Dear Archibald

Dear Archibald is a highly accessible, play-by-text role-playing game for one to five players about community, care, and figuring out who we are to ourselves and to each other. Players can play the game using pen, paper, and dice, or on Discord by adding a Discord bot to their server. The Discord Bot uses AI to interpret player input and give rewards.  

Deeply ingrained, often-unconscious attitudes about productivity can make it harder for students to treat themselves or others with kindness when productivity isn't possible. Journaling games and roleplaying games can help us reflect on our values and redefine aspects of our identity, including challenging harmful social norms about productivity and rest. However, many role-playing and journaling games are not accessible due to their demanding time, energy, cognition, and preparation requirements. This is even more true for people with chronic illnesses, including depression and anxiety, both of which are on the rise in college-aged populations. Dear Archibald bridges that gap by breaking play down into short, simple sessions that can be enjoyed on a player’s preferred schedule.

Developers
Elaine Fath, Kesha Bagadia

Awards
Life.Love.Game Award 2024 (4th Place)

How To Play:
Game Guide