon | Simplify | Roads, Underground, Mountains, Volcanic, Dungeons, Swamps, Jungles, Badlands, Coasts, Castles | Beast | Beast | Enjoys gold and charred meals |
Giant | Simplify | Woods, Mountains, Frozen, Badlands, Castles | Humanoid | Humanoid | A massive, lumbering brute |
Spirit | Simplify | Desert, Spirit World, Mountains, Frozen, Jungles, Badlands | Spirit, Flying | Spirit, Flying | A being of pure energy |
Bandit | Simplify | Woods, Roads, Mountains, Dungeons, Swamps, Jungles, Badlands, Sewers, Castles | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | A bandit, out to enjoy the night and mug the unsuspecting |
Wizard | Mountains, Towns, Dungeons, Badlands, Sewers, Castles | Humanoid | Humanoid | A person that can use magic. Wonder what spells they know | |
Pirate | Simplify | Seas, Coasts | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | A sailor who likes to rob people and hide treasure |
Witch | Simplify | Woods, Towns, Dungeons, Swamps, Jungles, Badlands | Humanoid, Flying | Humanoid, Flying | A magic using woman |
Assassin | Desert, Roads, Towns, Dungeons, Sewers, Castles | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | A skilled, cold-blooded killer | |
Knight | Roads, Towns, Castles | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | A skilled warrior | |
Skeleton | Simplify | Desert, Hell, Underground, Graveyards, Dungeons, Swamps, Jungles, Badlands, Sewers, Castles | Humanoid, Undead, Demonic | Humanoid, Undead, Demonic | Animated bones |
Zombie | Simplify | Graveyards, Dungeons, Swamps, Jungles, Badlands, Sewers | Humanoid, Undead, Abomination | Humanoid, Undead, Abomination | A reanimated corpse. Watch out for its' bite! |
Elf | Simplify | Woods, Jungles, Badlands, Castles | Humanoid | Humanoid | A dainty humanoid with pointy ears |
Dark Elf | Woods, Underground, Swamps, Jungles, Badlands, Castles | Humanoid | Humanoid | An evil elf | |
Werewolf | Woods, Towns, Graveyards, Dungeons, Swamps, Badlands | Beast, Humanoid | Beast, Humanoid | Just a person who might turn into a wolf | |
Giant Snake | Dungeons, Swamps, Jungles, Badlands, Coasts, Sewers | Beast | Beast | A massive snake | |
Giant Lizard | Volcanic, Swamps, Jungles, Badlands | Beast | Beast | A massive lizard | |
Pixie | Woods, Spirit World | Spirit, Flying | Spirit, Flying | A small, mischevious fairy | |
Mutant | Underground, Towns, Dungeons, Swamps, Badlands, Sewers | Humanoid, Abomination | Humanoid, Abomination | A malformed person | |
Ghost | Simplify | Towns, Graveyards, Dungeons, Swamps, Badlands, Castles | Spirit, Undead, Demonic | Spirit, Undead, Demonic | The specter of an undead person |
Cultist | Simplify | Desert, Woods, Hell, Underground, Mountains, Towns, Graveyards, Dungeons, Swamps, Jungles, Badlands, Castles | Mundane, Humanoid, Undead, Demonic | Mundane, Humanoid, Undead, Demonic | A devotee of some forbidden religion |
Hag | Woods, Roads, Mountains, Towns, Swamps, Jungles, Badlands, Coasts, Sewers | Humanoid | Humanoid | A crazed and wild woman, perhaps magical | |
Socerer | Desert, Mountains, Towns, Dungeons, Badlands, Castles | Humanoid | Humanoid | A magic user | |
Necromancer | Simplify | Desert, Underground, Graveyards, Frozen, Dungeons, Swamps, Badlands, Sewers, Castles | Humanoid, Undead | Humanoid, Undead | A person that can raise the dead from their slumber |
Highway Robber | Roads | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | A thug who ambushes those on the road | |
Vampire | Simplify | Towns, Graveyards, Dungeons, Swamps, Castles | Humanoid, Undead | Humanoid, Undead | An undead creature who drinks the blood of the living |
Golem | Desert, Underground, Volcanic, Dungeons, Swamps, Badlands | Beast | Beast | A creature of mud brought to life | |
