How Young Dragonslayers Works
Curious if your child would love online D&D? You’re in the right place. At Young Dragonslayers, we have wizards, barbarians, and adventures run by professional Game Masters…plus friends who are just as eager to play.
Scroll down to see how Young Dragonslayers works, who our games are for, and what a session looks like.
Your Kid Isn’t The Only One Who Loves Geeky Stuff.
Geeky interests like fantasy books, video games, and Dungeons & Dragons have never been more mainstream. And yet, it can still be hard for kids to find safe places to connect, especially if they’d rather be reading Wings of Fire or Percy Jackson, playing Legend of Zelda, or diving into their latest rewatch of Stranger Things than joining something like soccer or chess club.
It can be disheartening to feel like nobody around you likes what you like.
Many of our players have tried to get a group together to play D&D, only to end up disappointed. Maybe your child:
Was the only student who showed up to their school D&D club
Checked out a local game store but felt intimidated playing with adults
Tried a library game night, only to find a chaotic mix of ever-changing players
Is stuck as the “forever DM,” never getting a chance to play
If your child has read the Player’s Handbook cover to cover, created characters they’re excited about, or spent hours imagining adventures but still hasn’t found their people, they’re not alone.
Even if your child has never played before, feels a little different from their peers, or prefers sharing interests to making small talk, they’ll find their people here. We welcome kids from of all backgrounds and experience levels, including those who are neurodivergent, LGBTQ+, or just uniquely themselves.
There are plenty of kids out there who are just as eager to connect over the things they love.. Sometimes, we just have to look a little further to find them.
Who Plays with Young Dragonslayers?
We’re a great fit for..
Kids and teens with geeky interests (fantasy, mythology, anime)
Experienced players who want to play with other D&D superfans
Beginners who’ve never played and want a safe space to learn
Kids who prefer long-term, collaborative play
Creative, quirky kids looking to find their people
We’re not a great fit for…
Kids who need fast-paced, flashy, video game–style action
Players who prefer competition over collaboration
Kids looking for a casual, drop-in experience
Players who want to go it alone instead of adventuring with a team
Kids who are not yet ready to follow group rules or online safety guidelines
We Help Imaginative Kids Find Their People
Across the country and around the world, Young Dragonslayers connects aspiring adventurers with peers who share their interests, quirks, and love of the game. We meet every player individually to understand their personality, play style, and what excites them most about D&D.
Next, we curate groups of players, matched not just by age and availability, but by shared interests and how they like to play:
Combat-loving kids join other tactical players who enjoy action-packed battles.
Roleplay enthusiasts dive deep into character creation and flex their improv skills.
And if your child is more of a “collect a small army of magical pets” type…we have groups for them, too.
Fluctuating group sizes and random peers don’t make for good D&D or good socializing. Our groups are small and consistent, with players who return campaign after campaign. This creates genuinely epic quests and meaningful friendships that build over time. We’re creating bands of adventurers, not a table full of NPCs.
What is Dungeons & Dragons?
Dungeons & Dragons, or D&D, is like a choose-your-own-adventure story brought to life. Players create characters and help them navigate a fantasy world, making choices that shape what happens next in the story.
Unlike most board games, D&D is open-ended and non-competitive. You don’t just move tokens around. Instead, you act as your character, speaking in the first person:
“I brandish my sword and threaten the dragon.”
“I search the abandoned carnival for traps.”
If you’ve ever done improv or theater, it feels a lot like that.
A group leader called a Game Master sets the scene and guides the story. Players decide how their characters will respond. Dice add a little bit of chance, so even the best-laid plans can have unexpected twists. Along the way, players solve puzzles, go on quests, fight enemies, and level up their characters.
At its core, D&D is about creativity, problem-solving, teamwork, and a little bit of luck.
What’s It Like to Play with Us?
Our sessions are held online, so kids can join from anywhere. Each session includes 4-6 players and one professional adult Game Master. This keeps things small enough for every child to participate and feel included.
We use Zoom and simple digital tools, so kids can see, hear, and collaborate without needing to be tech experts.
Sessions are structured but flexible, giving kids room socialize and be creative. You might notice:
Your child talking, laughing, and interacting (sometimes enthusiastically) with other kids
The Game Master moderating the group, guiding the story, and keeping everyone engaged
Inside jokes and callbacks to earlier adventures (you may hear all about them when the session is over)
Each session lasts 90 minutes, giving players time to get immersed in the story without losing focus. Kids get to know the same peers each week, making the experience feel more like a real-life hangout…just with more dragons.
A Fantasy Game with Real-Life Benefits
Research shows roleplaying games like D&D can support the development of social-emotional skills like empathy, conflict resolution, impulse control, and communication. And it’s true! Parents consistently tell us that the skills their child practices in D&D show up at home, in school, and in their everyday friendships.
Learning social skills through gaming is great, but it only works when online spaces actually mirror real-life socializing. Here’s how we make that happen:
Face-to-face interactions: kids see and hear each other, so they can pick up on tone and body language in real time.
Space to be social: adults provide support, but kids are still free to speak up, make decisions, and figure things out together.
The same peers each week: familiar faces, inside jokes, and deeper friendships build naturally over time.
A reason to stay: your party needs you! Each character has an important role to play in the shared mission, which builds each week.
Making friends in a supportive online space can boost confidence in real-life social situations. Kids may feel more comfortable speaking up and taking on leadership roles, like starting a D&D club at school. You might notice your child talks with you more after game sessions, eager to fill you in on everything that happened. We’ve even had a few players channel their character’s charisma to ask someone to prom…of course, they celebrated with their adventuring party the following week.
This isn’t a group therapy session or anything: the benefits are just a natural result of play. Our hope is that, over time, sessions are more than “just a game.” They become a meaningful part of a child’s social world.
This is Not Your Dad’s D&D
No offense to Dads, we love them! But if you thought D&D was just a game for middle-aged white dudes gathered in a basement, think again.
We believe D&D is for everyone. Our games are inclusive, LGBTQ-friendly, and neurodiversity-affirming, so every player feels like they belong at the table.
Our Game Masters reflect that same diversity. Many are actual Masters, holding advanced degrees in fields like school psychology, education, and pediatric nursing. They know the game inside and out, and they know how kids and teens like to play it.
There are no old-school vibes or outdated stereotypes here, just campaigns and customized storylines inspired by our players’ interests and hobbies.
How We Keep Games Safe
We know that putting kids together online can feel a little scary, and we take that seriously. Our sessions take place on private, moderated platforms with no random drop-ins.
All Game Masters are carefully vetted, including interviews, background checks, and training in how to handle tricky situations that might come up during sessions. They are there to keep things safe, supportive, and fun.
We also screen all players ahead of time, so we know exactly who is joining each group. This helps prevent many issues before they start, rather than being caught by surprise by a disruptive situation.
Finally, we put some guardrails around our content. Our stories have plenty of drama and the occasional battle, but we keep things respectful and age-appropriate: no graphic content, player-versus-player violence, or discriminatory themes. Players are always invited to share their own boundaries, so everyone at the table can feel comfortable.
Heed the Call to Adventure!
Curious to see if we could be a good fit for your aspiring adventurer? Join the waitlist for our next season of games. Here’s how it works:
Complete the waitlist form to tell us more about your player’s age, schedule, and interests.
Book a 15-minute call when enrollment opens (once per quarter) to meet us and ask any questions.
Try a one-time trial game if you’d like to see what online D&D is like before committing.
Join a matched group of like-minded adventurers, tailored to your child’s age, interests, and play style.
We hope to see you at the (virtual) table soon!