Table Talk - Are Board Games Good For Your Mental Health? 

My husband had cancer this past year. He had a peg tube for nutrition. He couldn't eat or drink by mouth. He became severely depressed. We got into gaming and it helped him in ways that even I couldn't. I am grateful for this channel which has introduced us to so many wonderful games and helped my husband through the toughest time of his life. Thank you Rodney!

I am a recovering drug addict. 7 1/2 years clean. Board games have become my refuge and my peace during my recovery. It gives me something to do, something to learn, something to enjoy! I am very grateful for the hobby. Thank you for doing this video!

I lost my Dad last summer and my partner at Christmas, both to cancer. After a couple of months of barely leaving the house and not socialising, I finally started inviting friends over again to play board games a couple of Saturdays a month. This finally started to bring some normality back into my life after it had been turned upside down, with the added bonus of having those close friends with me to just talk and have fun. While board games are mostly just a temporary distraction, they also helped provide me with that company I was missing. Last month I also found a local board game group that meets once a week, this has helped to push me to start getting out more again, make some knew gaming friends and introduce me to some new games as a bonus.

Therapist here - I (and other coworkers) have used board games in our therapies, sometimes during sessions, as a prelude to trauma work or to manage symptoms of anxiety. Solo play has also been instrumental for my own mental health. Thank you for presenting this at the start of mental health month. Best wishes to you.

As someone who struggles with anxiety and related mental health issues from a past career, board games allow me to focus on something else. They are an outlet to develop social skills, put down our phones, eat junk food and give my mind a break from intrusive thoughts. A respite to positively feed my soul.

I have generalized anxiety disorder. This hobby saves my day. Everyday.

I am consultant psychiatrist and of course I am so exited that this topic came up. In our times of increasing social disconnection, Board games are a great way to connect to other people. I am a passionate Board gamer myself and so much could be said about it’s pros (and very few cons). Thank you watch it Played for this episode.

Board games are THE family activity. When I’m considering a game, I’m actively thinking of the members of my family at our table playing that title. From the mental health aspect, we’re are juggling a million things at once, and this gives us a pause. We need it, we need the love, we need the support and laughs.❤ Edit: Thinking about this a little more, I thought I’d add how I’ve adapted our gameplay to make the experience more enjoyable for the different members of our family. We’ve found the longer it takes to lose a game, the more it causes frustration. We keep our competitive games short and funny, and lean more into co-op.

I'm glad you highlight the competative nature of some board games. This however is the reason why I mostly co-op games because it's what my group and I prefer.

Oh my goodness, Rodney, your point of providing structure for even an hour or two, is SO relatable! Thank you for this video!

As someone on the autism spectrum, the comments about structure really resonate. I got heavy into solo gaming as a way to recharge during military exercises. My wife has ADHD and we play together a lot, and it's really helped our communication, seeing the way we each parse info on the game board. It's also one of the key ways I relate to my kids.

Let’s not forget the art of board games! They are aesthetically pleasing, cool to setup and the themes are amazing and can make us feel apart of a mission aside from normal life.

I have diagnosed OCD, and my brain is hardwired for 'right and wrong' for every single interaction I have with people and objects. You're absolutely correct about the relief having clear defined rules can be. It's a vacation for my brain where I don't have to be constantly worried about the morality or correctness by how I performed in life, and instead I have a small time to know without a doubt if the things I am doing are correct or incorrect. It really reenergizes me for going back out into a shades of grey world.

Couldn't agree more, Rodney, about the physicality of games. It's why I love reading a real book or graphic novel. Not audio books or eBooks, although they have their place, but real paper and leather or whatever. As I said before we survived COVID via Tabletopia ad still use it because of our distance, but as soon as it was safe to get together in person to touch pieces and hold cards, we were all over that!

I just want to start by saying thank you . This video hit home. Board Ganes are a huge part of our family . We have learned a lot from your channel. As we say in our home IN RODNEY WE TRUST.

Thanks for raising this important topic, and thanks for everyone’s willingness to share their stories here in the comments! Last year my parents lost three of their siblings. It was a tough time for all of us. What I loved about board games was that I could be with people, but yet there was no expectation to talk about our problems because we already had the game to talk about. I needed that for my own healing at the time. I also am a person who loves learning, and even though I teach as a career, I often find that the rest of my life doesn’t give me much intellectual stimulation. This hobby is the perfect answer! It stops me from being restless. As a potential negative, last winter I agreed to play an especially competitive game-Magic Maze-which allows no communication except signalling for another player to do something (who knows what). I got so frustrated with it that I literally broke a game piece in anger. That scared me. Despite the fact that no one was hurt, I was shocked at my lack of control, and my evening was ruined. I don’t like that ugly side of myself. I’ve been gaming for some 13 years as a main hobby and I’d never seen gaming turn into an expression of violence before, least of all with me, who usually plays to have a good experience rather than needing to win. That led to some self-awareness for me … not to walk into games that use frustration or adrenaline as the key motivator for the gameplay, because I won’t like the person I become when playing them. (Like Paula, I have learned the lesson now to use them as a barometer for my mental health.) Most games, though, are an absolute solace for me. They’re the way I can make friends anywhere in the world. I’m so thankful for our hobby, and when life gets stressful, I’m happy to have them to help me unwind.

As a licensed therapist myself, yes they are so helpful in so many ways. I even used to do an entire segment on board game breakfast about it.

