Competitive Gaming San Francisco

Find your local competitive gaming community

430kMonthly events

60mMembers

4.5App store rating

200kGroups

Game Night at Lore Speakeasy

Thu, Apr 30, 1:30 AM

From Social Events at Lore Speakeasy and Escape Room

Every Wednesday, we wear cloaks. 🧝‍♀️⚔️ Lore's weekly game night is your weekly escape into something magical. Meet new friends as you traverse our two speakeasies and find different games to play. This week, we have a special collaboration with a dedicated Blood on the Clocktower group to have several games going in our Main speakeasy. In our Lord of the Rings inspired lounge, our staff transforms into LOTR characters, Bardcore covers of your favorite pop songs fill the air, and expect different tables playing various euro and lighthearted strategy games. Arrive in a full LOTR costume and we'll take $5 off your food and drinks. 👑 Feel free to bring a game you love from home, or discover a new favorite here from our collection. Whether you're a seasoned strategist or just looking for a great night out, there's a seat at the table for you. See you!!!!🍸🎶 📅 Every Wednesday \| 📍 Lore Speakeasy\, Mission District SF 🔗 [www.loresf.com](http://www.loresf.com) \| @lore_speakeasy \| discord\.gg/hAF9UGhejy

1 attendee

Board Game Playtesting at Dogpatch Games (San Francisco)

Fri, May 1, 1:00 AM

From Golden Gate Gamemakers

4.8

Welcome 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!! Phil [See GGG's full code of conduct here.](https://goldengategamemakers.com/Code_Of_Conduct/) Up-to-date details and our many other events can be found at [meetup.com/playgoldengate](meetup.com/playgoldengate)

10 attendees

Board Game Designers' Coworking Meetup - San Francisco

Sat, May 2, 7:00 PM

From Golden Gate Gamemakers

4.8

Gather 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](https://goldengategamemakers.com/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

2 attendees

Board Game Playtesting at Victory Point Cafe Berkeley - 1st Wednesdays

Thu, May 7, 1:00 AM

From Golden Gate Gamemakers

4.8

Come to Victory Point Cafe in Berkeley to playtest some games in development! This event is twice a month, 1st Wednesdays and 3rd Mondays, and exists as two separate listings on our meetup. This is a relaxed chance to try new board / card / tabletop games, get feedback on your own prototypes, and learn about 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 and out any time and participate as much as you'd like, and just observing is fine too. RSVPing is appreciated but not required. Organizers: Glenn and Velgus * COST - Participants may pay the regular $12/person reserved gaming fee or waive it by buying at least two menu items from the cafe. Pay or start a tab at the front counter upon entering. * PARKING - Street meters should be free from 6pm onwards. There is free street parking on the street behind the venue and on surrounding streets during the day and evening. * BART - Downtown Berkeley BART station is a straight 8-minute walk away. [See GGG's full Code of Conduct here](https://goldengategamemakers.com/Code_Of_Conduct/). Up-to-date details and our many other events can be found at [meetup.com/playgoldengate](https://www.meetup.com/playgoldengate).

10 attendees

Showcase Showdown

Sat, Apr 25, 2:00 AM

From Noisebridge Hackerspace

4.7

**WIKI:** https://www.noisebridge.net/wiki/Showcase_Showdown # Showcase Showdown 2nd & 4th Fridays Showcase Showdown is an indie game showcase and fighting game tourney featuring Smash Melee competition. * **WHEN: 2**nd and 4th Fridays at [Noisebridge](https://www.noisebridge.net/wiki/Noisebridge "Noisebridge") at 7pm-12am. * **WHAT:** Play indie games showcases & competitive games like [Super Smash Brothers Melee](https://www.noisebridge.net/index.php?title=Super_Smash_Brothers_Melee&action=edit&redlink=1 "Super Smash Brothers Melee (page does not exist)"). * It is part of our [Fighting Game Fridays](https://www.noisebridge.net/wiki/Category:Fighting_Game_Fridays "Category:Fighting Game Fridays") alternating with [School of Melee](https://www.noisebridge.net/wiki/School_of_Melee "School of Melee") 1st and 4th Fridays. * It started as Noisebridge's first [GDC](https://www.noisebridge.net/wiki/GDC "GDC") IndieSmash event in 2026. # Indie Games Showcases * **GAMERS:** Do you want to see the next generation of games being showcased and playtested? * **DEVS"** Do you have a game in the works or released that you'd like to share? ## GAMERS COME PLAY THE NEXT WAVE We have a wide variety of exciting new games in development or recently released for you to try! * Meet the developers and share your playtesting feedback to help shape the future of gaming. ## DEVS COME SHOW YOUR HARD WORK We are seeking games to show so get in touch and show up with your games to share! * We can help you set up your demo station and promotional materials to help attendees play, wishlist, give feedback and buy your game. * Come to [Gamebridge](https://www.noisebridge.net/wiki/Gamebridge "Gamebridge") Wednesdays and we'll set you up. * Introduce yourself on our [Discord](https://www.noisebridge.net/wiki/Discord "Discord") #games channel and tell us about the game you want to showcase and what promo material and setup you plan to have. # Fighting Game Tournaments ## Smash Melee Tourney Smash Melee is our founding game tourney that we began with and will continue every event. ## Halo We are planning a Halo tourney soon with some folks volunteering to do that. ## Street Fighter & Marvel VS Capcom Street Fighter games are at the roots of the fighting game community and we play these games too. ## Soul Calibur A tale of souls and swords, the soul still burns from our days with the Dreamcast. * We would like to have a Soul Calibur 6 tournament soon. * We could play console Calibur games if we get the right set of consoles and discs or figure out how to get them. ## Aether A newer kind of fighting game. ## Skull Girls A really artistic and cool fighting cgame. ## Bring them blue sparks! Suggest a game Do you have a game you'd like to arrange to play at Showcase Showdown?