Elemental | Simplify | Desert, Woods, Underground, Spirit World, Seas, Mountains, Frozen, Volcanic, Dungeons, Swamps, Jungles, Badlands, Coasts | Spirit | Spirit | A spirit of pure elemental power |
Shadow | Woods, Towns, Graveyards, Dungeons | Spirit | Spirit | A living shadow | |
Barbarian | Simplify | Roads, Mountains, Frozen, Badlands | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | A warrior from the outlands |
Fire Spirit | Desert, Hell, Spirit World, Volcanic, Dungeons, Badlands | Spirit, Demonic | Spirit, Demonic | A spirit of flame and heat | |
Angel | Graveyards, Castles | Spirit, Flying, Mythological | Spirit, Flying, Mythological | A heavenly being | |
Orc | Simplify | Woods, Underground, Mountains, Dungeons, Swamps, Badlands | Humanoid | Humanoid | A large goblinesque creature |
Dwarf | Simplify | Roads, Underground, Mountains, Dungeons | Humanoid | Humanoid | A short, stocky humanoid creature with a penchant for mines |
Specter | Hell, Graveyards, Frozen, Castles | Spirit, Undead | Spirit, Undead | A spirit of the dead | |
Ghoul | Hell, Graveyards, Swamps, Jungles, Sewers | Humanoid, Spirit, Undead, Abomination | Humanoid, Spirit, Undead, Abomination | An evil spirit or demon that consumes corpses | |
Wight | Hell, Graveyards, Frozen, Swamps | Spirit, Undead | Spirit, Undead | An undead being | |
Cyclops | Mountains | Humanoid, Mythological | Humanoid, Mythological | A giant with one eye. Saves twice as much on contact lenses | |
Shade | Hell, Graveyards | Spirit, Undead, Mythological | Spirit, Undead, Mythological | A spirit of the undead | |
Merperson | Seas, Coasts | Humanoid | Humanoid | Half fish, half person. But which half? | |
Kraken | Simplify | Seas, Coasts | Beast | Beast | A giantic squid-like creature which can drag ships to the deep |
Giant Wolf | Woods, Roads, Badlands | Beast | Beast | Twice as hungry | |
Naga | Desert, Swamps, Badlands, Sewers | Humanoid, Mythological | Humanoid, Mythological | Half snake, half person. | |
Snake | Simplify | Desert, Woods, Roads, Graveyards, Dungeons, Swamps, Jungles, Badlands, Coasts, Sewers | Mundane, Beast | Mundane, Beast | Just a snake |
Asp | Desert | Mundane, Beast, Mythological | Mundane, Beast, Mythological | A poisonous snake | |
Nymphs | Woods, Swamps, Jungles | Spirit | Spirit | Female nature spirits | |
Evil Lord | Towns, Dungeons, Castles | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | Just your typical bad guy leader | |
Shaman | Desert, Woods, Mountains, Frozen, Swamps, Jungles, Badlands | Mundane, Humanoid, Demonic, Abomination | Mundane, Humanoid, Demonic, Abomination | A person who can commune with the spirits | |
Dark Priest | Woods, Hell, Underground, Towns, Graveyards, Dungeons, Swamps, Jungles, Badlands, Sewers, Castles | Mundane, Humanoid, Demonic, Abomination | Mundane, Humanoid, Demonic, Abomination | A priest of some terrible religion | |
Sorcerer | Desert, Towns, Dungeons, Badlands, Castles | Humanoid | Humanoid | A magic user | |
Scout | Woods, Roads, Mountains, Frozen, Swamps, Jungles, Badlands, Coasts | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | A regular scout. What or who are they scouting for? | |
Ranger | Woods, Roads, Mountains, Frozen, Swamps, Jungles, Badlands, Coasts | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | A person accostumed to living in the wilds | |
Town Guard | Simplify | Towns, Castles | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | A regular town guard |
Earth Spirit | Desert, Underground, Spirit World, Volcanic, Badlands | Spirit | Spirit | A spirit of earth and plant | |
Forest Spirit | Woods, Spirit World, Jungles | Spirit | Spirit | A spirit of the woods | |
Water Spirit | Spirit World, Seas, Coasts | Spirit | Spirit | A spirit of the water | |
