Casual Gaming Los Angeles

August 2026 - Playtest games at Geeky Teas!

**Players and game designers wanted for this open house style event!** Please read the event schedule, and all members, new and old, should check out the Code of Conduct at the bottom of this text. **FEE:** $8 to play at Geeky Teas - payable at the event to Geeky Teas at front desk. Once paid, you're covered to play games ALL DAY. **DESIGNER SIGN UP**: If you have a game to test during session one or two we have a new sign up protocol: **Fill out the form here- [First Play Designer Signup](https://gorgeous-mule-37d.notion.site/1c9a3d4ed35b8034b34ced27ef3d1c40)** Please read the descriptions of each time to determine if your game is appropriate for a scheduled session. *Note: new members must come to First Play as a playtester at least once before having the opportunity to run a game. If this is your first time showing your game at FPLA, please introduce yourself to either Damon or Cassandra (one or both will be near the front of the room) before your session for a quick explainer on how to get your game to the table and what to expect from playtesting.* **SCHEDULE:** Game days have 3 segments. **You do not need to come for the whole day!** However, it is good etiquette if you are testing your own game to stay and test at least one other designer's game as well. 11:00am - 1:00 pm **OPEN PLAY TESTING** This is unstructured play time, ideal for short games (45min or less), 2 player games, and games that require a quieter environment. If you're a designer, grab an available table and let people know you are looking for players. If you're a player, just sit down at a game and play! **SESSION ONE** 1:15pm - 3:15pm **SESSION TWO** 3:30pm - 5:30pm Scheduled sessions are the core of First Play! This event we have three scheduled sessions, with about 4-6 games running during each time slot. Following moderator announcements, each designer running a game will have the opportunity to do an 'elevator pitch' to players. After which, players decide which game they want to play. Two hour sessions are ideal for games that are 60-90 minutes, and have been playtested multiple times before. After play, be sure to leave time to give and receive feedback. Oh, and sometimes we give away prizes! 5:30-6:30pm **DINNER BREAK** 6:30-10pm **THE SKUNKWORKS** This is unstructured time to test your wildest ideas. Bring the game that may break in 5 minutes, the one that requires 10 people, or the one that may involve crawling on the ground. Bring objects that *could* be games, half baked ideas, and untested print and plays. Take risks, be silly, and most importantly, have fun! **SPECIAL NOTES**: No outside food is permitted but there are snacks/drinks sold at Geeky Teas. Also, FYI - There are cats at the store, roaming but keep to themselves. Please read these guides, especially if you are new to design or playtesting- **[How to do better playtesting!](https://gorgeous-mule-37d.notion.site/How-to-do-better-playtesting-1c9a3d4ed35b807b9f6ff643b5635885)** **[How to explain rules for your confusing game prototype!](https://gorgeous-mule-37d.notion.site/How-to-explain-rules-for-your-confusing-game-prototype-1d3a3d4ed35b80c683e7e4f6953e8545)** **Code of Conduct Rules** 1. Be kind. 2. Seriously, be even more kind than you think you need to be. 3. Read the guidelines for giving and receiving feedback. 4. Respect the rules of our venues (Geeky Teas, Paper Heroes, Odyssey, etc). We will continue to be welcome as long as we continue to be good guests. 5. New members must come to First Play as a playtester at least once before having the opportunity to run a game. 6. If you have RSVP'd to run a game, show up for your time slot. If you do not show up for your time slot, you will get a strike against you. Two strikes and moderators will discuss next steps with you about if you will be allowed to continue running games. 7. Be respectful of other community members- give as much as you receive. Playtest other peoples' games, not just your own. 8. In the case of an unresolvable or continuing conflict, please let a moderator know so we can determine next steps. 9. You will receive a warning if a legitimate complaint is lodged against you. In the case of a continuous issue, a group of at least 3 moderators will discuss and determine next steps. Consistent bad behavior will lead to a group ban. **See you soon!** **Have questions?** For FAQ's, please see here - [First Play FAQ’s](https://gorgeous-mule-37d.notion.site/First-Play-FAQ-s-1d5a3d4ed35b809eadb7c5c72359521b) For a specific question please email *cassandra@ixiongameworks.com* For community conversations join the Cardboard Alchemy Discord: [https://discord.gg/2pYk3TT](https://discord.gg/2pYk3TT) \- find the \#first\-play\-la\-chat channel\!

