Everybody loves a whodunnit, be it in Who Framed Roger Rabbit or Dungeons and Dragons. A hardboiled detective delving deeper into the city's underbelly is a tale older than D&D itself, yet it fits like a glove at a crime scene. After all, TTRPGs are more than just rolling dice and seeing how much damage you've dealt. There's times when you actually have to use all those funny little skills that your proficiency bonus affects. If you're looking for such adventures, then The Streets of Port Noir may have you spinning around your chair dramatically.
This 5e solo adventure is a fantasy noir tale full of all the tropes, but with a lovely dash of urban fantasy. The story follows a grizzled detective investigating the disappearance of a woman from his past. Detective stories just fit best when it's urban sprawls of humanity, and this story blends D&D books with the grit of classic noir stories.
While the writers were inspired by many works, what got my attention was their shoutout to Discworld. Specifically, they took notes from the City Watch stories, which have some of the best writing in the entirety of the series. We stan Samuel Vimes in the Wargamer household, thank you very much. The blend of levity and clever mystery are already a draw for my support of this campaign.
Plus, as a solo adventure, it also harkens back to the days of Choose Your Own Adventure books. No DM needed, because the book itself IS the DM. You can use your existing DnD 5e characters or make a new one specifically for this adventure. Starting at 5th level, The Streets of Port Noir will offer a decent challenge despite the adventure book style.
The Streets of Port Noir Kickstarter campaign will end on November 20, 2025. It's your last chance to get ahead of the crowd, so now's the best time to back the module.
No need to go solo over at the Wargamer Discord, which has plenty of potential party members to meet. If you DO want more solo experiences, the best solo TTRPGs guide is a strong start.