What we’re about
Golden Gate Gamemakers is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that brings together board game creators and players in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Together we run 200+ events a year all over the Bay Area, including: San Francisco, San Jose, Berkeley, Oakland, Redwood City, Palo Alto, Dublin, Fremont, Santa Cruz, Mill Valley, Petaluma, Concord, Mountain View, and more!
We support playtesting, co-working, promotional, and educational opportunities for tabletop gamemakers, as well as interested players. Help local designers make great games and have fun doing it!
Whether you are a first time or veteran game designer, industry professional, tabletop game enthusiast, casual player, or just want to check things out, we welcome you to our events and are happy to share our knowledge.
If you have any questions, please message @Velgus or your event host, or contact through our website.
Our Code of Conduct:
Code of Conduct - Living Document
Our Website:
Golden Gate Gamemakers
Our Discord:
Golden Gate Gamemakers
Upcoming events
46
Board Game Designers' Coworking Meetup - San Francisco
Saluhall Market, 945 Market Street, San Francisco, CA, USGather at Saluhall SF (2nd floor) for a day brimming with creativity and collaboration at the Board Game Designers' Coworking Meetup. We meet every 1st Saturday of the month (drop in and out anytime). This is a unique relaxed opportunity to work on your projects surrounded by peers who share your passion for game design. This is your chance to get valuable feedback, share resources, and perhaps even find collaborators for your next big game idea. Playtesting is welcome, though that isn't the focus of this event. This is free to attend, yet please consider buying some delicious food and drinks while here to support the venue.
What to Bring (optional): laptop, prototypes, sketches, ideas, components (components will also be provided by the host).
Hosts: Tristan and Lucas
BART: Powell Street station, exit onto Market Street, and walk half a block south to Saluhall.
Parking: Limited street parking.
1. 6x6 SF Parking Garage 440 Stevenson - 1hr validation with $15 purchase at Saluhall.
2. SF City Parking 25 Mason St
3. 5th & Mission Yerba Buena Garage 833 Mission St
4. California Parking 199 Turk St.
PLEASE RSVP so I can get a headcount and we can get the tables we need!
Code of Conduct:
GGG Code of Conduct
Also there are some additional rules to highlight for this event:
1. NO PREJUDICE. It does NOT matter whether you're a veteran or a newbie in the industry. We are all equals in this space.
2. ZERO TOLERANCE against discrimination -- this does not just include the typical forms of discrimination (e.g. racial, gender, sexual orientation, etc) but also the atypical forms (e.g. age, competitive/casual, serious/jovial, neurodivergence, complexity preferences, etc).
3. CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM is welcome! This is a space where we should be 100% honest with each other about our prototypes. DO NOT use this as an opportunity to provide criticism about an individual. DO use this as an opportunity to provide criticism about games.
Up-to-date details and our many other events can be found at meetup.com/playgoldengate6 attendees
GGG/BMG Board Game Playtesting! King Kong Games Dublin
King Kong Comics and Games, 6700 Amador Plaza Rd, Dublin, CA, USCome to King Kong Games in Dublin on 2nd Mondays to playtest some games in development! This is co-branded event run by Golden Gate Gamemakers and Break My Games.
This is a relaxed chance to try new board / card / tabletop games, get feedback on your own prototypes, and get advice on the game industry. Designers and interested players welcome, no experience needed.
Please be courteous to other designers and stay to test their games if you are bringing your own prototype to be tested.
Point of contact and organizer: Matt and Zach
- COST - Free! Though please consider buying something from the store if you'd like.
- PARKING - Free and plentiful parking in adjacent lot.
- BART - 7 Minute walk from West Dublin Station. Free and plentiful parking in adjacent lot.
See GGG's full code of conduct here.
Up-to-date details and our many other events can be found at meetup.com/playgoldengate5 attendees
Board Game Playtesting at Peoples Coffee in Santa Cruz (1 Year Anniversary)
People's Coffee, 1200 17th Ave #130, Santa Cruz, CA 95062, Santa Cruz, CA, USCome to Peoples Coffee, the official Santa Cruz location for the Southmost events for the Golden Gate Gamemakers! Come join us as a branch under GGG known as Game Designers of Santa Cruz!
It's a relaxed chance to try new board games and card games, get feedback on your own prototypes if you are a game designer, and get advice on the games industry. New designers and interested players welcome!
Please be courteous to other designers and stay to test their games if you are bringing your prototype to be tested.
We run a small raffle thru the sign in sheet each night for participants to win new and used board game prizes.
This is also Peoples Coffees first events they have held! They are generously keeping all services of food and drink available through the entire 6pm to 10pm event! They normally close at 5:30. Thank you Peoples Coffee! For all of our events at Peoples, affogatos (ice cream and espresso) are half off!
We now have a Game Library located inside Peoples for anyone to use any time they are open!
**Cost**
This is a completely free event! Attendees are encouraged to buy some delicious drinks and food from Peoples Coffee.
**Parking / Travel**
You can park in the main parking lot in front of Peoples Coffee. There is a also side parking behind Peoples, and around the residential area. You are also free to park across the street near Salsas Taco Bar.
See GGG's full code of conduct here.
Up-to-date details and our many other events can be found at meetup.com/playgoldengate
Point of contact and organizer: Courtney Laschkewitsch13 attendees
Board Game Playtesting at Next Level Board Game Cafe Mountain View
888 Villa St, Mountain View, CA, US(IMPORTANT: due to the holidays, this meetup will meet at 11/12/2025 for November and 12/10/2025 for December. Look out for the regular schedule in 2026!)
Come to Next Level Board Game Cafe in Downtown Mountain View every last Wednesday of the month to playtest some games in development!
This is a relaxed chance to try new board / card / tabletop games, get feedback on your own prototypes, and get advice on the game industry. New designers or interested playtesters welcome, no experience needed.
Please be courteous to other designers and stay to test their games if you are bringing your own prototype to be tested.
Point of contact and organizer: Ronald Melencio
- COST - FREE for all attendees!
- PARKING - Streets nearby and structures FREE after 6pm. Closest is LOT 1 Garage Parking, 13 Bryant St, Mountain View, CA 94041.
- CALTRAIN - Mountain View Station is a straight 7-minute walk away.
- OTHER PUBLIC TRANSIT - VTA and buses are available.
See GGG's full Code of Conduct here.
Up-to-date details and our many other events can be found at meetup.com/playgoldengate.7 attendees
Past events
803
