Here is an older article (published around the release of Stranger Things Season 2) discussing the rise of popularity for Dungeons and Dragons. The article opens with a reference to Stranger Things and I think this Netflix blockbuster has had a substantial influence on the current generation’s attraction to the table top roleplaying game. As mentioned in a previous post, Wizards of the Coast sold more copies of DnD in 2018 than ever before. There is now a Stranger Things themed DnD starter set which supports the claim that the show had a part to play in the increased sales.

According to the article, a lot of people got into Dungeons and Dragons by watching people play the most recent edition (5th, released in 2014) online. Podcasts have also created DnD celebrities, live shows of Critical Role and The Adventure Zone are frequently sold out to raving fans. It seems that amongst the many factors that have led to Dungeons and Dragons become more culturally acceptable is its accessibility, inclusivity and use of streaming services such as YouTube and podcasts to reach a wider audience than previously possible.