Book clubs have been bringing readers together for generations, and The Game Club is applying the same idea to video games. The New York startup is celebrating its first anniversary, having welcomed more than 1,000 people in its first year, with in-person Clubhouse meetups now running in six countries.
The format is simple. Each month, members all play the same game, then meet up in small groups to talk about it. Conversations that start with gameplay, characters and storytelling often turn more personal, with members sharing their own perspectives, memories and experiences.
The Game Club picks one game each month, focusing on overlooked or underrated titles that members may have missed. It works directly with developers and publishers to choose a mix of games, from indie favourites to lesser-known releases.
Co-founder Guy ‘Yug’ Blomberg shared his belief that games are often misunderstood when it comes to their social side:
We’ve spent years being told that video games are making us antisocial. But we’ve been looking at them the wrong way. Games give us shared experiences, and shared experiences give us something to talk about. That’s where friendships begin.
The club’s growth comes against a backdrop of concern about loneliness. A 2024 Harvard study found that 21% of American adults surveyed were experiencing serious loneliness.
Co-founder Shay Leighton, who founded the international Tough Guy Book Club and was previously a Teaching Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and Politics, spoke about why shared experiences matter when it comes to building relationships as an adult.
We live in a remarkably lonely time and making friends as an adult can be surprisingly difficult. People need more than just opportunities to be in the same room. Relationships are built around shared experiences, meaningful conversations, and a sense of belonging. Together with our community, we’re creating those, one game at a time.
The club already has members in Australia. Simon, a member based in Melbourne, described what it has meant for him in a recent member survey.
The sense of community it provides is awesome. As I spend a lot of time alone, it is good to have a reason to meet with people.
Heading into its second year, The Game Club plans to expand its community worldwide.
