Artifice5 Sigil Alternatives for 3D D&D After the Shutdown
Sigil, D&D Beyond's 3D VTT, ends on October 31, 2026. An honest guide to Sigil alternatives: 3D virtual tabletops, a 2D option, and an AI DM.
Wizards of the Coast set October 31, 2026 as the last day of Sigil, the 3D virtual tabletop (VTT) built into D&D Beyond. Nothing made in Sigil carries over, so if you played on it, you need somewhere else to put miniatures on a table.
This post covers what the shutdown means, what to save while you still can, and an honest rundown of the Sigil alternatives worth looking at. One of them is ours. It’s first because it answers a question the others don’t (what if nobody wants to be the DM?), and I’ll be upfront about what it can’t do yet.
What’s happening to Sigil
According to the official Sigil Sunset FAQ on D&D Beyond’s support site:
- October 31, 2026 is Sigil’s last day. Wizards said every feature, including hosting campaigns, would stay available until then.
- After that, the servers go offline, and all content created within Sigil becomes inaccessible.
- Nothing gets transferred. Wizards’ own advice is to take screenshots of anything you want to keep and copy important notes and journal entries out of Sigil before the shutdown.
Wizards first confirmed the shutdown in October 2025 (Geek Native’s report has the background). The company’s stated reason is that it “couldn’t sustain the level of ongoing support or the quality standard you deserve.”
D&D Beyond Maps, the separate 2D tabletop, is not affected. D&D Beyond says Maps will continue to be actively developed and supported.
Saving your Sigil content: a quick checklist
If Sigil is still online when you read this, start with the first two steps. If it’s already gone, skip to step 3.
- Screenshot your builds. Maps, scenes, and any miniatures you made in the mini builder. There’s no export, so screenshots are all you’ll keep.
- Copy your notes and journal entries into a document you control.
- Write down what your table liked about Sigil. Was it the 3D maps, the minis, the dice, or the D&D Beyond integration? Your answer decides which alternative fits.
Want 3D D&D without needing a DM? Artifice puts you on a 3D tabletop with an AI Dungeon Master, in your browser. It’s solo-only and in closed alpha, with playtest sign-ups on Discord. Moving a whole group with a human DM? The other four options are the better fit.
What to look for in a Sigil alternative
Sigil was a few things at once: a 3D environment built in Unreal Engine 5, a mini builder, 3D dice, spell animations, and deep D&D Beyond integration. It was also a Windows PC download with fairly demanding recommended specs. That ruled out a lot of Mac and laptop players.
No single replacement covers all of that. The useful questions are:
- Do you need 3D, or did 2D work fine?
- Browser or download? Will every player’s machine run it?
- How much rules automation do you want? Some tools only track HP and initiative, while others run the rules for you.
- Who’s running the game? Most alternatives assume a human DM. The first one on this list doesn’t.
The Sigil alternatives
Details below come from each product’s own site as of October 17, 2026. Prices and features change, so check before you commit. Artifice is the featured pick for 3D play with no DM. The other four are tools for a human DM, roughly in order of how close they come to Sigil.
1. Artifice: a 3D tabletop with an AI Dungeon Master (solo, closed alpha)
This one’s ours, and it’s a different kind of answer. Every other option on this list is a tool for a human DM to run a game. Artifice runs the game for you. It’s a browser tabletop RPG where an AI Dungeon Master narrates and a deterministic rules engine handles the dice and combat. You get a 3D table, 3D miniatures, and 3D dice, all on a true 5 ft grid.
What carries over from Sigil:
- A real 3D tabletop. Your party and their enemies stand on it as 3D miniatures, and the dice are thrown on screen. I wrote about why the grid is the map’s actual coordinate system in AI-generated battle maps on a true 5 ft grid.
- Your own miniature. You describe your character, Artifice paints a portrait, and then turns it into a 3D mini.
- Rules you can trust. The model never rolls a die. Attacks, movement, and hit points run in ordinary code, which is the core idea behind the rules engine rolls the dice, not the model.
- A world that remembers. NPCs keep track of your promises, and factions keep moving between sessions. More on that in What the town remembers.
What it doesn’t do yet, and you should know this before you sign up:
- Multiplayer is coming soon. For now it’s solo, so your Sigil group will have to wait a little before joining you.
- No map or mini imports. Every map is generated as your party travels.
- Desktop browser recommended. Mobile isn’t ready.
Best for: Sigil players who mostly lacked a DM or a schedule, or who just want to sit down alone and play a fight on a 3D table. If your group needs a shared table, the options below will serve you better today.
