Such a great place to relax and enjoy time with friends, old and new. Tons of games to play, plenty of table space. Staff are very welcoming and helpful. If you're new to board gaming, come on in and they'll help you pick something and learn to play. read more

Went for date night! So many different games to choose from, and the staff were lovely. A warm and inviting place as well

My sister and I were in the area and happened to park right out front. Coincidentally I had just sent her a post about this spot. I thought maybe it was one of those antique video game stores with exclusive toys, to our surprise it's not that type of game store, but we were still excited to look around. There were so many modern unique items around. You can pay $10 for an all day admission to play games, if you're 21+ you can even byob. Pretty cool. They been open for about 8yrs, I'm surprised we didn't bump into them sooner. My sister end up purchasing some magnets. They have some pretty cool stuff here. read more

See all

This is a cool shop! I never noticed this place before. I asked the owner(forgot his name) how long they've been there. He said about 9 years. I said wow! I thought it was a video game store but it's mostly board/card games. Owner said you can play games all day for a small fee. I thought that was cool! They also had cool ol' school magnets. I love magnets! lol, I collect them! read more

Elm City Games - Tabletop Games Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

See all

I was excited to stop by and just browse, but ended up discovering games that I want to add to my list! The employee who greeted us was friendly and answered any questions we had. They have a great selection of games that are well organized and suitable for many different audiences. read more

Elm City Games - Tabletop Games Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Such a fun store! Amazing variety of games! Super nice and knowledgeable staff. I felt like everything we picked was reasonably priced. Lots of stuff we had never heard of before - excited to try our new finds! read more

Elm City Games - Front window - Tabletop Games Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Great stock, great vibe, most importantly great staff. This store has a little bit of everything for the specific to the casual collector

Fun game store. Dope aesthetic. Friendly staff. Great location, close to everything, including the Barcade. Just sayin.

After driving by many times we had to stop and check this place out. Certainly glad we did. Place was great and bright with: 1) $10 per person gaining you access to 1400 games in the game area for as long as you would like 2) BYOB 3) bring food or have it delivered 4) very comfortable and room game area. Of note: proof of covid is vaccine is required for entry. I am not a fantasy game player so I cannot comment on the items for sale but we certainly enjoyed (including my 13 year old son) access to all of the wonderful games- many very unusual and never seen before. This would be a great place to host a centrally located game night with friends. read more

Popped in shortly before closing to peek around. What a great selection of games and nerdery! Staff very friendly to chat with and ask about games. Looks like lots of space to reserve for a party or game night. I'd like to come back with more time (and money!) to enjoy. read more

i took my boyfriend on a date here and it was so fun to be able to play all the games that we don't have!

New Haven is so lucky to have Elm City Games thriving. