The best board game stores in the Philly area

How about a board game?

That was the thought process for a lot of us during the pandemic. Board game popularity soared in 2020, with one manufacturer — Hasbro — reporting an increase of more than 20% in sales in the third quarter alone. And Mattel reported a whopping 48% increase in sales for the first pandemic year.

That’s a lot of Monopoly and Uno, but more involved games are seeing a resurgence, too. Dungeons & Dragons, for example, has been gaining popularity for years and saw a 35% jump in revenue in 2020, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The Philadelphia area has long been steeped in geeky culture, board games included. So, if you’re bored with your own board game collection and looking for something new, there’s no time like the present.

Here are a dozen great board game shops in the region, whether you’re looking to lose yourself in a game for a few hours, or something more casual.

Known as Philly’s first board game bar, Thirsty Dice is back to in-person activities after operating online during the height of the pandemic. In addition to boasting over 950 games in its library, Thirsty Dice operates as a full-service bar and restaurant, including a handful of vegetarian and vegan options. Grab shareables for the table, like the mojo chicken nachos or spicy dice-a-roni pizza along with specialty cocktails or a boozy milkshake. If your in-game experience ever hits a bump in the road, you can even contact a resident “gametender” for advice.

📍 1642 Fairmount Ave., 📞 215-765-2679, ✉️ info@thirstydice.com, 🌐 thirstydice.com, 📷 @thirstydice, 🕑 Tue.-Thurs. 3-10 p.m., Fri. 3 p.m.-midnight, Sat. 10 a.m.-midnight, Sun. 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

This Queen Village cafe is open for dining, and you can choose from some 1,200 games to play while you’re there. If you’re feeling more conservative, you can do pickup or local delivery for games and food, or just head there for a quick in-store browse. It has a wide selection, with everything from Bob Ross-themed Monopoly to more hard core geek culture.

📍 607 S. Second St., 📞 215-995-0043, ✉️ info@queenandrookcafe.com, 🌐 queenandrookcafe.com, 📷 @queenrookcafe, 🕑 Mon.-Thu. 5-10 p.m., Fri. 5 p.m.-midnight, Sat. 11 a.m.-midnight, Sun. 11 a.m.-8 p.m.

Philly Game Shop is a “friendly local game shop” (or FLGS, for the uninitiated) in South Philly that aims to be as inclusive as possible because, as they put it online, “tabletop gaming is for everyone.” They focus on all kinds of gaming fare, including board and card games, RPGs, and locally made games — all of which are available for in-store shopping, curbside pickup, local delivery, and nationwide shipping. There’s also limited in-store gaming that can accommodate one four-person table.

📍 519 S. Fifth St., 📞 215-305-9230, ✉️ taylor@phillygameshop.com, 🌐 phillygameshop.com, 📷 @phillygameshop, 🕑 Mon.-Thurs. noon-9 p.m., Fri.-Sat. noon-10 p.m., Sun. noon-7 p.m.

Known as a “tabletop gaming mecca,” this West Philly shop has styled itself as an LGBTQ and female-friendly destination since opening its doors in 2009. You’ll find just about everything you need, including Magic: The Gathering and Yu-Gi-Oh cards, Dungeons & Dragons and Warhammer 40,000 minis, board game standards like Catan and Pandemic, and hundreds of other offerings. In-store shopping is available, as are pickup, shipping, and local delivery.

📍 3850 Lancaster Ave., 📞 215-387-4040, ✉️ redcapscorner@gmail.com, 🌐 redcapscorner.com, 📷 @redcapscorner, 🕑 Mon.-Sat. noon-10:30 p.m., Sun. noon-8 p.m.

Brave New Worlds bills itself as a comic book and toy shop, but it’s no slouch when it comes to board and card games. This Old City shop is great for both casual (think Cards Against Humanity or Clue) and more involved gamers alike (i.e., Arkham Horror and Dungeons & Dragons). And if you’re into Magic: The Gathering — or want to be — this is a great place to visit. Be sure to check out at its Willow Grove location, too.

📍 55 N. Second St., 📞 215-925-6525, ✉️ rob@bravenewworldscomics.com, 🌐 bravenewworldscomics.com, 📷 @bnwcomicsoc, 🕑 Mon.-Sat. 11 a.m.-8 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

Since 2005, West Chester’s The Games Keep has long been considered one of the go-to tabletop gaming shops in the greater Philadelphia area. By all accounts, its selection of games is massive, consisting of 3,000 titles that run the gamut from board and card games, to RPGs and miniature-based games, plus associated accessories and supplies. In-store browsing and pickup are available, and you can call or email ahead for stock and pricing info.

