What we’re about
Seattle Board Games supports a vibrant and inclusive community of board game enthusiasts in the Seattle metro area. Our events and gatherings offer opportunities to have fun, make friends, and deepen our appreciation for the art, design, and strategy of board games. We seek to make games more accessible by removing barriers to enjoying and learning from them.
We host all types of boardgames, from lighter games such as Settlers of Catan and Lords of Waterdeep to heavier Euros like Brass Birmingham, Dune Imperium, and others. We also play thematic games such as Battlestar Galactica, social deduction games like Blood on the Clocktower, Magic the Gathering, card games, and party games. If it's on BoardGameGeek's list of over 25,000 games, we might be playing it!
We have a Discord! Connect with hundreds of other local board game fans, set up game sessions, play online, and be the first to know about some events before they're announced on Meetup! This link will lead you there!
Anyone can become an event organizer and host events - either specific games or open gaming sessions. If you are interested, please contact the primary organizer.
We are member and organizer driven, and welcome suggestions for improvements and new directions.
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Let’s Play Arkadia!! @Anchorhead Coffee!Anchorhead Coffee & Bakery, Seattle, WA
In a remote land there lies a region with undulating hills and fertile valleys. Widely-travelled settlers have laid the foundation stone for the city of Arkadia. In addition to several other buildings they want to construct a magnificent castle on a hill. Four wealthy families – the cloth merchants, the spice merchants, the carpenters and the silversmiths – want to enhance prestige and augment their influence. For this reason, they compete for the major contribution to the castle’s construction. Players act as architects. The four families commission them to plan and realise the build-up of the town and the castle.
Arkadia has City Building, Area Influence, Set Collection, Stock, & Tile Placement in an abstract strategy game with a light theme.
Players use builders, cards, and workers to construct buildings in Arkadia which in turn influences the growth of the castle that is also under construction. Houses are built under the patronage of one of four families; which increases their wealth and influence on the castle.
However this influence can wax and wane with every new construction. Once the castle is completed the wealthiest family will retain permanent control.
New players are welcome, and the host is happy to teach if you haven't played before.2 - 4 players
45-60 minutes expected play time, depending on turnout and player familiarity.
BGG Link
11-min How-to (Jeremy Reviews it)A few important details:
- The event space is in the basement and there are only stairs (no elevator) if you have mobility issues keep this in mind.
- This event is scheduled to start at 10:00 AM PLEASE be on time!
Please factor traffic & parking into your commute. - Speaking of… It's Cap Hill/First Hill/Seattle U, so parking can be a challenge. Sorry, it's a walking neighborhood! Anchorhead is only a few blocks from the First Hill Streetcar (Broadway & Pike/Pine or Broadway & Marion stops are about the same distance) and very close to the #2 and #12 bus lines, though.
- Purchasing something isn't a strict requirement, but it's nice to do since we're using the space. Please support the business if you can!
- If you need to cancel please do so as soon as you know. People on the waitlist and playing that day will appreciate it!
- Signing up for this event means other people are counting on you to attend; board games have both a minimum and a maximum player count, so with a limited number of seats available at the table, I want to be sure for everyone's benefit that those seats actually have people in them when the session starts. Last-minute cancellations (less than 12 hours), no-shows, and late arrivals (more than 15 minutes) without good reason will be marked as no-shows for the event and should expect to be automatically moved to the waitlist for any and all future events they join which are hosted by me.
- I open signups for most of my events 1-3 days before pressing the "announce" button here on Meetup; if you want to know about that when it happens and have the opportunity to claim a seat before others, you can join the Seattle Board Games Discord server, where I'll post to let users there know as soon as RSVPs open as well as posting polls for future meetups!
- CASCADERO @ Phoenix ComicsPhoenix Comics & Games, Seattle, WA
"The fault lies not with the mob, who demands nonsense, but with those who do not know how to produce anything else."
The kingdom is shattered, its towns are divided, and its people are distrusting. The newly crowned ruler, El Cascadero, seeks to reunite the land, but he can’t do it alone. Thus, he appoints four ministers to visit the people and restore civil harmony. While the ministers are obligated to bring prosperity to the entire land, each of them also has one dedicated responsibility: Farming, Crafting, Mining, and Markets. El Cascadero also records in his book the successes of his ministers.
Cascadero is the new epic tile placement strategy game from acclaimed designer Reiner Knizia. Ministers visit towns by placing their envoys adjacent to them; but towns are distrusting of single envoys, so newly placed envoys will only trigger town scoring when they are part of an established group or carry an official seal from El Cascadero himself. Towns with Royal Messengers at them or a history of envoy visits are even more valuable, as they willingly collaborate for even greater successes.
Cascadero is a medium-complexity chaining and network/route-building game with elements of tile placement and track movement, which allows for action combos to create big plays late in the game.
New players are welcome, and the host is happy to teach if you haven't played before.
2 - 4 players
60 - 90 minutes expected play time, depending on turnout and player familiarity.Cascadero on Board Game Geek
Game overview: How to Play with Bitewing Games (Don't worry, we'll go over the rules on the day, too.)A few important details:
- Signing up for this event means other people are counting on you to attend; board games have both a minimum and a maximum player count, so with a limited number of seats available at the table, I want to be sure for everyone's benefit that those seats actually have people in them when the session starts. Last-minute cancellations (less than 12 hours) and late arrivals (more than 15 minutes) will be marked as no-shows for the event. No-shows should expect to be automatically moved to the waitlist for any and all future events they join which are hosted by me. (Yes, I'm willing to make exceptions for emergencies, illness, etc, but they will be exceptions, not the norm. Talk to me about it!) The "Seattle Freeze" isn't a cute local affectation, it's just inconsiderate.
