Among all the amazing small businesses in Sacramento, 1-Up Retro is probably the one nearest and dearest to me and my son's heart. I grew up in the golden era of gaming, the 80s, 90s, and early 2000s when weekends meant blowing into dusty cartridges, late-night multiplayer battles, and flipping through Game Informer magazines dreaming about the next big release. Those games weren't just entertainment, they were core memories of my childhood. Now, seeing my son discover and fall in love with those same games and magazines has been something really special. Ever since we moved to Sacramento a few years ago, every visit to 1-Up has felt like stepping into a real-life time machine. The moment you walk in, you're surrounded by nostalgia, memories, and pure joy. Whether it's seeing shelves packed with retro classics or spotting consoles you haven't touched in 20+ years, it instantly takes you back. The owner and staff are all incredibly cool, welcoming, and genuinely passionate about gaming history. I'm always blown away by the little-known facts and stories they know about these old-school titles. You can tell this isn't just a business to them, it's something they truly love. Special shoutout to Travis for the amazing customer service and for hooking my son up with a PS2 Slim in fantastic working condition. Seriously, where else can you walk in today and find a retro console like that, fully functional, along with a huge selection of games ready to relive those memories? I would love nothing more than to see businesses like 1-Up continue to succeed and thrive in the face of online competition. Places like this keep the memories, community, and fun alive for old gamers and new generations alike. Sacramento is lucky to have them. Game over? Not here at 1-Up, the memories just keep hitting "Continue." read more

1-Up Retro Video Games - Mario and Marco continuing the fight vs Bowser (Luigi was OOO) - Video Game Stores Near Me - Sacramento, California

This is a friendly large vintage game store. The garage door entrance is a nice touch to the overall feel of a store visit. I found so many items I wanted to buy. They carry video games from a plethora of consoles. They also have collectibles, box/collector sets, videos, etc. Long story short, I left with a pile of goodies. I thought the store was spacious to walk around with other people around. The displays were great. I liked how they converted an old grocery store veggie stand into a display on the right side. The only bummer is the tape and stickers used on the merchandise. I bought some mint in box items and the sticker price tag was so hard to peel off. It left a very bad sticky residue. I was able to clean it off most of the items. But, I worried that the paper boxes would be damaged if I used a solution. The staff was super friendly and answered all of our questions. I enjoyed the little lounge area in the front right while waiting for friends to checkout. read more

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Whenever we're in the area we make it a point to walk into 1-Up Retro Video Games. The space is beautiful and the staff are welcoming. They even have a dog bowl of water out for all our four legged friends walking past. Inside they have a great variety of items from newer and old games, stuffed animals, figurines, cards, consoles and more. If you have questions the staff is happy to answer them for you, and there's always something new to look at whenever you stop in. Whether you're looking for something specific, or you're just interested in browsing to see if something sparks your attention this is a great spot. read more

I visited this store because of my hobby and passion for gaming. Looking at it, I could tell this was the retro/nostalgia vibe that matches my gaming life growing up and I couldn't be any happier! The store was STOCKED full of games and various handhelds. It's extremely spacious and clean, with an ambience of nostalgic gaming enhanced by the background gaming music that's constantly playing. The staff were really chill and welcoming, happy to answer questions I had. Just by talking to the manager and staff, I can tell they are gaming enthusiasts themselves. Overall, I highly recommend checking this place out as it tickles that nostalgic gaming itch that needs to be satisfied! read more

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Store has a cool vibe and it was neat to checkout the selection of games they had from days past - it brought back many recollections of good times Staff were all very nice and personable I didn't find anything I had to have but the prices seemed reasonable Would definitely stop in again when in the area to see what's new read more

1-Up Retro Video Games - Old school games for sale - Video Game Stores Near Me - Sacramento, California

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Love this vintage game store took my autistic 15 year old here as a surprise he loves retro games and systems. Although they didn't have the game he's been looking for he had fun looking at all the games and different systems. Wish we lived closer but we will definitely make the drive from Ripon To Sac read more

Passed by this store many times, first time in today. What a cool store! And OMG the collection is next level. This store has super hard to find games. Valkyrie Profile: a game normally so expensive, so hard to find, is here! I rock a different video system, and their collection is very affordable. There are even arcade machines you can play with only .25 a game read more