Thanks Rodney, Been watching you for many years now. Thank God you are around to show us all How to play games. Due to the pandemic I was cut back at my job hours and pay. So I had to get a second job. I had to work 7 days a week and could not get together with my game group any more for over 2 years. Finally last Dec. I cut back 1 day a week from the job who cut my hours, So now on Thursdays we get together and play board games for about 6 hours. Boy does it help. I am loving life again. I get to see my pals and laugh and have fun. I don't care if I win or lose, it's just being with the guys. Please keep making those How to Play videos. You have saved my life so many times. I put them on a USB drive and they can watch them on a TV and we play.

Ever since my husband and I discovered the hobby. It has only been a positive impact not only in our mental health and personal life but also in our relationship. We just love to play together and teach others as well.

Bouncing off your first point, there's a great book called Games: Agency as Art by philosopher C Thi Nguyen that explores the nature of games as an art form. One of the things he highlights about the appeal of games is that in life, we are often given inadequate tools for our problems (dealing with incurable diseases, a task in our jobs that we can't resolve) or tasks that are too simple (doing chores around the house, commuting to work). Games create spaces of agency where we are given toolsets perfectly tuned to the problem. This generates a satisfaction that the outside world rarely affords us. Highly recommend checking out the book if you haven't; it's served as a bedrock for my understanding of games since reading it.

I've only recently gotten into board games with my girlfriend and as someone who just has a fair handful of diagnosed mental disorders and general lack of social skills - they definitely make me feel like I'm a part of something, even though I don't play with anyone else aside from her. Between learning of things like Etsy sellers selling custom upgrade minis, or 3D printed walls or stickers for wooden meeples and adding those to the games in my own collection or discovering some "well established" online house rules that can make some games feel more accessible or just more fun in general. It's definitely a feeling I've never gotten from any other type of community I've been in in the past. Absolutely a positive on my mental health

I fell into the hobby shortly after the suicide of my best friend. It was a way to focus on something else, get lost in a story, enjoy a community of friends focused on having fun. That's probably why I'm so focused on theme heavy titles or campaign games. Although recently I've clicked with Euro style games because it helps focus my scattered brain after a rough day at the hospital.

When I had my shoulder surgery, I was unable to sleep. On top of that, I was on some fine narcotics to manage the pain. This led to crippling anxiety and exacerbated the mental issues for which I was already getting treatment. Setting up games and playing them with my children gave me something that I could focus on instead of the cloud of mental gloom I was experiencing. Watching the videos on this channel with Rodney and his children playing games were also of great comfort during the times I was unable to sleep.

Thanks so much guys...this really resonates. Even setting up a big board game to play later is engaging enough to be therapeutic. Then when you play later, solo, or with friends...hours pass pleasantly, and anything troubling you is out of mind. Indeed, board games are more than just a hobby...they are refreshing and cleansing for the mind.

I will second the point that board games give your brain something to focus on. Focusing for me has always been a struggle, but I find board games very easy to focus on. I think it's because I am very systems-minded and it's fascinating to look at a board game and all of its different mechanisms and how they interact with each other.

I have watched your videos for years. This is your best. I needed this.

We started to combat screen time about 3 months ago. First bluntly removing screens, and very quickly realizing board games would fill the void well and even better, bring the whole family back around the same table. I haven’t done any mental health analysis about this, but it’s the simple gut feeling that things are moving in the right direction. I played some proper games as a kid, and I’ve bought and taught some proper games to my kids (ranging from preschool to teenagers). It’s been a pleasant surprise that kids learn medium complexity games very quickly and master them at an enjoyable level too. Ofcourse, kids and competitive games means lots of screaming, crying and general blood, guts and glory around the table. We still have plenty of days when all screens are kept away, and even when they are not, the behavior has (mostly) changed, and board games are playing an important role in this new routine. Not to mention myself, less screen time equals more and better sleep.

Yes. They allow me to focus on something other than the daily struggle.

Having my own history with depression, board gaming has helped me to socialize, to meet other people and especially have a good reason to be in touch. Meetings do give me a lot, even though they cost me energy as well, but I have recognized that I need to be in touch with other people, to feel better. One negative aspect, when I didn‘t know what was going on with me, is that I started to buy a lot of games and keep hoarding them. It was a sign that I wanted to fill some inner hole with all those bought games, but it wasn‘t helping me.

Tutti i mercoledì sera ,io e mio figlio andiamo in ludoteca a Bologna per giocare ai tavoli!! Serate bellissime con persone che condividono lo stesso hobby .

I've been living for years with clinical depression, a generalized anxiety disorder, as well as Trauma and A.D.D. Boardgames have been a godsend for me. And I currently do volunteer work for an NYS organization that helps, among others, people who live with mental health and/or addiction issues. I've hosted both board and on-line (Zoom) games for participants in this program, plus I host regular board game events on the weekend that I do separately from my volunteer work. And it's something that has spread through the organization by word of mouth, to the point that I keep getting new people. We all have different issues, but the days when I host those games really give me a natural high, because everyone always has a great time One of the worst parts of dealing with mental illness is the tendency to isolate and stay home. But I try to give myself (and others) a regular event to look forward to so that we aren't isolating. Some people are still afraid to try to play a game, so I've made it clear that people can come just to socialize. I do try to frequently include very easy games that anyone can play. But some people come just to have lunch with us, and to socialize.

