Part Storytelling, Part Online Game, All Fun.

Dungeons and Dragons is a classic game that’s finding a new life online. And, thanks to the popularity of TV shows like Stranger Things, younger players are joining the fun. What used to be a hobby reserved for nerdy dads who grew up in the 80s is now open to people of all ages and genders. And thank goodness, because it’s a lot of fun for everyone—including kids.

Children are a natural fit for D&D. Imagining new characters and worlds comes so easily to them. We’ve found that our D&D newbies often get the hang of it right away, because making up stories is just what kids do. The game offers just enough structure to help children channel their natural creativity into a collaborative, rewarding group activity.

Imaginative Play with Real-Life Benefits for Kids

Playing D&D gives kids a chance to shake off the stress of day-to-day life. But it’s not just an escape into a fantasy world. As fun as D&D is, it also offers valuable lessons and gives kids a chance to practice skills that are relevant outside of the game.

When kids play D&D, they are working on:

• Math and language skills

• Empathy

• Creative problem-solving

• Teamwork and negotiation

• Conflict resolution

• Cause and Effect

• Self-Esteem

Even though it’s “just pretend”, there’s also something really satisfying about learning and mastering new skills in D&D. Getting a handle on the rules of the game, acquiring new items, leveling up…it feels good, and helps kids feel proud of their accomplishments.

We Offer D&D Designed for Younger Players

We’re seeing more and more young players excited about trying D&D. Whether they’re looking to make new friends, emulate their favorite Stranger Things character, or simply design the tricked-out battle dwarf of their dreams, there’s no denying this game has a certain appeal for the younger set.

It can be hard to find online activities for kids and tweens that are more enriching than the usual Minecraft and Roblox fare. Don’t get us wrong, these games are great! But you don’t always know who you’re playing with, and there’s nobody around to supervise.

Many of our younger players are looking for ways to meet peers that feel a little more “real.” They want to get to know other kids on a deeper level. Meeting online feels a little less intimidating, and it’s nice to know you have a hangout you can count on even when in-person social stuff is a little tricky.

If you’re the parent of a younger player, safety is likely your top concern. It’s important to us, too. There’s always a trained, background checked adult on the call to supervise and make sure everyone is having a good experience. Our online meeting spaces are secure, and nobody can enter unless we invite them in—no random people allowed!

How Does Online D&D for Kids Work, Exactly?

Dungeons and Dragons works beautifully online—in fact, entire websites have been built to make online play easy, fun, and safe. We use these websites in our groups to make gameplay easier for kids. They don’t have to worry so much about tracking their hit points or figuring out what numbers to add to their dice roll. A lot of the more finicky stuff is done automatically, so they can focus on enjoying the game.

When kids play D&D, they’re able to move characters through castles and dungeons. They’re also able to see and communicate with their fellow players in real time. That’s part of what makes the groups fun. We get to see everyone’s reactions to our decisions and appreciate each other’s goofy character voices.

At this point, every young person is familiar with Zoom, for better or worse. We use Zoom too, so we can see and hear each other. But, having a map to look at and tokens to play with takes away some of the awkwardness. Rather than staring at each other and trying to come up with something to say, we have easy conversation built right into the game. It also helps that we keep our group sizes small—5 or 6 at the most—so it’s easy to take turns.

Ready to get started?

Online D&D Groups for Beginners

If you’re familiar with D&D, you know it can be a rules-heavy game. There are a lot of dice to keep track of, modifiers to add to things, and about 8 million spells you can learn. It’s okay if your child has never heard of any of this stuff! Our groups are designed to be friendly to beginning players.

If your child is the kind of kid who has already memorized the Player’s Handbook front-to-back, that’s fantastic. She will find kindred spirits in our groups. But if your kid is just starting out, these groups are a safe place to learn. We set up adventures that gradually build on a child’s existing skills, so nobody is thrown right into the deep end on day one. Players are always welcome to pause the game and ask for advice on what to do next—there’s nothing wrong with asking for help! We’ve found that within a few weeks, most first-time players are pretty comfortable with the basic rules.

