Can rolling dice really make us more empathetic? In the fourth instalment of my series exploring the psychology of tabletop role-playing games, I take a closer look at empathy—what it is, why it evolved, and why it’s one of the most important skills we possess. From cognitive empathy to compassionate action, we’ll explore the science behind understanding others and why psychologists sometimes describe activities that develop this skill as an “empathy gym.”

We’ll also discover why TTRPGs like Dungeons & Dragons are uniquely suited to building empathy. By stepping into the shoes of characters with different backgrounds, beliefs and experiences, players regularly practise perspective-taking, cooperation and emotional understanding. Whether you’re a seasoned adventurer or have never picked up a d20, this video explores how role-playing games can help us become not just better players, but more compassionate people.