This has been on my mind recently. About a month or two ago, a friend of mine came over for a game day and she mentioned she was incredibly stressed with work and personal life and such. The best way that I was able to help her was to offer to play her favourite game with her on BGA. It’s a game I have no real love for but I know it’s her favourite and it brings her joy so I was happy to play it repeatedly to at least offer the distraction from the trash in the world

Games have really helped me deal with depression. I can always go to my shelf and find an adventure to get lost in that can take my mind off the stress of the real world. I love the social aspect of gaming too. As a extrovert I love meeting new people through games and sharing a game a love with friends. Games also build confidence. When I win a challenging game I feel great about myself. Even when I teach someone a game and they’re excited about it I feel so happy to share with them. My only challenge with gaming is that I often use retail therapy when I’m stressed and this hobby is EXPENSIVE! I have to be mindful of that when I feel my stress creeping up - I tell myself to stay off game nerdz and the hotness videos😂😂 thanks for talking about mental health and gaming. Great discussion!!!

Thank you Rodney and everyone at Watch it played for this great table talk. The last few years have had quite a toll on my own mental health. As I lost my mother to cancer and saw my wife grow weak from her own fight with that same illness, I also had to spend time taking care of family members going through some mental issues. Boardgames were one of my release valves during those times. They allowed me to escape by making me take some "Me" time. As an introvert who has difficulty making contacts with strangers, they pushed me toward people I could share a passion with. And most importantly, they gave me time to spend with loved ones. The only negative impact I noticed is this incontrolable addiction to get more and more games.😄

Literally a life-saver. I'm homebound and disabled (obviously lol) and had a really hard past few years. When I was very low mentally, without a lot of hope because of a new downturn in my health, I just grabbed a board game and it brought my spirits up. Kept me going. And the community is so nice like people on this channel :D There's always a board game easy enough I can play (I mostly play solo). Huge addition to my life since 2020! It's also perfect for insomnia and long days where my spouse works long hours. Lots to do to fill the void: watching videos, learning games, playing them, shopping for them, etc.

In my group I am usually the person that learns the rules of the game even if I don't own the game. This is something that I enjoy doing in my spare time, research, go on to forums, watch videos like this in order to have a understanding of not only how the game is played but if it's a right fit for the group that I interact with. Knowing that this is my role in my group gives me the confidence I need in order to speak on the subject. This is often a level of confidence that I don't usually have when speaking or interacting otherwise. It allows me to flex my leadership skills in an environment that I feel comfortable in. It also gives me great pleasure when others around me look to me to make sure that they understand the game and have a good time. For us it's not about the winning or losing it's how the game is played. In this environment I know what to do how to do it and speak intelligently about it. Without board games I would not be as social as I am nor near as confident as I could be. I enjoy this role thoroughly and look forward to it every time we meet.

The discussion on structure from Chaz and Rodney really resonated. I like connecting with peoplr but I'm terribly socially anxious. The explicit rules and roles and boundaries that a game provides helps me a lot. And the different games I've been able to put in front of my friends allow me to ask different questions of them--both in game, as in "what are you gonna do now?" And out of game as the different game events jog different stories. This might sound insane for some people, but we'll be playing a game we all love and something will happen that reminds them of something that happened and we'll just have a little story time. I absolutely love that. As much as I love games for what they are and like to engage with the design, I play games to connect with my friends and I appreciate all the ways they allow me to do that. On the flip side, although board games help me come out of my shell once I'm in it, the getting into it can be anxiety provoking. Choosing the right game for the group and night and making sure to teach it properly is a scary prospect despite having done it a bunch. And when I've made a rules error, oh man. I feel so bad especially if I feel like it could've lessened the play experience.

First of all, a big thank you for talking about this. As someone who regularly consult a psychologist for anxiety issues, I'm glad to see the subject coming up more and more often. I know that I'm one of the lucky ones that can afford it, but if you struggle with mental health issues please seek help. I promise it can get better! 🤗 Personally, the board game hobby simply helps me step away from my problems and stop worrying about everything. It helps me stay in the moment and connect with whoever i'm playing with. Even if it's mostly been online I feel like it gave me the chance to get to know people and form some friendships. Hopefully I can meet these people in person one day. 😁

I have struggled with mental health issues, especially anxiety since I was a child. Boardgames are almost like a mutual acquaintance that alleviates that social awkwardness when getting to know new people. That said, some games with the wrong set of players could make for a taxing evening, especially marathon games that include politicking.

This video spoke so deeply to me. I have anxiety and social issues (the whole society is not playing by the same rules). I have a family game day every month with my parents, sister, her family, and my daughter. I also started a local board game club at my library, and while it's not a lot of people, it's nice in small groups. I started board gaming a few years ago, and it has been a great hobby to be into. Like it was said, you can choose what kind of game you want to play. Thank you to everyone who was in on the video and gave their thoughts on the matter. Edited for typos.

As someone who struggles to connect with other people (especially people I don't have a lot of history with) I love that gaming puts you into a shared universe with the other players. Whether you've been through 75 hours of Gloomhaven together or spent an afternoon at a Splendor tournament. I can pull all kinds of stories in different friend groups about the time so and so rolled four Yahtzees in a row or the time that one guy came back from down 40 points in Castles of Burgundy and it's just great to have a baseline to build off of even if you don't know a person well or feel like you don't have much in common.

I really like the social aspect of board games, but sometimes struggle to find people to play with. I also feel like I don't always have enough room for the board games I have, which I know is not the worse problem.

