Chicago Game Lab

About The Lab

The Chicago Game Lab is a members-driven community for project work and collaboration with special focus on game development and creative and technical disciplines. Our goal is to provide a unique project space that can lead to information sharing, serendipitous conversations, and building new connections across projects and disciplines. 

Click here to see some of the current Lab members.

As of February 28, 2024, we have one reserved desk available.
Contact information@chicagogamelab.com to schedule a visit if you're interested!

Join our mailing list to be the first to hear about openings for desks and upcoming events and meetups at the Lab.

Upcoming Events at the Lab

Indie City Games Speaker Series
A Humorous Story Told Gravely: How To Craft A Funny Interactive Story with Mike Gills
Saturday, March 30, 2024
2 pm - 3:30 pm

How do you tell a funny interactive story? What do Mark Twain and Yakuza’s Kazuma Kiryu have in common? How long can you use rhetorical questions to string along a reader's attention before they get bored and decide not to come to your talk? In this presentation, The Onion’s head writer Mike Gillis will answer all of these and more, drawing on 12 years of comedy writing experience to talk about how concepts like punchlines, straight man, shaggy dog stories, yes and’ing, and campiness can make your video game funnier.

Mike Gillis is the head writer for The Onion. His writing has also appeared in The New Yorker, The Atlantic, McSweeney's Internet Tendency, Tricycle, ClickHole, Hobart, PULP Literature, Unwinnable, and most recently before the Supreme Court in the form of a highly-read amicus brief defending free speech. His games, including The Visionary, This Won't Make You Happy, and Love Them To Death have been featured in Indiepocalypse, Super FESTival, and BetterPlay. He makes games with the Serious Hats Only comedy collective and is currently alive in Chicago.

Click here for tickets.

Open Work Day
Thursday, April 4, 2024
10 am - 6 pm

Grab your laptop and come join us for a free, open work day at the Chicago Game Lab! The first Thursday of each month, we'll have up to five spots available for anyone working in games or adjacent fields to come by and work for the day. We've got fast WiFi, lots of coffee and a great lunchtime crowd of Chicago game devs and other creatives.

Sign up for our monthly newsletter to receive the registration link.

Indie City Games Print n Play
April Playtesting
Saturday, April 13, 2024
1 pam - 4 pm

Join us for our April playtesting! Bring your current jam project for feedback or a project you've been working on! Games in any state are welcome :)

Please respect the Chicago Game Lab rules and regulations. Photos/ videos may also be taken at the event, please tell an organizer if you'd like your project blurred out.

Join the guestlist.

Open Work Day
Thursday, May 2, 2024
10 am - 6 pm

Grab your laptop and come join us for a free, open work day at the Chicago Game Lab! The first Thursday of each month, we'll have up to five spots available for anyone working in games or adjacent fields to come by and work for the day. We've got fast WiFi, lots of coffee and a great lunchtime crowd of Chicago game devs and other creatives.

Sign up for our monthly newsletter to receive the registration link.

Membership Features

All memberships include:

Reserved Desks
$325 / month

At this time, we have 1 Reserved Desk available.

Email information@chicagogamelab.com if you would like to be placed on the wait list for Reserved Desks.

Drop-in Desks
$210 / month

At this time, we have 0 Drop-in Desks available.

Email information@chicagogamelab.com if you would like to be placed on the wait list for Drop-In Desks. 

The Lab is located in North Center in Chicago, near the intersection of Irving Park Road with Lincoln and Damen Avenues. Easy street parking is available on permit-free side streets south of Irving Park Road. It's a short walk to the Irving Park stop on the CTA Brown Line and the 80 Irving Park and 50 Damen CTA buses stop at the corner. 

If you would like more information or to schedule a trial work day, please contact information@chicagogamelab.com.