Enter the fantastical world of tabletop role-playing games and reap the benefits
It’s the end of a long day at work. You’re drained from hours upon hours of standing to attention, making a good impression, and getting things done. Rather than returning home and going through the usual motions, you step into a fantastical world of magic, monsters, and mystery. Alongside your rag-tag team, you’re no longer the person you were earlier in the day – instead, you’re someone completely different, and you’re ready to take up the call to adventure that comes your way.
Welcome to the world of tabletop role-play gaming, a hugely popular pastime that immerses players in another world. There are many examples of such games, but by far the most popular is Dungeons and Dragons (DnD) – with games company Wizards of the Coast estimating there are more than 50 million players worldwide.
Created in 1974, players take on fantasy adventures, led by their ‘Dungeon Master’ – another player who takes on the role of storyteller and guides the play. Players choose their class, which comes with different abilities, and dice rolls are used to determine the outcome of their desired actions as they face different challenges.
But it appears that tabletop role-playing isn’t just a passing thrill, and there may be something deeper at play. In a review published in the International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, researchers were intrigued by the rapid growth of interest in role-playing games during the Covid pandemic, and curious about the impact it has on our wellbeing. They pointed to evidence that DnD helped players cope with internal conflict and stress, as well as decreased player’s social anxiety. In another study, published in Australian Psychologist, researchers looked at 13 players who were recovering from mental health difficulties and observed that players tended to link their play with their wellbeing, using it as a space to build relationships and safely engage with mental health challenges.
Clare Patterson is an integrative transpersonal psychotherapist, who recognises the potential for role-playing games to support our wellbeing. “Increasingly, our lives appear to be dictated to us by others – we are told how to fit in and what the ‘rules’ of society are. These, sadly, do not include exploring abandoned ruins, fighting dragons, or taking down powerful leaders,” Clare says. “Games like DnD, therefore, might be seen as a way for us to express our healthy rebellion and sense of freedom and adventure in a world that does not always allow for it. This can feel quite wonderful and liberating.”
Beyond this, Clare points to three other key benefits of role-playing games:
Self-discovery. “It may be that there are parts of us we feel unable to express in our daily lives because of fear of judgement, or perhaps because we simply never have the chance. What can we learn about ourselves from how we behave in the game?”
Relaxing and having fun. “Games like DnD give us the opportunity to let go of other’s rules and expectations, and simply enjoy ourselves, which is vital for our health and wellbeing. It is our chance to switch off from thinking, planning, and ‘doing’, which deplete our energy and leave us feeling drained and unmotivated.”
Connection. “DnD is a game we play with others, meaning it gives us a chance to connect and socialise, which has a positive impact on our nervous system. As humans, we are hard-wired for connection and without this, it can be easier for us to sink into feelings of loneliness or even depression.”
Todd Philps has been playing DnD for almost 10 years, and has experienced many of the benefits Clare mentions. “It’s an amazing blend of social interaction, creativity, and tactical play – and every session feels like I am discovering something new, like exploring a vast open world with no restrictions,” he says.
But Todd can also trace the ways DnD has specifically supported his wellbeing. “The main thing I can say is that it has made me a more confident and collaborative person,” he says. “Like many people in this hobby, I’m naturally quite introverted, so I have at times found it hard to put myself out there. When you play DnD, you find yourself being put on the spot quite a lot, and you just have to keep going, even if at times it’s difficult to do so.
“Having an environment where this happens, and there are no real ramifications if you make a mistake, has built up my tolerance to pressure in ‘the real world’, and I’ve seen my confidence, assertiveness, and ability to hold an engaging conversation grow in my personal and professional life because of it. Feeling yourself growing as a person is extremely rewarding and has helped with my mental health hugely.”
And Todd has continued to spread the benefits of role-playing when, in 2022, he started Community DND – running games for people around the world as a way to give those who might struggle to find a game a safe and inclusive place to do so.
“In the two years since I started running these adventures, I’ve played with 67 people from 12 countries, and they’ve all been so much fun to play alongside,” he says. “I always say that each month I bring the DnD, but my players bring the community – and that’s what it’s all about!”
Todd’s personal experience shares similarities with a study published in the Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, which found that role-playing scenarios from another’s perspective can reduce negative self-beliefs among people with social anxiety. And while taking that initial step to join a group can be intimidating, there is plenty to gain on the other side.
“The game could be viewed as a metaphor for life,” Clare says. “There is a dungeon master (an authority), characters (other people) and scenarios (life situations). Some things we get to choose and others are chosen for us (through rolling a dice or by the dungeon master). One thing that ought to be true to life, too, is the collaboration and support we get from one another. Players look out for and help each other, leading to potentially strong feelings of comradeship and unity.”
So, are you ready to take up the call to adventure? You may find you defeat much more than just dragons on your way.
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