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
Game Market West is a tabletop game market where independent designers show off and sell their newest board/card games.
Featuring 35+ designers and specialty vendors, this is one of the biggest indie game markets in the country!
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: https://www.gamemarketwest.com/fall-2025-games
- 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.
Special guest is Ryan Goldsberry, the artist for board games such as Burgle Brothers, Paperback, and Fugitive!
Hungry for more than just games? Show up around noon for a slice of delicious pizza provided by our generous sponsor, Pizza Guys (1347 South Winchester Blvd San Jose), while supplies last. Outside food is also allowed.
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Game Market West | Fall 2025 | Tabletop GamesGuildhouse, San Jose, CA
Game Market West is a tabletop game market where independent designers show off and sell their newest board/card games.
Featuring 35+ designers and specialty vendors, this is one of the biggest indie game markets in the country!
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: https://www.gamemarketwest.com/fall-2025-games
- 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.
Special guest is Ryan Goldsberry, the artist for board games such as Burgle Brothers, Paperback, and Fugitive!
Hungry for more than just games? Show up around noon for a slice of delicious pizza provided by our generous sponsor, Pizza Guys (1347 South Winchester Blvd San Jose), while supplies last. Outside food is also allowed.
- Game Market West - Designer HangoutGuildhouse, San Jose, CA
Immediately following Game Market West is a casual Designer 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.
- Board Game Designers Meetup at D20 Pizza in Santa CruzD20 Pizza, Santa Cruz, CA
Come to D20 Pizza, for a board game designers meet up! Put on by the southmost chapter of the Golden Gate Gamemakers, the Game Designers of Santa Cruz.
This event is for game designers who are currently working on a board game. It is a relaxed opportunity to meet and chat with other game designers, ask for advice, and work on your own games. It is unhosted and unguided.
Support a board game bar & lounge that recently opened in Santa Cruz, while we talk about our board games we are working on, share tips, and improve our games!
Then you can test them out at our every 2nd Tuesday Playtesting Events at Peoples Coffee in Live Oak from 6pm to 10pm.
**Cost**
This is a completely free event! Attendees are encouraged to buy food from D20 Pizza.**Parking / Travel**
You can park in the main parking lot behind D20 Pizza, or on side streets.See GGG's full Code of Conduct here
Up-to-date details and our many other events can be found at meetup.com/playgoldengate
Point of contact and organizer: Courtney Laschkewitsch
- 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.
