Serious Games
Meet other local people interested in Serious Games: share experiences, inspire and encourage each other! Join a Serious Games group.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Check out serious games events happening today here. These are in-person gatherings where you can meet fellow enthusiasts and participate in activities right now.
Discover all the serious games events taking place this week here. Plan ahead and join exciting meetups throughout the week.
Absolutely! Find serious games events near your location here. Connect with your local community and discover events within your area.
Serious Games Events Today
Join in-person Serious Games events happening right now
Blood on the Clocktower in Mitte (advanced level)
**New to the game? Please join our beginner-friendly Sunday event instead!**
Hi folks, this is a special meetup group for the regular Blood on the Clocktower games every Tuesday in Berlin Mitte. This event is aimed at players who are already very familiar with Clocktower - if you have dozens of games under your belt and are excited to play custom scripts with other seasoned players, this is the event for you!
Our group aims to provide a fun and welcoming space to experience this thrilling game of social deception. **We focus on promoting a positive and fun group atmosphere, where players don’t take themselves or the game too seriously, whether they’re heroically winning or spectacularly losing.** Our players follow the code of conduct for the Berlin Board Gamers group and are expected to treat each other with respect and consideration – “killing with grace, and dying with dignity”.
If you are marked as "going" in Meetup and are in your seat at 19:00, your place is guaranteed. All other seats are first come, first served. There is a €3 entrance fee per person to cover the cost of hiring the venue, payable in cash.
We play in English so players should be able to understand and express themselves in English: an exception is possible for one pair of players willing to play together (as a “Revolutionary” pair) where one player can interpret into and out of English. Please let us know in advance if this is the case.
Tuesday Boardgames in the Mitte (Formely in the Castle)
Hello peeps, welcome to the private meetup for board games in Berlin.
Look forward to a relaxed boardgames event in a community centre. We will be playing inside the community centre. If you are looking for a group or games, just join us in the front. The entrance fee is 3 euros for the rent of the community centre rooms and cleanup of the rooms.
We look to play in the Nachbarschaftszentrum „Bürger für Bürger“ near Bernauer Strasse U-Bahnhof. We usually play all types of games for example social deduction, casual, euro games, and strategy games. If you are new, is no worries, I will help you connect to a group. We start games every 15 mins so do not worry if you are late. We mostly play in the English language as it is the language most people are comfortable with.
We usually bring games with us but you are welcome to bring your own.
Due to corona rules in Berlin (for more info: https://www.berlin.de/corona/en/measures/), please make sure to follow the rules on the page.
The meetup is strictly for a maximum of persons as stated in the meetup so please register on the meetup event before.
Please follow the rules and hygiene concept from the community centre. Please do not bring outside drinks.
Please smoke or gather in the night not outside the community centre as we look to be accomodating to the neighbours.
If you have any questions, please let me know.
Authentic Games Berlin
**We are starting into a new round of having some human magic happen :)**
**What to expect at an Authentic Games Berlin event?**
Authentic Relating is embodied communication practice. We search for authenticity – staying true to your needs, feelings and boundaries – while relating to other human beings with their needs, feelings and boundaries.
**Theme of the evening: Taking Space, Giving Space**
Have you ever felt torn between needing rest at home and feeling obliged to go out, meet friends, and be part of things? Have you ever gotten stuck in a conversation where everything is about them and there seems to be no space for you? Or on the other hand, have you ever occupied a shared space in a way that leaves little room for others? The art of taking and giving space is not always easy. It calls for presence, self‑awareness, attunement, reading the room, and moving fluidly between expressing yourself and making room for others. In this session, through Authentic Relating games we will practice how to honor self and other and navigate the relational dynamics of creating shared space, where connection can unfold in a way that feels balanced for everyone.
And as usual: Come Curious - Leave Connected.
