Live role-playing games (RPGs) are set to reach new heights in 2025, with mega-shows attracting thousands of fans. Notable performances by Critical Role and Dimension 20 exemplify this trend, with Critical Role celebrating its 10th anniversary with sold-out shows in the US and Australia. Meanwhile, Dropout plans the largest D&D live show at Madison Square Garden for nearly 20,000 fans. This surge in live performances is part of a longer history of RPGs played for audiences, reflecting a shift from traditional offline to modern digital formats in actual play.
If you're drawn to the vibe of sitting among hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands of people screaming their heads off at a roll of the dice, 2025 is your year.
These live shows are setting new records, but they're actually part of a much longer tradition of live role-playing game performance...
As an academic who studies the history of actual play, I'm usually encountering the difficulties of tracking modern digital shows.
While some fans of actual play likely know that shows like Dungeons & Daddies have mounted their own tours... they are just a part of the latest generation.
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