1 attendee

Play Go and Socialize

Fri, Apr 24, 11:00 PM

From San Francisco Go Club

4.7

Visit our Japan Center Go Club and play Go with others. We are open every Friday 4-8pm with more times coming soon.

2 attendees

Open Board Gaming !

Fri, May 1, 2:00 AM

From Play Games

4.6

We play and teach games every Thursday [at](https://www.itsyourmoveoakland.com/)[ Its Your Move Games](https://www.itsyourmoveoakland.com/clubs) until 11pm. The cost is $5. Drop in any time from 7:00pm to 10:30pm or so and you're sure to find something to play! Bring your games from home or use any of the games from our extensive used game library. We often have many tables going on at once for lots of variety. The earlier part of the evening is ideal for families with kids. We play all sorts of board games and card games on Thursday nights, but also: We are at[ 7th West](https://www.7thwest.com/) Every Wednesday night with a nice sized board game library. There is no cover charge there and they have Pin Ball machines a great menu and a large patio for smoking. Got a favorite game you'd like to find others to play? Bring it along! Let us know in advance if possible so we can help with recruiting players. In addition to these Thursday Meetups and the ones linked above, there are yet more game-specific events for adults and youth over the course of each week, including Scrabble, youth Pathfinder, youth chess and youth Go classes/play, so check out our full schedule here (http://www.meetup.com/oaklandgames/pages/Event_schedule/). There's more to come, so be sure to stay in touch! We request a donation of $3 to help offset the cost of keeping the store open so late every Friday. Hope to see you soon! \-\- Chris Specker and Will Kreber $owner/managers$

1 attendee

Mon at Victory Point Cafe

Tue, Apr 28, 1:00 AM

From Berkeley Board Gamers

4.8

Game night is back, come on out to Victory Point Cafe and check out the Berkeley Board Gamers. The only reason restrictions are being lifted is because most adults that can be vaccinated are being vaccinated. In fact, vaccines are going to be available for 5 and up. Let me state clearly right now, if you are NOT FULLY UPDATED on your boosters, you should NOT come out to any of these events for your own health and safety. Fully updated means 2 weeks after your latest booster dose of vaccine. The Berkeley Board Gamers has no power to verify whether someone is fully updated, so if you make the choice not to listen to this warning, then you are assuming that risk yourself. We may also meet in a place with non-members, the Berkeley Board Gamers definitely has no power or influence over non-members. To be clear, you should only consider these game nights if you are fully updated! The venue we are meeting at is the charming Victory Point Café. The normal gaming fee at the café is $7.50. Instead of paying the normal gaming fee the café has generously offered to let us simply purchase any 2 items from the menu. If you have a dietary restriction that makes this requirement difficult, please let me know and we can work something out. The link below includes the cafe's menu: https://www.victorypointcafe.com/pages/menu

2 attendees

SF Game Development Annual BBQ at Golden Gate Park

Sun, May 3, 8:00 PM

From SF Game Development

4.6

Are you ready to BBQ, bask in the sun (or fog), and hang out with fellow game devs? We’re hosting a special SF Game Development BBQ and potluck at Lindley Meadow Picnic Area in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco! We’ve secured a permitted space just for us, and we’re bringing together game developers, designers, artists, and enthusiasts for a relaxed day of great food, networking, and fun in the sun (or fog). Bring some picnic blankets, a dish to share, and whatever else you want. Whether you’re a veteran dev or just game-curious, come kick back, make connections, and share something delicious. **🌟 Event Details:** * 📍 **Lindley Meadow Picnic Area, Golden Gate Park** * 📅 **Date:** Sunday, May 3rd 2026 * ⏰ **Time:** Please arrive at or after **1:00 PM** * 💻 **RSVP Required on Meetup:** Space is limited, so be sure to reserve your spot in advance! **☀️ Why You Should Come:** * Chill vibes in one of SF’s most iconic parks * Great food and drink from our awesome community * Casual networking with devs from all levels and disciplines * It’s FREE (just bring a food or drink item to share with everyone) 🔗 **RSVP now on Meetup to secure your spot** — we expect this one to fill up

