An Update Mindful Gaming

Finding Calm in the Game: A Look Back at Mindful Gaming Events

Here at Mindful Gaming we believe in the power of games to not only entertain but also to provide moments of calm, focus, and connection. Over the past few months, we've been thrilled to host a series of "Mindful Gaming" events designed to explore this very idea. These events have offered a unique space to engage with games in a way that promotes well-being and a greater sense of presence.

What is Mindful Gaming?

Mindful Gaming was setup to create a platform in the Doncaster area that could help bring mindfulness practices into tabletop gaming experiences.

Such as:

• Focus and Attention: Paying close attention to the details of the game, the sounds, the visuals, and our own reactions without judgement.

• Presence: Being fully engaged in the current moment of gameplay, rather than getting lost in thoughts about the past or future.

• Relaxation: Using games as a tool to unwind and reduce stress.

• Connection: Fostering positive interactions with others through shared gaming experiences.

• Self-Awareness: Noticing our emotions and thoughts as they arise during gameplay without getting carried away by them.

Highlights from Our Recent Mindful Gaming Events:

We've run a variety of events, each with a slightly different focus on bringing mindfulness to gaming:

• "Warm Spaces Midweek Gaming Sessions": These evenings focused on creating an opportunity for people who were either suffering with social isolation or struggling to connect with people in the hobby by providing them with safe space to come and meet new people and enjoy the hobby. The feedback was fantastic, with many noting how these sessions helped them switch off and quiet their minds after a busy day.

  • Example: In our midweek sessions, we have brought together two groups of players to participants in Dungeon and Dragons adventures as well as other games such as Marvel Crisis Protocol and Warhammer. The simple act of organising an mid week event like this can help people break up their weeks with an extra social event.

• "Competitive Dungeons and Dragons": Our Competitive Dungeons & Dragons events, while not the standard way the game is played, involves structured scenarios or adventures where multiple teams or individuals are scored based on their performance. This often occurs within a specific time limit and with pre-generated characters.

  • Example: We ran our most recent Competitive Dungeons and Dragons event in April where two teams went head to head in a chase through the forest. Both teams had a lot of fun and we received some great feedback about what the community would like to see in the next event.

• "Dungeons and Dragons Dungeon Masters Academy": These sessions were created to give new or existing Dungeons and Dragons player the opportunities to learn how to be a Dungeon master and run their own games.

  • Example: In our first academy we taught several community members how to structure a campaign, design encounters and build vibrant and engaging narratives that would keep their group clamouring for more.

• "Junior Dungeons and Dragons": Our Junior Dungeons and Dragons events are designed to help younger players learn to play Dungeons and Dragons in a safe constructive environment with accredited and vetted facilitators.

  • Example: So far we have ran three fortnightly sessions where we have ran an introduction to roleplaying, a basic introductory adventure based on Jack and the Beanstalk and an introduction to character creation. Our next session will be the start of campaign that will help the players learn how to play a multiple session adventure.

• "Warhammer 40K Combat patrol Tournament": This event was created to give new and existing players the opportunity to test their strategic skill agaisnt new and experienced opponents using the Combat patrol rules.

  • Example: We have ran several of these tournaments with the next tournament planned for a few months time. The last tournament had 10 players competing against each other.

  
  

Looking Ahead

As 2025 progresses, Mindful Gaming CIC is excited to continue expanding its reach and impact. We have plans for:

• Developing Online Resources: To make mindful gaming practices more accessible, we are working on creating online guides and resources that individuals can use to bring mindfulness into their own gaming sessions at home.

• Collaborating with Mindfulness based Charities and Professionals: We aim to further integrate mindful gaming as a complementary tool for well-being by collaborating with mental health professionals, advocates for the LGBTQ+ community, social isolation charities such as SIA and exploring other potential therapeutic applications.

• Expanding Community Outreach: We are committed to reaching more individuals and communities, highlighting the benefits of mindful gaming for people of all ages and backgrounds.

  
  

Mindful Gaming CIC believes that by intentionally engaging with games, we can cultivate valuable skills in focus, presence, and connection, ultimately contributing to greater well-being in our daily lives. We invite you to join us in exploring the mindful side of play! Stay updated on our upcoming events and initiatives by visiting our website and following our social media channels. We look forward to sharing more mindful moments with you throughout 2025.