Our story
The Meeple Guild started because nobody wanted to go home after the game. This is who we are and how the shelves got so full.
Since 2016
We believe games are better borrowed than owned, better taught than explained, and better with a table that keeps one seat open.
Deniz Aksoy ran board-game nights out of a café back room for two winters before the owner needed the space. Rather than stop, Deniz took a lease on a bright loft on Kıbrıs Şehitleri Caddesi, moved three shelves of personal games in, and put a notebook by the door for anyone who wanted to borrow one.
The notebook became a ledger. The three shelves became a wall. The Thursday table became six weekly sessions with hosts who teach every game. What never changed: this is a club funded by its members, not a shop. Nothing on these shelves is for sale — it's for lending, playing and bringing back with all the pieces.
By the numbers — 900 titles catalogued, 1,180 members hosted, 63 five-star ledger notes, and 312 game nights a year. We keep membership to roughly 40 new sign-ups a season so every table still has a host who knows your name.
The people at the door
Founder & guildkeeper
Ran café game nights for two winters before opening the loft in 2016. Nine years teaching rules, cataloguing shelves and remembering who likes which weight. Signature move: pulling exactly the right game for a table that can't decide.
Library curator
Seven years in Izmir bookshops before the Guild. She catalogues every arrival, writes the fabric tags by hand and runs the two-player recommendations. If a box is missing a meeple, Ece already ordered the replacement.
Sessions host
Hosts the Friday party night and the Sunday learn-to-play. Five years teaching heavy euros to first-timers without ever making anyone feel slow. Keeps the loft's spare-fan campaign alive through every Izmir summer.
How membership works
Drop in, get taught a game, browse the wall. No commitment, and the pass counts toward month one if you join.
Monthly, student or annual guild pass. First borrow included in every tier.
Tag three boxes, sign the ledger, carry them home for three weeks. Renew online if the waitlist is clear.
Settle into a weekly session. Hosts save you a seat at the table that fits how you like to play.
Season guest passes mean the friend you keep telling about us finally sees the shelves.
| When you tell us | Monthly & student | Annual guild pass |
|---|---|---|
| 14+ days' notice | Pause or cancel, free | Freeze up to 2 months/year, free |
| Under 14 days | Remaining time rolls to next month | Freeze applied from next cycle |
| Illness / travel / exams | Paused on request, no charge | Freeze doesn't count toward the 2-month limit |
| Overdue borrows | New loans pause until returned — never a fine | Same — never a fine |
The wall by the door
Guests are welcome at any open session. Bring nothing but the willingness to learn a game.
Join the guild