In an ironic way board games have both helped me immensely with moving to a new country and meeting new friends, but I feel lost and un-encouraged when not playing a game. I've tried to fill my time with other hobbies, but I find myself constantly thinking about the next time I can play a game, and feeling worse for it.

Thank you so much for this video. I clicked on the video because I thought it would be an interesting topic. But it ended up being more than I thought and really struck me emotionally. You hit on so many aspects that I never even thought about and resonated with me. I'm in IT and I've noticed I don't enjoy getting on my computer at home anymore to play games. And since then I've jumped head first into board games. I think I realized my need for in-person social interaction was something I was craving and board games scratched that itch. It's crazy the little things you don't notice until someone points them out. Thank you for bringing that out. And lastly, reading through the comments brought me to tears. It's wild how board games can help us mentally. Board games are such a great outlet to just get away from reality and share time with friends. Again, thank you and to all that have commented. It really hit me hard.

Excellent video as always. The social interaction at the table is spot on. I've made new friends, grown closer to friends and family, and also helped people have a safe space through tabletop games. We all want to feel that we belong and participate in something together on some level. I've really enjoyed growing in my ability to find games that speak to my group, not necessarily the gaming community as a whole. It's been a wonderful journey, so much more wholesome than when I played video games in high school and college, and look forward to more tabletop gaming going forward. Thanks to the whole team for all you do for the community!

Great topic, and contributions on the video and comments. I think it's worth mentioning the acquisition side of things here, and the hollow short-term fix of getting a new game. I've *often* spent more than I should on a new game that I might never get the right group to play, to try and cheer myself up, or reward me for getting through a tough time. It doesn't work, and then mocks me from the shelf, until I either sell it, or buy another mistake game to compensate! X

Thank you for sharing this beautiful and genuine video. I'm brand new to the hobby. We recently moved to a new state where winters are long and very harsh. I am naturally very social and very outdoorsy and love moving outside in the mountains. I am not used to staying inside for months at a time with little outside activity.The (modern) board game world is a world I never knew existed! It's wonderful for my husband and me to learn new games, improve communication, and keep things very fun indoors. However, there is a slight downside that sometimes can happen: We have experienced playing games with some other people as well. Play with people who are gracious winners and losers. There is a fine line between enjoying the challenge of a good win but not at the cost of making the other players feel bad or inferior. Winning a game does not make anyone superior over another person and losing is not an indicator that you are inferior to the winner. If anyone makes you feel that way by their behavior towards you, play with someone else! Competition is super fun, but at the cost of demoralizing others is not fun at all. Dignity and respect, everyone wins!

As someone who has lived with anxiety issues for a very long time there are a few things that can help diffuse the bad feelings/thoughts. The best solution of all is distraction and games get that over thinking brain to concentrate on something else and soon the negative thoughts have been banished. Also, don't forget the power of breathing exercises, it is really almost miraculous at how effective it is.

For me, I completely agree with the social aspect of it. Like, I'm not a social person at all usually, but every Sunday, I look forward to getting together with 2 of my friends and playing games. Even though it's just the three of us, in a cramped hobby store, it puts me in a better mood, and makes me forget about anything else going on in my life. So even if I have something negative going on, I will try to never cancel on them.

Very interesting Video! What I noticed on myself: I like to play Solo, but I don't enjoy pure Solo games like "Final Girl" or "Resist!". One thing I find stressfull sometimes, are the prices for some games. As soon as a game goes out of print, the price is going through the roof. So sometimes I feel forced to buy a game, just to avoid high prizes...

Matthew's comments really resonate with me recently. I hadn't been able to play games for over a month due to an extra-curricular project I had been working on and had been stressing over. When I finally had a free evening I reached out to friends and got in a couple casual games of Cribbage and So Clover. It felt good to reconnect, to communicate the ups and downs of the project, and to know I had someone to encourage me. I tend to consider myself as a bit stand-offish; I struggle letting people get close to me, emotionally. I'm not sure why, but I think games really help me combat that. Maybe because it's where I feel the most "in-my-element", I'm more confident and can more easily let my guard down and open up.

This is exactly stuff I've been thinking about.. alot.. I am introvert, and get really bored and/or anxious at social stuff.. except when there are board games involved. I don't even like taking breaks between games, as I the feeling that no one else really wanna play.. which I know is not true.. but it's as you said; hard to shake the feeling.. I need the structured environment, I need to know what we are about to do, and how to do it. Who wins and who loses is not important at all for me. Not even if I lose over and over. I ran a local board game community for 5 years, and we played at least once every week, the community grew from 3 people to about 40.. and it was among the best time of my life. Today, I have a family, with a four year old and a new born baby, who are the joy of my life, but there are hardly any game nights any more, as my children takes so much of my time. And I often find myself thinking that I miss the game nights so much, almost regretting getting my children now.. that I should have waited longer.. or got them earlier.. or any time that is not now. i love my kids, and I sacrifice my time for them willingly, and lovingly, but can't wait until the day I can play games with them.

Gaming got me through my dad leaving us when I was 7 years old. I could escape into another world and forget about my troubles for a while. 43 years later, it still brings me some relief escaping work, bills and other stress by board gaming for a few hours.