Giant Worm | Desert, Underground, Dungeons, Jungles, Badlands | Beast | Beast | Look at the size of those holes it makes through the earth | |
Frost Giant | Mountains, Frozen | Humanoid, Mythological | Humanoid, Mythological | A giant who prefers to live in the cold regions of the world | |
Ice Spirit | Spirit World, Mountains, Frozen | Spirit | Spirit | A spirit of frost and cold | |
Incubus | Hell | Demonic | Demonic | A male demon who entices women | |
Succubus | Simplify | Hell | Demonic | Demonic | A female demon who entices men |
Djinn | Simplify | Desert, Dungeons | Spirit, Flying, Mythological | Spirit, Flying, Mythological | A magical being that will grant wishes if it can be contained |
Wind Spirit | Woods, Spirit World, Seas, Mountains, Frozen, Badlands | Spirit, Flying | Spirit, Flying | A spirit of the wind | |
Alligator | Swamps, Coasts, Sewers | Mundane, Beast | Mundane, Beast | A regular alligator | |
Giant Alligator | Swamps, Coasts, Sewers | Beast | Beast | A massive alligator | |
Worlock | Desert, Towns, Castles | Humanoid | Humanoid | A magic user | |
Sea Monster | Seas, Coasts | Beast, Mythological | Beast, Mythological | A massive monster of the sea | |
Drake | Seas, Mountains, Badlands | Beast, Flying | Beast, Flying | A dragon-like creature with no forearms | |
Harpie | Hell, Mountains, Badlands | Beast, Flying | Beast, Flying | A screaming half-bird, half-woman creature | |
Mimic | Towns, Dungeons, Sewers, Castles | A creature which can take the shape of inanimate objects | |||
Ooze | Simplify | Woods, Underground, Towns, Dungeons, Swamps, Sewers, Castles | Beast | Beast | Sentient goop |
Gelatinous Blob | Underground, Dungeons, Castles | Beast | Beast | A jello mold that dissolves human flesh | |
Shape-Shifter | Desert, Woods, Towns, Badlands | Beast | Beast | A shape-changing creature. No wait. That's just Bob. Wait. Is it? | |
Magical Construct | Desert, Towns, Dungeons, Sewers, Castles | An automoton brought to life by magic | |||
Ninja | Roads, Towns | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | A crafty, sneaky, sort | |
Ogre | Simplify | Woods, Roads, Underground, Mountains, Dungeons | Beast | Beast | A lumbering, ugly brute |
Tiger | Jungles | Mundane, Beast | Mundane, Beast | A regular tiger | |
Pixie | Spirit World | Spirit, Flying | Spirit, Flying | A type of fairy | |
Animated Scarecrow | Towns | A living scarecrow. Scary | |||
Fungus Person | Woods, Underground, Swamps, Jungles, Sewers | Humanoid | Humanoid | A person infeced with fungus | |
Giant Bat | Woods, Roads, Hell, Underground, Mountains, Towns, Graveyards, Dungeons, Swamps, Jungles, Badlands, Sewers, Castles | Beast, Flying | Beast, Flying | A massive bat | |
Herald | Castles | Mythological | Mythological | An angelic messenger | |
Mummy | Simplify | Desert | Humanoid | Humanoid | An embalmed person brought back to life |
Monster | Woods, Roads, Underground, Towns, Graveyards, Volcanic, Dungeons, Jungles, Sewers, Castles | Beast | Beast | Some strange beast | |
Bees | Woods, Roads, Jungles | Mundane, Beast, Flying | Mundane, Beast, Flying | A swarm of bees | |
Horsemen | Desert, Roads, Towns, Badlands, Castles | Humanoid | Humanoid | Warriors on horseback | |
Rock Beast | Desert, Underground, Mountains, Volcanic, Badlands | A creature made of rock | |||
Crab | Simplify | Seas, Coasts | Mundane, Beast | Mundane, Beast | A regular crab |
Giant Crab | Seas, Coasts | Beast | Beast | A regular crab, but masssive. Look at those pincers! | |
Archer | Simplify | Desert, Woods, Roads, Mountains, Towns, Dungeons, Jungles, Badlands, Coasts, Castles | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | A person with a bow, some arrows, and good aim |
