What we’re about
Our goal with All Aboard Games is to organize and host events where people can share the joy of modern board and card games with other friendly people. We make it a priority to be welcoming in a comfortable environment for both new players and experienced ones alike! We have a wide array of different games being played during our events, and also experienced players eager to teach them! We also plan to have special events and provide an opportunity to buy, sell, and trade used games! It is a golden age of boardgames, and we hope you will join us.
This group has been hosting events since March 2022. To join, all we ask is that you use a real first name or nick-name and a personal photo in your profile. This is to avoid or at least reduce the number of anonymous and spam memberships in the group. A photo of a pet or a favorite possession is also acceptable if you have issues putting your image up-- but no stock photos please.
This group also meets online to enjoy games virtually at Board Game Arena and other sites. To participate there, please go to BoardGameArena.com and create a free account. Then, send your account name to the organizers to be invited to the online group. Events will be announced via Meetup (as with in-person events) and played online with Zoom or Discord providing a platform for live discussion.
We have a gift shop now--
https://teespring.com/all-aboard-games
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- SANTA ANA - Friday Night Boardgame MeetupIHOP, Santa Ana, CA
Join us at IHOP for a most excellent evening of gaming and great food! Enjoy playing a selection of modern board and card games! No experience necessary to attend!
We meet twice a month, every 1st and 3rd Friday. This is the first meetup of the month. A small contribution ($1 suggested) is appreciated, but not required.
GAME SELECTION:
Game selection depends entirely on what is brought by attendees and made available to share. Consider bringing your favorites to teach and play with others. This is optional, but we encourage attendees to place games on a back table (game pool) where others can borrow them for the duration of the event. Please take care of any borrowed games including the box and any components. You may announce in the comments below which games you plan to bring and/or any that you would like to try out.
Absolutely no playtesting or promotion! For a special exception, please message the event host.
VENUE:
We will have an entire wing of the restaurant reserved for our group. Please be mindful that this is a business which allows us to play without charging admission and that it only works for them as long as it makes business sense. Kindly patronize by buying a beverage or meal at each visit. The menu can be found on their website here: IHOP menu
IHOP has extended their hours and now closes at Midnight. However, the restaurant would still prefer if we can wrap up by 11PM so please complete final turns and cleanup by that time if possible.
NO OUTSIDE FOOD OR DRINKS ALLOWED! No smoking or vaping!
ARRIVAL TIME AND CANCELLATIONS:
Show up any time you like-- but expect that if you're late it is more likely that you will have to wait before you can get into a game.
This event may fill up, in which case there will be a waiting list. If you RSVP and later find that you are unable to attend, please update your status accordingly at least one hour prior to the meet time so that people in the queue have time to make their way to the venue.
Please DO NOT show up if you are not on the "going" list as seats are limited.
We will go through the sign-in sheet afterward and mark "no shows". Three or more "no shows" in the last 3 months for any All Aboard Games event will get you pushed to the back of the waitlist.
PHOTOGRAPHY:
Please be aware that photos of the games in progress and attendees may be taken during the event for promotional use. If you would prefer not to be included in the picture, feel free to inform us and we will attempt as best as possible to exclude you from the image.
CONTACT US:
You can join us on Facebook as well!
Message us if you have any questions. We hope to see you there!
- IRVINE - Friday Night Boardgame Meetup (+Gift Exchange!)14952 Sand Canyon Ave, Irvine, CA$1.00
This is the Irvine Knowlwood meetup, Orange County's most popular regular boardgame meetup! RSVP on this page now to lock in your spot! This venue has hosted boardgame meetups since June 2021. We now meet here once a month, every 2nd Friday.
*DESCRIPTION:
Join us at Knowlwood restaurant for a most excellent evening of gaming and dining! Enjoy playing a selection of modern board and card games! We will have a section of the restaurant reserved for our group.
No experience necessary to attend!*$1.00 CHIP-IN REQUIRED
There is a one dollar ($1.00) chip-in to attend this meetup, required at sign-in or paid online beforehand. This is currently being required by the venue to meet a $60 reservation fee due to a low purchase rate.If you prefer to pay using PayPal, please add 55 cents to cover their transaction fee. You may pay for all your current RSVPs prior to those events: PayPal.me
*FOOD AND DRINK:
Please be mindful that this is a business which allows us to play and that it only works for them as long as it makes business sense. You are strongly encouraged to patronize by buying a beverage or preferably a food item at each visit. The menu can be found on their website here: http://knowlwoodrestaurants.com/NO OUTSIDE FOOD AND DRINK ALLOWED! No smoking or vaping!
*ARRIVAL TIME AND CANCELLATIONS:
Show up any time you like-- but expect that if you're late it is more likely that you will have to wait before you can get into a game.This event may fill up, in which case there will be a waiting list. If you RSVP and later find that you are unable to attend, please indicate so by updating your status accordingly at least one hour prior to the meet time so that people in the queue have time to react to getting in. Host will go through the sign-in sheet afterward and mark no-shows.
*REGARDING GAMES:
Game selection depends entirely on what is brought by attendees and made available to share. Consider bringing your favorites to teach and play with others. This is up to you, but we encourage attendees to place games on a back table (game pool) where others can borrow them for the duration of the event. You are encouraged to announce in comments below what games you plan to bring and/or a few that you would like to try.Restaurant will stay open for us until 10PM-- this is after the kitchen is officially closed around 9:30PM. Please target cleanup time so that we are able to leave by 10PM.
Absolutely no playtesting or promotion! For special exception please message the event host.
*SPECIAL EVENT:
WHITE ELEPHANT GAME-GIFT EXCHANGE
This will be the fourth annual game-gift exchange! The more people who get involved the better, but participation in the exchange is optional.