Excellent topic choice, Rodney and team. When the notification came up for this video, I thought “yes, next question.” But now I’ve had a second to think about it… it’s a “yes… mostly…” I understand the structure thoughts, the world is definitely messy. And i agree with Monique - escapism in games is absolutely a heavy factor. Especially when you look at the RPG world. I get to put out my creative thoughts into a collaborative activity, even if it doesn’t feel collaborative to my players, but we’re all telling the story together. I can also draw a strong line between gaming, my core social group and my relationship. Being introduced to D&D and games by a work colleague spun off into gathering a group together regularly to play together, which gave Laura a chance to join us when her social circle was smaller, and then it’s really helped flower our relationship together. Our first date was a game cafe. Heck, our wedding will have gaming touches throughout. It’s such a core dynamic for us. There are some dark pockets of the hobby though. FOMO is a factor, and I think it’s an unfortunate aspect of the commercialisation of the hobby. And I think those who choose to target others because of their choice of game or strategy, especially behind the anonymity of a screen. But on the whole - board games are hugely beneficial to me. During the pandemic, I had my low moments, and I found playing either solo modes, or using a digital system to play something and bring myself out of that spiral. I’ll sign off with an open invite - if anyone in this community ever fancies a game or needs one, please feel free to reach out. I’ll be happy to oblige on BGA, or IRL if we’re close! My handle is mr_LMP on BGA.

Having really got into the hobby with my wife/family over the past year I agree with this 100% My wife and I have grown even closer over our nearly daily board game, whether it be the short game like Here to Slay or a long game like Terraforming Mars. So much time to spend together visiting over a shared experience!

I discovered modern board games during the pandemic at exactly the same time that I succumbed to an escalation of some life long heart problems. Board games have given me a release and an escape from the stresses that has put on me and my family. I am also not the most sociable of people and gaming has given me a reason to want to spend more time with family and friends as well as all the people I have got to know in online forums and on social media. I’m also grateful for all the many hours that my favourite content creators have put in to their videos, tutorials, playthroughs etc because they have given me so much joy. All in all, it has made my life better in so many ways and I am so grateful for that. I can’t leave it there without thanking Rodney personally as the first content creator I discovered on this fascinating journey. His amazing how to play videos made what can seem quite an overwhelming hobby seem so much more accessible. Thank you!

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on a topic that many people find difficult to talk about. As someone who has depression and anxiety disorder, I have found that board games have been a great form of therapy in a way. That comes with the caveat that games are not the only thing that help me - I also have the support I need from medical professionals. It's important that if you know someone who is really struggling with their mental health that you help them get the professional help they need. There is no shame in that, as I eventually discovered in my ongoing mental health journey. The first step is to be able to open up to others and talk about it as many people, like myself initially, will keep it hidden from others. So thank you again for having an open conversation about it on your channel.

I don't think it is exaggerating to call board games life saving for some people. Having been diagnosed with generalised anxiety disorder and social anxiety, one of the things my therapist encouraged me to do was to play more board games. They help to give my mind a rest from the stresses of real life - I'm too busy concentrating on my next move to get swept away in anxious thoughts! Plus they are a handy tool in social scenarios, because they give me a reason to be around other people and a ready-made topic of conversation so I don't have to worry so much about what to say. They are an indispensable part of my toolkit for managing my mental health.

Board games surely are a good way to keep my mental health in a good state. Last year, we moved into our newly built house, in which we specifically designed a board gaming room on the underground level. I made the place mine, with two 5x5 shelves almost full of games I like, a big table, paintings on the walls, and even a surround sound system with an enormous TV. We played almost twice a week with two distinct groups of friends. It was the best time. But then, in January this year, we started having humidity issues, and discovered cracks in two walls, through which water infiltrated the whole floor isolation. We had to take apart the whole room.. moving all my collection to a safe place, removing all the parquet flooring for the specialists to dry everything, making the gaming room entirely unusable since then. We are still waiting for it to be completely dry again, to be sure that no other cracks leak water in it. We will probably have to wait until summer to rebuild everything. This affected my morale greatly. I almost lost the desire to play board games. I even stopped reading the rulebooks of the new board games I got, which is usually the first thing I do when unwrapping a game box. I am still slowly recovering from all this, and will start inviting people over soon. We won't be able to play in our gaming room, but I really need these moments with friends, where everyone is on the same level, playing for fun, relieving all the stress of the day or week. I miss that a lot...

I was in the psych ward 6 years ago as a patient. My spouse brought some small boardgames that I would play with other patients. It helped me feel more normal and boost my mood as well.

I often have this cycle. I find a new game, I learn it, I play it, I love it. Then I feel sad that I'm not enjoying this with someone else. So I invite others to share in the joy of the game. I am happy they came to play. But then they don't like it, and then I'm back to being sad I have no one to share this amazing game with.

I feel a big mix of Paula’s and Rodney’s points. I moved to Sweden as an adult who only spoke about 10 words of Swedish. So it was through games, MTG specifically to begin with, that I formed a social circle. I then took the core members of that circle more into boardgames with me after a few years. Then, very much like Paula, I have trouble judging my emotional state, and games have become a way I can get a clue. After a tragic backstory and a tour in the Marine Corps infantry, it can be a minefield, having my trusting (emotional)bomb sniffing board game helps. As for negatives, I really struggled with acquisition disorder and cult of the new fomo. That can cost you. A few big budget kickstarters hurt enough to make me rethink that.

