diff --git a/d2cli/help.go b/d2cli/help.go
index a786cd7b4e..010118c222 100644
--- a/d2cli/help.go
+++ b/d2cli/help.go
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ Usage:
   %[1]s [--watch=false] [--theme=0] file.d2 [file.svg | file.png]
   %[1]s layout [name]
   %[1]s fmt file.d2 ...
+  %[1]s play [--theme=0] [--sketch] file.d2
 
 %[1]s compiles and renders file.d2 to file.svg | file.png
 It defaults to file.svg if an output path is not provided.
@@ -38,6 +39,7 @@ Subcommands:
   %[1]s layout [name] - Display long help for a particular layout engine, including its configuration options
   %[1]s themes - Lists available themes
   %[1]s fmt file.d2 ... - Format passed files
+  %[1]s play file.d2 - Opens the file in playground
 
 See more docs and the source code at https://oss.terrastruct.com/d2.
 Hosted icons at https://icons.terrastruct.com.
diff --git a/d2cli/main.go b/d2cli/main.go
index eeefd6ae91..7823db6b84 100644
--- a/d2cli/main.go
+++ b/d2cli/main.go
@@ -154,6 +154,8 @@ func Run(ctx context.Context, ms *xmain.State) (err error) {
 			return nil
 		case "fmt":
 			return fmtCmd(ctx, ms)
+		case "play":
+			return playSubcommand(ctx, ms)
 		case "version":
 			if len(ms.Opts.Flags.Args()) > 1 {
 				return xmain.UsageErrorf("version subcommand accepts no arguments")
diff --git a/d2cli/play.go b/d2cli/play.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9bbd6cf251
--- /dev/null
+++ b/d2cli/play.go
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+package d2cli
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+
+	"oss.terrastruct.com/d2/lib/urlenc"
+	"oss.terrastruct.com/util-go/xbrowser"
+	"oss.terrastruct.com/util-go/xmain"
+)
+
+func playSubcommand(ctx context.Context, ms *xmain.State) error {
+	if len(ms.Opts.Flags.Args()) != 2 {
+		return xmain.UsageErrorf("play must be passed one file to open")
+	}
+	filepath := ms.Opts.Flags.Args()[1]
+
+	theme, err := ms.Opts.Flags.GetInt64("theme")
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	sketch, err := ms.Opts.Flags.GetBool("sketch")
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	var sketchNumber int
+	if sketch {
+		sketchNumber = 1
+	} else {
+		sketchNumber = 0
+	}
+
+	fileRaw, err := readFile(filepath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	encoded, err := urlenc.Encode(fileRaw)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	url := fmt.Sprintf("https://play.d2lang.com/?l=&script=%s&sketch=%d&theme=%d&", encoded, sketchNumber, theme)
+	openBrowser(ctx, ms, url)
+	return nil
+}
+
+func readFile(filepath string) (string, error) {
+	data, err := os.ReadFile(filepath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", xmain.UsageErrorf(err.Error())
+	}
+
+	return string(data), nil
+}
+
+func openBrowser(ctx context.Context, ms *xmain.State, url string) {
+	ms.Log.Info.Printf("opening playground: %s", url)
+
+	err := xbrowser.Open(ctx, ms.Env, url)
+	if err != nil {
+		ms.Log.Warn.Printf("failed to open browser to %v: %v", url, err)
+	}
+}