Join us on Tuesday, **16th June** 2026 at **Café Maggie**, [Frankfurter Allee 205, 10365 Berlin](http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Frankfurter%20Allee%20205%2C%2010365%20Berlin), **7–9 pm** (please come to land up to 15 minutes earlier, as we start at the full hour, doors close at 7 pm)
**Price**
The event is donation based. Cash or PayPal only, no registration needed. Suggested donation: 8-20 €. No one will be turned away due to the lack of funds.
**What to bring?**
Nothing but you. You have everything you need to take part in this experience of human connection.
**Everyone is welcome to join. Even if you are on the waitlist here on Meet-Up, please come and join us - we will have a spot for you.**
**No previous experience with Authentic Relating Practices needed.**
**Spread the word. Bring a friend - all are welcome. We look forward to seeing you there.**
**Accessibility and diversity note**
We aim to make our Authentic Games events accessible and diverse. We would like to explicitly welcome everybody, regardless of age, social background, identity, body shape, (dis)abilities etc. We put effort into dismantling biases and systems of oppressions we participate in as well as meeting various access needs. Feel free to contact us at [[authenticgamesberlin@gmail.com](http://authenticgamesberlin@gmail.com)]([mailto:authenticgamesberlin@gmail.com](http://mailto:authenticgamesberlin@gmail.com)) if you have any concerns or questions in this regard.
Authentic Games events are based on talking and listening to other people in pairs, trios or bigger groups. Depending on the number of participants, this may generate a considerable level of noise in the space.
The event is held in English with possible translation to German or Polish. While playing the game you can talk in a language you choose with your partner(s). Sometimes the games may also involve movement (for example walking). Consensual touch with other participants is allowed but never necessary.
The upcoming event is happening in Café Maggie at Frankfurter Allee 205 – next to U-Bahn Magdalenenstraße. The space is on the ground floor, but there is one small doorstep at the entrance. There is a barrier free toilet inside. Despite the name, you cannot buy drinks in Café Maggie, but we provide water and tea for participants.
Brettspiele Kartenspiele Hellersdorf
Wir treffen uns jeden Dienstag ab 16 Uhr in der Gothaer Str. 5 in 12629 Berlin im Nachbarschaftstreff Sophia. Das Angebot richtet sich sowohl an Neulinge als auch an Experten. Die ersten 15 die sich anmelden sind dabei...
AHA - Queerer Spieleabend (DE + EN)
Bei unserem Spieleabend für Queers and Friends kannst Du alles aus unserer umfangreichen Sammlung moderner Brettspiele spielen, und das in geselliger Runde. Komm' gerne auch alleine, wir freuen uns immer auf neue Gesichter.
Unser Spieleabend findet jeden Dienstag ab 19 Uhr statt. Snacks und Getränke findest Du an unserer Theke.
Wir freuen uns auf Dich.
COMMON GROUND - Magic: the Gathering - Pauper Tuesdays at RuDi's
Come play Magic's most accessible competitive format! We meet every Tuesday at 18:30 at RuDi-Das Stralauer Kultur- und Nachbarschaftszentrum in Friedrichshain, \~10 minutes by foot from Warschauer Str. and Ostkreuz.
**The best way to get in touch is to join the WhatsApp group:** https://go.requestguard.com/w1mj0tfa/
*Even if Meetup has only 1 or 2 RSVPs, we are normally 20-30 people every week!*
**FAQ:**
**Do I need my own deck?**
No, people that come bring extra decks, and you are free to borrow one if you want to test the format before buying into it!
**Casual or Competitive?**
We play casually to allow people to come late and leave early. Feel free to stay for any amount of time between 18:30 and 22:30. To this end, feel free to bring proxies, as long as it is clear what card you are proxying!
**Why do you charge an entry fee?**
Our 2 euro entry fee is a donation to the community center that we use to host our event.
Checkmate & Chill
Join us for a daily chess meetup in the heart of Berlin at Schönhauser Allee 174. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned player, feel free to drop by anytime between 7 PM and midnight, every single day of the week. No registration is required – just show up and enjoy a game in a fun, inclusive, and casual environment.
