Mahjong & Backgammon Nights: NYC’s Newest Way to Meet People (and Maybe Someone Special)

If you’re searching for unique ways to meet new people in NYC, you’re not alone.

In 2026, New Yorkers are quietly shifting away from swipe culture and rediscovering something far more powerful: face-to-face connection built around shared activities.

Two “old-school” games are leading the charge - mahjong and backgammon.

They’re analog.
They’re social.
And they create exactly the kind of environment where real chemistry can develop naturally.

As a professional matchmaker and founder of Agape Match, I love anything that gets singles into the same room with a shared purpose and built-in conversation. That’s not just a hobby. That’s modern matchmaking.

Why Mahjong & Backgammon Are Trending in NYC

1. People Want Real Community Again

After years of increased screen time and digital dating fatigue, people are craving authentic, in-person experiences.

Mahjong and backgammon force you to sit across from someone. You talk. You compete. You laugh. You engage.

No filters. No ghosting. No algorithms.

Just presence.

2. They’re Easy to Start, Hard to Master

Both games are beginner-friendly, which makes them socially accessible. But they also require strategy, timing, and emotional control - which keeps people coming back.

That combination makes them ideal recurring social spaces.

And recurring spaces are where relationships actually form.

3. They Create “Third Places” Without the Bar Scene

Not everyone wants to meet someone at a loud bar.

Mahjong pop-ups and backgammon nights offer:

• Structure (so you’re not awkwardly hovering)

• Repetition (so you see the same faces)

• A shared activity (so you’re not stuck making small talk)

These environments create low-pressure intimacy.

Mahjong in NYC: Community-Driven Connection

Mahjong is a four-player tile game rooted in Chinese culture that blends strategy, luck, timing, and communication.

In New York City, mahjong has become more than a game - it’s a social anchor. Young professionals are using it to reconnect with culture, heritage, and each other.

Why Mahjong Is Great for Meeting People:

• It’s naturally group-based

• You rotate seats and interact with multiple people

• It encourages conversation

• It creates repeat exposure to the same players

And repeat exposure is how attraction grows.

Backgammon in NYC: Strategy Meets Social Chemistry

Backgammon is one of the world’s oldest board games - and NYC’s current wave of backgammon clubs has turned it into a modern social scene.

You sit across from someone.
You talk through moves.
You see how they handle winning and losing.

As a matchmaker, I can tell you: how someone competes tells you everything about their emotional compatibility.

Do they stay calm?
Do they blame the dice?
Do they laugh when they lose?

That’s real data.

How to Use Game Nights Strategically (If You’re Actually Trying to Meet Someone)

If your goal is connection, don’t just show up passively.

1. Go Solo at Least Once

You’re more approachable when you’re not locked into your friend group.

2. Arrive Early

Smaller groups = easier entry.

3. Learn One Simple Line

Mahjong: “I’m new -  can I watch this round?”
Backgammon: “Can I play next? I’m learning.”

4. Commit to 3 Weeks

The first night builds awareness.
The second builds familiarity.
The third builds comfort.

Comfort builds connection.

The Bigger Dating Shift in NYC

Apps optimize for attention.

Analog activities optimize for attachment.

Mahjong and backgammon create:

• Shared experience

• Playfulness

• Natural banter

• Real-time personality insight

• Repeat exposure

That’s how real relationships start - especially in a city as busy and ambitious as New York.

Final Thoughts

If you’re serious about meeting someone in NYC, you need more than profiles. You need proximity.

Game nights, hobby clubs, and recurring social spaces are bringing back something we’ve lost in modern dating: intentional presence.

And when you combine real-world exposure with clarity about what you actually want?

That’s when dating becomes strategic.

If you’re tired of swiping and ready to meet someone who aligns with you across lifestyle, values, and long-term goals, explore private matchmaking through Agape Match.

We help high-achieving singles expand their circles - online and offline - and choose partners based on true compatibility, not just convenience.

Author

Maria Avgitidis

Maria Avgitidis is a bestselling author, podcaster, and fourth-generation matchmaker. As the founder and CEO of Agape Match, she blends a century-old family legacy with contemporary relationship psychology, matching high-achieving singles through a refined, community-driven process that has produced thousands of meaningful matches.