📍 561 E. Gay St., West Chester, 📞 484-905-5533, ✉️ gameskeep@gmail.com, 🌐 the-games-keep-llc.business.site, The Games Keep on Facebook, 🕑 Wed. noon-8 p.m., Thurs.-Sat. noon-10 p.m., Sun. 2-8 p.m.

This family-owned chain of game stores has locations in Blue Bell and Wilmington, but its home base is in Delco, where it opened in 2003. Wherever you go, this one is for the card game lovers among us — especially if that means you’re into Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh, or Magic: The Gathering. Aside from buying cards (both in-store and online), you can also sell your rarer cards to the store and try to make a buck on your hobby (and if you’ve seen what Pokemon cards can go for lately, maybe you ought to).

📍 2129 MacDade Blvd., Holmes, 📞 610-583-9960, ✉️ info@alternateu.com, 🌐 alternateu.com, 🕑 Mon.-Thurs. noon-10 p.m, Fri. noon-11 p.m., Sat. noon-9 p.m., Sun. noon-6 p.m.

If you’re in the Jenkintown area, 7th Dimension Games is your spot for all the geeky goodness you can handle. Whether you’re looking for board games (like Catan), trading card games (think Magic: The Gathering), RPGs (Dungeons & Dragons), miniatures, painting supplies, dice, or any other gaming-related bits and bobs, the shop likely has it (and can do local delivery). Plus, there’s a used game section, and you can sell your own used board games on commission if you’re looking to unload.

📍491 York Rd., Jenkintown, 📞 215-887-9550, ✉️ 7thdimensiongames@gmail.com, 🌐 7thdimensiongames.com, 📷 @7dgames, 🕑 Mon.-Thurs. noon-9 p.m., Fri.-Sat. noon-11 p.m., Sun. noon-6 p.m.

Having opened in 2019, Lookin’ For Games is one of the newer shops in the Bucks County area, but it’s quickly established itself as a great spot for local gamers, whether you’re looking for regular board game standards, trading card games, or RPGs and all the accessories. The store partners with Extra Life, so you can help the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Plus, there are limited in-store events, like miniature painting nights.

📍 4354 New Falls Rd., Levittown, 📞 215-642-8555, ✉️ lookinforgames@gmail.com, 🌐 lookinforgames.com, 📷 @lookinforgames, 🕑 Tue.-Thu. 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Fri. 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Sat. 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

South Jersey board game enthusiasts should take a trip to this shop, which has been around for about a decade (formerly known as Tiki Tiki Games). It has just about everything a geek’s heart could want, including new and used games, a wide variety of gaming accessories, and even limited table play.

📍164 S. Broad St., Woodbury, 📞 856-202-5103, ✉️info@nerdmallshop.com, 🌐nerdmall.com, 📷 @tikitikigames, @nerdmallshop 🕑 Daily 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

Open since 2011, Top Deck Games is one of South Jersey’s best board game shops, whether you’re a seasoned veteran or just getting into the scene. It’s especially great if you’re into Warhammer 40,000, Magic: The Gathering, Dungeons & Dragons, Pokemon, or Dragonball Super. Check it out in-store, or shop online.

📍1400 Haddonfield-Berlin Rd, Cherry Hill, 📞 856-858-2700, ✉️ info@topdeckgamesonline.com, 🌐 topdeckgamesonline.com, 📷 @topdeckgamesnj, 🕑 Mon.-Sat. 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

In addition to having one of the best names in all of gamestoredom, Nerdvana also happens to be one of the best tabletop game shops if you’re heading down the shore. Located in Atlantic County, this family-friendly shop specializes in board, trading card, miniature, and role-playing games, as well as accessories you’d need to play them. So whether you’re a Pokemon fan, or a Warhammer 40,000 devotee at the shore, these folks can take care of you with an in-store visit.

📍 3003 English Creek Ave., Egg Harbor Township, 📞 609-380-2396, ✉️ nerdvananj@gmail.com, 🌐 nerdvana-games-and-comics.shoplightspeed.com, 📷 @nerdvanatabletop, 🕑 Sun.-Tues. 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Wed.-Sat. 11 a.m.-10 p.m.