Thanks for doing this, I found it informative and enjoyable. Our group, for the most part, gets together and plays once a week. The social part is important. We get to take a break from our week. We laugh, argue, pick on each other, have fun and yes, do dumb things. I also think that the learning and thinking is good "brain exercise" and the sharper we can keep ourselves mentally may help with our mental well being.

My wife and I first got into the hobby after the loss of an infant. Going through depression and grief, board games offered a healthy break from it. Now it is a fun way to bond with friends and make new friends. Now it relieves me from anxiety.

This is actually something I have thought quite a bit about in the last several years. With the start of covid I was working from home and had limited outside activities. And I discovered that there was a gaming group that met on wednesday nights in my town. I was not real into board games but i've always enjoyed games so I said i'm gonna give it to go. It has been a complete lifesaver for me because it gives me a reason to leave my condo and be around people. I've also learned a load of different games and had great conversations with the people that are in that group.

Thank you for bringing the topic up and being so open about it. Your thoughts about structure provided resonate with me. I am also grateful for the change and challenge the games provide in my at the moment rather boring/ intellectually underchallenging life. I love the social aspect of boardgames but also the fact that solo gaming allows me time for myself.

Boardgames have been a great way for me to feel more comfortable in social settings. Having something to focus on other than the pressure of conversation where I tend to feel like I just have nothing to contribute is very helpful. On the negative side, games seem to be a point of stress in my relationship with my husband. He got me into the hobby, but now he gets stressed while playing. He is an over thinker and says that he finds games like work where he’s having to use his brain too much and he can’t relax. There’s also the inevitable fight over the rule I told him that he forgot or the one I forgot to mention that ruins the whole experience for him. I want to share the hobby with him but it’s not fun anymore 😢

I loved your insights and comments from the team. I try to get out and game weekly with the same group of friends or go to game meet ups and meet new people. In the last few years, I've made a large stride in expanding my friendship base and have become more social. However, a con that I can see about gaming could be 'avoidance', yes sometimes you can use games to help push you out of your headspace to give yourself a different type of mental break, but the inverse side of that is using it to constantly escape realities that should be dealt with,; I hate house work... "oh hey, I should clean up that table or rake up the yard, but look a new game arrived, let's play that instead :)."

This is such an important topic for me....I've had to explain why I hyperfixate on this hobby in particular, especially from people who don't really know much about it beyond the traditional Uno and Monopoly. That point that was made about how having structure and fantasy combined in such a unique way is *exactly* why I seek out board games so damn much. It gives you a temporary reality that you can sink into for a little bit, while still providing you with the almost necessary feeling of control and order. Especially if you're on the spectrum or have certain mental disorders that prevents you from feeling that way in any other social setting like I do. Wonderful video!

I really appreciated all of the perspectives. Especially the way Rodney was able to articulate what it means to him because it’s how I feel and I wasn’t able to articulate it. The structure and shared understanding in an effort to engage in a fun activity is exactly why I love board games so much. I find comfort in the structure and enjoy what it provides.

I have enjoyed co-operative board games over the past few years. I like games where players work as a team trying to achieve a common goal. There are many co-ops out there, from heavy dungeon crawlers to light party games. They bring people together.

I discovered this hobby 8 years ago after my partner took her life. Tabletop gaming has not only literally saved my life, but it has given me a community and something to look forward to each and every day.

Being the sole caregiver and provider for a family of 4, I appreciate the break gaming provides me from work and home chores. It also provide a great opportunity for social engagement I otherwise wouldn't have.

I moved to DC Fall 2019 with very few connections. I wanted to make friends, so I tried volleyball but that didn't go as I planned. Then, I joined board game meet-up groups, being the first one for LGBTQ people. As a foreigner with anxiety and depression, whose English is not my first language, I always felt out of place. But with board game groups, something felt different. I wasn't that shy anymore. I became more confident in myself, even in my language skills as I was able to teach games. I was able to make friends and even date someone who had the same hobby (we are still friends today). During the pandemic, I was able to count on some gaming friends whenever I was struggling, which led me to join other groups and play at my local FLGS. Gaming is a way for me to connect with people and forget about the issues I am going through my personal and academic life (getting a Ph.D.) for a couple of hours. I still struggle at times and I try to meet some of these friends when I feel lonely and don't want to be alone. I also make sure to ask my gaming groups peeps how they are doing, because sometimes they do wanna talk about something personal but do not feel like they have someone they can reach out to and not feel judged. I honestly don't know where I would be today if it wasn't for board games and the people I met.

I think your insights are rather spot on. After the first five minutes I withheld commenting till the end because you had brought up several points in a similar perspective as to how I would have described. The structured safety of the social interaction really does help with my conflicting need to be and fear of being sociable at times. Unfortunately, often times I think some cracks show when there is the reliance on the structure to maintain the interactions, small talking between turns expose the reality of real conversations for a bit. As someone who games as and with a group of largely neurodivergent people, the spaces between are very real social encounters that normally we might not find ourselves in. A heavy reliance on the game can be built to exist in that space and when left between the game actions for long enough it can be cause discomfort and anxiety. I do feel responsible as someone relatively more socially capable to facilitate conversations but it can be daunting. I never want to force someone along their journey to be as fast as I have grown in tackling my ASD but I can feel urged to when I see people in too much need to be attached to the game to exist in such situations. I do muse that such is something that however maybe could be solved by gaming just depending on the style of game. Gaps between competitive games leave the odd windows where in reality were aren't in competition, but more co-operative titles allow for the gameplay to let us escape but the framing of our relationships are still the same. I can't say much about the effectiveness of such as it is challenging to get my friends to play more co-operative games, but I think that those games can much better bring people together as a whole experience, even in the empty parts.

