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Competitive Gaming San Francisco

Find your local competitive gaming community

Oakland potluck and lawn games

Sat, Aug 8, 7:00 PM
From East Bay Fellowship
1 attendee
Board Game Designers' Coworking Meetup - San Francisco

Board Game Designers' Coworking Meetup - San Francisco

Sat, Aug 1, 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

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4 attendees
Board Game Playtesting at Dogpatch Games (San Francisco)

Board Game Playtesting at Dogpatch Games (San Francisco)

Fri, Jul 31, 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)

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4 attendees
COWBOY & WESTERN GAMES @ Drake's Dealership / Oakland

COWBOY & WESTERN GAMES @ Drake's Dealership / Oakland

Tue, Jul 28, 1:00 AM
From East Bay Gamers Guild - Board Game Nights
4.7

Get your holster ready, giddy up on your horse, and get ready for a train robbery!! Were playing Cowboy Western Games!! Its been a year and a half since we did this theme!! We've got a great line up of games coming out! Sam will be running [COLT EXPRESS](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJR-Mq3Ci9I). Wherein you play a bandit robbing a train at the same time as other bandits, and your goal is to become the richest outlaw of the Old West. Choose your moves one at a time along with other players, then reveal how your actions happen in a spaghetti western cinematic reveal!! A memorable game that has a 3D model train board! Mike will be hosting [OREGON TRAIL: THE ULTIMATE TREK](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tj8CYjaoWPY). Play as a member of a family travelling west in this difficult survival game. Snakes, fording rivers, and of course dysentery are the things you will face. Can you survive the great treck! This have a new stand alone expansion for the Oregon trail series that can be mixed with the old game and adds complexity and fun. Hetul will host [SPIRIT ISLAND](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAXQfGHhPAA). Play as indigenous gods who must murder the ever multiplying colonizers before they ruin and destroy your land. Use lightning, fire, tsunami's, and the forces of nature to thwart the marauding invaders and save your people! Gabi will be hosting [BANG! ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcanu6cwfxc)A game of deduction and murder. Play as either a secret outlaw or working for the sheriff. Find other members on your secret team and murder the opposing ones before they find you out. A truly classic game of shooting and fun! So far, games that will be there are: POKER - texas hold em and other variations COLT EXPRESS + expansions--- cinematic train robbing at its finest SPIRIT ISLAND --- indigenous gods killing colonizing white people BANG! + expansions --- bandits vs the sherriff social deduction DICE TOWN --- make the best hand of poker dice AZUL --- place beautiful tiles in this mexi-inspired game THE GRIZZLED --- WW1 co-op CHRONONAUGHTS: EARLY AMERICANS -- rewrite American history SKULL --- ancient push your luck game from Mexico FIREFLY FLUXX --- traverse the verse and find +many more games to be added! Check back soon! Click the name of the linked games above to learn more about each game being hosted. \*\*\*This meetup begins at 6pm with games usually beginning at 6:30/7ish. If you arrive after that, know that you may have to wait around a bit for a new round of gaming to begin. Please bring ANY games you like (even off theme ones) and feel free to invite friends! Friends First. Games Always.

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14 attendees
Let's Play "LISA: The Painful"

Let's Play "LISA: The Painful"

Sat, Aug 8, 7:00 PM
From Video Game Book Club - San Francisco
4.7

For this month's game we are playing the RPG *LISA: The Painful*. *The miserable journey of a broken man...* *LISA: The Painful* is available on Steam, Switch, PlayStation and Xbox. Play through the game as much as you can for our discussion; even if you don't complete the game, you're welcome to come to discuss as well as nominate future titles. We will be meeting at Patriot House, a bar on the top floor of Two Embarcadero Center. Look for us in the back patio area! To discuss the meetup, access more information, and keep in touch with other members, join the VGBC Discord: https://discord.gg/t97Bfv6qsF

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11 attendees
Showcase Showdown

Showcase Showdown

Sat, Aug 1, 2:00 AM
From Noisebridge Hackerspace
4.8

**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. * **WHERE:** [Noisebridge](https://www.noisebridge.net/wiki/Noisebridge "Noisebridge") Hackerspace, [272](https://www.noisebridge.net/wiki/272 "272") Capp St. San Francisco, CA * **COST:** **FREE!** Noisebridge runs on donations and 24 hour access card memberships. # 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. # Competitive 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 game. ## Bring them blue sparks! Suggest a game Do you have a game you'd like to arrange to play at Showcase Showdown?

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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.