Kobold Press Enters the Darkness with Dark Halls, a New Shadowdark RPG Expansion

Two hardcover books, a collection of zines, new character options, and plenty of monsters are heading to the dungeon! Kobold Press is teaming up with Shadowdark creator Kelsey Dionne for Dark Halls, a new fantasy roleplaying expansion planned for Kickstarter in 2027.

The dungeon-crawling darkness is about to get a little more dangerous! Kobold Press, the tabletop publisher known for its extensive collection of fantasy monsters, adventures, and game supplements, is bringing its creative talents to Shadowdark RPG with an upcoming project titled Dark Halls: A Shadowdark RPG Expansion.

The project marks an interesting new direction for Kobold Press. Rather than developing another standalone fantasy roleplaying game, the publisher is adapting its signature creature designs and game content to work within Shadowdark’s streamlined rules system.

The result promises to combine Kobold Press’s experience creating imaginative fantasy material with one of the tabletop roleplaying hobby’s most recognizable modern takes on old-school dungeon crawling.

The project is currently planned for a 2027 Kickstarter campaign, with two hardcover books, a series of zines, new player options, adapted monsters, and artwork inspired by Kobold Press’s earlier publishing days.

For dungeon masters and players who enjoy dangerous expeditions, resource management, and adventures where every torch matters, this could be a particularly interesting release to watch.

 

What Is Shadowdark RPG?

Before venturing into the Dark Halls, it helps to understand the game at the heart of the project.

Created by designer Kelsey Dionne and published through The Arcane Library, Shadowdark RPG draws inspiration from classic fantasy roleplaying games while using a streamlined rules system designed to keep adventures moving.

The game emphasizes exploration, dangerous encounters, meaningful decisions, and the risks associated with delving into unknown places. One of its defining mechanics is its use of real-time torchlight: a torch burns for a limited period, creating pressure as adventurers explore dark passages and search for treasure.

That simple idea reinforces the game’s atmosphere. Darkness isn’t merely a backdrop; it becomes a resource-management problem that can turn an otherwise routine expedition into a desperate race against time.

Shadowdark gained considerable attention through its successful Kickstarter campaign and subsequent awards recognition. Its appeal lies in combining familiar old-school fantasy concepts with a presentation that is relatively easy to learn and quick to use at the table.

For Kobold Press, that makes the game an appealing home for new monsters, equipment, character options, and adventure material.

 

A New Direction for Kobold Press

Kobold Press has spent years producing supplements for established fantasy roleplaying systems, including extensive bestiaries, adventures, player options, and tools for game masters.

The company has also developed its own fantasy roleplaying game, Tales of the Valiant, while continuing to publish material for other systems.

With Dark Halls, Kobold Press is returning to its third-party publishing roots in a new way: creating material specifically for another publisher’s game rather than building an entirely separate rules system.

According to Kobold Press editor Jeff Quick, the goal is to adapt the company’s existing design strengths to Shadowdark without simply copying what Dionne has already accomplished.

In the publisher’s announcement, Quick described Dark Halls as a distinct Kobold Press interpretation of Shadowdark rather than a separate game.

That distinction is important. Players shouldn’t expect a competing ruleset or a new standalone RPG. Instead, the project is intended to expand the options available to people already playing Shadowdark.

The approach also gives Kobold Press an opportunity to reinterpret its creature designs and other established ideas for a game that favors quick decisions and streamlined mechanics.

 

What Will Dark Halls Include?

Kobold Press has announced several components for the project, although complete contents, prices, and final product specifications have not yet been confirmed.

The initial announcement identifies two hardcover books and a series of zines, supported by new player options, monsters adapted for Shadowdark, and black-and-white illustrations.

Here’s what players can currently look forward to.

 

The Crawler’s Codex

The Crawler’s Codex is one of the planned hardcover volumes. Additional coverage of the project identifies it as a resource focused on player-facing material, including new character options, classes, and equipment for dungeon exploration.

For players who enjoy customizing adventurers before sending them into dangerous ruins, this could become an appealing source of additional character-building choices.

New options can also give game masters fresh ways to introduce unusual adventurers into their campaigns without needing to overhaul Shadowdark’s core rules.

 

The Game Grimoire

The second planned hardcover is the Game Grimoire, which is expected to focus on monsters and tools for game masters.

Kobold Press has built much of its reputation on its fantasy creature designs, producing monsters that can provide more variety than simply increasing an enemy’s hit points or damage output.

Adapting that material to Shadowdark could give game masters new threats to introduce into their dungeons, along with resources to help build encounters and develop adventures.

Specific creature selections and the complete contents of the book have not yet been officially detailed in the initial announcement.

 

Adventure Zines

Dark Halls will also include a series of zines, extending the project beyond its two main hardcover books.

These smaller publications are an appealing format for tabletop gaming because they can deliver focused material without requiring players to purchase another large rulebook.