Board games are great for socializing and improving mental health that I wish I could do more of. My friends and I play when we can but it is difficult to get together when we live far from each other. We usually play strategic games and other games that have players think about what they do. It keeps our brains actively working. However, my friends and I are competitive people and we always try to play to win. It can get really frustrating when things don't go your way, especially when its early into a game and you feel that you can't do anything. Having to play out a game where you know you can't win is not a good feeling and it makes the person go into the next game with a negative mindset. Having said that, we always take breaks when we need to, and come back the next game with a new mindset and play the game as best as we can.

I am licensed Mental health provider and I thank you for addressing this.

I'm primarily a solo gamer and being able to just sit down and focus on any kind of game gives me certain kind of peace and relaxation i can't get anywhere else. So glad i found the hobby 4 years ago.

Thank you so much for this video. All the points were spot on. Being a high school teacher, and having a gamers club in the past, I didn't really think about the mental health of the students when we played and the impact it could have on them. I can see now how important it can be to have board games in our lives. Especially to get rid of the technology for a couple of hours. I will be starting up my gamers club again this fall!

This is something I have had to learn over time while hosting others for board games. I think that inviting others to play a board game is a great idea to make someone feel loved and cared for, especially when they are feeling alone. However, I think it is that much more important to make sure you are choosing a game that is suitable to their understanding or competitive nature with games. If they are an anxious person with limited board game experience and you invite them over to play a heavy game or one that requires them to be in a situation they aren't used to, they may feel unintelligent or sometimes even more alone. Ultimately the goal is to make others feel included and to help them come away from the experience with enjoyment and a growth in the relationship. It's a good idea to cater to that as best as possible putting your own desires aside.

In my opinion, the socialization element is extraordinary. When we play board games we put our phones away and socialize, that’s amazing (nowadays we know how hard it’s to socialize without our phones/social medias). On the other hand, it’s kinda bad when we overthink. I mean, we’re doing other stuff (working, playing sports, videogames or even just chatting w/ friends) and thinking about board games.

Ever since the pandemic started, I've been working from home (I'm a software engineer). I'm an introvert, so you would think this would be wonderful, but it isn't. I'm lonely, and very much miss the interactions I had with my co-workers, even if I wasn't an active participant in a group conversation. Early on into the pandemic, my family started playing board games (What else could we do during lock down?) These games have helped improve my mental health so much! As Rodney pointed out, it is structured, personal interaction, that watching TV with the family doesn't provide. I'm so thankful that my family found this hobby!

Great topic to touch upon. I really love the social aspect of board/card/table top games and the chance to sit down with friends/family really makes me happy and feel healthy. On the flip side, the limitation on availability, things like work load, university, just general tiredness can make me feel unhappy that I can't engage in an activity I so very much enjoy. It's a very tough balance but when I can, it's a truly mentally uplifting experience. Thank you Watch it Play family for discussing. And I hope this video helps encourage others to open up. ❤

Everything said here is so spot on. The social aspect of board gaming is extremely important to my personal mental health. And encouraging my family to play board games has taken all our relationships to another level. Now, instead of spending our free time in separate rooms, we’re gathered around the Viticulture board, or taking turns at Clank. My children are getting older, and relying less and less on my wife and I, so it’s good for us all to do something together and encourage that face time.

Absolutely! They allow you to use your brain and improve all kinds of skills, [strategy, time management, social interaction, being gracious at winning and losing...]. I took up board gaming during COVID as an alternate to zoning out at the TV, and have continued, because it's just good fun! Board gaming has come such a long way from Sorry, Monopoly, and many other classic great games, in terms of innovation, creativity and beauty. I really enjoy this hobby!

I like that at the table, every gets a turn, which means that every one matters. Also, during the pandemic, being able to play games with my family at home was huge for us to connect, especially on days when everything felt really isolating. Being able to play on Board Game Arena also helped us stay connected to friends all over the country during those months as well. Locally, I organize a board game meet up group, and I can see from those who come to our tables that people find escape from stress, friendships (albeit causal at first), focus on something unlike life, healthy escapism and more.

I so identify with you, Rodney, that losting many times in a row makes me start that internal "I'm not really that good." Or, if it's losing the same game over and over, that the person I play with would rather not play with me because I don't present enough of a challenge so the game isn't fun for them. And it's all me...nothing anyone else has ever said.

