Dungeons & Dragons events grow by 248%
- Over 11,000 people attended Dungeons & Dragons events hosted on Eventbrite in the UK in the last five years
- Dungeons & Dragons events listed in countries as far away as Hong Kong, Malaysia, Bahrain, Iceland, Philippines, and Japan
March 2024 sees Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) turn 50 and the cult role playing tabletop fantasy game continues to grow in popularity. Global events marketplace, Eventbrite, has seen the number of Dungeon & Dragons related events in the UK more than triple (+248%) in the past five years (2018 to 2023).
Dungeons & Dragons references are all over contemporary pop culture: it was featured in the global Netflix hit, Stranger Things, appeared on the US sitcom The Big Bang Theory, and The Simpsons. And 2023’s massive gaming surprise and Game of the Year winner, video game Baldur’s Gate 3, is based on the D&D rule set.
Originally designed as a tabletop fantasy game for groups by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson in 1974, D&D has branched out into computer games, merchandise, books and movies.
Over 11,000 people attended D&D events hosted on Eventbrite in the UK over the last five years. However, the fantasy game is enjoyed all over the world and D&D events were hosted on the platform in 32 countries – including in Italy, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Bahrain, Iceland, the Philippines and Japan.
“Dungeons and Dragons’ appeal is unbroken. It seems that everyone is getting painfully aware that we are spending far too much time staring at screens every day. And in that context, D&D’s unique mix of getting friends together around a table to become whoever they want to be, venture through fantasy worlds, fight monsters and collect treasure, seems to appeal to more and more audiences across the UK – irrespective of age, gender, race, or ability. And it’s very fulfilling to do our part to help bring these people together IRL to enjoy their hobby.” said Eventbrite’s Sebastian Boppert.
Quotes from D&D event organisers
One D&D event organiser on Eventbrite, Ashley Willson from Charity Gaming Guild, is hosting a 12 hour On Wings of Gold game of D&D in Ipswich in November 2024.
He said: “The game brings communities and people together and we’ve seen life-long friendships form from our charity events, facilitated by Dungeons and Dragons. During COVID, online D&D games gave people a platform to socialise and it supported the mental health of people across the globe.
“The D&D community is diverse and welcomes people from all walks of life – it truly is the most inclusive hobby in the world. The game is easy to get into, especially with organisations like ours and opens the door to help people with social anxiety or other mental health issues who may otherwise find socialising difficult.
“There are also clear educational benefits of playing including problem solving, maths, creative writing and art – as well as helping to develop confidence and public speaking skills.”