Newcomers can take advantage of a friendly crash course to get started, while experienced players share strategies, discuss best practices, and even explore quirky variants like Duck Chess or Bughouse. Boards, sets, and clocks are provided, with time controls up to 10 minutes per player for a rapid, engaging experience.
It’s the perfect way to unplug, detox from screens, and connect with a diverse, kind-hearted community of chess lovers. The gathering welcomes all levels and backgrounds, creating a vibrant, family-friendly space where everyone can enjoy the game and forge real connections.
Serious Games Events This Week
Discover what is happening in the next few days
Board Game Night - Zehlendorf
Welcome to the board game night in Zehlendorf.
No matter if you like Carcassonne or Spirit Island, we have all sorts of modern board games in our collection and can give you a quick run through, so that you don't have to read through the rulebooks. But, of course, feel free to bring your favorite game too.
It's a 1.5€ fee that goes to the Mittelhof e.V. association. Bring your drinks and snacks.
Thursday Game Night in Friedrichshain
Thursday Game Night in Friedrichshain at RuDi´s. The biggest, oldest and longest running Berlin Board gaming weekly meetup.
Please join us for an evening of gaming. Everyone is welcome and everyone can find a table for themselves. There is plenty of tables for core gamers, and as many tables with welcoming games. And also tables with party games and social deduction.
***
**🎲 Games & Food 🍪**
We'll have around 50ish games ([Check out our collection!](https://boardgamegeek.com/collection/user/RuDi_Library?objecttype=thing&ff=1&subtype=boardgame&own=1)), but please feel free to bring your favorite games with you. We have some snacks and beverages, but you can also bring your own food & drinks.
**💰 Entrance is 2 € 💰**
Please pay the entrance fee in the kitchen on the ground floor. You can pay when you arrive or before you leave, but don't forget!
**📍 How to get there 📍**
We're located right between S/U-Bahn station Warschauer Straße and S-Bahn station Ostkreuz. Consult [Google Maps](https://maps.app.goo.gl/xQn6hnKu3Tpy9gG48) or [Open Street Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/directions?from=&to=52.502457%2C13.457166) to find the exact way from your place to the meetup.
If you get lost, call us (see "how to contact us?" in this event description below).
**👥 Discord server 👥**
Try our Berlin Board Gamers Discord server to chat and find other players. You can use it to prearrange games for the Thursday meetup, find players for gaming sessions you want to host at home on other days, and even buy and sell used board games.
Join us now: [https://discord.gg/6Wsncta](https://discord.gg/6Wsncta)
**🤗 How should I behave? 🌈**
We value diversity, inclusion, and respect in our community. We want everyone to feel welcome and comfortable at our events, regardless of their age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or any other aspect of their identity.
To ensure a positive and safe environment for everyone, we ask all participants to **follow our [Code of Conduct](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pn_TLJyPx4HDjrQPbwjQkoF7EbLmqVNRY2CT_zq2qEk/edit?usp=sharing)**.
**❓ FAQ ❓**
"Is it a problem if I only speak English?"
* No problem, all games are played in English.
"Is it okay if I come later?"
* Sure, you might have to wait a little until a new game is started though.
"It's my first time and I'm unsure what to do / everyone seems to be playing already..."
* Seek us out (ask somebody to help you find an organizer or ask by name for Andi, Hannes, Elli, Angelika, Sanja, Malte, Aaron, or Will and we'll give you a little introductory tour. :)
"Is it okay if i bring my dog?"
* No, the community center won't allow it.
"I'm using a wheelchair. Can I attend the meetup?"
* Yes! The venue has a wheelchair-accessible toilet and a wheelchair lift in the back of the building. It would be great if you could contact us beforehand, so we can make sure that the lift will be operational on the specific day.
"Can I donate a game to the meetup?"
* It depends. We have limited storage space and can only accept donations of popular games that will be played often. Please contact us for more details.
