Mindful Games Lab is a home for wonder, play, and presence.

We believe games are more than entertainment. When approached with intention, they can slow us down, bring us closer together, and help us experience moments of awe, connection, and reflection that linger long after the table is cleared.

Our Mission

We inspire people with a playful sense of awe and wonder.
We do this through mindful games and stories that help create a better world for all life.

What Is Mindful Games Lab?

Mindful Games Lab is a website, blog, and podcast dedicated to exploring games—especially board and card games—as tools for presence, connection, and meaning.

Rather than focusing on hype, rankings, or optimal play, we focus on the experience of play over the outcome and connection over competition.

Here, games are invitations—to slow down, to notice how we feel, to tune into the people around the table, and to rediscover the sense of wonder that play can offer at any age.

You’ll find reflections, stories, and conversations that encourage mindful engagement with games and with one another.

What Is Mindful Gaming?

Mindful gaming is about being fully present at the table. It’s about not rushing through games just to get them played and paying attention to how a game makes you feel.

Games have a unique ability to shape mood, relationships, and perspective. When we slow down and play with intention, games become spaces for reflection, care, and connection—not just competition.

Who Is Clay?

I’m Clay, gamer, blog writer and podcaster for Mindful Games Lab.

Games have been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I grew up immersed in role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons—so much so that learning to read was closely tied to reading rulebooks. As a kid, games like Stratego defined evenings, and my eleventh birthday was spent playing D&D with friends.

Through grade school and high school, role-playing games were how I connected with friends. In college, Magic: The Gathering took center stage, followed by a season of miniature games like Warhammer and Warhammer 40K. Board games were always present, and later in life they became my primary focus—along with a deep appreciation for party games that bring people together.

Looking back, most of my friendships were formed through gaming—at game stores, events, and conventions. Over time, my relationship with games shifted from simply playing more to playing more intentionally.

Experience & Perspective

Professionally, I’ve spent many years working in the tabletop game space. I’ve worked in sales-focused roles where games were central, including serving as a salesperson at Leder Games since 2017. I’ve also worked with Legion Supplies, managed a Games Workshop store, and owned and operated a friendly local game store.

These experiences have given me countless opportunities to observe how games impact people’s lives—how they build community, foster connection, and create meaningful moments.

I don’t approach Mindful Games Lab as someone with all the answers, but as someone who has spent years paying attention to how games shape our experiences.

Why Mindful Games Lab?

There is so much in life competing for our attention. It’s easy for play to become rushed, transactional, or lost entirely.

Mindful Games Lab exists to elevate the importance of play—as time for rest, reflection, connection, and meaning. Small moments at the table can create lasting ripple effects: a new friendship, a shared laugh, a quiet insight.

Games matter far beyond fun.

What You’ll Find Here

At Mindful Games Lab, you’ll find:

• Blog posts reflecting on mindful play and the deeper impact of games

• Podcast conversations with thoughtful creators, players, and fans

• Reflections on specific games and the experiences they create

• Gentle prompts to help you slow down and notice the moment

An Invitation

You’re invited to read, listen, and reflect.

As you play, consider this: When was the last time a game made you feel a true sense of wonder?

If that question resonates with you, welcome. You’re in the right place.