- It's Cap Hill, so parking can be a challenge. Sorry, it's a walking neighborhood! Phoenix Comics & Games is only about a block from the First Hill Streetcar (Broadway & Denny stop), less than a block from the Capitol Hill light rail station, and very close to several bus lines, though.
- Purchasing something isn't a strict requirement, but it's nice to do since we're using the space. Please support the business if you can!
- I open signups for most of my events 1-3 days before pressing the "announce" button here on Meetup; if you want to know about that when it happens and have the opportunity to claim a seat before others, you can join the Seattle Board Games Discord server, where I'll post to let users there know as soon as RSVPs open!
- FOR ALL MANKIND @ Phoenix Comics!Phoenix Comics & Games, Seattle, WA
"The Earth is just too small and fragile a basket for the human race to keep all its eggs in."
For All Mankind is a fast-paced game of strategic exploration, clever trades, and diplomatic shenanigans. Build your empire across the ever-changing solar system. (Careful, the planets move!) Gather, trade, and invest your resources -- and do whatever it takes to stay ahead of the competition.
- Expand: Grow your empire with colonies (more loot!), research (more power!), and espionage (more nukes!).
- Scheme: All is fair in interplanetary domination, but you would never double-cross a friend...right?
- Profit: Be the first to reach 10 points, and see your name etched in the stars forever!
The most fun you’ll ever have blowing up your friends in space, guaranteed!
For All Mankind is a medium-light territory-building and negotiation game with a board layout that changes during play and a heavy dose of "take that!" New players are welcome, and the host is happy to teach if you haven't played before.
For All Mankind on Board Game Geek
Game overview and rules teach by Bad Cat Media1 - 4 players
6 - 90 minutes expected play time, depending on turnout and player familiarity. Please note the host has a hard stop time of 2:00 PM; I have to get to work afterward!A few important details:
- Signing up for this event means other people are counting on you to attend; board games have both a minimum and a maximum player count, so with a limited number of seats available at the table, I want to be sure for everyone's benefit that those seats actually have people in them when the session starts. Last-minute cancellations (less than 12 hours) and late arrivals (more than 15 minutes) will be marked as no-shows for the event. No-shows should expect to be automatically moved to the waitlist for any and all future events they join which are hosted by me. (Yes, I'm willing to make exceptions for emergencies, illness, etc, but they will be exceptions, not the norm. Talk to me about it!) The "Seattle Freeze" isn't a cute local affectation, it's just inconsiderate.
- It's Cap Hill, so parking can be a challenge. Sorry, it's a walking neighborhood! Phoenix Comics & Games is only about a block from the First Hill Streetcar (Broadway & Denny stop), less than a block from the Capitol Hill light rail station, and very close to several bus lines, though.
- Purchasing something isn't a strict requirement, but it's nice to do since we'll be using the space. Please support the business if you can!
- I open signups for most of my events 1-3 days before pressing the "announce" button here on Meetup; if you want to know about that when it happens and have the opportunity to claim a seat before others, you can join the Seattle Board Games Discord server, where I'll post to let users there know as soon as RSVPs open!
- Let’s Play Steam Time! @Anchorhead Coffee!Anchorhead Coffee & Bakery, Seattle, WA
It's the year 1899, and strange phenomena are being observed in places like Stonehenge and the pyramids of Egypt. Time goes crazy, and newly discovered crystals have exhibited strange properties that allow for the creation of fantastic apparatuses. In a race to exploit these discoveries, the rapidly industrializing nations have used them to construct gigantic steam-driven airships to travel through time and space.
Steam Time uses Economic, Drafting, Contracts, & Worker Placement mechanisms. The game is broken up into five rounds in which players take turns placing an airship onto one of six action spaces on monument boards. These actions include: Missions, Encounters, Crystal Deposits, Upgrades, Gold, and Expeditions. What sets Steam Time apart from typical worker placement games is how each action space is variable strength depends on resources you apply and you are constrained to always choosing a higher value placement than the last which makes efficient worker use difficult. Steam Time is the sort of game that gives players many routes to victory and is very replay able due to its modular setup.
New players are welcome, and the host is happy to teach if you haven't played before.2 - 4 players
90 minutes expected play time, depending on turnout and player familiarity.
BGG Link
24-min How-to (Rhado Runs Thru It)
(Don't worry, we'll go over the rules on the day, too.)A few important details:
- The event space is in the basement and there are only stairs (no elevator) if you have mobility issues keep this in mind.
- This event is scheduled to start at 1:00PM PLEASE be on time!
Please factor traffic & parking into your commute. - Speaking of… It's Cap Hill/First Hill/Seattle U, so parking can be a challenge. Sorry, it's a walking neighborhood! Anchorhead is only a few blocks from the First Hill Streetcar (Broadway & Pike/Pine or Broadway & Marion stops are about the same distance) and very close to the #2 and #12 bus lines, though.
- Purchasing something isn't a strict requirement, but it's nice to do since we're using the space. Please support the business if you can!
- If you need to cancel please do so as soon as you know. People on the waitlist and playing that day will appreciate it!
- Signing up for this event means other people are counting on you to attend; board games have both a minimum and a maximum player count, so with a limited number of seats available at the table, I want to be sure for everyone's benefit that those seats actually have people in them when the session starts. Last-minute cancellations (less than 12 hours), no-shows, and late arrivals (more than 15 minutes) without good reason will be marked as no-shows for the event and should expect to be automatically moved to the waitlist for any and all future events they join which are hosted by me.
- I open signups for most of my events 1-3 days before pressing the "announce" button here on Meetup; if you want to know about that when it happens and have the opportunity to claim a seat before others, you can join the Seattle Board Games Discord server, where I'll post to let users there know as soon as RSVPs open as well as posting polls for future meetups!