Board games and brews!

Join Us for Games, Drinks, and Food Looking for a fun, social way to unwind? Come join our board game meetup! We offer a wide variety of games for all kinds of players—whether you’re into strategy, party games, or laugh-out-loud chaos, there’s something here for you. Here are just some of the awesome games we’ll have on hand: ️ Catan - the original game that started it all. A fun way to build and gather resources. - Catan: Game of Thrones – Brotherhood of the Watch - Catan: Starfarers - Catan Expansions Werewolf, One Night Ultimate Werewolf, Clocktower, Avalon, Secret Hitler If you enjoy social deduction and casual gas-lighting then this is the place to play ‍♂️ Magic Maze A silent, real-time co-op game where you guide fantasy heroes through a mall to steal magical gear—without talking! Exploding Kittens Draw cards and try to avoid the Exploding Kitten! Fast, funny, and full of surprise twists. Unstable Unicorns Build your unicorn army and sabotage others in this cute-yet-cutthroat card game of magical destruction. Bang! A hidden-role Wild West game where players shoot, scheme, and try to outwit the Sheriff and outlaws alike. Bananagrams A fast-paced word game where you race to build crossword-style grids. Think Scrabble—but quicker and no turns! Anarchy Pancakes Stack and slap pancakes in a frantic race to match toppings. Perfect for groups and younger players! Neanderthal Poetry Speak only in caveman grunts and gestures to help your teammates guess the right word. Creative and hilarious! ️ Codenames: Pictures Give clever one-word clues to help your team find the right pictures on the board before the other team does. Trial by Trolley A dark and hilarious party game where one player controls a runaway trolley—and everyone else argues over who gets run over. Morally questionable fun! ⸻ And that’s not all—we have even more games than those listed! Our collection is always growing, and we love variety. Got a game you love? Bring it along! Whether it’s a hidden gem or a popular favorite, we’re always happy to try something new. Come for the games, stay for the good vibes and great company

