Gamers Who Give: Joe “Phantom Meeple” Senese
Joe Senese is a long-time friend and supporter of Gamers Engaged, showing up year after year to host the live stream for ourannual Gauntlet charity tournament.
Known online as Phantom Meeple Joe is a passionate advocate for tabletop gaming and community building. Through his engaging online presence, Joe shares his love of board games, strategy, and storytelling, creating content that inspires both seasoned players and newcomers to the hobby. With a focus on accessibility, creativity, and fun, Phantom Meeple highlights how games bring people together, spark imagination, and strengthen connections.
Gamers Engaged is excited to feature Joe as a Gamer Who Gives.
Keep reading for our interview with Joe.
Joe hosting the 2025 Gauntlet live stream.
Why do you continue to support the Gauntlet year after year?
The Gauntlet is such a wholesome event that cares about the gaming community to such an extent that major publishers continue to participate year after year to continue to do the good work that Gamers Engaged does year round and it is an outlet that has such a reach into the gaming space that makes it enjoyable to not only watch, but contribute to great causes that help those who need it most.
If you've been to an event, what's your favorite Gauntlet memory?
As both a participant and streaming host, I have lots of great memories from the 3 events that I have been privileged to be part of. However, to pick a favorite memory, it had to be from the event this year where we not only exceeded our $100k goal, but me promising to eat anchovies on stream after professing my lifelong distaste for them! I'm a man of my word and should I be back next year to host The Gauntlet on stream, I will make good on my word. Talk about your all time greatest backfires...
Why are you a fan of Gamers Engaged?
Gamers Engaged aligns two of my favorite things: Gaming and Giving! Some say that charity can be difficult and demanding work. Sometimes it definitely can be. Gamers Engaged takes the joy and love of gaming and puts that energy towards causes that make a difference to lots of people as well as highlighting the fun and happiness gaming can bring to those that need it most.
What advice do you have for others that want to connect their passion for games with giving back to others?
Even the smallest ideas can have a huge impact. Just put yourself out there! Nothing says that your impact to do good has to be a spectacle. Talk to your friends and bounce ideas off them whether it be streaming games online in a fundraising fashion or search the internet for organizations like Gamers Engaged and volunteer to help! Even giving an hour of your time towards a good cause can do more than you think!
What's a great nonprofit you support that we should know about? Why?
I am a huge fan of The Rose Gauntlet Foundation! They are an organization that provides networking and education resources to those working or wish to work in the Tabletop Gaming industry. They also provide a huge impact to the LGBTQIA+ community with many events throughout the year such as The Big Gay Dinner that take place during Pax Unplugged and sponsoring the BIPOC Lounge at Gen Con every year. Their work is amazing and definitely deserves to be seen and supported!
What game are you currently playing that you can't stop? Why?
Since I am an omnigamer, I bounce back and forth between digital and analog games. For video games, I have been playing Final Fantasy XIV Online. I have been a fan of JRPGs ever since I was 11 years old when I discovered Final Fantasy VII for the first time and eventually discovered the rest of the series. FFXIV is the closest you could get to a Final Fantasy theme park without one actually existing. Plus there is always something to do which for a game going on 11 years is quite the feat. Most of my time in game is doing 8 Person Savage Raids. For board games, my all time favorite game that I am always playing is Lords of Vegas. I love to sell this game to people as Monopoly but better! It is such a love letter to push your luck, area control, take that, and Euro Style games in general that I feel make it irresistible to play.
If you were an in-game character, what game and what role would you play?
I would love to be a Rogue-type character in Skyrim! Live off the land, be the hero, but do anything to survive. Sounds like a fun life for me!
What's your alignment?
Chaotic Good! In the words of my favorite anime character of all time, Lina Inverse from The Slayers after obliterating a whole town to slay a dragon for a gold reward, "In order to make an omelet, you have to break a few eggs!" So yes, I saved the Princess! So what if I robbed a bank to pay the ransom?
