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It’s been a year since the Daggerheart tabletop RPG was first published, and suffice it to say it’s been a big one, with the game selling out its first print run, announcing its first major expansion, and being well received by both critics and fans alike.
To celebrate the one-year anniversary, publisher Darrington Press is launching a number of initiatives, including rolling out a a free Daggerheart adventure and announcing a new Daggerheart actual play series.
Below, we take a closer look at all the details.
What is the free Daggerheart birthday adventure?
As part of the one-year anniversary celebration, Darrington Press has released a free Daggerheart adventure entitled The Wish Thief. Available on the Critical Role shop as a PDF, the 18-page adventure is for three to five Tier 1 characters. The story takes place in the bustling city of Bankburgh during the first birthday festival of the royal heir, Princess Gerdathraeg. The characters attend a lavish ceremony where a wish-granting tiara (powered by the heart of a fallen star) is stolen in a moment of magical darkness. With the castle on lockdown, the heroes must investigate the assembled nobles to deduce the culprit’s identity. Uncovering the thief leads to a high-speed chase through the crowded festival streets and culminates in a climactic showdown.
Notably, there is also a free bonus PDF that includes printable standees as well as 9 pre-generated characters (one of each Daggerheart core class). It’s also worth noting that Darrington Press has announced that more free adventures will be coming in 2027 that cover all four tiers of play.
What is the new Daggerheart actual play about?
As part of the one-year anniversary, Darrington Press has also announced a new Critical Role actual play series entitled Age of Umbra: Sallowlands. The six-part mini-series will use the Daggerheart rules and is set in the Halcyon Domain, a blighted realm that appeared in the first Age of Umbra actual play series. The official blog post notes that the characters will “encounter brutal adversaries and high-stakes in this dark and emotional actual play, which explores themes of desperation, survival, and love in the face of overwhelming odds.”
Matt Mercer will be serving as Game Master and the cast includes:
- Laura Bailey: Critical Role co-founder and longtime actual play star
- Jennifer English: The voice of Shadowheart from Baldur’s Gate 3
- Abubakar Salim: Star of the HBO series Raised by Wolves and House of the Dragon.
- Vico Ortiz: Star of the HBO Max comedy series Our Flag Means Death
- Zachery Renauldo: An influencer also known as “Zach the Bold” who creates comedic D&D videos.
The new mini-series will debut on July 9th, 2026 on Critical Role’s Beacon, Twitch and YouTube channels.
Final thoughts
Daggerheart was one of the biggest TTRPG products to come out in 2025, representing a major milestone for both Darrington Press and the hobby as a whole. So, it’s not surprising that we’re seeing some big announcements related to the anniversary.
We’ll be keeping a close eye to see what else is coming for Daggerheart in the months ahead. In the meantime, below is a video recording of the “Daggerheart Birthday Bash Livestream,” which has hosted on the official Darrington Press YouTube channel.