How to Create a Sensory Dungeon Crawl with Light, Sound, and Scent
Your players have darkvision. But do they feel the darkness?
There’s nothing quite like the excitement of a D&D session where you and your adventuring party venture deep into a monster-infested dungeon, battling fierce foes, avoiding traps, and solving puzzles on an epic quest through uncharted depths. While that alone makes for an unforgettable experience, a few thoughtful additions can turn your typical dungeon crawl into a fully immersive adventure. By incorporating elements like dynamic lighting, soundscapes from speakers, and scents that match the environment, you can transform your weekend game night into a multi-sensory journey through any fantasy world, adding depth and atmosphere to every encounter.
In this guide, we’ll share tips on how to level up your tabletop dungeon crawls by incorporating sensory elements like light, sound, and scent to create a more immersive experience.
Part I: Light
Light sets the mood for the whole adventure; whether it be the dim half-dark of a torchlit crypt, or the brilliant arcane glow of an archmage’s inner vaults–lighting is instrumental in bringing a setting to life.
Choosing the right lighting for your tabletop dungeon crawl can transform the atmosphere and enhance the experience. LED strips, such as the Philips Hue Indoor 10 Ft Smart LED Solo Lightstrip, offer versatile dimming options, remote control features, and easy installation around your gaming setup or walls. Govee Smart Lights can be programmed to respond to visual or audio cues as well, making the scene come alive as your players are experiencing it. These flexible lighting options allow you to customize your dungeon crawl’s ambiance to match the environment.
Tips for light setup
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Dim the LEDs to create a shadowy, mysterious dungeon, use red or orange lighting for a volcanic cavern, blue for an icy temple, or deep purples to set the eerie tone of a necromancer's lair. By adjusting the lighting throughout your session, you can effectively match the mood and immerse your players in your fantasy world.
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Fairy lights lining the underside of a table, or strung around the room can be used in conjunction with LEDs to create layers of mood lighting, or simply to illuminate your play space for maximum clarity. If you can, coordinate the lights with the action of the gameplay, plan color changes for events, or flashes of red when a player is damaged, or green when healed, etc.
No matter how you go about it, going the extra mile with lights can make your TTRPG sessions way more immersive!
Part II: Sound
One of the easiest and most immersive ways to improve your tabletop gaming session is by incorporating sound effects. Sounds can significantly enhance the sense of magic and wonder that defines these settings; by using background music and soundscapes that match the setting, you can transport your players into the tabletop world.
Integrating personalized or dynamic sounds into gameplay can do wonders for player engagement. A soundboard app or ambient noise tools like Pocket Bard or Tabletop Audio make it easy to find and control a wide range of sound effects. The key is to experiment with the timing and frequency of sounds—too much can overwhelm the senses, while the right amount can seamlessly complement your narrative and keep players immersed throughout the session.
Of course, there are plenty of low-effort options when it comes to creating the perfect dungeon crawl soundtrack. Here are some of our favorite pre-made dungeon ambience playlists.
Part III: Scent
Scents can deeply enhance a fantasy tabletop session by creating a multisensory experience that immerses players in the world you’re building. For instance, the smell of fresh pine and damp earth can evoke the atmosphere of a magical forest, while the scent of burning incense or crackling firewood can bring a cozy tavern or mystical ritual to life.
These scents help establish mood and setting, making it easier for players to visualize and emotionally connect with the environment, whether it’s the eerie stillness of a haunted castle or the warm, welcoming atmosphere of a village inn. The right scent can trigger memories or emotions, subtly influencing how players engage with the story.
5 best candle pairings for dungeon crawl sessions
1. Black Hound Tavern
Perfect for setting the stage at the start of your campaign, our Black Hound Tavern candle evokes the warmth and camaraderie of a local tavern where adventurers gather before setting out on their journeys. The cozy, inviting scent helps ease players into the world, providing a backdrop of comforting familiarity as they plan their first steps into the unknown. This candle is ideal for your opening scenes where allies meet, rumors are exchanged, and quests are offered.
2. Dungeon Depths
When your party ventures deep into the heart of a dungeon, our Dungeon Depths candle enhances the atmosphere of danger and discovery. With its scent of stone, musk, and the faint hint of damp earth, it transports your players to the grim and eerie underworld. This candle sets the tone for crawling through the lower levels of a dungeon, encountering low-level monsters, traps, and dark secrets waiting to be uncovered.