I wanted to shop locally and found this cool game shop. I love how they have all these retro games from PSP, PS 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. They also had Nintendo games, and a selection of trading cards (Pokemon and Magic). I spent my time just browsing through all the games and reminiscing about the good ole days! I ended up buying a used PS5 game (Star Wars Outlaws) for $24 bucks. Not bad! I will definitely be back to buy other used games. read more

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Very cool retro video game store! Probably the best atmosphere I've experienced at retro store. It's clean, well organized, and lots of cool decorations and space to browse. Their staff was very friendly and willing to answer all my specific questions about how they check the quality of their games. I picked up a very clean copy of Battle Toads for NES at a very good price! I'll definitely be coming back here next time I'm in Sacramento! read more

I was excited to visit 1-Up Retro Video Games (1-Up), as my husband and I love video games, and took a day trip with my family to visit. This was several weeks ago. 1-Up has a nice selection of retro games, ranging from Nintendo 64, Sega, and PS1 games. They have plenty of Xbox games as well. But when it came to the Nintendo Switch, PS Vita and DS collections, there was very little. I was bummed because that is what I love to collect. The PS Vita games they had were all the Japanese versions and I saw maybe one DS game that interested me. I did purchase a fighting game on the Vita, so I was happy to have left with something. There were some amazing final fantasy plushies and even a final fantasy tactics figure but they were extremely expensive. $50 for a small Cloud, Yuffie or Tifa plush seems too overpriced for me (but a quick search online shows how they are priced between $50-$80). In the Square Enix store they go for $44, but then you'd be paying for shipping so it's expensive anyway. Staff were friendly and checked the price of a game for me when I asked about it. As for the layout of the store, there was plenty of room to browse gaming sections. It was cool that the store had a little sofa my little one could sit on while I browsed. 1-UP games is great for the retro gamer, but not for those who may be into the later handheld console gaming eras. read more

This store is awesome! They have video games for about every console you could think of. I was on the hunt for a very specific game cube game which unfortunately was out of stock. The good thing is they have a website and you can check ahead if you're looking for something! The store is huge with wall to wall games and it has such bright and bubbly energy. The staff were friendly. I think the price point is very comparable to other retro video game stores and I recommend this if you're on the hunt for old school games. read more

1-Up Retro Video Games - Video Game Stores Near Me - Sacramento, California

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Sunday morning and we were in the area. Decided to stop in to see what the store was all about. We were hoping to possibly see an old Nintendo gaming system we could get our grandson but no luck. We would have asked someone if there was one available but the only person we recognized as a store employee was literally on the phone the whole time we were in the store. Oh well. We looked around a bit and admired a few things and headed out. read more

Very clean store, well organized, and some good deals too. Service was helpful and present at all times. Good selection for Nintendo, Xbox, and PlayStation. read more

I visited 1-Up Retro Video Games on Wednesday, 1/17/24, around 5 PM. I loved how this store offered a plethora of games and game systems for sale. Most of the games/systems had a fair price point. I saw several games that were considered rare and would be difficult to find at other stores. These rare games were more on the pricier end. There were several arcade gaming machines throughout the store. It was nice that I had the opportunity to play Mortal Kombat II. I also played Spyro from the TV Screen and controller. The staff members were extremely pleasant and helpful. The store was nicely decorated with game characters. Overall, I recommend visiting 1-Up Retro Video Games. read more

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This store is amazing great selection of retro video games! So happy to have a locally owned store to shop at. Brian was super helpful! It was our first time in the store and they had local vendors which was a wonderful surprise. We will definitely be back! read more

Most amazing classic video games ever! 1-Up Retro Video games offers classic game and consoles from when we were kids (as long as they are available.) We pulled up along the street to park and luckily, I came during the week, so there were spaces available right in front that didn't require payment. As you walk in, 1-Up Retro has a roll up door. A big space worth painted walls with characters to get you in the mood to see all these amazing finds they have. *1-UP Retro Buys, Sells, and trade games & consoles and game card for cash or store credit I came in looking for a Nintendo 64 and a few games. I also have to tell you... *Best prices around I got my N64, 4 games, and amazing costumer service both days I was here. I can't wait to come back and get more games! read more

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Chill vibes, cool stuff to look at, and a lot of nostalgic games!! They've got a decent selection of TCGs and fairly priced pre-owned consoles. Def swinging by again soon! read more

Great service! Amazing selection of games and memerobilia! All reasonably priced. Took a look at the PS2 selection and grabbed a few things.