Crossbowman | Roads, Towns, Dungeons, Sewers, Castles | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | A person with a crossbow | |
Animated Object | Towns, Dungeons, Sewers, Castles | Any object brought to life with magic | |||
God | Desert | Mythological | Mythological | Or gods, usually considered the most powerful things around | |
Serial Killer | Roads, Towns, Graveyards, Sewers | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | A person with a hunger to kill | |
Skeleton Warrior | Simplify | Desert, Hell, Underground, Towns, Graveyards, Dungeons, Swamps, Jungles, Badlands, Sewers, Castles | Humanoid, Undead, Demonic | Humanoid, Undead, Demonic | Animated bones equiped with aged and rusting weaponry |
Fairy | Simplify | Woods, Spirit World | Spirit, Flying | Spirit, Flying | A small, flying magical being |
Behemoth | Woods, Mountains, Frozen, Volcanic, Jungles, Badlands | Beast, Mythological | Beast, Mythological | A massive beast | |
Beholder | Desert, Underground, Towns, Dungeons, Sewers, Castles | A floating eye with tenacles | |||
Mind-Stealer | Underground, Towns, Dungeons, Sewers | A creature with the power of mind-control | |||
Mushroom Person | Woods, Underground | Humanoid | Humanoid | A sentient mushroom | |
Carniverous Plant | Simplify | Woods, Swamps, Jungles | Beast | Beast | Vegetable, not vegetarian |
Tentacle | Simplify | Underground, Seas, Dungeons, Swamps, Coasts, Sewers | Beast, Abomination | Beast, Abomination | A flexible, grasping appendage |
Minotaur | Mountains, Dungeons, Badlands, Sewers, Castles | Beast, Humanoid, Mythological | Beast, Humanoid, Mythological | Part man, part bull and likes to hang out in mazes. | |
Thief | Simplify | Desert, Woods, Roads, Underground, Mountains, Towns, Dungeons, Coasts, Sewers, Castles | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | A regular thief looking to pick some pockets |
Crocodile | Desert, Swamps, Jungles, Coasts | Mundane, Beast | Mundane, Beast | A regular crocodile | |
Giant Crocodile | Desert, Swamps, Jungles, Coasts | A massive crocodile | |||
Temple Guard | Simplify | Desert, Mountains, Volcanic, Dungeons, Swamps, Jungles, Badlands, Castles | Mundane, Humanoid, Mythological | Mundane, Humanoid, Mythological | A regular temple guard. But what are they guarding? |
Cannibal | Woods, Roads, Hell, Underground, Mountains, Towns, Graveyards, Dungeons, Swamps, Sewers, Castles | Mundane, Humanoid, Demonic, Abomination | Mundane, Humanoid, Demonic, Abomination | A person who enjoys cooking with others | |
Living Sand | Desert, Badlands, Coasts | Sand with a mind of its' own | |||
Sand Creature | Desert, Badlands, Coasts | A creature made from sand | |||
Polar Bear | Frozen | Mundane, Beast | Mundane, Beast | A ferocious polar bear | |
Sentient Tree | s | Woods, Swamps, Jungles | It shakes not with the wind, but with rage | ||
Sentient Bush | Woods, Swamps, Jungles | A bush with a brain | |||
Gargoyle | Towns, Graveyards, Dungeons | Beast | Beast | A monster of stone | |
Leviathan | Seas | Beast, Mythological | Beast, Mythological | A massive monster of the sea | |
Sea Serpent | Seas, Coasts | Beast, Mythological | Beast, Mythological | A giant serpent of the oceans | |
Orc Lord | Woods, Underground, Mountains, Dungeons, Jungles, Badlands, Castles | Humanoid | Humanoid | A lord of the orcs | |
Goblin King | Woods, Underground, Mountains, Dungeons, Jungles, Badlands, Sewers, Castles | Humanoid | Humanoid | The most royal of goblins | |
Ronin | Roads, Towns | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | A roaming swordsman | |
Soldier | Desert, Roads, Mountains, Towns, Castles | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | A regular soldier | |
Bag-o-Bones | Hell, Graveyards | Undead, Demonic, Abomination | Undead, Demonic, Abomination | An animated bag of bones | |
