As board games undergo a renaissance that has seen players flock to standards like Sorry and newer games like Settlers of Catan, Fresno has built its own small but thriving scene.
Here are some of the best events in the area for enthusiasts to meet like-minded folks and play on.
Board Game Night at Crazy Squirrel Game Store
Every Thursday, from 6-9pm, local board game shop Crazy Squirrel (464 E. Bullard Ave., Suite 105) offers a game night in its dedicated game room. Players at the the family-friendly event can play classics and other tabletop games like Dominion and Ticket to Ride.
"Some weeks will emphasize specific games, so we can all learn together," the store notes on its web site. The shop also hosts another regular board game night organized by the community on fourth Saturdays (see below).
Board Game Meetup Group
With more than 500 members since it started in 2010, Board Game Meetup Group is one of the largest and oldest of Fresno's board game groups. It meets regularly on the fourth Saturday each month at Crazy Squirrel Game Store (more details on its calendar).
Board Game Demo Night At Fashion Fair
Hosted by Legends Comics and Games (639 E. Shaw Ave., Suite 173), this weekly event takes place every Thursday evening from 6pm to 9:30pm. It focuses on a demo game so that players can enjoy a new board game. You can find more details on its site calendar.
To encourage players who may take to the game, Legends Fresno offers a five percent discount on the demo game for that evening.
Fresno Board Gamers
The group regularly meets on Tuesday evenings at bubble tea spot 1920 Tea Club at 732 W. Bullard Ave. The long-running group, which has been around since 2014, encourages "an actively inclusive board gaming community in the Fresno area." Enthusiasts can play board games at the event or bring their own, and 1920 Tea Club also has games available to play (see more business details on Yelp).
To stay updated on upcoming events, check out the Fresno Board Gamers Facebook page.
Fresno Board Games and Booze
This group combines board games and alcohol with a potluck event in a private home, where guests can bring their favorite games and alcoholic beverages to share with others. It also regularly hosts events at other establishments to keep things fresh.
"This will be a great place to meet new people," organizers write on the group's meetup page, "play that game that has been gathering dust in your closet, and become exposed or expose someone else to that Yugoslavian craft beer people can't stop talking about."
