Monster Manual: Top Pick of 2025 (Part 3)
D&D Pokédex
Happy New Year
Really wanted to wish you all a Happy New Year, and good health to you and your loved ones. Be kind to yourselves and to others, and continue to share your TTRPG passion with us.
The Art, it’s always the art
For some of you, this might feel like a stretch. Yes, the newest Monster Manual was technically part of the 2024 rules refresh, but it was released in February 2025, so I’m counting it (this is when I got it, anyway).
What might be surprising is why it’s my favorite TTRPG purchase of 2025.
It’s not a setting book.
It’s not an adventure.
It’s not even a rules-heavy volume.
It’s “just” a bestiary.
But for me, this book matters more than any other purchase I made this year.
A Personal History with the Monster Manual
The way I was introduced to Dungeons & Dragons, and really to TTRPGs as a whole, was through D&D itself. About three years ago, I stumbled across a really good discount on the 2014 slipcase that included the Player’s Handbook, Dungeon Master’s Guide, and Monster Manual.
At the time, I didn’t really know anything about D&D. I knew it existed, sure, but that was about it.
In my head, D&D was basically a board game: miniatures and dice. I had no real understanding of storytelling, Dungeon Masters, lore, or how deep the game actually was. But the slipcase looked cool, it was around $60 CAD, and I’ve always loved fantasy, so I bought it.
When I got home and opened the box, I started flipping through the books. One was clearly for players. One was for the GM, full of magic items, pantheons, and bits of lore. I didn’t really understand any of it. I remember seeing terms like “bonus action” and “armor class” and having absolutely no idea what they meant. Mostly, I was just looking at the layout and the art.
The Book That Opened the Door
I didn’t understand the rules yet, but I didn’t need to. The Monster Manual pulled me in through pure imagination, page after page of incredible creatures, evocative names, little bits of lore, and striking artwork. I remember thinking, There are so many cool monsters.
I didn’t know how to run them. I didn’t know how combat worked. But I could immediately imagine these creatures existing in a world.
A few days later, I bought my first starter set, Dragon of Icespire Peak, and started playing solo because I didn’t have anyone to play with. That was my first real TTRPG experience.
Fast-forward a few years, and here I am, writing about my top purchases of the year. And that journey started, in large part, with the 2014 Monster Manual.
Why the 2025 Monster Manual Is #1 in my heart
The 2025 Monster Manual doesn’t just live up to that legacy; it completely surpasses it.
I picked up the alternate cover with the mind flayer, and the book is absolutely gorgeous. The production quality is excellent, but what really sets it apart is the art.
To be clear, the 2014 Monster Manual has very good artwork, but the 2025 version is on another level.
The monsters feel alive.
They’re no longer static illustrations posed like entries in a catalog. They’re caught mid-action, mid-motion. You can almost feel what it would be like to encounter them. The aboleths, the demons, the dragons, especially the dragons, are stunning. The new dragon art alone is worth the price of admission.
I genuinely grab this book at least once a week just to flip through it. Not to prep a game. Not to look up stats. Just to look at it.
More Than a Game Book
You can say whatever you want about Hasbro or Wizards of the Coast, and I know many people do. But when I look at this book, I don’t think about shareholders or corporate decisions. I think about the artists, writers, and designers who poured passion into these pages.
The people who were tasked with imagining bone demons, aberrations, and legendary dragons absolutely nailed it.
This is the kind of book I would recommend even to someone who doesn’t play RPGs at all. If you love fantasy, art, or worldbuilding, the Monster Manual is pure inspiration. It invites you to imagine ecosystems, cultures, and stories built around these creatures.
That was true for the 2014 Monster Manual.
It’s even more true for the 2025 Monster Manual.
Final Thoughts
This book earns its number one spot not just because it’s mechanically useful or beautifully produced, but because of what it represents for me.
The Monster Manual was my gateway into the TTRPG world, and the 2025 edition feels like a celebration of everything that made me fall in love with D&D in the first place.
Even if you never roll a die, this book is worth owning for the art alone.
If you can, visit your local game store and pick up a copy.
Thank you for reading. If you have a favorite monster or a favorite bestiary, I’d love to hear about it. Cheers!
🔴 P.S. I recently started a YouTube Channel, take a look here