Boggart | Underground, Towns | A small, shape-shifting mischevious imp | |||
Will-o-the-Wisp | Roads, Spirit World, Swamps, Jungles, Badlands, Sewers | Spirit, Flying | Spirit, Flying | Spectral flames which may lead travelers astray | |
Phantom | Desert, Mountains, Graveyards, Frozen, Dungeons | Spirit, Undead | Spirit, Undead | A spirit of the undead | |
Demon-Spawn | Hell | Demonic | Demonic | The offspring of a human and a demon | |
Hell Spawn | Hell | Demonic | Demonic | Creatures from the underworld | |
Swordsman | Simplify | Desert, Woods, Roads, Mountains, Towns, Dungeons, Badlands, Coasts, Castles | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | A regular swordsman |
Barbarian King | Roads, Seas, Mountains, Frozen, Badlands, Castles | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | A barbarian king | |
Demon Lord | Hell, Dungeons, Castles | Demonic | Demonic | A lord among demons | |
Goblin Lord | Underground, Mountains, Dungeons, Swamps, Jungles, Badlands, Sewers, Castles | Humanoid | Humanoid | A lord among goblins | |
Rat King | Underground, Mountains, Dungeons, Swamps, Jungles, Sewers, Castles | King of the rats | |||
Wurm | Desert, Swamps, Jungles, Badlands, Sewers | Beast | Beast | A dragon-like creature with no wings or other appendages | |
Gnome | Simplify | Woods | Humanoid | Humanoid | Short, squat, garden lover |
Banshee | Simplify | Graveyards, Swamps | Spirit | Spirit | Really likes shrieking |
Basilisk | Simplify | Desert, Dungeons, Swamps, Sewers | Beast, Mythological | Beast, Mythological | A serpent king whose looks can kill |
Gremlin | Simplify | Towns, Sewers | Beast | Beast | A mischevious creature that causes machinery to break down |
Hydra | Simplify | Seas, Volcanic, Badlands, Coasts | Beast, Mythological | Beast, Mythological | A many-headed dragon |
Leprechaun | Simplify | Woods | Humanoid | Humanoid | A mischevious creature that hides gold |
Pheonix | Simplify | Desert, Spirit World, Badlands | Beast, Flying, Mythological | Beast, Flying, Mythological | A bird of flame that dies and rises again from the ashes |
Unicorn | Simplify | Woods, Spirit World | Beast | Beast | Pokey horse |
Gryffon | Simplify | Desert, Mountains, Badlands | Beast, Flying, Mythological | Beast, Flying, Mythological | The head and wings of an eagle and the head of a lion |
Lich | Simplify | Hell, Graveyards, Frozen, Dungeons | Humanoid, Undead | Humanoid, Undead | Undead spellcasters |
Chupacabre | Towns, Badlands | Beast | Beast | Sneaks out at night to drink the blood of goats | |
Centaur | Simplify | Woods, Spirit World, Swamps | Beast, Humanoid, Mythological | Beast, Humanoid, Mythological | Half man, half horse |
Halfling | Roads | Humanoid | Humanoid | Their corn fields are tall, they are not | |
Lizard Folk | Desert, Roads, Volcanic, Dungeons, Swamps, Jungles, Badlands, Coasts | Humanoid | Humanoid | Lizard-like people | |
Fae | Woods, Spirit World | Spirit, Flying | Spirit, Flying | On of many of the fairy-folk | |
Kobold | Woods, Roads, Swamps, Jungles, Badlands, Coasts | Humanoid | Humanoid | A fierce mammalian or reptillian like creature | |
Sprites | Woods, Spirit World, Volcanic | Spirit, Flying | Spirit, Flying | Small fairies sometimes associated with nature | |
Hunter | Simplify | Desert, Woods, Roads, Mountains, Swamps, Jungles, Badlands, Coasts | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | After the most dangerous game |
Rat Folk | Woods, Roads, Underground, Towns, Dungeons, Swamps, Jungles, Badlands, Sewers | Humanoid | Humanoid | Rat-like people | |
Yeti | Simplify | Mountains, Frozen | Beast | Beast | Abominable |
Illithid | Seas, Dungeons, Coasts, Sewers | Humanoid | Humanoid | A tall, squid-like humanoid with the power of mind control | |
