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HARRISBURG, PA – In August 2024, Harrisburg University of Science and Technology (HU) joined seven other institutions to create the National Learning Network for Supportive Gaming Communities. The Network’s mission is to establish supportive gaming communities, or SGCs, across the country: small groups that use tabletop role-playing games (RPGs) to foster mental health benefits for students. Other founding institutions include Dallas College, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Georgia Southern University, Ringling College of Art and Design, Texas Christian University, University of Southern Indiana, and University of Texas at Dallas.

As reported in Forbes, early outcomes from these programs have highlighted some important insights about the effectiveness of tabletop RPGs in higher education.

Tabletop RPGs Are Popular Among College Students

Joe LeConte, a substance use and recovery counselor at Texas Christian University, attributes the popularity of tabletop RPGs to widespread media representation. “Shows like Critical RoleDimension 20Stranger Things, and Community have made role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons [D&D] incredibly appealing to a new generation,” he says.

This growing enthusiasm is increasingly evident at campus events across the US.

At University of Texas at Dallas, Cara Guziak, senior staff therapist and groups and workshops coordinator, shared the overwhelming response to their program: “Within hours of sending a campus-wide email, over 75 students, faculty, and staff expressed interest.”

Kristie Postorino, director of counseling at Harrisburg University, was similarly impressed by the response to HU’s tabletop RPG initiative: “This was the most successful recurring group our counseling center has offered at our small school,” she said.

HU might be a small school, but it has demonstrated an outsized influence at recent gaming-focused events. Students from Harrisburg University’s Game DesignInteractive Media, and Advanced Manufacturing BS programs recently traveled to PAX Unplugged in Philadelphia, where their games received invaluable playtesting feedback and won accolades from industry professionals.

Tabletop RPGs Promote Mental Health and Community

Greg-Loring Albright, Ph.D., assistant professor of Interactive Media at Harrisburg University, says that tabletop gaming – both board games and role-playing games – are incredible social experiences:

“The work that Kristie is doing in HU’s counseling center is so incredible and demonstrates how a degree in Game Design prepares students for careers beyond the AAA video game industry. Between Kristie’s groups, our design courses [IMED315: Tabletop Design StudioGAME145: Introduction to Game Design], and the student-led Tabletop Guild, students have a wealth of opportunities to play and learn from analog gaming.”

Tabletop RPGs provide a creative outlet for students, allowing them to step into the shoes of epic heroes or adventurers. According to LeConte, “It’s a chance to temporarily leave behind the pressures of daily life, which can be both relaxing and empowering.”

Supportive Gaming Communities have also proven effective in combating loneliness and fostering connections. Postorino observed: “We know how challenging it can be for students to find their community in college. With the loneliness epidemic identified by Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, we saw these community events as a fun, accessible way to address this serious issue, particularly for students hesitant to engage with traditional counseling services.”

According to Postorino, facilitating tabletop RPGs has been just as rewarding for staff as it has been for students. “This has been one of the most enjoyable and fulfilling experiences of my career as a clinician. I plan to incorporate it annually.”

Gaming for Good

2024 marked the 50th anniversary of Dungeons & Dragons and celebrated its 50 million worldwide fans. Although it’s certainly the most famous game of its kind, D&D is just the beginning for many tabletop RPG fans.

Beyond entertainment value, D&D and other tabletop RPGs are increasingly recognized as tools that can promote mental health among college students; blend creativity, collaboration, and connection; and support a stronger sense of community in educational settings. Programs like Harrisburg University’s Interactive Media and Game Design degrees help students tap into this wellspring of inspiration and build networks that “game for good” as they call attention to the critical health issues of our time.

For more information about Harrisburg University’s degree programs, visit HarrisburgU.edu or reach out to the Office of Admissions to start a conversation.

ABOUT HARRISBURG UNIVERSITY

Harrisburg University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and is a private, nonprofit university offering bachelor’s and graduate degree programs in the fields of science, technology, and mathematics. For additional information about the University’s affordable, demand-driven undergraduate and graduate programs, please call 717.901.5146 or email Connect@HarrisburgU.edu. Stay updated by following Harrisburg University on XLinkedInInstagram, and Facebook.