Before joining an ongoing group, we invite all beginners to join an Intro Class to learn the basics of game play. Your child will learn how to roll their dice, practice navigating our online platform, and build their first character. It’s a great opportunity to get to know the game and see what we’re all about.

Dungeons and Dragons for Kids: Fun, Flexible, Friendly

We abide by something called the “rule of cool” in our groups for beginners. This means we value telling a good story, building confidence, and having fun over getting every rule exactly right. If a player comes up with an amazing idea, we’re not going to shut it down!

Our Game Masters are here to keep track of the rules, so it’s no big deal if your newbie hasn’t learned everything there is to know about D&D. As long as a player can describe what they’d like to do, we’ll find a fair way to make it happen in the game.

D&D For 10, 11, and 12-Year-Olds

We love working with 10, 11, and 12-year-old kids. Tweens are at a great age to geek out over monster lore and cool spells, and they can handle some of the more complex rules, too. It’s pretty much the perfect age to start playing D&D.

Several of our Game Masters started playing D&D around this age. They remember having to fight for a spot at the gaming table with the teenagers for a chance to play. We want to give tweens their own table! Our games are set up to help kids ages 10-12 succeed, and meet like-minded kids of the same age.

We keep our online D&D groups on the shorter side (90 minutes) to help tweens stay focused and engaged throughout. Our game masters are pretty flexible with rules, so there’s no need to worry about saying or doing the right thing. We keep an eye on the content we allow in our stories, too: we aim for PG or PG-13 rated storylines.

Online D&D Groups Ideal for Middle Schoolers

We work best with kids in the middle and high school age range (we offer D&D for teens, too). Usually, this means children in 6th, 7th, or 8th grade are a great fit for our tween groups. Middle school kids are just starting to figure out the interests and peer groups that will hopefully sustain them through their teenage years. It’s so fun to see them exploring all of that in a creative way through game play!

Our games for middle schoolers help 10, 11, and 12-year-olds tap into their sense of play in a way that feels suitably grown-up. We do our best to pair kids who are close in age and also have a lot of overlap in their interests and play style. Whether your child is interested in uncovering intrigue or just smashing as many bad guys as possible, we’ll find them some friends to adventure with who are into the same stuff.

We know middle school kids aren’t all exactly alike in their interests or maturity level. If your slightly older or younger eager to play some D&D, a tween group may still be the right fit! A 5th grader or rising 6th grader who is passionate about the game and can handle focused online play might find themselves at home in a middle school group. On the flip side, older players who are less interested in romance and typical “teen” storylines might be more content playing in a tween group, as well.

Is Dungeons & Dragons Kid-Friendly?

We admit, when you think about child-appropriate fun, the word “dungeon” may not spring immediately to mind. Sometimes, all this talk about Mind Flayers, Hobgoblins, and the like can sound a little creepy. But hear us out! There are all kinds of ways to play D&D, and it doesn’t have to be dark or overly violent.

In fact, Dungeons and Dragons doesn’t even have to be set in a traditional, medieval-style fantasy world. It’s just a set of rules that players can use to create an adventure together. That adventure might be in the middle of a big city, or out on the high seas, or in Ancient Greece. Any cool setting your child dreams up is probably playable in D&D.

Regardless of the setting, our game masters strive to create a space for play that is safe and age-appropriate. We tailor the stories we tell to match the age and needs of our players. We also set ground rules about how to handle battles, violence, and other touchy subjects to make sure everyone feels at ease.

Will My Child Need Any Special Equipment?

Not particularly. All our players will need a computer with good internet access. Laptop or desktop computers generally work better than tablets or a phone. You’ll need to make sure you have installed the latest version of Zoom.

We also find it helps a lot if kids are able to play in a fairly private room. That way, they’re free of distractions and don’t feel as self-conscious about getting enthusiastic during the game.

Traditionally, D&D does require some gear, like character sheets and special dice. We are able to do all that stuff online in our games, so if you don’t have supplies there’s no need to rush out and get them. On the other hand, if your child has a prized set of dice already, they are welcome to bring them along.

Sold on the benefits of Dungeons & Dragons for kids? So are we! We’re excited to get your child started playing this classic, imaginative game.