Laughter erupts from the Student Union as a Mario Kart match reaches its final stretch. Between quick rounds of Super Smash Bros., senior Aditi Charmarthy manages tournament brackets, determined to ensure everyone is offered a chance to play. As president of MVHS’s unofficial video game club, Charmarthy has worked to build a community where students can unwind, compete and share a hobby that often stays tucked away at home. The club’s goal centers around an issue that Charmarthy and senior and co-founder Chris Kunnathu identified last year.
Kunnathu says that while there was a video game club at MVHS during his freshman and sophomore years, it became unsustainable after the senior members graduated, leading to the club’s disbandment. Wanting to continue the fun, he and Charmarthy took the initiative to start an unofficial version of the club during their junior year, reviving that space to allow students to play and connect.
Despite the usually laid-back environment, the club has also become highly structured, especially on tournament days. While players can still enjoy individual games and use that time to socialize with club mates, the main focus of meetings is interactive gameplay. Most sessions are organized around matches or tournaments, which allows both experienced and newer members to participate.
Charmarthy shares that the club now offers its members the chance to play a variety of mobile games — initially, they only had Super Smash Bros., but since then, they have added Mario Kart and several other multiplayer games. She also mentions that she owns a PS5 at home and hopes to persuade her parents to let her bring it to school, which would give members more options to play together.
For many members, the club has been a way to find community. One of those members, junior Josef Hassy, explains that one of the best parts of the club is its accessibility. For students who seem uncertain about joining, he recommends this club specifically for those who are trying to find other people to play video games with, because only playing single-player games can be lonely. He adds that it is nice to connect with people who have similar interests.
“I’d say just finding your people in general will help you feel more adjusted to any sort of community, and it’s happened in the Video Gaming Club for me,” Hassy said. “I would say I’ve gotten good bonding time with people I usually wouldn’t hang out with, or people I don’t know at all. I feel like it’s a good way to unite people.”
According to Charmarthy, the club’s format has already helped create lasting memories for its members. Last year, members participated in a Round Robin playoff tournament with a total of eight kids. A playoff tournament is based on elimination, where losing means the player is out and only the strongest players advance each round. However, the club’ s mission centers around inclusivity, ensuring that every member feels welcome and engaged. In a regular gaming tournament, players participate in Round Robin or casual free play, which lets participants keep playing even if they lose.
Kunnathu states that this club creates friendships that carry into hallways, classrooms and friend groups. He says members often find themselves talking about match highlights, game strategies and new releases long after the sessions end. As the club grows, its impact is said to reach beyond the weekly meetings.
“When we’re doing tournaments, people who are new often lose the tournament much earlier,” Charmarthy said. “So after the first round of the tournament, we have a second tournament prepared for the people who are newer or haven’t played as much. This way, we can make sure everyone gets a chance to participate more.”
Beyond competition, Charmarthy sees the club as a social hub where members share personal interests and non-academic hobbies. Charmarthy notes that some games are highly technical, requiring practice and muscle memory, so older or more experienced members often guide younger ones to grow in their abilities. Exchanging strategies and helping one another improve allows for practicing both skill development and camaraderie.
“I think a lot of people in this school join clubs in order for it to look good on their college apps and to be more academic,” Charmarthy said. “I created a video game club because it’s something that I enjoy. I hope that others will also focus more on what they enjoy and have fun.”
As the club continues to grow, Hassy says genuine interest and shared enjoyment have shaped relationships within the group. He believes that this small community built around games has become a space where students interact beyond grade level or skillset, forming friendships in the process. He further adds that this unique sense of belonging is what keeps members coming back.
“I hope people remember that they can make friends wherever they go,” Kunnathu said. “So even if you don’t have much in common, if you boot up a video game, people who like the game will find you.”