I don't say this lightly, but **A Hidden Fortress is hands down the best TCG shop I've ever been to. I've been around card shops for a long time, and most places get one or two things right. This place gets everything right. The selection is fantastic, the shop is clean and well organized, and it actually feels like a space designed for players, not just transactions. You can tell immediately that this isn't just a store, it's a community hub. What really sets it apart is the people. The staff are knowledgeable, welcoming, and genuinely care about the players walking through the door. That's not something you can fake, and it shows in how the community shows up. Whether you're brand new to TCGs or deep in the hobby, you feel like you belong there. They also do a phenomenal job supporting events and keeping the scene active. There's always something going on, and it creates that energy that great local game stores used to have, but a lot of places have lost. If you're anywhere near Simi Valley and into trading cards, this place isn't just worth checking out, it's worth going out of your way for. Absolute gem. read more

Love AHF! Great pricing, friendly staff, and amazing pricing. There are stores closer to my house but I happily drive the extra time for the experience here. They run lots of events and have a ton of selection across TCGs. Highly recommend! read more

This has been a fantastic LGS to go to for me to introduce my kids to TCG play and to share my childhood hobby of collecting cards with my boys. The staff have all been very nice and pleasant. They have a good selection of product available; both sealed and singles for games like Pokemon, MTG, and One Piece. I recently brought my oldest son to his first "tournament" in the form of a Pokemon Pre-Release and everyone from the guys running the event to the regulars who came to play made the experience exactly what we would have hoped for. There was difficulty getting the online Pokemon account going and one of the employees kindly walked us through how to do it. One of the guys there had recently been to Japan and gave all the kids these little Pokemon cartridges. My son thought it was the best. I wound up winning all of my matches and I got to give my son all the prize packs. It was a good time. This is definitely a family friendly shop. On Pokemon day they had free packs of Pokemon cards for kids. Recently on a release day for Pokemon the owner set aside some tins of packs to sell at MSRP to kids who weren't able to get a pre-order. This is a good shop with good people. The owner, Mike, is responsive and involved. He is at the store pretty regularly and is great about responding to messages and answering questions. He is good about trying to get product and make it available at or as close to MSRP. This is especially nice for trying to get my kids Pokemon cards, because they are otherwise impossible to find. The communication is a definite plus. They have an online community to help keep locals and regulars in the know and that is really helpful. The one thing I wish there was more of to this store would be for it to have more space dedicated to board games as I love playing those too, but I have to imagine that the trading cards are what keep the doors open. read more

Really love the employees and the manager. Always have a vibe ripping and getting cards here. They are fair and polite and honest. Hard to find that around... read more

Came down to see this shop about two hours away from where I live, and lemme tell you it was worth it. Owner Mike is an amazing person and made my whole trip worth it. Bought two cases of One piece and Mike was very kind to throw in some freebies when he didn't have to. Overall 5 stars and will definitely be back. Prices are ridiculously fair and not one bad thing to say about this shop. read more

This Simi card store is the best there is. The staff are super friendly, and the environment is super laid back. Their prices are also super competitive. This local spot perfect for finding someone and sitting down to play Union Arena/MTG/One Piece/Pokémon at almost any hour. A+ business. read more

Staff had been the most welcoming making my drive very worth. Playing locals in a lot of games like one piece, pokemon, gundam, and weiss Buy in is very fair with fair prizing with good rooms to play and usually has big pulls for tournaments read more

Best card shop in the 805 and maybe even 818. Excellent staff and always fair prices, even with high-demand products. The store hosts events for every major TCG and they always seem to be packed. They host a very active discord channel with a great community and always-updated events calendar. I've played with people who drive from all over, passing up much closer stores because Fortress is just that much better. read more

I have been coming to this store for over 10 years and they have always provided excellent customer service. They have a wide selection of products and will most likely have what you are looking for. It's a store that keeps expanding and I look forward to where this shop goes in the next 10 years. read more