Suit of Armor | Towns, Dungeons, Castles | A magical suit of armor brought to life. And angry about it. | |||
Giant Roach | Simplify | Woods, Roads, Underground, Towns, Graveyards, Dungeons, Sewers, Castles | A very large cockroach | ||
Abomination | Simplify | Hell, Underground, Towns, Graveyards, Dungeons, Swamps, Sewers, Castles | Beast, Demonic, Abomination | Beast, Demonic, Abomination | Some terrible misshapen monstrosity of flesh and parts |
Gorgon | Underground, Dungeons | Humanoid, Mythological | Humanoid, Mythological | Just a lady with snakes for hair | |
Archangel | Graveyards, Castles | Spirit, Flying | Spirit, Flying | A leader among angels | |
Hellhound | Roads, Hell, Graveyards | Beast, Demonic | Beast, Demonic | A dog from hell itself | |
Archdemon | Hell, Graveyards, Castles | Demonic | Demonic | A leader among demons | |
Angry Townssperson | Roads, Towns, Sewers, Castles | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | Pitchforks and torches at the ready | |
Titan | Roads, Hell, Volcanic | Demonic, Mythological | Demonic, Mythological | A massive, god-like humanoid. | |
War Elephant | Desert, Jungles | Mundane, Beast | Mundane, Beast | As if an elephant couldn't kill already, this one's been trained | |
Musketeer | Roads, Towns, Castles | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | Time to reload, no time for you | |
Treant | Woods, Jungles | Humanoid | Humanoid | A tree person | |
Roc | Simplify | Roads, Mountains | Beast, Flying | Beast, Flying | A giant bird of prey |
Swamps Monster | Swamps | Beast | Beast | A beast of muck and vine | |
Lamassu | Desert, Mountains | Beast, Flying, Mythological | Beast, Flying, Mythological | Large, winged bulls or lions with human faces | |
Wendigo | Woods, Swamps, Badlands | Humanoid, Spirit, Mythological | Humanoid, Spirit, Mythological | A spirit with insatiable hunger out to possess someone | |
Scorpion | Desert, Dungeons, Jungles, Badlands | Mundane, Beast, Mythological | Mundane, Beast, Mythological | Venomous and kind of cranky | |
Giant Scorpion | Desert, Dungeons, Jungles, Badlands | Beast, Mythological | Beast, Mythological | Venomous, large, and very cranky | |
Wraith | Hell, Graveyards | Spirit, Undead | Spirit, Undead | An evil specter | |
Colossal | Desert, Mountains, Volcanic, Badlands | Beast, Humanoid, Mythological | Beast, Humanoid, Mythological | A giant thing. | |
Dinosaur | Simplify | Underground, Volcanic, Jungles, Badlands | Beast, Flying | Beast, Flying | Where have you been hiding? |
Toad Folk | Woods, Volcanic, Swamps | Humanoid | Humanoid | A toad-like person | |
Dungeon Guard | Simplify | Dungeons, Castles | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | Gotta pay those bills somehow |
Crawling Hand | Simplify | Hell, Graveyards, Dungeons | Undead, Demonic, Abomination | Undead, Demonic, Abomination | Wave hello to the crawling, severed hand |
Floating Eyeball | Simplify | Desert, Hell, Underground, Graveyards, Dungeons, Swamps, Sewers | Demonic, Flying, Abomination | Demonic, Flying, Abomination | It sees what you're doing |
Thunderbird | Mountains, Badlands | Beast, Flying, Mythological | Beast, Flying, Mythological | A bird that shakes the sky and brings thunder and lightning | |
Firebird | Desert, Mountains, Volcanic, Badlands | Beast, Flying | Beast, Flying | A large bird of flames | |
Turtle Folk | Woods, Swamps, Coasts | Humanoid | Humanoid | A turle-like person | |
Bird Person | Roads, Seas, Mountains, Jungles, Badlands, Coasts | Humanoid, Flying | Humanoid, Flying | Abird-like person | |
Cloud Giant | Mountains | Humanoid | Humanoid | A very large person that lives in Castles in the sky | |
