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,” Blomberg tells GamesIndustry.biz.
“The first year has really been the beta phase to iron out the bugs and see what works and what doesn’t, which has been super gratifying.”
The Game Club selects “overlooked classics,” which Blomberg describes as well-received games that did not receive enough attention. Members join a Clubhouse, gatherings of up to ten people who discuss the game and connect either in person or online.
Clubhouses are organized by filters such as age, accessibility, proximity, and time zone. Members can start their own Clubhouses if existing options do not meet their needs.
The Game Club provides hosts with tools, resources, and training to run these groups, and can assist with finding a location for in-person gatherings.
“Everyone gets a code for the same game every month – it’s what makes it such a fascinating community,” says Blomberg. “We try to find games that people haven’t played yet and switch genres every month to play with the variety.”
The game of the month for November 2026 is Perfectly Paranormal’s The Holy Gosh Darn. Previous featured games include MindThunk’s Ctrl Alt Ego, Triple Topping’s Welcome to Elk, Unbound Creations’ Just Crow Things, and Moral Anxiety Studio’s Roadwarden.
The Game Club also collaborates directly with developers and publishers of selected games. “It’s a great chance for them to talk about a game from their past or promote an upcoming game they’re now working on. We have suggestions from our members quite a bit, and if a game is suitable and the developer is amiable, we check them all out to see if it’s a fit.”
Blomberg explains that The Game Club was initially created to help adults make new friends from scratch.
“I miss those days on social media when everyone would talk about the big game releases. These days, unless it’s Grand Theft Auto, it feels harder to have and find those conversations. So it’s fun to be able to do it with a small Clubhouse group of friends and a wider community.”
“There are so many wonderful and strong communities out there, where the Game Club can help them grow more genuine friendships”
“Each Clubhouse is hosted by a member of the community at the end of each month, usually in person at a local bar or cafe, where they’re provided the questions to ask that will prompt conversations about the game and each other.”
Blomberg plans to expand The Game Club in its second year, reaching more communities including educational institutions and global gaming organisations.
“We’re looking to engage with more colleges and universities to provide Game Clubs on campus, and partner with other gaming events and organisations around the world. I think there are so many wonderful and strong communities out there, where the Game Club can help them grow more genuine friendships.”
“Joining community groups and attending events is a great way to meet like-minded people, but building friends is a whole other thing. The Game Club is built around solving that problem.”