Gamers Who Give: Marshall Parsons

Marshall is a long-time friend and supporter of Gamers Engaged, showing up year after year to play in Gamer Engaged’s annual Gauntlet charity tournament.

Marshall is a game designer and artist based in the Seattle area who lives and breathes games. While not tinkering on some project in Unity, you can usually found him at the tabletop playing games or working on other projects. For Marshall, making games has become the best game.

Gamers Engaged is excited to feature Marshall as a Gamer Who Gives.

Keep reading for our interview with Marshall.

Marshall (far left) and his 2025 Gauntlet team

Why do you continue to support the Gauntlet year after year? 

Aside from the fact it's a blast and it's become filled with friends I've made over the years, it's a way that I can spend time doing something I enjoy while supporting causes in the local area that better my community and the area of the world I call home.

What's your favorite Gauntlet memory?

Taking home a gauntlet a few years ago is up there, for sure! So was our team making a BLT out of ourselves last year.

Why are you a fan of Gamers Engaged?

There are only a few charitable organizations in nerdy spaces, and even fewer with such a localized focus. I was born and raised in this area - I love Seattle. To be a part of a community whose focus resides squarely in a region I get to call home, and does so proudly under the banner of gaming, is really fantastic and special.

What advice do you have for others that want to connect their passion for games with giving back to others?

Games (tabletop especially) do one thing really well - bring people together. Fostering community is hard but games create a path that makes that a cake walk. With community can come change and compassion. With a cause, through purpose, you can take any community and do good.

What's a great nonprofit you support that we should know about? Why?

In the past I've supported a few. Gamers Engaged, of course, but the Seattle Symphony also comes to mind. We weren't wealthy growing up, and I played the violin and cello. I relied on low-income school programs to afford instrument rentals, and the Seattle Symphony has a program where you can donate to fund paths for low-income children learn to play music. The arts have always meant a lot to me, especially as a child. If I can give another kid like me the ability to explore a passion like that it would mean the world.

What game are you currently playing that you can't stop? Why? 

Deep Regrets and This Game Is Killer have a stranglehold on my attention these days. I love myself a horror themed game, and Deep Regrets is a fantastic sit back and laugh kind of horror game with a good system attached. This Game Is Killer is more of a social deduction horror game with a lot of interesting game actions. Both fulfill different horror niches and group dynamics.

If you were an in-game character, what game and what role would you play?

In real life I like sword fighting and making stuff with my hands. So, I fear I would have to be in some sort of survival crafting game fending off monsters and making stuff.

What's your alignment?

I would hope neutral good. I try my best to be a net good in the world and let empathy drive my decisions wherever I can.