**📞 How to contact us? ✉️**
* In case of an **emergency** or a time-sensitive question (e.g. you got lost on your way to the meetup), call: 0179 9309 418
* For all other matters, write in the #rudi-friedrichshain channel on our Discord server (you'll find a join link in this event description) or leave a comment here on meetup.com
* For sensitive matters, write a DM to Angelika Cathor on Discord or here on meetup.com
Let’s Play Backgammon! - Play, Socialize & Have Fun
Join our Backgammon Meetup to play, socialize, and enjoy this classic game!
Everyone’s welcome! Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced player. Expect fun, friendly games, laughter, and new friends.
With the nice weather and the beautiful lakeside setting, it’s a perfect place to enjoy a few games and spend time together. Hopefully we can make the most of a sunny summer afternoon! ☀️🎲⛲️🍻🌳
👉 Please RSVP only if you plan to attend.
👉 Bring your own set if you have one.
**How to Play (Quick Guide):**
- Each player has 15 checkers and moves them toward their home board.
- Dice rolls decide how many spaces you can move.
- Land on an opponent’s single checker to send it to the bar.
- Once all your checkers are home, start bearing off (removing them).
- First to remove all checkers wins!
**Fun Fact:**
The Origin of Backgammon: Backgammon is one of the oldest known board games, with roots deeply embedded in the ancient civilisations of Mesopotamia. But it is in Persia, where the game truly flourished and evolved into what we now know as 'Takhte Nard'.
Archaeological findings suggest that early forms of backgammon were played in Iran over 5,000 years ago. Artifacts such as game boards and dice have been discovered in sites like 'Shahr-e Sukhteh' (The Burnt City), indicating the game’s ancient origins.
Train Your Brain: Strategy, Psychology & Play
Train Your Brain Through Chess
A Fun & Interactive Cognitive Agility Experience
What if you could challenge your brain, meet interesting people, and learn new ways of thinking — all through play?
Join us for a fun, beginner-friendly workshop that combines chess, psychology, strategy, and interactive activities to explore how we think, solve problems, adapt, and make decisions.
This is not a traditional chess class.
Chess becomes a tool for exploration, collaboration, creativity, and cognitive agility through games, challenges, and guided activities.
What to Expect
♟️ Beginner-friendly introduction to chess
🧠 Fun cognitive and strategic challenges
🤝 Team-based and collaborative activities
⚡ Interactive games focused on adaptability and problem-solving
💬 Reflection, discussion, and shared learning
🎯 A relaxed and engaging social experience
Skills We Explore
• Strategic thinking
• Communication
• Adaptability
• Cognitive flexibility
• Problem-solving
• Focus and attention
• Decision-making under pressure
Who Is This For?
Anyone interested in:
• Personal development
• Psychology and human behavior
• Strategy and critical thinking
• Meeting like-minded people
• Fun and meaningful social activities
• Learning something new in a supportive environment
No chess experience is required.
Event Details
📍 Motel One — Invalidenstraße 54, 10557 Berlin
🕒 2 Hours
👥 Small-group experience (6–12 participants)
Facilitated by
Radwa Omar
Founder & Cognitive Agility Facilitator
Train Your Brain — Cognitive Agility Through Chess
♟️ Think. Adapt. Play. Connect
Boardgames at Drehmoment Bar, Wedding
**Hello every boardgame enjoyer!**
We'll continue our weekly boardgame evenings every Wednesday in Drehmoment (Glasgower Str. 29, 13349 Berlin) from 19:00. You are all invited to join us!
You can expect a lot of fun light games suitable for the location. We have a small library of games you are free to use (but you are also encouraged to bring your own). The games are fast so feel free to join any time! Gamers of all experience levels are welcome.
Drehmoment is a classic Berlin bar, they offer varius drinks and have the best cocktails in Wedding. We have a big room in the back just for us. We are allowed to bring your own food and they have snacks for sale.