Thank you so much for this topic, some of these are points I’ve made to family and friends and when I started diving into this hobby during Covid it was with the intention of improving my mental health. Here are some of my experiences: 1. Sharing the excitement for something new I’ve discovered or learned is such a huge positive drive and games provide so many opportunities not just when you first discover the games but when you rediscover games by learning a new game or teaching your game to a new player. I will always keep at the utmost in my mind the joy that can come a with that “new player experience” and do everything I can to protect it. 2. The darker side of that, however, is that while it is true that games are low risk activities a person’s thoughts and feelings are not. During my entrance into the hobby I felt ridiculed by experienced gamers who had been in the hobby long enough to have more of a cynical and jaded attitude. And the fact that I came into the hobby looking for a safe space during a difficult time meant that I was especially vulnerable. Some of this might just be the internet phenomenon of loud, cynical, and snarky comments echo the most, but I’ve run into this in person as well. It’s usually not malicious but rather someone gets so invested in their own specific experience with the game that they forget to empathize with someone else’s experience. It unfortunately reinforces some of the older and less flattering stereotypes of geeks as being a closed off subculture that argues over small technicalities of niche topics. 3. On a similar note games can provide a safe space but they don’t provide a perfect bubble. I try to avoid certain subjects and topics that trigger me and these will come up during gameplay. Whether it’s a game putting me in a situation where everyone accuses me of lying or hits on themes that feel way too close to depressing real world issues, I realized as someone with poor mental health that I need to be discerning of the games I play and the groups I play with. Paula’s barometer comment really resonates here. 4. To end on a positive, one of my biggest problems is self-loathing but games provide a playground for my mind where I can exercise creativity and build confidence. This is both from playing games and from participating in the hobby at large. I get practice trying a risky play or a dumb move and living with the consequences in a game (life AP is worse than game AP). That act of exploration and expression is liberating and the more often I do it the more comfortable I am trying something else and the more of this confidence I can bring to other parts of my life.

Rodney, I love your videos and this one really spoke to me. When I moved to where I currently live, I didn't know anyone except co-workers. They're great, but they have their own lives and activities. I was told by a local game store that there was a local gaming group on facebook. I posted and luckily for me, everyone was so nice and accepting. The first time I met them at the store, I was soooooo nervous. Whew! talk about anxiety. They immediately introduced themselves and started teaching me the game they were playing. A few of the members and a friend from work, play a couple of times a week now with me. As far as losing the games, we all really just take it in stride and laugh about it. We boost each other and nobody feels bad. I usually lose, so one time I thought I won, and got so excited I jumped up and yelled "I WON!!" (Oops, I goofed and the game wasn't over yet) That's one of our running jokes. The advice I can give to those who want to have people to play games with, is to take a deep breath, get out of your comfort zone and take that first step and find a group!

Fantastic and really thought provoking video. So important to think about how hobbies fill (or don’t fill) our buckets. One of my best friends has pretty much written off competitive board games because he doesn’t like the type of person he becomes when playing that way. It’s also a great callout to people to not be gatekeepers to the hobby because it might mean the world to that person that walks up to the table and says, “can I sit in or at least watch?”

Your videos are so well structured, they look amazing, and the whole set-up and scrip is always great. You have really developed a talent for video making! I love your videos, and watching them at night after a long day, with work and kids, i get my boardgame fix, often from watching: watch it played.

Yay to Canadian that's not into hockey but basketball and board gaming! Another one right here. I'm a youth worker and I find board games help a lot with our mental health. In many different ways, the signs of how your doing emotionally. I had a situation where a rule claudication was needed and I was in a mood let's say. Its great for socially awkward youth, it's great for breaking the ice.

I have OCD and struggle with anxiety. Board games enables me to be less anxious when meeting friends and instead excited for when I'm hosting or going to game nights. Thanks for posting this video and for what you guys do for the hobby!

I can absolutely feel that mental, burnt out feeling when I don't play a game for a while, and then the second my group finishes a game I feel almost an instant euphoria of being socially revived. I liken it to the feeling of sharing a meal around a fire; the part of our genetic biology left over from when early humans gathered as the sun went down. We need that connection and board gaming, better than any other social hobby I've tried, does this for me.

Solo games specifically have been a very safe space for me as I can get my gaming enjoyment away from my practice (game development) while not being in front of a screen or other people. It's a wonderful thing!

I appreciate this discussion so much, as it's a subject I've thought about a great deal since getting into the hobby a few years ago. I've lived with depression for a very long time, and for me, anything that brings me joy, that I can focus on to combat feelings of hopelessness, can literally be what allows me to get out of bed and face the day. Even if I'm unable to play a game at that moment, or even that day, they give me something to look forward to with excitement, and that can make all the difference.

I’m really thankful for this topic… It gave words to how I feel about the hobby. I’ve struggled with a lot of things since I was younger due to an unfair upbringing. Two of the main things are social anxiety and feeling alone. The room could be full but I would still isolated. I remember the first time I went to my FLGS. I didn’t know anyone, I didn’t know what to expect, but I had hope that I could find someone to play with. Within five minutes I felt out of place and left with my coffee crying on the way home. This whole idea of “fitting in” is brutal, but as I’ve met more people, I realize there are tons of personalities and backgrounds waiting to be friends. It’s been a slow process, but I’ve met some great people that I wouldn’t trade for anything.

Rodney, you and your team deserve much more praise than you already get. You guys are amazing, thank you so much for all you do!

I struggle with general anxiety disorder and even though I love to play board games, more often than not, the whole experience is stressful. I am often the one setting up the game, teaching the rules, referring to the rulebook, and then there’s playing the game and making the best choices to try to win. It’s all very overwhelming. My mind gets scattered and it becomes hard to focus. So usually my games get left on the shelf when I’m having a rough patch. An interesting takeaway I got from this video is to try and tailor the gaming experience to whatever my mental needs might be at the moment. Maybe today isn’t the day to play a rules-heavy game. Maybe just a simple five-in-a-row game will do. Will try this approach.

I've been feeling down a lot recently, and I have dips where I just feel lonely. And tabletop games are such a great way for me to just do something with someone and just have a fun time. It's a chance to talk and laugh, and just connect through the actions of the game. Because talking about the game we're currently playing, is still talking with someone, and that feels really nice.