Research and Resources

Adventurers Wanted is grounded in a growing, still-developing body of research on tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) as a therapeutic tool. We think it's worth being honest about where that evidence is strong, and where it's still catching up to what clinicians are already seeing at the table.

What the research shows

Tabletop role-playing is already widely used in clinical practice, even as dedicated research on games like Dungeons & Dragons is still catching up to that practice — a gap this program is designed to help close through structured, goal-tracked sessions.

A study in Frontiers in Psychiatry had adolescents with autism spectrum disorder attend twelve, two-hour tabletop sessions — the same length and cadence as this program — and found real improvements in social skills, measured with a standardized inventory.

Because TTRPGs require planning, tracking information, and adjusting strategy in real time, they place natural demands on executive functioning — often in a way that feels far less tedious than traditional skill-building exercises.

A 2025 review in Behavioral Sciences found that RPGs supported social skills, identity exploration, and emotional growth across a range of populations, including autistic teens, LGBTQ+ adolescents, and people in trauma and substance-use recovery.

Research out of University College Cork found that D&D players reported a stronger sense of control, more opportunities for self-exploration, and stronger social support — benefits researchers linked to the game's collaborative structure.

The APA's Monitor on Psychology reported in 2025 that tabletop role-playing used as group therapy has shown promise for anxiety, depression, and ADHD, in part because the game mirrors real-life skills like communication and conflict management.

Where the evidence is still growing

We want to be direct: this is a young field. Most existing studies are small, and many use case studies rather than large controlled trials. TTRPG-based group work is best understood as an evidence-informed, skills-based approach — not a replacement for individual therapy or established treatment for a diagnosed condition. That's part of why this program uses a structured 12-week model with individualized, tracked goals, rather than just playing for its own sake.

Grounded in clinical practice

This program also draws on Tabletop Role-Playing Therapy: A Guide for the Clinician Game Master by Dr. Megan A. Connell, a licensed psychologist and one of the field's leading voices on applied RPGs in clinical practice.

Selected sources