A couple of ground rules that we take seriously:
1. We are guests at Drehmoment, please treat their staff with respect.
2. There is no entry fee but please support the bar by buying drinks or snacks while you are playing.
3. Be efficient in your seating and kind to other patrons.
See you on Wednesday
Women Who Think Differently Cognitive Agility Through Chess
Train Your Brain
Confidence & Adaptability Under Pressure
What if confidence, adaptability, and decision-making could be trained through play?
This interactive workshop introduces Cognitive Agility Through Chess — a beginner-friendly experience designed to strengthen focus, resilience, strategic thinking, and communication in a supportive and engaging environment.
This is not a traditional chess class.
Chess is used as a tool for reflection, collaboration, adaptability, and cognitive development through interactive challenges and guided exercises.
WHAT TO EXPECT
♟️ Beginner-friendly introduction to chess fundamentals
🧠 Interactive cognitive and strategic challenges
🤝 Team-based and collaborative gameplay
⚡ Exercises focused on adaptability and thinking under pressure
💬 Guided reflection and discussion
THIS EXPERIENCE SUPPORTS
• Confidence-building
• Strategic thinking
• Communication
• Adaptability
• Emotional resilience
• Cognitive flexibility
• Decision-making under pressure
WHO IS THIS FOR?
Women interested in:
• self-development
• leadership
• psychology
• strategy
• meaningful social connection
• cognitive performance
• creative and reflective experiences
No chess experience is needed.
EVENT DETAILS
📍 Motel One — Invalidenstraße 54, 10557 Berlin
🕒 2 Hours
👥 Limited small group experience, from 6-12 participants per event
PILOT SESSION
This is part of a limited founding pilot series in Berlin designed to create a thoughtful, engaging, and collaborative learning experience.
FACILITATED BY
Radwa Omar
Founder & Cognitive Agility Facilitator
Train Your Brain — Cognitive Agility Through Chess
Train how you think.
Elevate how you perform.
Blood on the Clocktower at Manifesto! (beginner/intermediate)
Hi folks, this is the meetup group for the weekly Sunday Blood on the Clocktower games in the Soot bar in Manifesto at Potsdamer Platz. We run beginner-friendly and intermediate-level games throughout the afternoon and evening. **Friendly newcomers of all skill levels are welcome, no experience required!**
Our group aims to provide a fun and welcoming space to experience this thrilling game of social deception. **We focus on promoting a positive and fun group atmosphere, where players don’t take themselves or the game too seriously, whether they’re heroically winning or spectacularly losing.** Our players follow the code of conduct for the Berlin Board Gamers group and are expected to treat each other with respect and consideration – “killing with grace, and dying with dignity”.
We are usually able to offer two simultaneous games on Sundays. If you are marked as "attending" in Meetup and are in your seat at 15:00, your place is guaranteed for as long as you want to stay. All other seats are first come, first served. We always run at least one beginner-friendly game of the basic version of Clocktower ("Trouble Brewing") throughout the afternoon and evening. We also usually have enough players for a second intermediate-level game. If you are already very familiar with Clocktower, consider also joining our Tuesday meetup for advanced players, when we play with complex custom scripts and characters.
Blood on the Clocktower is a deep, mechanical game of murder and mystery, lies and logic, deduction and deception… think Werewolf on steroids. Each player receives a unique secret role and plays either for the good team – the uninformed majority, gathering info and working with others to solve the puzzle – or the evil team, the informed minority, scheming to eliminate good players and protect their demon from execution. In our beginner games no prior experience is expected and we will gladly explain the game rules to any newcomers.
We play in English so players should be able to understand and express themselves in English: an exception is possible for one pair of players willing to play together (as a “Revolutionary” pair) where one player can interpret into and out of English. Please let us know in advance if this is the case.
We are very grateful to the wonderful folks at Manifesto for hosting our meetup! **Please support the venue during your visit by buying drinks and/or food.**
Serious Games Events Near You
Connect with your local Serious Games community
Prototype, Play, and Build Workshops (In-Person @GameArena)
We're going to GameArena! We'll be in-person at the GameArena Gateway for our monthly COGG Prototype and Play event. Come to play and showcase your games!
