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If we pay too much attention to the mainstream news, you will come away thinking gamers are all toxic and committed to causing chaos. But we know that’s not true. Games are a great source of fun and entertainment, but they also fulfill a more important role in our societies. They bring people together. They create lasting friendships. And games and the gamers who play them support people through charities and support groups. Today we want to highlight some of the ways the good people in our community are lifting others up.

Charities

Games Done Quick

Games Done Quick is a series of game marathons where speedrunners raise money for charity. The format is simple: Speedrunners take it in turns demonstrating their speedrunning prowess in different games. The events last for seven days, and people can tune in on Twitch to be part of the fun and, of course, donate. This year the summer event was held online and raised a staggering 2.3 million for the Doctors Without Borders charity. If you’re unfamiliar with the charity, it aims to provide life-saving medical treatment to those in need. They are most known for providing life-saving care in dangerous conflict zones or countries affected by endemic diseases. To date, Games Done Quick has raised over 28 million dollars for various charities.

Extra Life

Extra Life unites players from around the world to raise money for their local children’s hospital. Players anywhere get to make a difference in their neighborhoods.

According to their website, players can take part by following these simple steps:

• Sign up – You sign up and pledge to play games from your home, picking the day that works best for you.
• Fundraise – You ask your friends, family, and the wider community to donate to your cause. You can also recruit others to join your team.
• “Play games, heal kids” – You play games and raise money for your local children’s hospital!

Gamers Outreach and Gamers For Giving

Gamers Outreach is a charity founded in 2007, committed to providing gaming equipment and technology to kids in hospitals. Hospitals can be scary and lonely places for kids, and a little bit of gaming joy can go a long way. They are currently helping over 1.25 million children every year with their initiatives.

Gamers for Giving is a fundraising event to help support Gamers Outreach programs. Games can support the movement by donating directly, fundraising through streaming, or spreading the word on social media.

The Pawesome Players for Cats Protection UK

Most of the great charities we’ve covered so far have found their success in the US market, but this one’s different. While gaming charity marathons have taken off in the US, the adoption has been slower elsewhere, with many countries struggling to capture younger gamers’ attention. The Cats Protection charity in the UK sought to change this with its program, Pawesome Players.

This program is still in its infancy and has raised money in the thousands rather than the millions, but we think it’s worth sharing for two reasons. Firstly, they are trying to break the mold in the UK, and secondly, it has a heartwarming origin story. Two gamers reached out to Cats Protection to say they wanted to fundraise for the charity through Twitch. They said that gamers love cats, with viewers often going wild if a cat wanders on-screen during a live stream.

Support Groups

Support groups are all about connecting people who face similar challenges so they can share their experiences and support each other. When you see the words “gaming” and “support group” in the same sentence, it’s usually a support group for people addicted to gaming. However, there are plenty of support groups aimed at gamers who have a healthy relationship with the games they play and want support for life’s other struggles.

Gamers Fighting Depression

Gamers Fighting Depression (CFD), as the name would suggest, is a support group for gamers struggling with depression or other mental health issues. They have a subreddit with over 11,000 members and a Discord with over 2100 members at the time of writing.

Grieving Gamers

Not a support group, but we thought no article on this topic would be complete without discussing the impact games have on those going through loss. Games aren’t just for fun, but also for escapism and social contact. Players can escape this world, one where they might be facing great hardship, and enter a new world where they are a hero. Games like Animal Crossing and World of Warcraft provide bustling social communities that help players through grief. Players in Animal Crossing, World of Warcraft, EVE Online, and Final Fantasy have been known to host funeral services for fallen players or plant memorial gardens.

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