Friday Board Game Social: Casual Board Game Night

📍 **Location:** Wushiland Boba Alhambra 🕕 **Time:** Saturday, 6:30 PM – 10:30 PM 💲 **Cover Fee:** $5.00 per person for individuals who have attended 5 events or less in the past 3 months **NEW PLAYERS WELCOME!** **We’ll be playing:** 🎴 **Nights of the Ninja** — quick, secret-identity bluffing & deduction. 🃏 **Cabanga!** — fast, chaotic card slaps and surprises. 🧩 **Codenames** — classic team word clues and deduction. 🐮 **Herd Mentality** — think like the crowd (avoid the pink cow!). 💬 **Let’s Get Deep: Friends Edition** — fun conversation prompts. 🤪 **Bad Choices** — party questions with a twist. 🏚️ **Betrayal at House on the Hill** — explore the mansion until the betrayal begins. 🎲 **Wits & Wagers: Vegas** — bet chips on the best trivia guesses. 🌮 **Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza** — silly, speedy, and hilarious. 🐒 **Monkiers** — creative word-guessing with invented clues. 🪳 **Cockroach Poker** — bluffing, lying, calling each other out. 7️⃣ **Flip 7** — press-your-luck number card game where you flip numbers and risk pushing too far. 🛡️ **Avalon** — hidden roles, deception, intense mind-games. 💎 **Splendor** — smooth engine-building with gems. ⚔️ **Legends of the Three Kingdoms** — Chinese hidden-role battle deduction. 🐺 **One Night Ultimate Werewolf** — single-round social deduction. 😺 **Exploding Kittens** — silly, chaotic, kitten-filled card mayhem. 🚫 **Banned Games:** * ❌ **A Feast for Odin** — Theoretical: 30–120 min \| Actual: \~150–240\+ min * ❌ **A Game of Thrones: The Board Game (Second Edition)** — Theoretical: 120–240 min \| Actual: \~180–300\+ min * ❌ **Agricola** — Theoretical: 30–120 min \| Actual: \~120–180\+ min * ❌ **Ark Nova** — Theoretical: 90–150 min \| Actual: \~120–180\+ min * ❌ **Axis & Allies 1942 Second Edition** \(and most versions\) — Theoretical: \~240 min \| Actual: \~210–360\+ min * ❌ **Barrage** — Theoretical: 90–180 min \| Actual: \~150–240\+ min * ❌ **Brass: Birmingham** — Theoretical: 60–120 min \| Actual: \~120–240\+ min * ❌ **Brass: Lancashire** — Theoretical: 60–120 min \| Actual: \~120–240\+ min * ❌ **Caverna: The Cave Farmers** — Theoretical: 30–210 min \| Actual: \~150–240\+ min * ❌ **Caylus** — Theoretical: 60–150 min \| Actual: \~120–180\+ min * ❌ **Diplomacy** — Theoretical: 4–12 hours \| Actual: \~6–12 hours * ❌ **Dune** — Theoretical: 120–180 min \| Actual: \~240–360\+ min * ❌ **Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy** — Theoretical: 60–200 min \| Actual: \~180–240\+ min * ❌ **Food Chain Magnate** — Theoretical: 120–240 min \| Actual: \~180–300\+ min * ❌ **Forest Shuffle** *(including all expansion packs)* — Theoretical: \~40–60 min \| Actual: \~60–90\+ min * ❌ **Gaia Project** — Theoretical: 60–150 min \| Actual: \~120–180\+ min * ❌ **Great Western Trail** \(any edition\) — Theoretical: 75–150 min \| Actual: \~120–180\+ min * ❌ **Harmonies** — Theoretical: \~30–45 min \| Actual: \~45–75\+ min * ❌ **Here I Stand** — Theoretical: 180–360 min \| Actual: \~240–360\+ min * ❌ **Inis** — Theoretical: 60–90 min \| Actual: \~90–150\+ min * ❌ **Kanban EV** — Theoretical: 60–180 min \| Actual: \~180–300\+ min * ❌ **Le Havre** — Theoretical: 30–150 min \| Actual: \~150–240\+ min * ❌ **Lisboa** — Theoretical: 60–120 min \| Actual: \~150–240\+ min * ❌ **Ora et Labora** — Theoretical: 60–180 min \| Actual: \~150–240\+ min * ❌ **Power Grid** — Theoretical: \~120 min \| Actual: \~150–240\+ min * ❌ **Project L** — Theoretical: \~20–40 min \| Actual: \~30–60\+ min * ❌ **Puerto Rico** — Theoretical: 90–150 min \| Actual: \~150–210\+ min * ❌ **Rising Sun** — Theoretical: 90–120 min \| Actual: \~120–180 min * ❌ **Root** — Theoretical: 60–90 min \| Actual: \~90–150\+ min * ❌ **SETI: Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence** — Theoretical: 60–120 min \| Actual: \~120–180\+ min * ❌ **Star Wars: Rebellion** — Theoretical: 180–240 min \| Actual: \~180–300\+ min * ❌ **Terra Mystica** — Theoretical: 60–150 min \| Actual: \~150–240\+ min * ❌ **The Gallerist** — Theoretical: 60–150 min \| Actual: \~180–300\+ min * ❌ **Through the Ages: A New Story of Civilization** — Theoretical: \~120 min \| Actual: \~180–300\+ min * ❌ **Twilight Imperium Fourth Edition** — Theoretical: 240–480 min \| Actual: \~480–720\+ min * ❌ **Underwater Cities** — Theoretical: 80–150 min \| Actual: \~120–210\+ min * ❌ **War of the Ring Second Edition** — Theoretical: 150–240 min \| Actual: \~180–240\+ min * ❌ **Wingspan** * ❌ **Wyrmspan** \*\*\* 🍧 Enjoy tasty desserts and drinks, meet new people, and dive into light, welcoming party and strategy games. 🧠 Games start shortly after arrival — please try to be on time so we can set up smoothly. 🎭 First-timers encouraged — we’ll teach rules; no experience needed. 👉 Please support the venue with a minimum purchase of one drink or dessert. 🍴 **Nearby Food Options:** If you’re hungry before or after games, there are food choices right next door: • Ono Hawaiian BBQ • Chipotle Mexican Grill \*\*\* **Respect & Conduct (read carefully)** All attendees are expected to treat others, the venue, and game components with respect. That means: no abusive language, no physical aggression, no intentional damage to games or personal property, and no major behavioral disruptions that interfere with other people’s ability to enjoy the event. If you damage someone’s game pieces, equipment, or personal property, or if you cause a major behavioral disruption, you **will be banned** from future events. There are no exceptions for repeated offenses — damage or major disruption = **banned**. \*\*\* **Policies & Notes:** ⭕ **No-Show Policy:** 3+ unexcused absences may lead to a 3-month suspension (please give 24-hour notice; emergencies excepted). 📸 **Photo & Media:** Attendance implies consent for event photos/videos for promotion. ℹ️ **Disclaimer:** Organizers are not affiliated with Meet Tea; we’re regular paying customers. ⚠️ **Liability:** Participation is at your own risk. ⚠️**Waitlist Policy**: If you are on the **waitlist** and show up to the event **without an RSVP confirmation**, you will be considered a **walk-in** and subject to both a **late registration fee of $50.00 and a walk-in fee of $25.00**. **Failure to pay this fee will result in a permanent ban from the group.** This policy ensures fairness to all members who properly RSVP and helps us manage space, materials, and overall event quality. Thank you for your cooperation.

