What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Adventure Zone
The McElroys · Podcast · 2026
If you loved The Adventure Zone, start with Critical Role (Matthew Mercer, 2015) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 films and 3 series, each matched to The Adventure Zone across media.
What hooked you in The Adventure Zone was the way high-stakes fantasy chaos thrives on the messy, hilarious bonds of found family.
Books on the same thread
The Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book One: Lightning Thief
Rick Riordan · Book · 2006
Explores: coming-of-age, hidden worlds, destiny.
If you loved the coming-of-age humor in The Adventure Zone, you will enjoy this journey through hidden worlds that emphasizes the importance of a loyal found family.
The Devils
Joe Abercrombie · Book
Explores: moral ambiguity, redemption, found family.
Like the darker, character-driven moments in The Adventure Zone, this story follows a group of unlikely outcasts navigating moral ambiguity while forming a tight, albeit dysfunctional, found family.
Player's Handbook (Dungeons & Dragons)
Wizards RPG Team · Book · 2017
Explores: Adventure, Teamwork, Character Development.
If the mechanics of The Adventure Zone inspired you, this essential rulebook provides the foundation for your own adventures, focusing on teamwork, character development, and imaginative combat scenarios.
A Song of Ice and Fire
George R. R. Martin · Book · 1996
Explores: Political Intrigue, Moral Ambiguity, Dynastic Conflict.
Fans of the complex world-building in The Adventure Zone will appreciate this epic series, which mirrors the high fantasy stakes and intricate political intrigue found in the podcast.
Films on the same thread
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen
Terry Gilliam · Film · 1988
Explores: Tall Tales, Escapism, Satire.
This film captures the same spirit of absurd, picaresque storytelling found in The Adventure Zone, where a band of misfits relies on imagination to survive their fantastical travels.
Back to the Future
Robert Zemeckis · Film · 1985
Explores: Changing the Past, Intergenerational Relationships, Preventing a Disaster.
The fish-out-of-water comedy and intergenerational dynamics that make The Adventure Zone so engaging are mirrored in this classic adventure about fixing mistakes across time and space.
O Brother, Where Art Thou?
Joel Coen · Film · 2000
Explores: The Odyssey, Redemption, Greed.
Like the comedic questing in The Adventure Zone, this film follows a group of convicts on a journey that blends historical absurdity with a sense of camaraderie and redemption.
Hunt for the Wilderpeople
Taika Waititi · Film · 2016
Explores: Found family, Intergenerational relationships, Man vs. nature.
This movie echoes the intergenerational humor of The Adventure Zone, featuring a defiant kid and a cantankerous guardian forced together by circumstance to navigate a wild, dangerous environment.
Series on the same thread
Critical Role
Matthew Mercer · Series · 2015
Shares a thread with The Adventure Zone: Actual Play.
If you enjoyed the actual play format of The Adventure Zone, this series offers an immersive look at how group dynamics and teamwork drive epic fantasy storytelling.
The Venture Bros.
Doc Hammer · Series · 2004
Explores: Dysfunctional Family, Nerd Culture, Satire of Adventure Tropes.
The Adventure Zone fans will recognize the sharp satire of adventure tropes and the dysfunctional family dynamics that define these bizarre, high-stakes journeys through a strange world.
Adventure Time
Pendleton Ward · Series · 2010
Explores: Friendship, Coming of Age, Existentialism.
Much like the protagonists of The Adventure Zone, these two best friends rely on their bond while navigating a surreal, post-apocalyptic landscape filled with endless, whimsical escapades.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Who are the hosts of The Adventure Zone?
The Adventure Zone features brothers Justin, Travis, and Griffin McElroy, who are known for their podcast My Brother, My Brother and Me. They are joined by their father, Clint McElroy, to participate in a campaign of high adventure.
What is the premise of The Adventure Zone?
In The Adventure Zone, the McElroy family recruits their father to play through a tabletop campaign. The group works together to find their fortune and defeat a large number of creatures, such as kobolds, throughout their journey.
Is The Adventure Zone a scripted show?
The Adventure Zone is a podcast featuring the McElroy family engaging in a tabletop role-playing campaign. Rather than following a rigid script, the hosts navigate their adventure by making decisions and playing through the game together.
What kind of content can listeners expect from The Adventure Zone?
Listeners of The Adventure Zone can expect a comedic fantasy experience where the hosts pursue wealth and battle various monsters. The show centers on the dynamic between Justin, Travis, Griffin, and their father, Clint, as they play through their campaign.