50 years of dungeons & dragons: small businesses thrive as game brings in millions

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Dungeons & Dragons (D&D), the classic tabletop game that started 50 years ago, has gone from a niche interest to a major part of popular culture. The game’s rise in popularity has been helped by shows like Netflix’s "Stranger Things" and the popular video game "Baldur's Gate 3." This growth is reflected in the success of the game's publisher, Wizards of the Coast, which saw its revenue rise from $761 million in 2019 to $1.17 billion by October 2024. Since its launch in 1974, about 85 million people have played the game, which is about the size of Germany’s population.

Jess Lanzillo, who leads the game's design, was amazed by how much the game has grown, something that would have been hard to imagine in earlier years. But Wizards of the Coast isn’t the only one benefiting from D&D’s popularity. A game store in Brooklyn, The Last Place on Earth, earned nearly $110,000 in 2024 by hosting D&D nights. These events helped turn the store around after it struggled early on due to opening just before the Covid-19 lockdowns. About 50% of the store's income now comes from D&D.

The game’s growth has also been helped by streaming shows and podcasts like "Critical Role," where people play D&D live. "Critical Role" has made millions in tips and ads. Fans also helped fund an animated TV series, "The Legend of Vox Machina," which raised over $11 million on Kickstarter. The show is getting ready for its fourth season on Amazon Prime.

D&D’s success continues to rise, with another show, "Dimension 20," selling out Madison Square Garden. Fans paid an average of $119 to watch comedians play the game on stage. Dr. Emily Friedman, a professor at Auburn University, believes much of D&D's lasting appeal comes from the content created outside of the main Wizards of the Coast and Hasbro companies.

In the end, Dungeons & Dragons has grown from a small hobby to a major entertainment force, making a big impact on the gaming industry and creating a wide range of media content.