Flesh Monster | Roads, Hell, Underground, Graveyards, Dungeons, Sewers | Beast, Undead, Demonic, Abomination | Beast, Undead, Demonic, Abomination | A monster made from the flesh and appendages of many | |
Trapper | Woods, Roads, Swamps, Jungles, Badlands, Coasts | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | A person who hunts using traps | |
Black Powder Expert | Desert, Towns, Dungeons | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | An explosives 'expert' | |
Martial Artist | Simplify | Roads, Mountains | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | Hyyah! |
Monk | Desert, Roads, Spirit World, Mountains, Graveyards, Volcanic, Badlands | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | A religious devotee | |
Cleric | Roads, Towns, Graveyards, Dungeons, Castles | Mundane, Humanoid, Mythological | Mundane, Humanoid, Mythological | An evil practitioner of the religious arts | |
Grim Reaper | Roads, Hell, Graveyards | Spirit, Undead, Demonic | Spirit, Undead, Demonic | Death personified | |
Cerebus | Hell, Underground, Graveyards | Beast, Mythological | Beast, Mythological | The three headed dog of the underworld | |
Drowned | Hell, Seas, Swamps, Coasts, Sewers | Humanoid, Spirit, Undead | Humanoid, Spirit, Undead | Spirit or zombies of those perished by drowning | |
Gladitator | Simplify | Desert, Towns, Badlands | Mundane, Humanoid, Mythological | Mundane, Humanoid, Mythological | Do they fight for fun, or for freedom? |
Lion | Simplify | Desert, Badlands | Mundane, Beast, Mythological | Mundane, Beast, Mythological | A regular lion. Rawr. |
Giant Ant | Desert, Woods, Underground, Swamps, Jungles | Beast | Beast | Where is its' queen? | |
Shark | Simplify | Seas, Coasts | Mundane, Beast | Mundane, Beast | Yes, a shark |
Giant Walrus | Seas, Frozen, Coasts | Beast | Beast | A walrus, but like, really, really big. | |
Giant Vulture | Mountains, Swamps, Badlands | Beast, Flying | Beast, Flying | What carrion is it looking for? | |
Feral Dog | Desert, Woods, Roads, Towns, Graveyards, Swamps, Badlands, Sewers | Mundane, Beast | Mundane, Beast | A viscious, untamed dog. Does it have rabies? | |
Boar | Woods, Roads, Frozen, Swamps, Jungles, Coasts | Mundane, Beast | Mundane, Beast | A regular boar | |
Giant Boar | Woods, Roads, Frozen, Swamps, Jungles, Coasts | Beast | Beast | A massive boar. | |
Giant Shark | Seas, Coasts | Beast | Beast | Megalodon Megalodon Megalodon | |
Ant Swarm | Woods, Roads, Underground, Jungles, Badlands, Coasts | Mundane, Beast | Mundane, Beast | A swarm of ants | |
Grave Robber | Hell, Underground, Towns, Graveyards, Sewers | Mundane, Humanoid, Undead, Demonic | Mundane, Humanoid, Undead, Demonic | Just a guy out for a nighttime dig in the Graveyards | |
Living Statue | Desert, Graveyards, Dungeons, Castles | Mythological | Mythological | A statue brought to life | |
Undead Cat | Desert, Hell, Graveyards | Beast, Undead | Beast, Undead | The animated corpse of a rotting cat | |
Nightmare | Hell, Graveyards | Beast, Spirit, Demonic | Beast, Spirit, Demonic | A living nightmare. Or a demonic horse. Or both. | |
Undead Wolf | Hell, Graveyards | Beast, Undead | Beast, Undead | The animated corpse of a rotting wolf | |
Carrion Crow | Hell, Towns, Graveyards, Swamps | Mundane, Beast, Undead, Flying, Abomination | Mundane, Beast, Undead, Flying, Abomination | A crow that likes to cunsume dead flesh | |
Bogeyman | Towns, Graveyards, Sewers | Bogeyman: a monster who hides under the bed | |||
Brownie | Woods | Humanoid | Humanoid | Brownies: tiny (inches in height) humanoids | |
Diety | Simplify | Desert, Hell, Spirit World, Mountains | Spirit, Flying, Mythological | Spirit, Flying, Mythological | A god or goddess |
Dryad | Woods, Spirit World | Spirit | Spirit | A female,half-human, half-tree forest spirit | |