Burgers & Bendomino at “Islands” 🏝️ in Redondo **Open to 6) Couples

**We will enjoy the festive ambiance while we play a question game called “Tales” and get to know each other. Have a tasty California Casual Meal and then play some easy to learn “Bendomino” as time allows.** **Reservation under: Luna** ********Covered Outside Patio Table**

Boardgames and French Toast🍞!

🎲 Bring Your Own Board Game (optional)! Open 24/7 so come hang out, meet new people, and enjoy a chill game night at Denny’s.🍳🥞✨ Whether you’re a serious board gamer or just here for the vibes, everyone is welcome! 💛 We’ll have some games available, but feel free to bring a favorite you’d like to share! **Most importantly**, bring **positive energy** ✨ and be respectful and kind so everyone can have a fun and comfortable time together. ☺️🫶🏽 Parking is free in the Denny’s Lot and there is no minimum charge 💸🔥 for the event. However please pay your orders at the front when you leave 🙏🏿🙌🏿.

DEGEN NIGHT @ DEUCES FULL

Weekly Board Game Hang

Welcome back to our weekly Wednesday board game hang (previously as Nightcap Collective)! These gatherings exist to help you meet new people while doing something fun. Come on by between 6:30-9:30 pm and play from our collection, or bring your own favorites. We are no longer charging a cover but PLEASE pitch in by buying food and/or a drink from our coffee bar so we can keep the lights on and hangs happening 🙏 All skill levels and board game interests welcome - whether you're a beginner or advanced, looking for intense strategy or short, lighthearted games. We've got plenty of tables to group up by interest, meet your neighbor, and have a good time.

Game Night - Common Space Brewery

It's time for another night of beers & games at Common Space Brewery! We're going to be at the brewery with a range of games for people to play for free, starting at 6PM - hope to see you there!

Play

Join us for a fun-filled afternoon of games at Denny's! We'll have a variety of games available. Bring your friends or come solo - either way, you're sure to have a great time connecting with fellow game enthusiasts. Don't miss out on this opportunity to roll the dice, draw some cards, and make new friends over a shared love of games. See you there! Please confirm that you'll be attending the meetup by leaving a comment or sending me a message on the day of the meetup.

Game Night @ Three Weavers Brewering

It’s on, Inglewood 🎲 Game Night Three Weavers is happening again! Come thirsty, leave victorious.

Game Night - Tortugo Brewing Company

Looking for a place to play some board games? In the Los Angeles area? Join us at Tortugo Brewing Company in Inglewood! We'll have: 🎲 Craft Beers 🎲 Indie RPGs 🎲 Board Games

Rooftop Board Game Wednesdays

Bring a friend or group, and join us at Tomat on our rooftop for board games every Wednesday evening from 5-8pm! We provide chess, checkers, scrabble, backgammon, and cards--though you're welcome to bring any of your favorites. Enjoy a sensational view of jets landing at LAX under our beautiful shade canopy. Our food has been featured on the Michelin Guide since opening, and our cocktail and wine lists have received awards from PUNCH and Wine Spectator, respectively. We offer seasonal beers from around LA, and a vast selection of Non-Alcoholic options.