91 attendees

SF - Marina Chess Club Night

Thu, Apr 30, 2:00 AM

From Silicon Valley Chess Community

4.8

♟️ **This isn’t your typical chess meetup** Every week **20+ people** show up We play in bars. We bring the vibes. Whether you’re a total beginner or a blitz addict—this is your place. ➡️ **Want to officially join the SVCC community?** Sign up before the event → [sv-chess.com/community/registration](https://sv-chess.com/community/registration) 🫱 Hosted by your **CVO (Chief Vibes Officer) Isaiah** – expect high energy, good convos, and games with people who love chess and community just as much as you do. **SV Chess Community = Chess + People + Vibes** We’re the **largest social chess community in NorCal**, bringing people together across the Bay through the love of the game. 🧩 **What to expect**: – Chill blitz & casual games – No judgment, no pressure—just good vibes – Great convo, good drinks, and new friends – Boards provided—just show up and play 🍻 All games happen at the bar. Didn’t sign up ahead of time? No worries—we’ll help you join at the event. **Join the movement. Make your move. We’ll see you over the board.** 📲 Follow us on Instagram → [@sv_chess_community](https://www.instagram.com/sv_chess_community/) 🌐 Learn more → [sv-chess.com/community/about](https://sv-chess.com/community/about) 📝 Register now → [sv-chess.com/community/registration](https://sv-chess.com/community/registration)

1 attendee

Pool Tournament at The BreakRoom

Tue, Apr 28, 2:00 AM

From Berkeley Pool Tournaments Meetup Group

Join us for an exciting evening of pool competition at our Berkeley Pool Tournament! Whether you're a seasoned pro or just looking to have some fun, all skill levels are welcome to participate. Every Monday night. $20 entry fee, 8-ball race to three, double elimination loser bracket 9-ball race to three. Come test your skills, meet fellow pool enthusiasts, and enjoy a night of friendly competition. Don't miss out on the chance to showcase your talent and potentially take home the title of pool champion. See you there!

1 attendee

Game Dev Coworking

Tue, May 5, 7:15 PM

From SF Bay Area Game Jamming & Game Design

4.9

Come hang out, chat, and work on your projects at the MADE's new space in downtown Oakland!

1 attendee

Visit our Japan Center Go Club and play Go with others. We are open every Friday 4-8pm with more times coming soon.

2 attendees

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430kMonthly events

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200kGroups

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Frequently asked questions

Meetup is a platform that helps individuals discover and participate in group events based on shared interests, whether local or online. You can find and join groups or events that match your hobbies, getting you connected with like-minded people.

You can search for gaming groups and events in San Francisco by using Meetup's location-based search. Just enter your area preferences and explore various scheduled events and gaming communities.

Yes, you can! Several groups host competitive gaming events in San Francisco where you can RSVP to participate. These events may include tournaments and casual meet-ups.

Yes, there are esports groups in San Francisco. Search for specific games or esports communities on Meetup to find enthusiasts who share your passion.

Competitive gaming in San Francisco can cover a wide range from video games to tabletop games. Explore agent listings to discover the variety hosted by various groups.

While creating an account and browsing events is free, some specific gaming events may require a fee to participate, depending on the group or activities involved.

Once you've found an event you're interested in, you can RSVP directly on Meetup's platform. Simply indicate your attendance to help organizers plan accordingly.

The attendance for gaming events in San Francisco can vary widely. Engagement levels depend on the group, the game's popularity, and event promotion.

Yes, some groups organize online gaming events. You can look for groups specifying virtual meetups for those unable to attend in person.

Meetup covers many games, but availability depends on local interest and group organization. Exploring Meetup helps you see which games are actively played in San Francisco.

Not necessarily! Many groups welcome gamers of all skill levels. Check event descriptions for any specific skill requirements or beginner-friendly sessions.

Meetup facilitates connections but cannot guarantee specific formats like 1-on-1 play. Confirm event details with hosts to know if individual matches are possible.

No, events are hosted by independent organizers, though they utilize the Meetup platform. They plan and manage their own events specific to community needs.

If you can't find an event that suits you, consider reaching out to groups to express interest or creating your event on Meetup to attract fellow enthusiasts.

After joining a group or RSVPing to an event, you can participate nearly immediately, provided there's space and it aligns with your schedule.