They say everyone in Hollywood has a side project—but not all of them are writing memoirs or launching skincare lines.
Some of them are designing board games.
Or running full-blown tabletop RPG campaigns.
Or quietly building entire fantasy worlds behind the scenes.
And once you start looking for it, you realize something:
board games and storytelling go hand in hand.
Which… honestly tracks.
If you’ve already fallen down the rabbit hole of actors turning into authors, don’t miss my post on soap opera stars who wrote fiction books. This is the next step—where storytelling leaves the page and lands right on the table.
🎲 Celebrities Who Actually Designed Games
Jeff Probst
If anyone was going to turn social strategy into a board game, it was going to be the host of Survivor.
Jeff Probst co-designed the Survivor Board Game, bringing alliances, betrayals, and challenge-style gameplay into tabletop form. It’s exactly what you’d expect—part strategy, part chaos, and very much about reading the people around you.
Survivor: The Tribe Has Spoken
Collect advantages, find hidden Immunity Idols, form secret alliances, and vote out other players to become the sole survivor.
Neil Patrick Harris
Neil Patrick Harris isn’t just into puzzles—he helped create one.
He co-created Box One, a solo board game that feels more like an escape room experience than a traditional game. It’s built around surprises, hidden elements, and that “wait… what just happened?” feeling that keeps you going.
This is one of those games where you can tell the creator genuinely loves the medium. It’s clever, a little theatrical, and very on-brand for someone who’s as much a magician as he is an actor.
His love of immersive, social gameplay shows up in the kinds of games he’s talked about playing too—like The Werewolf Experiment, a hidden-role game built around deception, bluffing, and reading the room.
Tyra Banks
Yes, really.
Tyra Banks created Modelland: The Game, inspired by her larger-than-life fantasy universe. It’s bold, colorful, and very on-brand—blending storytelling, fashion, and competition into something that feels completely unique.
This isn’t just a celebrity name slapped on a product—it’s a full concept turned into a playable experience.
🧙♂️ Celebrities Who Create RPG Campaigns & Worlds
Not all game creators publish board games. Some go deeper—building entire stories, characters, and worlds through tabletop RPGs.
Joe Manganiello
Joe Manganiello isn’t just a fan—he’s a Dungeon Master in the truest sense.
He runs high-profile Dungeons & Dragons campaigns, builds immersive worlds, and has even hosted celebrity-filled game nights that are basically legendary at this point.
Hollywood has writers’ rooms. Joe Manganiello has a campaign table.
Brennan Lee Mulligan
If storytelling is the goal, Brennan Lee Mulligan is operating on another level.
As the creator and Dungeon Master behind Dimension 20, he designs full campaigns—complete with lore, mechanics, and emotional arcs that hit just as hard as any TV series.
This is tabletop as performance, as writing, and as world-building all at once.
Matthew Mercer
Matthew Mercer took what started as a home D&D game and turned it into a global phenomenon with Critical Role.
His campaigns unfold over hundreds of hours, proving that tabletop RPGs can be just as gripping, layered, and character-driven as any long-running TV drama.
Matthew Lillard
Matthew Lillard took his love of tabletop gaming and turned it into something much bigger.
As co-founder of Beadle & Grimm’s, he’s helped create premium editions of tabletop RPG campaigns—especially for Dungeons & Dragons. We’re talking detailed props, immersive handouts, and game materials that make a campaign feel like a full experience.
He’s not just involved behind the scenes either—he actively plays, often running Dungeons & Dragons campaigns and leaning into the storytelling side of the game.
That passion extends to specific adventures as well, including Waterdeep: Dragon Heist, a campaign that blends mystery, intrigue, and classic fantasy world-building.
It’s not just about playing the game—it’s about living inside it. And that kind of storytelling fits perfectly with what tabletop RPGs do best.
Dungeons & Dragons D&D Waterdeep Dragon Heist HC
A story-driven adventure set in one of Dungeons & Dragons’ most iconic cities, Waterdeep: Dragon Heist blends mystery, intrigue, and classic fantasy into a campaign that feels like a heist movie at the table. Designed for levels 1–5, it guides players through multiple branching storylines, making each playthrough feel a little different. Whether you’re new to D&D or just want a campaign with strong atmosphere and narrative focus, this one pulls you straight into the world and lets you build the story as you go.
Celebrities Who Helped Bring Board Games Back Into the Spotlight
Wil Wheaton
Wil Wheaton didn’t just play games—he helped make them mainstream again.
Through TableTop, he introduced modern board gaming to a wider audience, showcasing everything from strategy games to party favorites. For a lot of players, this was the gateway.
Felicia Day
Felicia Day helped build the platform that made all of this possible.
As co-founder of Geek & Sundry, she played a major role in bringing tabletop content into the spotlight—especially with shows like TableTop that made board gaming feel accessible and fun.
🧠 Celebrities Who Are Low-Key Board Game Nerds
Not every celebrity needs to design a game to earn a seat at the table.
Some of them just genuinely love game night.
Kristen Bell
Kristen Bell has been open about her love of board games and puzzles—especially when it comes to family game night.
No branding. No product line. Just pure enthusiasm.
Mayim Bialik
Mayim Bialik leans toward educational and thoughtful games, which feels very on-brand.
It’s less about competition and more about engagement—which honestly says a lot about how different people approach game night.
Robin Williams
Long before nerd culture went mainstream, Robin Williams was already there.
He loved tabletop gaming—especially Dungeons & Dragons—and even named his daughter Zelda after the video game series.
A true original.
👻 A Niche Pick
Grant Wilson
Grant Wilson brings his love of the paranormal straight into tabletop gaming.
In addition to his work on Ghost Hunters, he’s been involved with Rather Dashing Games, a publisher known for thematic and story-driven games. His connection to the tabletop space leans into the same things that make paranormal investigations so compelling—mystery, deduction, and a sense that something just beneath the surface is waiting to be uncovered.
If you like games that mix storytelling with a slightly eerie edge, this is one of those crossover moments that just makes sense.
Seasons of Arcadia
A beautifully illustrated, story-driven board game that blends changing seasons with strategic gameplay, Seasons of Arcadia invites players into a world that feels both cozy and quietly magical. With shifting mechanics tied to the seasons and a strong sense of atmosphere, it’s the kind of game that rewards thoughtful play while still pulling you into its world. If you’re drawn to games that feel a little immersive, a little whimsical, and just a touch mysterious, this one earns a spot at the table.
🎲 Final Thoughts
Here’s the thing—there are way fewer celebrities designing board games than you’d expect.
But that’s kind of what makes this interesting.
Some build games.
Some build worlds.
And some just show up to game night and take it way too seriously (you know the type).
Either way, the line between Hollywood storytelling and tabletop gaming is thinner than it looks.
And if you’re into both?
You’re exactly where you’re supposed to be.
🔗 You Might Also Like
If you love seeing how storytelling crosses mediums, check out my post on soap opera stars who wrote fiction books—because apparently, nobody in entertainment sticks to just one lane.
