The Rise of Dungeons and Dragons

Published 1 year ago by Steve Beaudry

Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) is a fantasy role-playing game that has been enjoyed by millions of people for decades. However, in recent years, the popularity of D&D has seen a resurgence driven by popular culture, specifically the hit TV show Stranger Things and the popular web series Critical Role.

Stranger Things, a Netflix original series, features a group of friends who play D&D in the 1980s. The show has a strong nostalgia factor, and the popularity of the show has led many viewers to revisit their childhood memories of playing D&D. The show's creators, the Duffer brothers, have said that they grew up playing D&D, and they wanted to include it in the show to give it an authentic feel.

Another popular web series, Critical Role, features a group of voice actors who play D&D together. The show has amassed a large following and has even been credited with introducing a new generation of people to the game. The show’s creator, Matthew Mercer, has said that he wanted to create a show that would make D&D more accessible to a wider audience.

The popularity of D&D has also been driven by the rise of online streaming platforms such as Twitch and YouTube, which have made it easier for people to watch and participate in D&D games. This has led to a growing number of D&D content creators, who are helping to introduce the game to new audiences.

The popularity of D&D has also been driven by the rise of the “nerd culture”, which has become more mainstream in recent years. This has led to more people feeling comfortable expressing their love for fantasy and science fiction, and D&D is a perfect outlet for this.

Overall, the popularity of D&D has been driven by a combination of nostalgia, the rise of online streaming platforms, and the increasing mainstream acceptance of “nerd culture”. Shows like Stranger Things and Critical Role have helped to introduce the game to new audiences, and the rise of online streaming platforms has made it easier for people to watch and participate in D&D games. With the increasing popularity of D&D, it is likely that we will see more fantasy and science fiction-related content in popular culture in the future.