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A party of brave adventurers delve into ancient ruins in search of treasure. Powerful wizards meet on the battlefield, casting spells and summoning monsters to defeat their foes. A group of youths explore a haunted mansion, unaware of the traitor in their midst.

It would be easy to think that these kinds of gaming experiences would require a gaming console or at the very least a screen to watch, but these games take place at a regular table, pushing the bounds of imagination in an engaging and fun way for folks to socialize and create connections with each other. These games and their fandoms are becoming more inviting and inclusive than ever, in stark contrast to those who grew up feeling ostracized and alienated for their interests and hobbies, and tabletop games have a natural place in our school community.
The term “tabletop games” literally came from different styles of games that are normally played on a table or flat surface, and may include cards, tokens, boards, papers or other kinds of materials. These are all different styles of tabletop games, which can include:

  • Board games (Monopoly, Scrabble, Settlers of Catan)
  • Card games (Apples to Apples, Go Fish, Uno)
  • Collectible Card games (Magic: The Gathering, Pokemon, Yu-gi-oh!)
  • Dice (Farkle, Pig, Yahtzee)
  • Miniature wargaming (Battletech, Blood Bowl, Warhammer)
  • Tabletop Roleplaying Games, also known as RPGs (Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, Starfinder)
  • Tile-based games (Bananagrams, Dominos, Mahjong)
  • Party games (Charades, Pictionnary, Trivial Pursuit)

Tabletop games can be competitive or cooperative, or a combination of the two. One style of tabletop gaming is called German or Euro style, which involves indirect player interaction, a lack of player elimination, and multiple ways to earn points. Settlers of Catan is a popular Euro style tabletop game.

Tabletop gaming is a thriving industry which is projected to grow even more in the following years. In 2024, the tabletop games market was valued at approximately $19.5 billion USD, and that figure is projected to reach 34.1 billion by the year 2030.

Benefits of Tabletop Games at School

The positive aspects of tabletop gaming at school extend far beyond providing a outlet for students to engage in a fun activity together, or even offering a break from constantly being in front of screens. On a social and emotional level, tabletop games have been shown to strengthen relationships, promote social interactions, build social skills, reduce stress and anxiety, encourage empathy, and foster teamwork. Tabletop gaming also enhances cognitive skills by boosting critical thinking skills, improving memory and focus, stimulating creativity and imagination, and increasing language skills. With so many potential benefits to young people, it makes sense to offer tabletop gaming as an organized club at their schools.

There are also added benefits of having a tabletop club at school for students to attend: increasing confidence and self-esteem, improving social skills and collaboration, improving academic performance, and reducing stress. Most importantly, a school tabletop club can create a sense of belonging and connection that they may not find in other extracurricular activities. Young people who may feel ostracized and alone for their interests may find a safe space to explore their interests and passions while making connections with others. It is also a way for students to learn about new games without feeling intimidated by their lack of knowledge or experience, which can be especially important when wanting to learn a new game like Dungeons & Dragons that requires a group to play.

A common reason for reluctance to try tabletop gaming is the misconception that players need to be knowledgeable about the games they play, and it can be intimidating to try something new and possibly be wrong in front of a group. Please remember that the most important aspect to organizing any sort of tabletop gaming group is kindness through promoting an inclusive environment where it is okay to not know everything and that being wrong is not a dealbreaker. This can sometimes be difficult for educators who might feel out of their element with games that have extensive rulesets like Dungeons & Dragons. But please do not let it discourage you from trying them and learning. Every player needs to start from a point of not knowing how a game works, and having a supportive group with more experienced players regardless of their age can help to get past that feeling of hesitation and have fun playing together.

Starting a School Tabletop Club

Deciding to start a tabletop club at a school does offer a lot of benefits, but it can sometimes be confusing as to how to get started, given the vast amount of gaming material that exists and deciding what to include in your club. It can be easiest to break down the process into more manageable steps, starting with a planning stage.

  1. Planning Stage: this is where you will start to connect with interested students or other staff who are eager to help organize a club at your school. Start off by brainstorming ideas as to what you want your club to offer, when and where you might be able to meet, what kind of games your group might want to play, making sure gaming content is school-appropriate, and what materials you might have or need to find. Define the purpose and goal of your club by describing what types of games you intend to offer, what your meeting schedule will be, and how to communicate with others outside of club meetings through school calendars or announcements. Once this has been established, set up your first club meeting.
  2. Meeting Stage: the first meeting is important to establish expectations of the club, such as respecting others, being a good sport, treating club materials gently, and making sure to clean up when meetings are done. It can also be helpful to have students or staff bring in their own games to share with and teach others how to play. Continue your meetings and maintain a consistent schedule while encouraging members to spread the word about the club by inviting their friends!
  3. Improving Stage: once your club has gained enough momentum through consistent meetings and a regular batch of attendees, you might want to consider other ways to bring your club to the next level. You might want to organize a tournament or other special event, or start to reach out to neighbouring schools to expand your play groups. If you have technology-savvy members in your club, you might want to expand your presence online through creating a Discord server or sharing content on social media, such as painted miniatures on Instagram. Creating your own club gear can also foster a sense of pride and belonging; have artistic students help design a club logo that could be printed on badges, apparel or other merchandise. If you have the necessary resources for 3D printing, you might also consider making your own branded accessories such as club dice or custom miniatures for students to design and paint.

Finding Resources

If you are interested in starting a tabletop club at your school and do not know where to start, there is a vibrant tabletop community in Manitoba with a number of excellent local game stores eager to help educators bring the joy of tabletop games into schools. Some local businesses also offer discounts for educators who are buying resources for their schools and are experienced in giving advice for what kind of games your club might like best. Please check out and support your local gaming stores. In Winnipeg these include:

  • GameKnight Games and Cool Stuff
  • Galaxy Collectibles
  • Victory Pints
  • A Muse N Games
  • Fusion Gaming

In addition, the yearly tabletop gaming convention GAME-itoba takes place in January and is a celebration of tabletop gaming in all its forms. The convention is an excellent place to see what games are new and popular and learn to play them while connecting with other helpful members of the community.

If you are interested in obtaining free resources online with some of the more popular franchises in tabletop gaming today, here are some valuable sources for educators:
Dungeons & Dragons: the most recognized tabletop role-playing game by Wizards of the Coast offers teachers a free Educator License on their D&D Beyond online platform with all basic resources needed to play the game, which can then be shared with students who also have D&D Beyond accounts.

Pathfinder/Starfinder: another vastly popular role-playing game, whose creator Paizo offers free digital resources for clubs to use and print by contacting their support email. Even without books, students can enjoy free character-building apps available online with Pathbuilder 2E and Starbuilder.

Warhammer: the most popular miniature wargaming franchise offers teachers a free Educator Kit with minis, paints, tools, dice and lore through the Warhammer Alliance.
In addition, educators are welcome to attend the Gaming Association of Manitoba Educators (GAME) convention during MTS Professional Development Day to connect with like-minded professionals and learn about different ways of introducing games, both tabletop and digital, into classrooms and schools.

Tabletop gaming can be an excellent fit for students at any grade level, and there is a need for educators to help bring the joy and belonging of gaming to their schools. With all the benefits mentioned above, please consider offering this type of social experience at your school and you will be amazed at the positive reactions and growth you will notice in your students. You’ll be giving them a space to thrive and excel while creating connections with others in a safe and inclusive environment.

– Originally published in the Spring 2025 issue of the MB Teacher

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