Board Game Academics

26/06/2025

What do children’s games like First Orchard and Monkey Around teach us about accessibility in board game design? In this powerful essay, Grace Kaletski-Maisel brings together her experience as a parent and instructional designer to explore how Universal Design for Learning (UDL) can make tabletop games more inclusive. From tactile components to flexible play styles, she challenges us to rethink who gets to play—and how we can widen the circle.

Read the full piece at Board Game Academics. https://boardgameacademics.com/everyone-at-the-table-accessibility-and-universal-design-in-board-games/

02/04/2025

Proud to have two of our board members, Christopher Carbone and William Nation, recently interviewed for an article for the American Psychological Association on TTRPG and mental health:

Using games like Dungeons and Dragons in group therapy shows promise for treating anxiety, depression, trauma, ADHD, and more.

11/03/2025

Mandi talks about games for Mental Health with Christopher Carbone of Board Gamers Anonymous and Board Game Academics!To learn more about Chris and his work,...

07/03/2025

Join Board Gamers Anonymous for a groundbreaking discussion on JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) in tabletop gaming, where we'll tackle everything from problematic tropes to creating more welcoming spaces. Drawing from real-world research and examples, we'll explore how our beloved hobby can evolve to better represent and include all players at the table.

01/03/2025

We're excited to announce the release of Issue 2 of Board Game Academics.

Thank you to all of our authors, contributors, and editors for their hard work in bringing together this year's incredible issue.

Read about the use of games in academic success, how Candela Obscura addresses historically problematic themes in TTRPGs, board games as a framework for computer science, the use of board games in philosophy classrooms, an examination of cultural history and expression within the monk class of D&D, and the simulation of the black death in a college classroom.

(Cover artwork courtesy of Katia Howatson of Board Game Art Creations)

https://boardgameacademics.com/issue-ii/

24/02/2025

CALL FOR PAPERS!
Seeking academic scholarship from all fields of study.
Abstracts of no more than 250 words for your paper and potential presentation should be submitted to [email protected] by February 28, 2025. https://boardgameacademics.com/submissions/

23/12/2024

This month in Victory Points, the new essay column on Board Game Academics, Mel Gomez-Erickson discusses the inclusive nature of Blood on the Clocktower and its unique spin on social deduction: "Finding Safety in Blood on the Clocktower’s Community of Liars"

https://boardgameacademics.com/finding-safety-in-blood-on-the-clocktowers-community-of-liars/

https://boardgameacademics.com/victory-points-essays/

09/12/2024

Excited to share this episode I recorded with Eng from XP on Board Game Academics. You can watch it at

In this episode of Experience Points by University XP, host Dave Eng interviews Christopher Carbone, an accomplished career services leader and co-founder of Board Game Academics. They discuss the intersection of academia and tabletop gaming, emphasizing experiential learning and personal developmen

08/12/2024

Thank you all for attending our Panel!
It was a fantastic experience to speak with a packed room of passionate tabletop teachers. Please keep the conversation going by connecting with us here and at boardgameacademics.com

08/12/2024

Today at Pax Unplugged! Join us!

Everyone deserves a seat at the gaming table, so how do we make this happen?!

Join us at PAX Unplugged for our panel discussion “Roll for Inclusion: Empowering Accessible Tabletop Gaming” as we explore the world of accessible tabletop gaming. From physical adaptations to sensory and cognitive inclusivity, this panel is all about creating a fun inclusive experience where everyone can thrive at the table.

When:
Sunday, December 8 at 4:00pm

Where:
Crab God Theatre

Who:
This panel includes a wide range of professionals passionate about accessibility including psychologists, educators, academics, and even a speech-language pathologist!

Board Game Academics
Board Games for the Better
Guardians Mental Health
SLP Literacy Corner
Video Game Clubs of America
Nomnivore Games Inc.

Less than 2 weeks away! See you then!

27/11/2024

Everyone deserves a seat at the gaming table, so how do we make this happen?!

Join us at PAX Unplugged for our panel discussion “Roll for Inclusion: Empowering Accessible Tabletop Gaming” as we explore the world of accessible tabletop gaming. From physical adaptations to sensory and cognitive inclusivity, this panel is all about creating a fun inclusive experience where everyone can thrive at the table.

When:
Sunday, December 8 at 4:00pm

Where:
Crab God Theatre

Who:
This panel includes a wide range of professionals passionate about accessibility including psychologists, educators, academics, and even a speech-language pathologist!

Board Game Academics
Board Games for the Better
Guardians Mental Health
SLP Literacy Corner
Video Game Clubs of America
Nomnivore Games Inc.

Less than 2 weeks away! See you then!

31/10/2024

Do you have strong feelings about the best board games of all time? Good, we want to hear about them. ...