How traditional book clubs inspired The Game Club to help gamers forge friendships as adults

In 2025, Guy Blomberg and Shay Leighton founded The Game Club, a community network inspired by traditional book clubs. Members play the same game each month and meet in small groups to discuss their experiences. In its first year, The Game Club connected over 1,000 gamers across six countries. A recent survey of its members found that 88% made new friends and 78% felt less lonely. "I feel we've created something truly meaningful that not only celebrates the medium of video games, but brings people together in a world that couldn't be further apart, and I'm incredibly grateful for that,"…