We're back in the upper levels of the catwalk area. It'll be packed with lots of camaraderie playing your game(s) and other's games on the 2nd floor. Light snacks and water provided but you can buy food and drinks at the bar (alcoholic drink ID required).
[www.game-arena.co](http://www.game-arena.co/)
**Attendees:**
Don't have a game to show? Not a problem! All are welcomed and invited from all ages and backgrounds. The more we can have to play test our games is all the better!
**Developers:**
Do you have a game that you would like to get critical feedback on? Would you like an excuse to work on a game with other talented artists, programmers, musicians, designers, and writers? Digital, table-top, non-experienced developers, and the like are welcomed! We'll provide signage for your game to help others learn more about your work. Wifi, outlets, tables, and seats (though standing tables also) are available.
Come to the Prototype and Play workshop to collaborate and meet local game developers for an evening of epic and raw game play fun! Play works-in-progress, show off your own game, work with others to add polish to a game, or even lend your talents to other fellow developers. For this event, light snacks from the bar and water will be provided!
Though you can purchase you own if you like at the bar:
[https://www.game-arena.co/menu](https://www.game-arena.co/menu)
Can use South Garage at the Gateway with a $5 voucher on your way out.
75 E 11th Ave, Columbus, OH 43201
[https://maps.app.goo.gl/UwgveUYG37Jy7RtS9](https://maps.app.goo.gl/UwgveUYG37Jy7RtS9)
If you have any questions or comments, as always, feel free to reach out to us at [info@thecogg.com!](http://info@thecogg.com!/)
Board games at The Forge
The Forge does have a full bar and kitchen. There is no cover charge but they do request all attendees to purchase a minimum of ~20 per person. Soft drink refills are 1 each. Please support our hosts so we can continue to provide great events for the group!
The Forge has a large library of games available for us to enjoy. Hosts and regulars will also provide numerous popular games but please bring any games you would like to teach and/or play.
Doors open at 6, and we expect gaming to be rolling by around 630. Please promptly end your games and clear out the space at 10pm when the bar closes.
We encourage socializing but do not permit disruptive behavior of any kind. Thank you for your continued commitment to providing a fun and welcoming space to veteran, newbie, and rookie gamers in the Columbus area.
Parking can sometimes fill esrly. There is additional parking lot behind the neighboring Mexican restaurant that is free and easy to walk from but it's a bit hidden.
Casual Boardgames - make friends, then beat them in games
Welcome to Casual Boardgames, where we enjoy classic tabletop games and social deduction games while bonding over good food, drinks, and great conversations.
We started this group to meet new people and make new friends, and bonding over games in a relaxed atmosphere is a great way to do that.
We currently meet near route 23 and Polaris Parkway, and this is close to areas like Powell, Lewis Center, Worthington, and parts of Westerville and Columbus.
Feel free to bring your own games or play one of the many games our members bring. If you are inexperienced, we will help you learn.
Here are just a few examples of the kind of games we play.
Tabletop/board games: Splendor, Catan, Azul, Dominion, 7 Wonders…
Social deduction games: Code Names, Chameleon, Werewords…
IMPORTANT:
1. While we love playing a variety of games and competing, we are not just about the games. We interact and talk while playing, and this leads to a lot of laughter and fun. If you just want to compete and focus solely on the game, then this is probably not the group you are looking for.
2. Many people join groups like this and never (or rarely) show up after weeks or months. If you join and never really come, we will eventually remove you from the group as a courtesy to our members. Why? Because limiting group conversations (on the app) to regular members makes communication and planning much easier. Also, while it may be rare, it protects members from people who join because they are interested in following a person instead of having a real interest in our group. If you get removed, it is just because you haven’t come, and we follow this protocol as a courtesy to our regular game players.
