Interactions in multiplayer games like classic cash rummy and co-op quests are creating tight-knit digital communities on social media platforms like WhatsApp and Discord. This urban cultural shift is becoming increasingly evident with time.
Gaming is the New Social Glue in Urban India
In India’s urban centres, gaming is fast becoming the new social connector. This is because people often feel isolated despite proximity to other residents. Fortunately, multiplayer games are emerging as vital third spaces where people gather and unwind. In Tier 1 cities like Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru, where life is fast but connection is slow, game lobbies have become the new neighbourhood hangouts.
Statistically, 591 million Indians are now active gamers, and in FY24 alone, 23 million more joined in. The scale of this trend is impressive, but its reasons are also interesting. A 2024 industry report revealed that players are gaming less for competition or escape, and more for relaxation, social connection and self-expression.
The time that Indians spend on gaming has also grown by 30% over the past year, reaching an average of 13 hours a week in 2024. This rise just goes to show how vital gaming has become in the average person’s daily routine. Instead of meeting at a cafe or waiting for weekend plans to align, friends are connecting remotely and diving into the familiar virtual worlds of cash rummy or Ludo together.
The pandemic may have forced this behavioural shift, but its after-effects have survived the test of time. Urban India, always in search of accessible, low-friction ways to bond, has embraced gaming not as an alternative to real-life friendship, but as an extension of it.
WhatsApp Group Chats are the New Gaming Clubs
In today’s cities, daily life is fragmented and free time is scarce. However, gaming groups on WhatsApp are emerging as the modern equivalent of kitty parties or card clubs. With over 440 million users in India, WhatsApp remains the default tool to organise, coordinate and sustain micro-communities, including gaming squads.
From FIFA leagues in apartment complexes to PUBG and New State clans syncing their nightly match times, WhatsApp is where the plans begin in earnest.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelWhat started as casual hobby circles in cities like Thiruvananthapuram has now grown into full-fledged ecosystems. One such example is Playfolio, a grassroots gaming collective that began with board games and now hosts workshops, events, and four buzzing WhatsApp groups dedicated to bridge, Dungeons & Dragons, LEGO, and strategy games.
Even the real-money gaming crowd has built tight-knit communities through WhatsApp. Dozens of groups now centre around the online rummy game, where players swap promo codes, share tips on the week’s best tournaments, and arrange friendly leagues.
Redefining Gaming Communities With Discord Servers
While WhatsApp groups handle everyday plans, Discord has emerged as urban India’s preferred space for deeper, more sustained social bonds in gaming. With its voice channels, topic-based chats, and built-in streaming tools, Discord allows players to connect before, during and after gameplay. This turns a single session into a social experience.
Globally, Discord hit 150 million monthly users by mid-2024, and India is a key contributor to this growth. From sprawling servers like “Indian Gaming Community” to hyperlocal hubs such as the Hyderabad Gaming Discord with 500+ members, these virtual hangouts function like city-based gaming lounges.
What begins as tactical coordination often evolves into genuine camaraderie. A Call of Duty: Mobile squad might start a server for match planning, but soon they’re trading birthday wishes, advice on school or jobs, or just hopping into voice channels for idle chat. For urban teens, in particular, Discord is overtaking Instagram as the place to hang out, thanks to its mix of semi-anonymity, topic-driven focus, and freedom from social polish.
The Future of Play: Turning Digital Bonds Into Real Connection
Online gaming communities are increasingly spilling into real life through meetups and social interactions. A short group chat on WhatsApp or Discord often leads to meetups, monthly rummy nights, or even board game tournaments. These in-person gatherings help put faces to gamer tags and turn digital camaraderie into offline belonging.
Gaming cafés, which were revived after the pandemic, are now hosting board game nights and esports events across major cities like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Thiruvananthapuram.
Grassroots initiatives from groups like Xcited Club and Misfits are using games to foster connections among urban youth seeking friendships beyond work or hometown ties. Some meet to play rummy games or Dungeons & Dragons, whereas others host LEGO nights or open mics. Many participants say these face-to-face meetups, which often began in online gaming forums, offer relief from the city’s anonymity.
In that sense, we have come full circle to the traditional idea of a community clubhouse or a playground. The only difference is that now, it’s virtual and accessible 24/7. The games might be on screens, but the friendships are decidedly real. A new wave of game-first communities is here, and it’s levelling up urban social life in India, one lobby at a time.