Hands down my favorite card shop in the 805! The staff are very approachable, knowledgeable, and passionate about their products, making it easy to find sealed boxes/packs, singles, and more. Their prices are very fair, showing they care about the community rather than turning profits at the expense of their customers. They've recently expanded, adding the building next door to allow for more open play and tournament tables. I've attended several events spanning Pokémon, Magic, and Lorcana, all of which were very well organized! In addition to their incredible card selection, they also carry a variety of comic books, making this a perfect spot for collectors and fans alike. Whether you're looking for a place to play, shop for English (and select Japanese) cards, or browse comics, look no further than A Hidden Fortress! (Plus they are pug approved) read more

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Love this place! Been coming here since 2011 and the team has always been so great! The prices are amazing they have literally EVERYTHING to the point where the selection feels endless. Plus the space is so welcoming where we are always welcome to play Shout out to them!!! read more

BEST LGS EVER!!!! The review needs to be at least 85 characters! So I'm gonna type that I been to this shop since I was 13 and its still the best shop I've been to and I been all over Ventura County and Vegas. read more

Came here yesterday to pick up up Pokemon cards and some nice gentlemen helped me with upmost kindness and professionalism, will most likely come Back ...opening cards with nephews are cool but opening by myself seems like it'll be more fun A+++ read more

I cannot say enough nice things about this store. The staff are all amazing and friendly. They are always excited to help you and have such a positive attitude. You can tell they love working in such a great environment. I have visited every card store in the SFV because I work out there and nothing holds up to the prices and selection. Also by far the best magic the gathering selection available anywhere in Ventura County. The prices for singles and sealed product is always at or below market price, which is becoming more and more rare these days. Even the sleeves and deck boxes are affordable with an awesome variety. We are lucky to have such a great business with such a welcoming vibe. I would tell anyone interested in any TCG that A Hidden Fortress is the best local game store in the 805 without question. Thanks to them for all the hard work and amazing service. read more

Best card shop around! Everyone is extremely friendly and knowledgeable! They have a huge selection! Great for tournaments as well!

Store owner and staff are extremely kind people willing to help you out with whatever you need, covering a large range of card games. Singles are very well priced. Also the community around flesh and blood is welcoming and fun to play with. read more

One of my favorite shops around. They host top notch events and have friendly and knowledgeable staff.

Best place great inventory for none sports collectors and great prices. Thank You Hidden Fortress owner and workers your awesome.

Best shop I've been to. Super nice staff and they really care about their regulars. The tournaments they hold also promote a good welcoming vibe. read more

Best card store in Simi Valley. I'm always surprised at how popular some of the events there are, but it's a great crowd, very friendly and knowledgeable staff, and great pricing/sales practices in general. Definitely glad to have them as part of the community! read more

By far the best LGS I have been to. They reward their regulars and do their best to make sure people are treated fairly. Welcoming, well lit, and clean. Employees are knowledgeable and very friendly read more

Wonderful experiences every time I visit. Mike and the rest of the staff clearly know what they're doing and they do it well. Make sure to join the Discord! It's easily one of the biggest edges A Hidden Fortress holds over any other card shop I've been to! read more

Great shop run by great people, never had a bad experience and Mike always keeps prices MSRP or as close to as he can, GOATED shop

I am very disappointed at this store. I have spent over $700, and I would always ask to add me on the list for drops, they told me local members get MSRP if you sign up, so I've been spending hundreds of dollars here and today, I show up for the pin collection. And they told me I was not on the list, very disappointed, very rude employees I will not be coming here anymore. I will not spend any dollars at this store. I'll make sure all my kids and their friends don't come to this store anymore. This is ridiculous read more

