Dungeons and Dragons (DnD), the iconic fantasy tabletop role-playing game, is having a major moment in Australia.
While it’s been around since 1974, Google Search trends show interest in DnD has been steadily climbing here since 2016.
So, what’s driving the surge? Should you give DnD a go ahead of the holiday season?
On Friday afternoon’s episode of The Briefing, Justin Halliday, game designer for Hero Forge Games, chats with Bension Siebert about the growing hype, how DnD fosters creativity and connection, and his top game recommendations for anyone looking to start.
Halliday said DnD will bring an immersive experience for players, which involves strategic thinking, creative storytelling, and plenty of dice rolls.
“I think DnD used to be for nerds, but now it’s broadened out from there,” he said.
“A lot of local game stores will run DND nights or they’ll run how to play sessions as well. So that’s another way of just getting the experience if you like it.”
However, not everyone is ready to commit to the time and effort DnD demands. Halliday offers recommendations for alternative board games that are perfect for the holiday season.
He said Ticket to Ride is a fantastic starting point. This addictive game involves collecting train carriages to build rail routes across various locations.
Another popular choice is Catan (formerly known as The Settlers of Catan).
This classic game focuses on resource management and trading as players aim to build settlements and roads.
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