Once only a platform for gamers, Discord has drastically broadened its appeal, spawning 30,000 chat rooms (called servers) where fans go deep into esports, skincare, streetwear, book clubs, and much more. Here’s how to join your own fandom today!

A server is a dedicated space for communities that share something in common—a favorite podcast, a passion for cooking, a subscription to the same newsletter. You can’t search for servers directly in the app, but YouTube creators, community newsletters, podcasts, and fast-food chains alike often post Discord links.

Within each server, you can set up text and voice channels to discuss specific topics. A Discord server for Ted Lasso, for example, might have a channel dedicated to Coach Beard’s reading list and one for fan fiction. Want to chat privately with a specific person? Tap their name to message them or to invite them to other servers.

Do you go by many names online? Maybe you’re “Sir Suzy Greathammer the Barbarian” in your fantasy roleplaying group’s channel but just “Jules” to your friends? Users with a Nitro subscription can customize their name and avatar by server.

Discord is ideal for chatting while you play your favorite video games—but the app offers plenty of its own games too. Hop into a voice or video chat and tap the Activities icon (the little circle with four shapes) to find games you can launch right alongside your conversation. Some of our favorites include Gartic Phone, a hilariously unhinged riff on the party game Telephone; the multiplayer mini-golf game Putt Party; and Farm Merge Valley, a relaxing animal-matching game.

Every Discord server has guardrails to maintain a safe environment for all, whether through human moderators or the multiple content filters that detect inappropriate messages. To set up your own filters, go to the app’s settings and select Content & Social. There you can toggle filters for sensitive content, direct-message spam, friend requests, and how people find you.