Used to Be a Hidden Gem--Now Feels Like a Sell-Out I used to drive 40 minutes out of my way to support A Hidden Fortress back when it was just a small shop. It felt welcoming, the staff appreciated you being there, and the interactions felt genuine. Unfortunately, that vibe has faded, and now the place gives off more of a "sell-out" feeling. At one point, I thought this place couldn't be beat, even when it was just a tiny 12x36 retail space. You felt like they were truly glad you came in, and the deals were unbeatable, which made the drive more than worth it. The pandemic really helped them blow up, especially with the surge in the TCG world, which was great to see! I was genuinely happy for their growth. But as they expanded, that feeling of being "at home" slowly started to disappear. I primarily play and collect Magic: The Gathering (MTG), and after their expansion, I noticed buy rates dropped and prices started to match or even exceed other shops. What used to be a go-to for deals became just another mainstream spot. Now, with prices being higher than competitors, the drive simply isn't worth it anymore. Another issue: inconsistent staff communication. The owner used to be present and hands-on, which made things simple. Now, if you happen to catch him and start working out a deal, he'll eventually refer you to the shop manager, who often has no idea what was discussed and offers you something completely different, and usually worse. When you try to explain, you're met with doubt, as if the owner would never make such a deal. It creates an awkward and frustrating experience. To be honest, it also feels like most of the staff doesn't know what they're doing. Every question I ask is met with, "Let me check," which becomes tiring. There's a lack of product knowledge across the board. Professionalism is another area where things fall short. I get that this is a casual environment, but if you're a manager, showing up in basketball shorts and flip-flops isn't a great look. Presentation matters, especially in a customer-facing business. Now, the good: the new space is nice and spacious, with long tables and large cushioned seating that make playing more comfortable. I give them credit there. That said, the fabric seating attracts fur, so if you have allergies, be aware. A regular lint-rolling by the staff wouldn't hurt. The store itself, though, is visually dull. Just plain white walls and no decor give off a bland, almost sterile or sweatshop-like vibe if you're unfamiliar with what's happening inside. I mentioned this to the owner, and his response was, "You can see it better from outside." But visibility doesn't make up for lack of atmosphere, it should feel lively and inviting. Personally, I don't even enjoy playing inside because of how uninspired it feels. Store hours are also an issue. You'd expect a card shop to stay open later, especially on weekends, but they close early. If you're an MTG player showing up on a Saturday, you get a four-hour window and that's it. I brought this up to the owner, who said they'd stay open longer if the manager was willing to stay. Later, when I asked the manager if he'd mind staying an extra hour, he said he was fine with it, but the owner wouldn't pay him overtime, so they had to close right on the dot. Again, no one seems to be on the same page. In the end, It's not a bad shop. They have a great variety of games and accessories, and the space is comfortable but there are a lot of things that need improvement: Pricing is no longer competitive. Buy rates are disappointing. Staff lacks product knowledge. Presentation is sloppy. The vibe has shifted from community-driven to profit-driven. What used to feel like a hidden gem now feels commercialized and disconnected. I really would like to keep supporting them, but unfortunately, they've lost the qualities that made them special. They have the potential to be a top tier LGS but until then, they're just okay. read more

Awesome staff, great crowd, nice tables, tons of space - first time here today and it was a really lovely experience!

This is a great store with a very knowledgeable and personable staff. They have a very wide selection of both sealed and singles products. They are reasonably priced as well. I came in yesterday to sell some cards and worked with Chase. He did an excellent job making me feel appreciated as a customer. He also went above and beyond to make my two children feel included in the whole process and put a smile on their faces. read more

Service was ok, one of the guys was helpful with one piece but gets defensive if you try to correct him on any card game set he's not familiar with (yugioh). It was so hard to concentrate with everything going on. The selection is limited to one small vanity for one piece and it's usually filled with the most expensive cards, or cards that are higher than market value. The worst thing for me is the SMELLL! This place has such a strong smell mixed with B.O and food. One second you're asking for the cards, and the next, the guy is grabbing it with his frito fingers. It's a shame this place isn't ventilated because more females would be comfortable coming in if it didn't reek. read more

Great place. Their expanded store is awesome with lots of tables to play on and a big selection of all kinds of cards. I come here for magic the gathering cards and highly recommend checking it out read more

Kind customer service. Wide variety. They have MTG, Pokemon TCG, One Piece, some Yugioh.

