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 | Fall 2026 | Tabletop Games
Game Market West is a tabletop game market where independent designers show off and sell their newest board/card games (usually 400+ attendees). Featuring 35+ designers and specialty vendors, this is one of the biggest indie game markets in the country! Peter C. Hayward is the special guest, designer of games such as Critter Kitchen, Things in Rings, and many more games.
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.
- 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.
Hungry for more than just games? Free pizza will be available at 12 PM. There are also many quick service restaurants within a couple blocks, and outside food is also allowed.
Sponsors
- Allplay: Publishing games that are approachable and easy to learn, but are still strategic and make you want to play over and over again.
- The Op Games: Creating board games and puzzles that bring family and friends together!
- Golden Gate Gamemakers: Bringing together board game designers and playtesters in the San Francisco Bay Area as a recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
- Pizza Guys (1347 S Winchester Blvd, San Jose): Searching for the best pizza in San Jose? From classic cheese to loaded specialty options, every order is baked hot and ready to satisfy.
Upcoming events
63
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 attendeesGame Market West | Fall 2026 | Tabletop Games
Guildhouse, 420 S 1st street,, San Jose, CA, USGame Market West is a tabletop game market where independent designers show off and sell their newest board/card games (usually 400+ attendees). Featuring 35+ designers and specialty vendors, this is one of the biggest indie game markets in the country! Peter C. Hayward is the special guest, designer of games such as Critter Kitchen, Things in Rings, and many more games.
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.
- 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.
Hungry for more than just games? Free pizza will be available at 12 PM. There are also many quick service restaurants within a couple blocks, and outside food is also allowed.
Sponsors
- Allplay: Publishing games that are approachable and easy to learn, but are still strategic and make you want to play over and over again.
- The Op Games: Creating board games and puzzles that bring family and friends together!
- Golden Gate Gamemakers: Bringing together board game designers and playtesters in the San Francisco Bay Area as a recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
- Pizza Guys (1347 S Winchester Blvd, San Jose): Searching for the best pizza in San Jose? From classic cheese to loaded specialty options, every order is baked hot and ready to satisfy.
28 attendees
Game Market West - Game Maker Hangout
Guildhouse, 420 First St, San Jose, CA, USImmediately following Game Market West is a casual Game Maker Hangout!
Designers, players, and any other interested can co-work, run and join in playtests, network, do open gaming, and socialize. This is a great chance to relax and have fun, or maybe make some great progress on a game you're working on. Meet local designers and check out the games you didn't have a chance to while being busy the whole market.
No cost to attend this event or be in the venue. Guildhouse will be open to the public from 3pm onwards for regular business hours.
1 attendee
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 7-9 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 7-9 pm PT.
SCHEDULE
7:10 pm - Presentation on using digital prototyping or playtesting
7:30 pm - General discussion
8-9 pm - Unscheduled playtesting of online prototypes in any of the five available rooms in the GGG server. (attendees may stay later on their own as desired too)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
1 attendee
Past events
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