Easily 1 of the best game shops I've ever been to! Great prices. Great location; big and spacious. Phenomenal selection & variety, from video games and magazines to LEGOs and Pokemon cards. And an awesome crew! Will always do business when I'm in the area. Absolutely recommend. read more

1-Up Retro Video Games - Video Game Stores Near Me - Sacramento, California

Must go to if you are a avid video game player! Has everything from NES, all the way to today's systems. A large variety of collectibles, video games, cards. Awesome place. The prices will vary dramatically. The retro prices aren't too bad! Especially if you are looking to collect. read more

I'm glad to see a retro video game store open up in midtown. I haven't gamed in a long time, but I've been to the store several times now and their inventory and collection has grown each time I came here. They have many different games for most consoles you can think of. I saw games I haven't seen in years... Sega dream cast, PlayStation, super Nintendo, game boy color, etc. The shop still looks like they have more inventory so I highly recommend coming back a few times since you'll see new games and items out that weren't their before. The door entrance is awesome as well. They also have toys, stuffed animals, blankets, Knick knacks, snack items (some special flavors of certain items), and drinks. There's a corner that has some old school arcade games. There's a small section for cards such as magic and Pokemon, along with board games. Travis, the owner, is really nice and fair. He's also knowledgeable about a lot of items and games so you can ask him questions. They also do trades so if you want to try out new games, you can try to make a trade with them. I'm looking forward to coming back and supporting locally owned businesses. Definitely give them a try (more than once if you can since their inventory is always changing). Great place to hang out in the future once it's safe to do so again. read more

A great local place to buy video games, Pokémon cards, and more! I love the selection. The huge door and eye catching sign out front just screams "welcome in!" Inside you will find (slightly higher than you'd like to pay) items. They have manga, books, toys, trading cards, playable arcades, and even collectible items. If you're a local - visit! If you're from out of town exploring midtown, come stop by. They have a doggy bowl that you can use! read more

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This review is long overdue. This store is fun and I love the nostalgic old gamer aesthetic. I have been to a few tournaments here and enjoyed the small conversations I had with other people in the community. They have reselling of old games, old game systems, new game systems, etc. The owner Travis was kind to me and definitely helped fix my situation I had with my old PlayStation. He knows his stuff and can tell how much his store matters to him and the ideas and creativity he has in mind for it was nice to hear about. I love that they also have an arcade game you can play in the back for free. It was fun playing with my little brother from time to time. He always took care of my little brother and I'm happy that he did everytime he came in. Overall my experience has been memorable here and highly recommend finding your gamer needs here. read more

My 11 son recently started getting interest in retro games. He wanted a game boy and found this place. Wow what a find! We went and found what he was looking for with a bunch of games to boot! The staff is super friendly and knowledgeable. Customers were also friendly and provided good source of info as well. If you are looking for games come here. The pricing is command it helps to see the items in person. Also they offer 6 month guarantee of it working! They also have new stuff if you looking for current release stuff. Only down side is parking but that is midtown for you. But this is worth the parking pain to find good options for retro games and other gaming goodies too! read more

Before I discovered this, I would go to Fair Game, but since this is closer and very similar, I have a new fav place for my classic gaming needs read more

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What a super fun store to find downtown for buying and selling video games. Great prices on current and previous-gen games. They've got a wide selection and the discs/cartridges/etc. have all been in great condition (you've got a week worth of return window just in case a dud slips through to you). My wife and I are having a blast revisiting my childhood as I introduce her to all my favorites without breaking the bank. They have regular events events in-store. On our first visit we were met with a live DJ and a packed store! The DJ was even pretty good (despite all the introverted gamers looking at the shelves and avoiding eye contact or dancing). I've since been back twice more, without the live DJ and a smaller crowd. If you're into collectibles, they've got lots of figures, posters, plushies, etc. of various video game, anime, and pop culture. The staff also deserves a shout out for being kind, knowledgeable, and helpful every visit thus far. read more

Solid game store with a ton of space. I love the radio they have playing. The selection is reasonably wide, but a lot of the cases on the disc games are pretty tattered. There's stacks of games behind the counter that they should price and put out for sale! What's in the mystery stack, haha! The prices are pretty much on par or are higher than online, but at least you get to see the items first. I like this place, but parking can be a pain due to it being downtown. read more

I go here often the nostalgia of it all is amazing, great friendly staff and a wide variety of many different games, you will be pleased if you stop by, and check back often as they get many different trades weekly read more

