
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 (4+)
See all- Sunday Board Game Playtesting at Game Kastle Redwood CityGame Kastle (Redwood City), Redwood City, CA
Come 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.
- Board Game Playtesting at Next Level Board Game Cafe Mountain View888 Villa St, Mountain View, CA
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.
- Board Game Playtesting at Dogpatch Games (San Francisco)Dogpatch Games, San Francisco, CA
Welcome to the Golden Gate Gamemakers' board game playtesting event at Dogpatch Games in San Francisco!
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 Jim McCollum (james.mccollum@gmail.com) for any questions.
Looking forward to seeing you there!!
Phil & Jim
See GGG's full Code of Conduct here.
Up-to-date details and our many other events can be found at meetup.com/playgoldengate.
- Board Game Designers Co-working Meetup - San FranciscoSaluhall Market, San Francisco, CA
Details: Gather at Saluhall SF on the 2nd floor for a day brimming with creativity and collaboration at the Board Game Designers' Co-Working 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).
Host: Tristan
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/playgoldengate.