A recent study by the University of Canterbury (UC) has found that participating in Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) groups can offer meaningful social connections and a strong sense of belonging, which may help improve overall well-being. The research, led by doctoral student Courtney Matthews, examined tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) as a source of belonging and mental well-being, using the D&D community as a case study. Her findings were published in the Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology under the title Tabletop Roleplaying Games (TTRPGs) as a Source of Belonging and Wellbeing: A Social Identity Perspective. Matthews notes that while social groups can be vital for mental well-being, not all groups provide the same benefits. She explains that for a group to positively impact a person's mental health, it must be a meaningful and positive part of their life. To explore this, she surveyed 305 players from the New Zealand D&D online community. Participants answered questions about their well-being, loneliness, self-esteem, and sense of belonging to their D&D group. They also mapped their broader social networks and evaluated different groups based on factors like positivity, support, and compatibility with other parts of their lives. The study revealed that D&D groups were consistently ranked among the most positive and supportive groups in participants' social circles, even though players spent less time with their D&D group than with friends or family. A stronger sense of belonging to a D&D group was linked to higher well-being and self-esteem. Despite the limited time spent in these groups, the impact on participants’ lives outside of the game was significant. One notable finding was that 17% of the participants identified as transgender or gender-diverse, even though the study did not specifically target these communities. This suggests that D&D may be reaching individuals who often feel excluded from more traditional social activities. Matthews emphasizes that not all social groups are equally accessible or appealing to everyone, making this aspect particularly significant. Looking ahead, Matthews plans to study how people who have never played TTRPGs before experience changes in their mental well-being and sense of belonging after starting to play. She also hopes to explore the potential of tabletop role-playing games in community settings such as local libraries and secondary schools. In the context of rising loneliness and a mental health crisis, TTRPGs like D&D could serve as valuable tools to help build social connections in communities.