In 2025 I’m reviewing zungeon zines. They’re stream of consciousness and unedited critiques, just like Bathtub Reviews, but they’ll be a little briefer. The goal here is a little different: I want to spotlight what a craft-based, just-do-it approach to module writing can do.

A Mirror Dungeon was the first zungeon written, to my knowledge. Sam Dunnewold wrote it, and then said to me in one of the many zungeon threads that have appeared across Discord, “I have other projects, but this is so much fun I’m afraid it’ll eat into my other projects time.” And I said, so post it on your blog. Therefore, it has no page count, its system agnostic, and it’s only available as a post here, with no art Sam states it took about 80 minutes to write this 6-room dungeon, one that satisfies the first stage of the Zungeon Manifesto. That also means it’s not on the Zungeon Jam page, which is why I wanted to be sure I highlighted it: It won’t be found by other means.

This module has a romance at its’ core: I spoke recently in Dungeon Regular about how much I think romance is a missed opportunity in adventure modules. In this, in two worlds, the opposite half of a couple died, forever haunting their home. You’re investigating a missing widower, who was lost in their haunted house while trying to bring back his wife.

The writing really elegantly hints at what’s going on, “In the floor’s reflection, that chandelier still hangs.” so that the players will figure out the mystery even if they aren’t warned. “Terrified, relieved to have company, and thirsty” is a lovely description of the main NPC, too, among others. Altogether, A Mirror Dungeon has more pithy turns of phrase than a 6 room dungeon deserves. I’ve read plenty of Sam’s work (I recently reviewed Dice Forager), but honestly, he’s shining brighter here. Now, this is an unfinished zungeon, and so we’re left with the questions the author chose not to answer, but I don’t really mind.

Would I run this? This is honestly by itself, with its pencil sketch of a map, a fun little dungeon to drop into a sandbox, with a melancholy vibe. It’s lovely, and as good as anything you’d write quickly for tomorrow’s game. You’ll have to improvise around it: It’s at its best when the author knew the answers to the questions. But it’s worth reading for a few reasons: Firstly, because you can see how you can write something beautiful in less than two hours, and secondly, because in its unfinished form it’s an excellent demonstration of how your first attempt is a small stone that can begin an avalanche. I challenge you not to read this and be inspired to imagine what comes next. I for one, since reading it, am crushed that Sam didn’t choose to finish it.

Let A Mirror Dungeon inspire you: Think of what Sam’s vision, “a zine with a second cover on the back, and all the mirror world stuff is printed in reverse so you have to hold it up to a mirror to read it” might have looked like, what the answers to the reactions raised are, and then go and write your own.

Idle Cartulary

P.S. I was wiped on the first Sunday of the year, so I didn’t get to write this then. So I’m publishing this a few days later, and I’ll re-date it in a a few days. Here on in, I’ll endeavour to run on time, promise.

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