Head to Arcadia Games this June
BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGES PROVIDED
Have you ever dreamt of entering a world where you make all the rules? Or maybe you’ve always wanted to explore fantasy lands? Perhaps you simply enjoy storytelling or meeting new people. It sounds like you need to head to Arcadia Games this Pride Month for one of their very special (and very queer) drop-in sessions.
Located in the heart of London, Arcadia Games is a full-time space for the city’s tabletop gaming community. This queer-owned, women-led venue hosts games of Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) all week that are written and run by some of the best Gamemasters out there. Since opening, over 1,000 players have joined their ongoing D&D campaign, many of whom have never played before.
This June, Arcadia Games will be adding a queer joy twist to their drop-in sessions, incorporating stories that celebrate queer love and acceptance. These sessions will see games explore a mystical rainbow that has appeared over the land and will include a fun play on Kinky Boots, reuniting lost loves, an exploration of true names and more. On 27 June, Arcadia Games will also be hosting special Pride sessions and a party.
What makes Arcadia Games so special is that it is beginner-friendly, inclusive to its core and a safe space for the LGBTQIA+ community to show up as their authentic selves. D&D offers many queer people a place to truly embrace all parts of themselves, even if they can’t in the real world. Arcadia Games founder, Adrianna Ryn, explained to DIVA why this space is so important for the LGBTQIA+ community: “I think taking that little step away from our own bodies, our personalities and experimenting with other ways of interacting with the world is just super helpful for queer people.”
Safety and inclusion are at the heart of Arcadia Games. In fact, Adrianna’s drive to create this space was due to negative experiences in traditional D&D spaces. Alongside this month’s Pride events, you can also attend their highly-anticipated Ladies’ Night drop-in sessions which provide a space for women to feel empowered to play.
You can find out more about Arcadia Games here: arcadiagames.co.uk
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