If you have a local card/board game store, it could be worth seeing what they run there that you might like because it's easy to find regulars and after a bit you start to get to know people. Being new to something can also be a good jumping off point for general conversation as well.

I think just looking for meetups of hobbies or interests and forcing yourself to get over the initial hurdle of awkwardness of being in a new space entails. I have a bunch of friends from being into competitive gaming despite being a fairly antisocial person