Looking For Group
Lots of Discord Chat Servers host games, or allow DMs to advertise open player slots for their games.
Game-Finding Applications and Services
The original founder of D&D Beyond is a co-founder of Demiplane
Includes voice and video chat
Paid dungeon masters providing high-quality sessions
Partners with large conventions for playtesting and organized play
Beginner-friendly, and welcoming to children
Subsidiary of How to Be a Great Game Master
Search for in-person and virtual games
Mobile app built on the premise of being "Tinder for D&D"
Still in development - expected release Fall 2021
A platform for creators to post quick jobs and commissions works well for this.
Looking-for-group Forums
In-Person Game-finding (archived)
1. Start with a Friendly Local Game Store (FLGS).
Wizards of the Coast, the company that publishes D&D, has a listing of local stores by zip code. You may have to make friends at store games before people are willing to invite you to home games.
WarHorn is how game stores generally run Adventurer's League (sanctioned, organized play) tables, so check in your area for games.
2. Try looking for Facebook groups for D&D or games in your area.
(If you use the search below, add your city or state to search in YOUR area).
3. Look for local conventions in your area.
Obviously Google is the way to go, but also check Warhorn and the Wizards convention finder.
4. A lot of stores and groups use meetup.com.
Try finding a suitable group in your area. If there are no local D&D or RPG group, look for board gaming groups or Geek culture groups as a starting point to make friends with similar interests.
5. Consider online games.
The basic Roll20 platform is free, and many DMs have a Fantasy Grounds Ultimate License, which lets you join their game with a free basic Fantasy Grounds license.
Lots of Discord Chat Servers host games.
6. If there are no Friendly Local Game Stores in your area, try posting an old-fashioned “Looking for D&D Group” ad at a video game store or public library.
7. Here are a couple of good articles on finding groups:
8. There are some websites and apps that offer gamer locator services.
theescapist.com/findinggamers.htm (page of options)
9. Reddit has a few forums that cater to people looking for D&D groups.
/r/lfg/ - Most active LFG forum on Reddit.
/r/CrittersLFG/ - for fans of Critical Role.
/r/roll20LFG/ - Reddit forum for Roll20
10. There is often a shortage of DMs. Consider starting your own game!
The easiest way is to start with an adventure module. The DM’s Guild has many cheap adventures you can buy to get started (http://www.dmsguild.com/), or you can buy one of the official hardcover campaign books from Wizards of the Coast.
Best of luck out there! And you’re welcome to come ask who’s in your local area in the D&D 5th Edition Facebook group any time! https://www.facebook.com/groups/DnD5th/