Fallen Angel | Hell, Graveyards | Spirit, Demonic, Flying | Spirit, Demonic, Flying | An angel who now serves a malevolent cause | |
Nymph | Woods, Jungles | Spirit | Spirit | A female nature spirit | |
Satyr | Woods, Roads, Spirit World | Humanoid, Mythological | Humanoid, Mythological | Half-human, half-goat creature | |
Siren | Seas | Humanoid | Humanoid | A beautiful woman whose singing can lure men to their deaths | |
Sylph | Woods, Spirit World | Spirit, Flying | Spirit, Flying | An air spirit that is invisible to humans | |
Wyrm | Mountains | Beast | Beast | A massive serpent resembling a dragon without wings or legs. | |
Wyvern | Mountains | Beast | Beast | A creature resembling a dragon but missing it's front legs. | |
Snake (Venomous) | Desert, Swamps, Jungles, Badlands, Coasts | Mundane, Beast | Mundane, Beast | Look at those fangs | |
Snake (Constrictor) | Swamps, Jungles, Coasts | Mundane, Beast | Mundane, Beast | Just loves hugs | |
Wild Man | Desert, Woods, Roads, Underground, Mountains, Swamps, Jungles, Badlands, Sewers | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | A feral person. Raised by wolves maybe? | |
Outlander | Desert, Roads, Mountains, Badlands | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | A warrior who has left civilization behind | |
Pyromaniac | Towns | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | A burning passion for flames | |
Crime Boss | Towns, Sewers, Castles | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | The leader of a gang | |
Potions Master | Towns | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | Who are those potions for | |
Acrobat | Roads, Towns | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | Agile and swift | |
Sailor | Seas, Towns, Coasts | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | Has sailed the oceans to find new ways to hurt someone | |
Parrot | Seas, Jungles, Coasts | Mundane, Beast, Flying | Mundane, Beast, Flying | Often the pet of a pirate | |
Mage | Mountains, Towns, Dungeons, Castles | Humanoid | Humanoid | A magic user | |
Count | Towns, Graveyards, Castles | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | Royalty | |
Familiar | Woods, Roads, Spirit World, Dungeons, Swamps, Jungles, Badlands | Beast, Flying | Beast, Flying | The animal companion of a witch | |
Beastmaster | Desert, Woods, Roads, Swamps, Jungles, Badlands | Mundane, Beast, Humanoid | Mundane, Beast, Humanoid | A person who can control animals. Is there beast with them? | |
Prince | Towns, Castles | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | Maybe got tired of waiting for the crown | |
Thug | Simplify | Desert, Woods, Roads, Seas, Mountains, Towns, Graveyards, Dungeons, Swamps, Badlands, Coasts, Sewers, Castles | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | Just a bully |
Warrior | Desert, Woods, Roads, Mountains, Frozen, Volcanic, Swamps, Jungles, Badlands, Coasts | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | An honorable fighter | |
Criminal | Simplify | Desert, Woods, Roads, Seas, Mountains, Towns, Graveyards, Dungeons, Swamps, Badlands, Coasts, Sewers, Castles | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | Up to no good |
ADDITIONAL ELEMENTS
Below are additional elements common to certain dungeons. While these will certainly not fit with all potential dungeons, they should provide some inspiration for the types of objects or elements you may also wish to include while building. It is up to you to incorporate elements specific to your own world.

- Dust
- Cobwebs
- Bloodstains
- Dirt
- Tracks
- Claw Marks
- Bones
- Torches
- Candles
- Corpses
- Skeletons
- Altars
- Runes
- Suits of Armor
- Bookcases
- Tables
- Paintings
- Tapestries
- Weapon Racks
- Cages
- Windows