Sign up to playtest Artifice on Discord
2. TerrainTale: a 3D VTT in the browser, closest to “Sigil in a web page”
TerrainTale is a 3D virtual tabletop that runs in a browser tab on macOS, Windows, Linux, and ChromeOS. You build battle maps from a realistic model library, drag miniatures around, measure in feet, and run initiative. There’s a free plan with the full table and one saved scene, and Premium is listed at $6 a month for up to 200 saved scenes and your own imported models.
What you give up: TerrainTale has no rules engine and no D&D Beyond sync. It tracks HP, conditions, initiative, and movement, but your DM still adjudicates. Its own Sigil comparison also confirms there’s no Sigil importer, so you’ll be rebuilding maps either way.
Best for: groups with a human DM who want the 3D table without a Windows requirement.
3. TaleSpire: a polished 3D desktop app
TaleSpire is the long-running 3D tabletop many people already compare Sigil to. It’s a download, $24.99 on Steam, and runs on Windows and macOS (Apple Silicon only). Owners can buy seats so non-owners can join. It’s a building-and-playing tool, not a rules engine, so expect to run the rules yourself.
Best for: groups who loved Sigil’s handcrafted 3D scenes and are fine installing an app.
4. Tabula Sono: a free-to-play 3D table
Tabula Sono describes itself as an in-browser, free-to-play 3D virtual tabletop for any grid-based RPG. It has a free library of more than 1,000 3D models, players can import their own minis (STL, FBX, OBJ, including Hero Forge exports), and you invite people with a single link. It deliberately keeps rules out of the way.
Best for: system-agnostic groups who mainly want 3D minis on a grid without fuss.
5. D&D Beyond Maps: the official 2D option
If what you really valued was the D&D Beyond integration, Maps is Wizards’ own answer. It’s 2D, not 3D, but it syncs maps and monster tokens from your D&D Beyond library, pulls character-sheet rolls into the game log, and includes fog of war and an encounter builder. Like Sigil, hosting multiplayer requires a Master Tier subscription (per D&D Beyond), but players can join with free accounts.
Best for: tables invested in D&D Beyond who can live without the third dimension.
Quick comparison
| Tool | 3D | Runs in browser | Rules automation | Who runs the game | Price (as listed) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Artifice | Yes | Yes | Yes (rules engine) | AI Dungeon Master | Free; closed alpha, solo |
| TerrainTale | Yes | Yes | Tracking only | Human DM | Free plan; $6/mo Premium |
| TaleSpire | Yes | No (download) | No | Human DM | $24.99 |
| Tabula Sono | Yes | Yes | No | Human DM | Free to play |
| D&D Beyond Maps | No (2D) | Yes | Character-sheet rolls | Human DM | Hosting multiplayer needs Master Tier |
Playtest Artifice
Artifice is in closed alpha, and playtest sign-ups and announcements happen on Discord. The first playtest, Alpha 1, spans October 27, 2026 at 7 PM UTC to November 2, 2026 at 7 PM UTC, the same week Sigil goes offline.
Join the Artifice Discord to sign up for playtests
The Alpha 1 announcement has the full list of what you can test and what’s still missing. If you come from Sigil, I’d especially like to hear how the 3D table compares.
FAQ
When does Sigil shut down?
Sigil’s last day is October 31, 2026. After that, D&D Beyond says its servers shut down and everything created in Sigil becomes inaccessible (Sigil Sunset FAQ).
Can I export or transfer my Sigil maps and minis?
No. D&D Beyond says Sigil creations won’t be saved or transferred, and it recommends screenshots and copying your notes out manually. None of the alternatives above can import Sigil scenes.
Is D&D Beyond Maps shutting down too?
No. D&D Beyond says Maps isn’t affected and will continue to be developed and supported. It’s 2D, though.
What’s the best free Sigil alternative for 3D?
It depends on your table. TerrainTale and Tabula Sono both run 3D in the browser with free options. Check each product’s current pricing page.
Can I play D&D in 3D without a Dungeon Master?
Yes. That’s what Artifice is for: an AI Dungeon Master narrates while a rules engine resolves the mechanics. Today it’s solo and in closed alpha. The FAQ covers how the rules and the Dungeon Master work.
Does Artifice support multiplayer like Sigil?
Not yet, but it’s coming soon. Shared tables where each friend plays their own character are on the way; Alpha 1 is single-player.
Is Artifice affiliated with Wizards of the Coast or D&D Beyond?
No. Artifice is an independent game that uses a slightly modified D&D 5e (2014) ruleset.
Sigil, D&D Beyond, and Dungeons & Dragons are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast. Artifice is not affiliated with Wizards of the Coast or any of the products listed above. Product details were checked on October 17, 2026.