Additional reporting has described plans for three adventure zines, although readers should consult the campaign materials when they become available for confirmation of the final lineup.

For Shadowdark game masters, the prospect of additional compact adventure material is particularly fitting. The system’s emphasis on exploration and dangerous expeditions lends itself naturally to short dungeon crawls and self-contained adventures that can be dropped into an existing campaign.

 

Monsters and New Character Options

Beyond the named books, Kobold Press has confirmed that Dark Halls will include adapted monsters and new player options.

The monster material is particularly significant because creature design is one of the publisher’s best-known strengths. Bringing those designs into Shadowdark will require them to fit the game’s streamlined mechanics and fast-moving style.

New character options, meanwhile, can help players create adventurers with different abilities and approaches to exploration.

The precise rules, statistics, and character choices have not yet been fully revealed, so the final scope of these additions remains to be seen.

 

A Return to Black-and-White Fantasy Art

Dark Halls isn’t just about adapting rules. Kobold Press is also drawing on its own publishing history for the project’s visual identity.

The publisher says the books will feature black-and-white line art inspired by its earlier Warlock publications.

That choice should appeal to fans of classic fantasy roleplaying books, where expressive ink illustrations helped establish atmosphere without relying on elaborate full-color presentation.

Black-and-white artwork also feels appropriate for a game centered on shadowy corridors, flickering torches, ancient ruins, and creatures lurking just beyond the light.

Rather than presenting Dark Halls as a glossy departure from Shadowdark’s identity, the aesthetic suggests an effort to preserve the stripped-down, old-school atmosphere that makes the game distinctive.

It also gives the project its own visual character while keeping it connected to the broader Shadowdark experience.

 

Kelsey Dionne Joins the Project

One of the most noteworthy aspects of the announcement is the involvement of Kelsey Dionne, the creator of Shadowdark RPG.

Dionne will contribute alongside Kobold Press writers and designers, bringing the game’s original design perspective into the development process.

That collaboration could prove valuable when adapting material from a publisher known for producing extensive fantasy content.

A rules system built around streamlined play requires more than simply reducing the numbers on a monster’s statistics. Abilities, encounters, and character options need to work within the system’s overall design philosophy.

Having Shadowdark’s creator involved gives the project a direct connection to the rules it is intended to support.

The announcement doesn’t guarantee how every new option will play at the table, of course, but the collaboration is an encouraging sign for players who want third-party material that feels compatible with the original game.

 

When Can You Get Dark Halls?

Kobold Press has announced Dark Halls as its first Kickstarter campaign of 2027.

An exact launch date, final prices, and delivery estimates have not yet been confirmed. The publisher has also said it plans to share an early-access PDF as the project develops, giving interested fans an opportunity to preview the material ahead of the campaign.

Players can visit the official Kobold Press announcement to find the project’s notification page and follow future updates.

As with any crowdfunded tabletop project, the final contents, production schedule, and delivery timing will depend on the campaign and its subsequent development.

For now, the important detail is that Dark Halls is planned for Kickstarter in 2027, rather than being an immediately available retail release.

 

Why This Expansion Matters for Shadowdark Players

Dark Halls could offer a useful combination of new content and familiar design philosophy.

Shadowdark’s appeal comes partly from its focus on keeping the rules moving while maintaining the danger and uncertainty of classic dungeon exploration. Kobold Press, meanwhile, has years of experience creating monsters, character options, and game-master resources.

Bringing those strengths together could give existing players more ways to customize campaigns without abandoning the system they already enjoy.

It also illustrates a broader trend in tabletop roleplaying: publishers increasingly create supplements for games developed by other studios, allowing popular rules systems to grow through contributions from multiple creative teams.

For Shadowdark players, that can mean more choices for building characters, populating dungeons, and creating adventures. For Kobold Press, it provides another way to reach players beyond its own Tales of the Valiant ecosystem.

The real test will come when the books and rules are available for closer inspection. Until then, the project’s announced scope provides plenty of reasons for fantasy RPG fans to keep an eye on it.

Prepare Your Torches!

Dark Halls looks like a promising meeting of two complementary tabletop traditions: Kobold Press’s extensive fantasy design experience and Shadowdark’s streamlined approach to dangerous dungeon exploration.

With two hardcover books, a series of zines, new player options, adapted monsters, and artwork inspired by the publisher’s earlier days, the project aims to provide a substantial collection of material for existing Shadowdark campaigns.

The involvement of Kelsey Dionne adds another point of interest, while the planned early-access PDF should give players a preview before the crowdfunding campaign arrives.

There are still unanswered questions about the complete contents, pricing, and release schedule. Nevertheless, Dark Halls represents an intriguing new chapter for Kobold Press and another opportunity for Shadowdark to expand its ecosystem.

Dark Halls is planned to arrive on Kickstarter in 2027. Until the campaign launches, sharpen those blades, stock up on torches, and keep an eye on the shadows. You never know what Kobold Press might be preparing to unleash.