To Participate:- Be RSVP'd to this event and comment in reply to the sign-up comment below to signify that you want to participate. (The exchange may be cancelled if there is a lack of interest.)
- Show up by 6:15PM. Bring a new (UNUSED and UNOPENED) boardgame to the event as a gift-- no intentionally-bad gag games please. The real price of the game (the price YOU paid for it) should be in the range of $45-$60 (same as last year).
- The game should be gift wrapped or bagged to conceal what it is.
- Collect a ticket when you show up. A copy of this ticket will be attached (face-down) to your wrapped game and another copy will be put in a draw bowl.
Rules:
- Tickets will be drawn from a bowl in a random order. If your ticket is drawn, you may either unwrap a game or steal a game that someone else has unwrapped.
- If your game is stolen, you must then either unwrap another game or steal an unwrapped game from someone else-- but not the same game that was just stolen from you since the last ticket was drawn.
- A game stolen TWO times becomes safe and can no longer be stolen.
- Once all games have been opened and everyone has a game, the first player drawn during the exchange will have an opportunity to steal a game if they choose, placing their current game aside. In that case, the exchange ends when anyone chooses (or must choose) the game the first player set aside.
You can join us on Facebook as well!
A small additional contribution ($2 suggested) is appreciated, but not required.
Please let us know if you have any questions. See you there! - SANTA ANA - Friday Night Boardgame MeetupIHOP, Santa Ana, CA
Join us at IHOP for a most excellent evening of gaming and great food! Enjoy playing a selection of modern board and card games! No experience necessary to attend!
We meet twice a month, every 1st and 3rd Friday. This is the second meetup of the month. A small contribution ($1 suggested) is appreciated, but not required.
GAME SELECTION:
Game selection depends entirely on what is brought by attendees and made available to share. Consider bringing your favorites to teach and play with others. This is optional, but we encourage attendees to place games on a back table (game pool) where others can borrow them for the duration of the event. Please take care of any borrowed games including the box and any components. You may announce in the comments below which games you plan to bring and/or any that you would like to try out.
Absolutely no playtesting or promotion! For a special exception, please message the event host.
VENUE:
We will have an entire wing of the restaurant reserved for our group. Please be mindful that this is a business which allows us to play without charging admission and that it only works for them as long as it makes business sense. Kindly patronize by buying a beverage or meal at each visit. The menu can be found on their website here: IHOP menu
IHOP has extended their hours and now closes at Midnight. However, the restaurant would still prefer if we can wrap up by 11PM so please complete final turns and cleanup by that time if possible.
NO OUTSIDE FOOD OR DRINKS ALLOWED! No smoking or vaping!
ARRIVAL TIME AND CANCELLATIONS:
Show up any time you like-- but expect that if you're late it is more likely that you will have to wait before you can get into a game.
This event may fill up, in which case there will be a waiting list. If you RSVP and later find that you are unable to attend, please update your status accordingly at least one hour prior to the meet time so that people in the queue have time to make their way to the venue.
Please DO NOT show up if you are not on the "going" list as seats are limited.
We will go through the sign-in sheet afterward and mark no-shows. Three or more "no shows" in the last 3 months for any All Aboard Games event will get you pushed to the back of the waitlist.
PHOTOGRAPHY:
Please be aware that photos of the games in progress and attendees may be taken during the event for promotional use. If you would prefer not to be included in the picture, feel free to inform us and we will attempt as best as possible to exclude you from the image.
CONTACT US:
You can join us on Facebook as well!
Message us if you have any questions. We hope to see you there!
- LAGUNA HILLS - Sunday Afternoon Boardgame Meetup23301 Avenida De La Carlota, Laguna Hills, CA
*DESCRIPTION:
Join us at GameCraft Brewing for a most excellent, marathon afternoon of gaming, great food, and craft beer! Enjoy playing a selection of modern board and card games! We will have part of the adult section of the event floor reserved for our group, toward the back and on the left side of the main space (though seating arrangement is subject to change).
No experience necessary to attend!*FOOD AND DRINK:
Please be mindful that this is a business which allows us to play for free and that it only works for them as long as it makes business sense. You are strongly encouraged to patronize by buying a beverage or food item during your visit. The regular menu can be found on their website (here), though craft beer and some food items change regularly.
NO OUTSIDE FOOD AND DRINK ALLOWED! No smoking or vaping!*ARRIVAL TIME AND CANCELLATIONS:
Show up and leave any time you like-- but expect that if you're not arriving at the start time it is more likely that you will have to wait before you can get into a game. This is an 8 hour event, so more than likely people will be arriving and leaving at various times throughout.This event now has an attendance cap in anticipation of limited seating. If you RSVP and later find that you are unable to attend, please indicate so by updating your status accordingly at least one hour prior to the start time. Host will go through the sign-in sheet afterward and mark no-shows. If more tables become available, more people on the waiting list will be let in on the morning of the event. If you happen to remain on the waiting list when the event starts, GameCraft is open to the public. You can still show up, but without an RSVP you may need to wait or move to the general area where there may or may not be a table available.
*REGARDING GAMES:
Although there are a few titles provided by the venue, game selection depends mostly on what is brought by attendees and made available to share. Consider bringing your favorites to teach and play with others. This is up to you, but we encourage attendees to place games on a side bench (game pool) where others can borrow them for the duration of the event. You are encouraged to announce in comments below what games you plan to bring and/or a few that you would like to try.Our reservation will stay in place until closing at 7:00PM-- but we have been instructed to start cleanup a half hour prior (6:30PM).
Absolutely no playtesting or promotion! For special exception please message the event host.
You can join us on Facebook as well!
A small contribution ($3 suggested) is appreciated, but not required.
Please let us know if you have any questions. See you there!