No one enjoyed our first visit to 1-Up more than my son - a 5-year-old video RETRO game fanatic. To have this new shop in Sacramento was like his dream come true. And, as far as throwback gaming goes, they have it mostly covered. The store was surprisingly spacious, with many racks of games divided up by gaming systems, a long counter with some of their more valuable goodies beneath a glass case and actual arcade games in the back. It's sort of like a vintage store specifically for the gamer. We had a great time wandering through, nostalgically thumbing through cartridges of games I had put untold hours into when I myself was a teen. The only downside I saw was that for a store that dedicates itself in large part to Nintendo, they only had a few games for the Switch and they don't carry any mini NES systems (those preloaded little retro Nintendo's with all the games on them). i can understand that they wouldn't if this place is more for purists, but the casual customer like myself may be looking for something more than original vintage game cartridges. read more

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If you're looking for a good game store, I would recommend this one. The service is top tier with employees helping you find a good video game that fits you. Game prices are the same price as market value, which is really good. read more

Awesome retro game store with a wide variety of choices. I traded in my switch with a game and got close to what gamestop would offer, and it's way better to support local! The only reason it's 4 stars and not 5 is that the copy of NASCAR Thunder 2003 I bought had some weird sticky residue on the back of it. It cleaned off with a simple electronic wipe, which made me wonder why this wasn't done before it was put onto the sales floor? read more

Repaired a cracked screen on our game boy advance sp and cleaned it as well. If they need to order parts, it may take a while but it is totally worth it. Excellent customer service, very friendly and responsive! read more

This place is great! It has a wide variety of game for many different systems. My son had a great time poking around through it all. And, the staff were quite nice and very fast. read more

I was walking downtown with my wife just exploring and we saw the sign. I got so excited I felt like a kid again. We walked in and all my childhood games are there from before the Internet was a thing. Willow helped us and could answer so many questions and knows the inventory off the top of her head. We are already looking at some of the older systems and can't wait to get one and start playing. This is the safest route for little kids also because they can't talk to people because the systems do not connect to the internet. Of course they have the systems that do but we were not interested in those. I am just glad this shop is open and will support them any chance we get. read more

I sold my kids' used video games and got a fair price. Explained to me clearly the value (since I didn't know). Cute store. Overall very pleasant experience. read more

This has a decent collection but do not take your collection here to get cleaned. I brought in multiple games to get cleaned and a lot of them came back either with swirl marks or with top damage. Lost a lot of games that are no longer able to be played. What a shame now they just sit as a unplayable collection. read more

Cool gaming store in Downtown Sac. I found them on Instagram randomly not knowing when or if I'd ever have a chance to visit. Low and behold, I became aware a new Nintendo Switch OLED was being released and had been looking for an excuse to buy another one. (I had given away my last switch out of guilt for never playing it and wanting to have someone who would use it. ) The owner of 1Up answered my cold call to see if they stocked the new OLED switch. He mentioned they expected some stock later that week and to call back. Turns out, I called early enough the morning of restock and they were kind enough to hold the unit for me a couple hours. Suffice to say I got on the road and snagged it right away. Apparently, I purchased it at MSRP, not scalper prices seen online. Great store in person. I could get lost in memories browsing their retro game stock. Personable staff, cool ambiance. Would love to have more time to stop by, but glad to know where I can track down new and retro gaming in town. If you're a gamer, stop by. read more

The service there was really nice with the workers helping out with everything! There was a huge selection of new and old video games! The value is really good! All the games are cool! The value is super high! read more

Amazing customer service and staff. I have only been here twice but both times i've left happier then going in. The place is nostalgic central. Lastly they do disc repairs, i had them repair a disc that had a very deep scratch and now i'm currently playing it again. read more

Had a great experience speaking with the associates about gaming, browsing the collection, video game apparel, toys and other gaming related products. I ended up purchasing a copy of Pokemon Gold/Crystal for a friend, as well as replacing the battery on my copy of Gold. The price was fair and competitive with the market rate, especially considering the cell batteries are replaced and the cartridge is cleaned. I inserted the games in my SP and each game played without any issues. Some old consoles and controllers not for sale are stored in a corner of the store, most likely to be diagnosed and possibly fixed at some point. This attention to detail for retro game and console repair is something you can only find at a local game store like 1up Retro Games. read more

1-Up Retro Video Games - Gameboy Pokemon games - Video Game Stores Near Me - Sacramento, California

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