This may be the most dramatic background in the game- you don a persona ranging from a different identity to the living embodiment of a culture or idea. You could be a regular adventurer with some unique armor or a living manifestation of a kind of magic. That range paired with its feature makes it not the best fit for some tables and groups, but a smash hit at others.

Want to channel your inner Lora Croft or Indiana Jones? Time to grab a spade and start digging with Archaeologist! Tomb of Annihilation added two backgrounds, Anthropologist and Archaeologist, both of which are right at home in the setting of Chult where the adventure takes place.

Anthropologist does exactly what it says on the tin: you’re a person who studies people. This is the kind of background you take when you know interfacing with a wide range of diverse cultures is going to be an integral part of the game. Fitting for the setting it was printed in!

Rival Intern is the background most tied to the Acquisition Incorporated; if you like the flavor and themes, you basically need to be dealing with the adventuring companies and other logistics of Acquisitions Incorporated. If you are in the setting, though, this background has potential to set your character up as an integral player in the plot.

From the Acquisitions Incorporated book, the Plaintiff background really only works in the context of that setting. It is a joke first and foremost, and makes little actual sense as a background where you get features, skills, and abilities. Anyone can be wronged by a corporation and paid off to not talk. That isn’t an entire background, it's an event.

This option fits seamlessly alongside the Player’s Handbook backgrounds. It's what your character has largely been doing prior to adventuring- you’re not a con artist, not a thief, but a real, honest gambler that takes their wins with their losses.

The Celebrity Adventurer’s Scion hits the mark beautifully when trying to walk the line between a clear joke and a real character background; it's just sane enough that I could see a player coming up with it on their own, but not so serious that it’d be void of perConceptually, I love this background. You’ve got nowhere else to turn- you’ve tried your hand at honest work, but have failed so spectacularly you must turn towards adventure to pay the bills. I don’t think it nails the flavor, namely because the background gets tools that would make for a good merchant.

The Celebrity Adventurer’s Scion hits the mark beautifully when trying to walk the line between a clear joke and a real character background; it's just sane enough that I could see a player coming up with it on their own, but not so serious that it’d be void of personality.

Wildspacers, even more so than Astral Drifter, are tied to the Spelljammer setting. Outside of that setting, I think this can be a hard sell. Its features are fine and all, but the juice may not be worth the squeeze to fit “Wildspace” into any world your DM is working up.

You’re a space-faring traveler, moving through the planes like an aimless sailor, working ship to ship to see it all. In a Spelljammer game, I’d say this is as close to perfect as you can get for creating a perfect adventurer.

Mage of High Sorcery may be the strongest background in the game, only really competing with Strixhaven’s background. For your background, you’re getting close to a full class level worth of abilities. Getting this background is akin to starting with a bonus level in Wizard.

Out of all the modern “feat-based” backgrounds, Knight of Solamnia is the one I wish most was accessible to everyone. It's a fantastic little package all baked around being an honorable person. Unfortunately it's literally attached to an organization, and has a prerequisite stuck to it that will strand it in the handful of Dragonlance campaigns run.

Gate Wardens are so close to Planar Philosophers I wonder why both needed to get printed. Mechanically, this reads as a worse version of that background, but with a slightly different style.

There is something heartwarming about found-family stories- Giant Foundlings are this archetype in essence. You’re picked up (literally) by a larger than life entity who raises you as one of their own, and it comes out in some unique fashions. 

Planar Philosopher fundamentally is a way to play as a member of one of the factions Sigil offers first and foremost. If you’re not in that setting and otherwise are considering this, I think there are plenty of better backgrounds that offer better utility and combat options with as or more flexible skill selections. 

Rune Carver is a background that’s specific. Not everyone is going to be able to be a rune carver, nor are there going to be that wide of a spectrum of stories that can really go with this archetype. It feels like a magical archeologist to me, which can be a great time if you resonate with that archetype. 

Pain and misery is a bread and butter experience for a D&D character; Rewarded shakes that up, instead putting your character in a priveledged position that comes with insane luck.

Ruined is a pretty loose theme for a character packed with decent boons. Two solid skill proficiencies go a long way on a background, and the bonus feat, while not offering the strongest feats in the world, are a welcome addition to a wide range of character types.