St. Petersburg Virtual Speed Dating on Zoom
**🌙 St. Petersburg Singles Night — Speed Dating Over Zoom**
Hosted Zoom rounds, St. Petersburg singles your speed, and matches sent the next day. Easy as that.
**Here's how the night runs:**
- Register and take a short personality quiz
- Jump on Zoom when the event starts
- Meet singles in guided one-on-one rounds
- Get your mutual matches by email afterward
**Pick the age range that fits you:**
→ **Ages 18-32** — [Register here](https://theliveround.com/product?productId=573&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=St.%20Petersburg&groupurlname=manga-k-drama-foodie-language-feast-network&ar=18-32&face_v=8.0)
→ **Ages 30-46** — [Register here](https://theliveround.com/product?productId=573&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=St.%20Petersburg&groupurlname=manga-k-drama-foodie-language-feast-network&ar=30-46&face_v=8.0)
→ **Ages 40-58** — [Register here](https://theliveround.com/product?productId=573&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=St.%20Petersburg&groupurlname=manga-k-drama-foodie-language-feast-network&ar=40-58&face_v=8.0)
→ **Ages 55+** — [Register here](https://theliveround.com/product?productId=573&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=St.%20Petersburg&groupurlname=manga-k-drama-foodie-language-feast-network&ar=55+&face_v=8.0)
> Important: RSVP is not the same as registering. Use your age link below and complete the quiz to secure a place. Limited capacity.
Register, relax, and let the night do the work. 🥂
Drunken Philosophy: Where Is Everybody? The Fermi Paradox and the Great Filter
Welcome to Drunken Philosophy, a casual, curious, social discussion club. Come grab a drink and a seat at The Oracle.
**Optional topic for this meetup: Where is everybody?**
In 1950 the physicist Enrico Fermi was talking about aliens over lunch and asked a question that still has not gone away: if the universe is so vast and so old, and even a fraction of those billions of stars have planets, where is everyone? By the numbers the galaxy should be crowded with civilizations. Instead we look up and hear silence. That gap between "they should be everywhere" and "we see no one" is the Fermi Paradox.
One of the most unsettling answers is the idea of a **Great Filter**: somewhere on the road from dead chemistry to a galaxy-spanning civilization, there is at least one step that is almost impossible to get past. Maybe the filter is behind us. Maybe life starting at all, or simple cells becoming complex, or intelligence ever evolving, is the freak accident, and we already cleared the hard part. Or maybe the filter is ahead of us, and advanced civilizations reliably wipe themselves out before they spread.
Here is the part that messes with people. If we ever found life somewhere else, even pond scum on Mars, most people would call it the greatest discovery in history. But it might be the worst possible news. It would mean life is common, the early steps are easy, and the hard step is still in front of us. So the eerie silence overhead might actually be the best sign we could ask for.
**Questions to wrestle with:**
* Is it better to be alone? Would you rather we find alien life and learn we are not special, or find nothing and quietly improve our odds of surviving?
* Where do you bet the filter sits, behind us or ahead of us, and why?
* If it is ahead of us, what is it? Nuclear war, climate collapse, AI, something we cannot even picture yet? And can we do anything about a filter we cannot see coming?
* Does any of this change how you live, or how humanity should be spending its time and money right now?
As always the prompt is optional. Come for the conversation, stay for the drinks, and bring your own questions.
AI Improv: let’s build a game together with Claude Code, Codex, and Gemini and b
We are going to build together with all the CLIs! E will be doing it at Columbus Code and Coffee
Agenda
---
Hosted By
James Power, Organizer
Pete Gordon, Organizer
Just a Software Guy in the age of the Internet.
Complete your event RSVP here: https://gdg.community.dev/events/details/google-gdg-columbus-presents-ai-improv-lets-build-a-game-together-with-claude-code-codex-and-gemini-and-be-the-judge/.
Columbus Chess Club
This is a time where players of all ages, and skill levels can gather and enjoy a nice Sunday full of Chess!


























