When Matt Forbeck, a New York Times bestselling author, teams up with his son Marty, you can expect something intriguing, and their latest project is no exception. They’ve created a fresh tabletop adventure set in the beloved universe of Minecraft. Their upcoming game, titled Minecraft: Roll for Adventure: The Temple of the Charged Creeper, is now open for pre-order. The idea behind it is to blend the widespread charm of Minecraft’s open world with a simple set of role-playing rules that even newbies can pick up quickly.
Though the publisher, Penguin Random House, hasn’t revealed much about the game mechanics—a trend we often see with major IP-based tabletop pre-orders—the book’s cover gives us a hint with images of two six-sided dice. According to the listing, it also includes "four dice" to accompany the gamebook. Players can look forward to a "removable character sheet" and a "rules reference" which are designed to help track your progress, whether you’re playing solo or guiding others as the game’s narrator.
The storyline unfolds in a secluded village that’s been overrun by hostile "illagers," familiar foes from the Minecraft world. If you’ve read Forbeck’s 2020 novel, Minecraft Dungeons: The Rise of the Arch-Illager, you’ll recognize these antagonists. Your role is akin to that of a hero in a classic Dungeons & Dragons campaign—protect the village by uncovering and destroying the threat from the Temple of the Charged Creeper.
While Minecraft has teamed up with Dungeons & Dragons before—think of adventures like Lightning Keep for younger audiences—this particular escapade is the Forbecks’ own brainchild. Matt Forbeck is no stranger to tabletop gaming and narrative adventures, having worked on properties such as D&D, Minecraft, Halo, and Life is Strange, not to mention his unique creations. This pedigree surely adds an air of anticipation, and it will be fascinating to see how both Minecraft enthusiasts and tabletop gamers react when the book becomes available in July 2025.
If you’re eager to get your hands on it, the hardcover edition of Minecraft: Roll for Adventure: The Temple of the Charged Creeper can be pre-ordered from Penguin Random House for $20.
