About us
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
Featured event
Game Market West | Spring 2026 | Tabletop Games
Special Guest: Matt Leacock will meet fans and sign games from 10 AM to 12 PM!
Come join us at Guildhouse to buy and play a wide selection of board/card games! Meet the indie game designers behind these games and check out their available games for purchase (link coming soon). Whether you're a casual player or an enthusiast, there's something here for everyone. In addition, we have a raffle with many games to give away. You can play your newly acquired games in the open play area.
Game Market West is a tabletop game market where independent designers show off and sell their newest board/card games.
Featuring 35+ designers and specialty vendors, this is one of the biggest indie game markets in the country!
Free and open to the public to attend. Free street parking, and paid lot/garages nearby.
List of games available for reservation and purchase in-person:
(link coming soon!)
- Browse and Buy - dozens of super creative limited-run games.
- Enjoy the GMW Play Zone - a casual table area where you can play your purchased games immediately and play drop-in sessions of other locally made games.
- Learn How Games are Made - Meet local designers and chat with our friendly volunteers. We're happy to share our knowledge about game making and working in the industry.
- Hangout Afterwards! - At 3pm Guildhouse opens for regular business hours, no charge to attend. Immediately following GMW, there will be a designer hangout from 3pm onwards where designers and any other interested can co-work, run playtests, network, do open gaming, and socialize.
Our special guest is Matt Leacock, legendary game designer of games such as Pandemic, Forbidden Island, and Daybreak, who will be saying hi to fans and signing games you bring in.
Hungry for more than just games? The venue may be serving food and drinks. There are also many quick service restaurants within a couple blocks, and outside food is also allowed.
Upcoming events
203
Sunday Board Game Playtesting at Game Kastle Redwood City
Game Kastle (Redwood City), 340 Walnut St, Redwood City, CA, USCome to Game Kastle in Redwood City to playtest some games in development! This event is twice a month, every two weeks on Sunday 1pm-6pm.
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.
Drop in any time, and leave when you'd like. RSVPing by using the Attend button through Meetup is appreciated but not required.
Point of contact and organizer: Andrew, Lucas, Ting
- COST - Free! Though you are encouraged to shop at Game Kastle if you have any gaming needs.
- PARKING - Free plentiful shopping center parking.
See GGG's full code of conduct here.
Up-to-date details and our many other events can be found at meetup.com/playgoldengate
12 attendees
Board Game Playtesting - Online!
·OnlineOnlineThe Golden Gate Gamemakers would like you to join us ONLINE to playtest board games in development!
When: The last Monday of each month from 7-10 pm PT we host an evening of virtual board game playtesting.
Where: Join the GGG Discord Server and visit the "Alpaca" and other Room voice channels between 7-10 pm PT.
SCHEDULE
7:10 pm - Presentation on using digital prototyping or playtesting
7:30 pm - General discussion
8-10 pm - Unscheduled playtesting of online prototypes in any of the five available rooms in the GGG server.If you are joining our Discord Server for the first time, you will need to go through the onboarding process and wait 5 minutes before being able to join the Voice Channels along the left bar.
You will need to select a role to join, if you haven't during the onboarding process, go to the top of the left bar, click Channels & Roles and choose a role such as Gamemaker.
Who: We welcome you whether you're a designer with a prototype, an interested playtester, or you'd just like to observe and check things out.
Prerequisites: No experience needed. Connect, play, and give feedback - let's make better games together and have fun doing it!
Web: To lower any barriers, we encourage the use of web-based digital prototypes built on Screentop or PlayingCards IO.
Format: Each session we will rotate through games and share constructive feedback to help designers refine their games. If we don't get to your game, you'll be prioritized next meetup.
RSVP: Appreciated but not required.
Organizers: Greg Pool (Haole Boy Games) and Jason Parmele (The Misplay).
Cost: Our Discord server is FREE to join and use. Digital playtesting platforms like Screentop and PlayingCards IO have basic plans that are free for playtesters and designers.
Rules: GGG's Code of Conduct
More events: More GGG events at meetup.com/playgoldengate
3 attendees
Board Game Playtesting at Next Level Board Game Cafe Mountain View
888 Villa St, Mountain View, CA, USCome 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.
6 attendees
Board Game Playtesting at Dogpatch Games (San Francisco)
Dogpatch Games, 1095 Tennessee St, San Francisco, CA, USWelcome to the Golden Gate Gamemakers' board game playtesting event at Dogpatch Games in San Francisco! We meet last Thursdays 6pm-10pm.
We are a community of tabletop game designers & board game fanatics who meet monthly at Dogpatch Games (1095 Tennessee St. in San Francisco's Dogpatch district) to playtest each other's prototypes, provide feedback, help each other get published, and most importantly... have fun!
Whether you’re game is days away from Kickstarter, or just ideas on a napkin, or you just want to hangout and playtest other prototypes (we LOVE playtesters!)…all are welcome!
A few notes if this is your first time joining us:
- Our goal is to provide a community around creating new games. Every designer will get their prototype to the table. We give everyone the chance to play games and get their game played.
- Each designer gets equal time, which is about one hour. This includes rules explanations, gameplay, and time for feedback.
- Please arrive on time if you have a game to playtest. At the beginning of the night each designer will pitch their game to the group, then breakout into smaller groups. If you arrive and playtesting has already begun, we will try to accommodate you later in the evening.
- If your game requires more than one hour, or requires a player count of 6 or more, please contact us ahead of time so we can make arrangements.
- Please stay for as long as you can to playtest others’ games.
- When you arrive, please check in with the cashier and inform them you’re with the San Francisco Board Game Designers. Dogpatch Games charges customers an hourly fee (monthly subscriptions are available), but we have negotiated a flat rate of $12 per person you'll need to pay for the evening.
- Dogpatch Games does not yet sell food or drink, but outside food is very welcomed. There are many great options within a couple blocks.
- Street parking is readily available nearby. Or take BART to the Powell Street station and transfer to San Francisco Muni “T”-line and take that eastbound to 20th & 3rd Ave stop. Dogpatch Games is then one block away.
- Please no “blind playtesting”. You must teach your game yourself and not require playtesters to read rules during the event.
- This is an event for playtesting your game and gathering feedback, and not promoting your upcoming Kickstarter campaign.
- Reach out to Phil Schwarzmann (phillip.schwarzmann@gmail.com) or for any questions.
Looking forward to seeing you there!!
PhilSee GGG's full code of conduct here.
Up-to-date details and our many other events can be found at meetup.com/playgoldengate
9 attendees
Past events
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