The Adventure Zone

The McElroy family turned a bonus episode of their comedy advice show into one of the most beloved actual play podcasts ever made. Justin, Travis, and Griffin McElroy play alongside their dad Clint, and the result is this wonderful collision of genuine family dynamics and absurd fantasy storytelling. The first campaign, Balance, is widely considered a masterpiece of the genre. Griffin's DMing builds from goofy monster-of-the-week adventures into this sweeping emotional epic that had listeners openly sobbing by the finale. It is genuinely one of the best stories told in any medium, and the fact that it emerged from improv dice rolls makes it even more impressive. Since Balance, the show has become more experimental. They have rotated DM duties, tried different game systems, and explored shorter arcs. Recent campaigns include Versus Dracula, a vampire hunter story, and various Marvel-inspired crossover adventures. Not every arc hits as hard as Balance, but the family chemistry never gets old. Clint McElroy rolling terribly and then somehow saving the day is a recurring joy. The podcast drops biweekly on the Maximum Fun network and has racked up over 400 episodes and 35,000 Apple Podcasts ratings. The tone leans heavily comedic with genuine heart underneath. If you want actual play that prioritizes story and character over rules accuracy, and you do not mind a dad who still confuses his spell slots, this is your show. The Balance arc alone is worth the listen even if you never touch another episode.