Games events

Long-running York board-games club providing a regular, welcoming route into playing games and meeting other tabletop enthusiasts.

Useful for: People who want a regular local tabletop community. It can help creators meet players, but Spectrum does not present it as a formal designer showcase or playtesting service.

What you can do: Attend a listed Friday or weekend session, meet local players and explore the club's game collection. The first session is currently advertised as free; later sessions are charged.

Next step: Check the current schedule and prices on the club site before attending.

Bar Convent, 17 Blossom Street, York YO24 1AQ

Free Northern game-maker network centred on GaMaYo events and the Great Northern Games Discord, connecting active developers for peer support, collaboration and regional showcase opportunities.

Useful for: Independent developers, freelancers, students releasing work beyond coursework and other active Northern game makers looking for collaborators, feedback and a wider peer network.

What you can do: Apply to join the free Great Northern Games Discord/GaMaYo network, meet other developers and follow current GaMaYo opportunities to network or show work.

Next step: Use Game Republic's current contact/join route to apply to GaMaYo or the Great Northern Games Discord, then check the 26 November 2026 GaMaYo programme.

North of England; current November 2026 event at WX, Wakefield

Recurring local game-development meetup within the York Developers community, giving game makers a direct route to meet other developers and discuss projects.

Useful for: People making or wanting to make games who want a low-friction way to meet other local game developers.

What you can do: Attend the monthly York Game Developers meeting, meet other makers and use the community to discuss projects, skills and possible collaboration.

Next step: Check York Developers for the next Game Developers meeting before travelling.

House of Trembling Madness, 14 Lendal, York

Northern games-industry network providing events, business support and routes into wider developer, publisher, investor and platform-holder networks.

Useful for: Game makers, studios and sole traders who are ready to move beyond a local meetup into a wider Northern industry network.

What you can do: Compare Game Republic membership with the free GaMaYo and Great Northern Games routes, follow industry events and use the network's current business-support and connection routes.

Next step: Read the current join/contact information and choose the free GaMaYo/Discord route or Game Republic membership that fits your stage.

North of England

York creative network offering community membership, local information, opportunities, events and practical routes to find collaborators across disciplines.

Useful for: Independent creatives, including game makers, who want a broad local network and an easy way to make cross-discipline connections.

What you can do: Join the free membership, use the York Creatives Circle community, follow current opportunities and jobs, and use the network or directory to find other creative people.

Next step: Read the current membership options and start with the free membership if you mainly need connections, opportunities and community access.

York

York board-games convention with a dedicated Playtesting Zone where designers can book slots to put prototypes in front of attendees.

Useful for: Tabletop designers who have a playable prototype and want structured public playtesting, as well as people who want to understand York's tabletop community.

What you can do: Hold a valid convention ticket and register for available Playtesting Zone slots; a £5 charity donation per slot is suggested where possible. The playtesting zone does not allow trading or selling.

Next step: Check the 23–25 October 2026 ticket and Playtesting Zone pages, then register a slot if places remain.

St Peter's School, York YO30 6AB