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Avoid boredom with this guide to playing board games in the Atlanta metro area

Theo

Guests at Battle & Brew, a board and video arcade/restaurant with locations in Atlanta and Sandy Springs, can choose from a selection of board games to play with family and friends. (Courtesy of Battle & Brew)

Credit: Distributed document

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Credit: Distributed document

“We have people who are just out of college or retired,” Satterfield says, noting that the stereotype of board games as a hobby for older white men has become outdated. One woman comes to play with her two daughters, he adds, and some people come with their partners.

If you see the band playing outside and are interested in what is going on, he recommends stopping by. The members are eager to share their hobby with others, and that is a definite advantage of playing in public.

“Don’t be afraid to come and say hello and play with us,” he said. “We love welcoming new people.”

Satterfield first became interested in video games while playing Life, Clue, and other classic games as a child. From there, he discovered Ticket to Ride and Catan, which are extremely popular and often introduce players to the modern world of board games.

After discovering a board game group, he discovered other games and acquired about thirty titles. Today, his collection numbers around 1,500 games.

Board gamers play Survive at Meeple Madness, a board game store in Flowery Branch. The goal of the game is to evacuate your pieces from a crumbling island. (Courtesy of Meeple Madness)

Credit: Distributed document

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Credit: Distributed document

Whether you’re already a board game enthusiast or just starting out, check out the following cafes, bars, and stores that offer games:

The crazy lady in the book. 5058 Cherokee St., Acworth. Buy, sell and trade your used books and media and come to the store’s game night, held every Friday from 6pm to 10pm at thecrazybookladyga.com

Joystick game bar. 427 Edgewood Ave. SE, Atlanta. Billing itself as a “nerd dive bar,” Joystick Gamebar offers table games, which are free to play, as well as classic arcade games. joystickgamebar.com

Giga-Bites Cafe. 1851 Roswell Road, Marietta. This video game store/cafe hosts its own gaming group on Facebook, as well as many others, including groups for historical gamers, war gamers, and others designed for game-specific players. Giga-Bites serves burgers, grilled sandwiches, salads, coffee, smoothies, and more, and you can also purchase games here. giga-bitescafe.com

Battle and brewing. 925 Battery Ave. Suite 1125, Atlanta and 5920 Roswell Road, A120, Sandy Springs. Choose from a long list of board games at both locations, which also offer console and PC games. Dinner and brunch menus are available, and you can order craft beers, cocktails, wine, shots and mocktails. battleandbrew.com

Your 3rd place. 400 Chattahoochee Row, Atlanta. An Experiences Pass lets you play up to three hours of board, arcade, tabletop and yard games. your3rdspot.com

The independent. 931 Monroe Drive NE, Suite C205, Atlanta. Play board games, darts, and billiards at this establishment, which serves pub food, beer, and cocktails. theindiebar.com

The Blue Ghost Arcade. 164 Towne Lake Parkway, Woodstock. Pay a daily or monthly subscription for unlimited play on board games, old-school arcade games and game consoles. theblueghostarcade.com

Punch Bowl Social. 875 Battery Ave. SE, Suite 720, Atlanta. You can play board games for free, try your hand at arcade games, bowling and more for a fee, and order from a full menu. punchbowlsocial.com

Next level games. Mall Corners Shopping Center, 3700 Satellite Blvd. #9A, Duluth; 802 Georgia 400, Suite 120, Dawsonville; and 9945 Jones Bridge Road, #103, Johns Creek. Shop for board games, get information, and attend events, including those designed to teach you how to play a specific game. levelupgamesatl.com

Meeples Madness. 7400 Spout Springs Road #205, Flowery Branch. Check out the games in the store library, reserve a table to meet friends and play, buy games, and participate in events and learn-to-play sessions. meeplemadness.com

Oxford Comics and Games. 2855 Piedmont Road NE, Atlanta. Shop for board games, comics, graphic novels, manga, toys and models. oxfordcomicsandgames.com

The board game Revive is about players rebuilding civilization 5,000 years after everything was destroyed. (Courtesy of David Satterfield)

Credits: David Satterfield

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Credits: David Satterfield

GROUPS TO CONNECT WITH

The Atlanta Board Game Meetup group. meetup.com/table-games-35

Other Board Game Meetup groups in the Atlanta metro area. meetup.com

Giga-Bites Café Groups. giga-bitescafe.com

Kennesaw State University Board Game and Gaming Club. This open club hosts weekly board game nights on Fridays at 5 p.m. on the ground floor of the Wilson Student Center on the Marietta campus, 860 Rossbacher Way, Marietta. owllife.kennesaw.edu/organization/bgtc

MORE INFORMATION

Boardgamegeek.com. David Satterfield of the Atlanta Board Game Meetup recommends this website for discovering new games and reading game reviews. He can also suggest titles you might like based on what you’ve already played and enjoyed. boardgamegeek.com

CONVENTIONS TO PARTICIPATE IN

Southern-Fried Game Show. July 19-21, Atlanta. gameatl.com

Dragon Con. August 29-September 2, Atlanta. dragoncon.org

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