Been to this shop a few times and everyone is very nice and super helpful! Ordered a Giratina from them and they gave me a call to let me know they sold that card, but they were going to find that card for me and honored it at the price I purchased it at. Very impressed with how friendly they are and will be giving them a lot more business very soon! read more

Tough to be a person new to the store - went for a sealed event and there were no table numbers, people either already knew who they were playing OR you had to shout over 30+ people to find them. Also, would be nice if they had players drop before pairings were made - so that people who want to play aren't cheated out of a round. That being said - the people I did get to play again were kind and respectful & smart opponents. read more

The knowledgeable staff were extremely helpful and prompt in responding to my inquiries. I express my gratitude for their assistance.

A Hidden Fortress is a Card shop in Simi Valley, with a magic the gathering community that is exciting. But thats where it ends. This store took advantage of me years ago, when I was new to the scene of MTG with my fathers collection in hand and a willingness and want to learn the game. Rather than tell me that I had rare reserved list cards, including a Mishra's Workshop and other less valuable but still reserved cards, they said i was getting a great deal and that it would help me pay for drafts for the evening. To whoever purchased my card without informing me, you should be ashamed of taking advantage of younger MTG players. You almost turned me away from the game after people explained to me what had happened about a year later. If you have a collection, are new to MTG, or otherwise looking for an LGS that will RESPECT you? Go elsewhere. This isnt the place for you, they wont hesitate to make a dollar off of your ignorance. Once again, in a time where local game stores ask for support and struggle, my memories of this place are dredged up. Emerald Knights in Burbank, Paper Hero games in Van Nuys, and other stores are all examples of more respectful and welcoming stores. Stay away from this place. read more

I haven't been here in a long time. They removed the majority of the comics to only a small selection. It's mostly a card and board game store. I've known the owner, ED, for many years, and he was always cool to me. He helped buy me the V the series comics, Godzilla magazines, and some other stuff when I had the money. Now this place is the only store in Simi Valley that sells new comics. I rarely buy comics and only go to this store on Free Comic Day. Today, I showed up for free comic's day. I picked up one each as I have done every year, never had a problem, or complaint from ED or his staff. However, today, the guy working there, got confrontational in my face and demanded why am I taking one each. I said, I'm only taking one each, as I have done every year and no one complained about it. He said, are you going to read all of them?! He said there's going to be people coming by to get free comics themselves, and he can't have people like me taking all of them. I said politely that ED and the previous staff never had a problem with me taking once each. He looked irritated and displeased with my comments. He gave me a bag to put the comics in. I decided to look at the comics that I got and put most of them back. I apologized and he still didn't look happy. He gave me a displeased smile and I walked out. I was very disappointed about how he behaved and acted. I didn't get his name, but he didn't act professional. He was confrontational, like he wanted to fight me over some comics. I didn't want to make a big fuss over it as I put many back. I wished ED the owner was there, and hopefully he'll get this message. Furthermore, I'll change the review if I can get some answers and if I'm at fault, I'll admit to it. I didn't think the guy getting into my face over taking one each, was such a big deal. It wasn't a problem before. But today it was. read more

Love this place! Great selection of games and accessories for them. Mike is a friendly and knowledgeable salesperson. They have regular tournaments for all the various games and they have great prices on all the needy stuff you could want! I highly recommend A Hidden Fortress for all your geeky desires read more

I have been playing at this shop for over 25 years! With a recent move into a new, expanded space there is plenty of space to play. The shop staff is excellent and trustworthy - always ready to answer questions and make suggestions. The Magic scene here is top notch. No matter who shows up to play everyone is positive. read more

They sold me 2 boosters that were resealed to do some lowlife stuff like that I'll never shop here again read more

A Hidden Fortress - Cracks at the tops and bottom had obvious glue gun residue - Comic Books Near Me - Simi Valley, California

My son developed an interest in Pokemon cards from school. I'm clueless so we decided to give this place a try. The people working there are so nice and friendly, and immediately asked my son what he's interested in getting. Not only do they have a huge selection, but they have very affordable packs. On top of that, the person working gave us a bunch of freebies to get us started. We were blown away. This review is for all the parents like me that have no idea what you're doing with Pokémon. I highly recommend starting here! read more

great place, great staff, good variety of products. nice and inviting. they put on events for some of my favorite games: magic, flesh and blood, yugioh, etc. as well as games i dont play: one piece, lorcana, star wars, etc. read more