3. Realm of Shadows
As the adventure takes a dark and mysterious turn, the Realm of Shadows candle adds an aura of foreboding. Its blend of smoky, earthy, and slightly sweet notes helps build a tense atmosphere when your party faces morally ambiguous choices or encounters dark, supernatural forces. Perfect for moments when the line between friend and foe begins to blur, and your players must navigate uncertain allegiances or explore ominous, shifting environments.
4. Long Rest
The Long Rest candle provides a calming, restorative atmosphere for when your party takes a breather and recovers from their journey. Its soothing scent promotes relaxation and character development, encouraging moments of introspection, role-playing, and player-driven storytelling. Ideal for breaks between intense dungeon encounters, it helps reset the tone, allowing players to bond, share personal stories, and strategize for the challenges ahead.
5. HELLSCAPE
When the heat of battle escalates and your party finds themselves in a fiery, infernal plane like Avernus, the Hellscape candle immerses players in the flames of chaos. With its bold, smoky scent and hints of charred wood and brimstone, it embodies the hellish landscapes and fiery conflicts of the Nine Hells. Light this candle when the stakes are highest, and your players are thrust into a world of fiery torment, infernal enemies, and unrelenting danger.
Candle and scent tips
Location matters
Place candles strategically within your gaming space. Position candles in areas where they won’t be easily disturbed but can still be enjoyed by the players, like on a nearby table or at the center of your game setup. That way, the scent enhances the atmosphere without becoming overpowering.
Switch up the scents
For different stages of your campaign, you can switch between candles to match the shifting moods of your story. For example, using a comforting, warm scent like Black Hound Tavern at the start and transitioning to something more eerie like Dungeon Depths as players descend into a dark dungeon can subtly guide the emotional tone of the session and make each phase feel distinct and immersive.
Safety first
Always place candles on a stable, heat-resistant surface away from flammable objects, and never leave them unattended while burning. Be sure to trim the wick to about 1/4 inch before lighting, and extinguish the flame if it becomes too large or if you're leaving the room to ensure safety.
Learn how to take care of your candles with our Candle Care Guide →
Bonus tips for a memorable table-top dungeon crawl session
Looking for more ways to make your TTRPG more immersive? Check out some of these bonus tips.
Physical props
Don't just rely on player minis! Using physical props like ancient scrolls, miniature weapons, or potion bottles during roleplay can make your tabletop sessions feel more tangible, adding a layer of realism that draws players deeper into the narrative. These props can be used for puzzle-solving, clues, or as part of the setting, creating a more interactive and memorable experience.
Low-effort tech
Tech, like a fog machine, adds an atmospheric layer to your game, especially when players enter spooky, mystical, or otherworldly locations. The swirling mist can set the tone for encounters with creatures or magical phenomena, intensifying the sense of mystery and heightening suspense during key moments of the adventure. Just make sure to crack a window!
Check out this affordable fog machine from LURT →
Vibrational speakers
You can also use vibrating speakers to enhance the sensory experience by adding physical sensations to the gameplay, like the rumble of distant thunder, the trembling of the earth during a massive explosion, or the low hum of approaching danger. This tactile element helps immerse players in high-stakes scenes, making the world feel more alive and reactive.
Commit with a costume
Wearing costumes or themed attire related to characters or NPCs can help players get into character and strengthen the atmosphere of the game. Whether it’s a cloak for a mysterious wizard or a helmet for a powerful warrior, costumes make the role-playing experience more immersive and can inspire creative interactions and deeper investment in the story.
Make your dungeon crawl unforgettable
Creating a sensory dungeon crawl can elevate your tabletop role-playing experience by engaging not only your players' imaginations but also their senses. The interplay of these sensory elements can build tension, enhance narrative moments, and create lasting memories that go beyond the dice rolls. Whether it’s through the flicker of torchlight, the distant echo of footsteps, or the eerie scent of a forgotten crypt, engaging multiple senses will make your dungeon crawl feel more alive, dynamic, and unforgettable.
A soy wax candle from Cantrip Candles is a simple but effective way to bring any dungeon crawl to life. Browse through our robust selection of immersive candle scents and find the one that will help your campaign come alive.
Shop all Cantrip Candles scents →
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