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Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →StartPlaying raised $6.5 million in a 2022 funding round led by Andreessen Horowitz. The company said the money would support marketing, industry partnerships and hiring. Today, StartPlaying describes itself as an online marketplace where tabletop RPG players can find games and Game Masters (GMs); each GM sets the price for their sessions.
What the $6.5 million raise was for
GamesBeat reported on May 13, 2022 that Andreessen Horowitz led StartPlaying’s $6.5 million funding round, with general partners Jonathan Lai and Andrew Chen leading the investment. CEO Nate Tucker said the company planned to use the money to scale marketing, broaden industry partnerships and hire. StartPlaying aimed to double its team by the end of 2022; that was a goal announced at the time, not a current staffing figure.
The same report quoted Tucker saying, “We’re investing in putting together a world-class team.” Cofounder Devon Chulick described the company’s aim of helping players and GMs find one another and collaborating with industry partners.
Historical figures, not current totals
GamesBeat’s 2022 coverage reported company figures that, since StartPlaying’s September 2020 founding, it had hosted more than 100,000 games, had more than 1,000 professional GMs, and those GMs had earned $2.5 million. The report also said almost half of new users had never played before; it did not define the measurement period. These are figures reported in 2022, not independently audited or up-to-date totals.
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#1 Best Overall
- 💎 7-COLOR D&D DICE SET - This DND Dice Set includes 7 complete sets of polyhedral dice (totaling 49 pcs), 7 x Black Drawstring Bags. Each 7-die set contains 1 piece D20, 1 piece D12, 2 pieces D10 (00-90 and 0-9), 1 piece D8, 1 piece D6, 1 piece D4.
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In a company retrospective published in 2024, StartPlaying said GMs had earned more than $17 million by December 2023 and more than 50,000 players had found games through the platform. The company also said GMs earned more than $1 million in its first year and more than $4 million in its second. These are StartPlaying’s historical figures for the periods it specified.
How StartPlaying works for players
StartPlaying’s current site presents an online marketplace for tabletop roleplaying games and GMs, with Dungeons & Dragons and Pathfinder among its examples. Players can look for a game by system, schedule, price, play style or virtual tabletop. The company also advertises team events.
Rank #2
- THE START OF A LEGENDARY D&D ADVENTURE—Create your first character, fight monsters, save your friends, and embark on thrilling quests. This is the start of something legendary. This is D&D for everyone.
- FAST FUN FOR FRIENDS AND FAMILY—Heroes of the Borderlands is playable in bite-sized, hour-long sessions, perfect for game night with friends and family.
- SET UP AND PLAY IN MINUTES—Get straight to playing with speedy character creation, a handy quick-start guide, and intuitive, learn-as-you-play components.
- GO ON EPIC QUESTS—Three adventure booklets provide dozens of encounters involving combat, social interaction, and exploration.
- CHOOSE YOUR WAY TO PLAY—Do you fight the goblin, try to reason with it, or sneak past it undetected?
As StartPlaying’s player guide explains, a player can search for a particular module, system or platform, then filter listings by factors such as session length, schedule, age suitability and price. Players may join a game alone, reserve seats for a group, contact a GM, or ask support to help match a group with one. Interviews and a session zero are practices some GMs may offer, not guaranteed features of every listing.
Compare the listing, not just the game title
StartPlaying’s GM-search guide, dated May 2026, describes filters for system, per-player budget, timezone, language, praised GM qualities, virtual tabletop or video tools, and identity. It also notes that many adventures accept individual players, some listings support instant booking, and new players can look for GMs rated as teachers. Exact requirements and fit vary by listing, so check its details before booking.
Rank #3
- Dragon of Icespire Peak—an adventure for characters levels 1–6
- Rulebook—includes guide to creating characters and all the rules you need to play
- Dungeon Master’s screen
- Fold-out poster map, 6 blank character sheets, and 11 polyhedral dice
- 81 cards describing magic items, sidekicks, and more
- Game and format: Confirm the system, genre, and whether the listing is a one-shot or an ongoing campaign.
- Time and access: Check session duration, start time in your timezone, language, age suitability and any accessibility preferences the listing addresses.
- GM and play style: Review experience, player feedback and beginner guidance; make sure the advertised tone and style suit you.
- Tools and group size: See which virtual tabletop or video platform the GM uses, and whether solo players can join or the listing is for a private group.
- Total cost: Compare the per-player session price and the service fee shown at checkout.
What players pay and when
GMs set their own rates. StartPlaying’s Help Center article dated March 24, 2026, reported an average of $15–$20 per session. That is a company-published average, not a guaranteed price, and it does not include the additional service fee shown at checkout. The price for a one-shot covers its single meeting; a campaign price applies each time the group meets. StartPlaying says the exact service fee appears before checkout confirmation and describes it as covering card-processing costs.
According to the company’s pricing article, players are charged once for a one-shot and for each campaign session. A separate Help Center article dated June 3, 2026, says the charge occurs one hour after a game starts. The service fee is refunded along with the session cost if a refund is granted. Refund requests go through StartPlaying support and may involve checking the circumstances with the GM; this is a published process, not a guarantee that every request will be approved.
Rank #4
- ANIMAL FANTASY ROLEPLAYING GAME: Enter a post-apocalyptic medieval world where cats, dogs, and other animals wield "meowgic" and ancient tech to survive and thrive.
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- PERFECT INTRO TO TABLETOP RPGs: Easy-to-learn rules and step-by-step instructions make this an ideal gateway into the world of tabletop roleplaying games, especially for animal lovers.
How StartPlaying makes money and handles bookings
StartPlaying’s June 3, 2026 GM fee article says the platform takes a 15% cut of game bookings from GMs. The company says anyone may join as a GM, but only verified GMs appear in GM Search. It handles payments on the site through Stripe, and its terms prohibit paying for a game through third-party apps.
For players, StartPlaying says a booking may be left or skipped without charge if that is done at least 24 hours before its scheduled start. Check the listing and current checkout terms for the rules that apply to a specific booking.
Best Value
Is StartPlaying useful if you do not have a group?
That is one of the problems the marketplace is designed to address: players can discover games that accept individuals rather than first assembling a full party. StartPlaying’s 2024 blog framed the discovery problem with the question, “Where is Tinder but for D&D parties?”—an illustration from the company, not evidence of search demand. The platform’s published examples also include D&D and Pathfinder, but listings and availability depend on what GMs currently offer.
If you are new, a listing with a GM rated as a teacher may be a useful starting point. Read the listing closely, and contact the GM if important details about rules, preparation or expectations are unclear.
Optional gear for online tabletop RPGs
StartPlaying describes its games as online, so physical dice are not a requirement established by the platform’s materials; a virtual tabletop may provide digital dice. A polyhedral dice set is an optional accessory for players who prefer rolling physical dice or also play in person. StartPlaying’s past publisher and virtual-tabletop collaborations—including special events involving Coyote & Crow and Marvel’s TTRPG—are historical examples, not confirmation of a current offer or partnership. Check current terms before relying on a promotion.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
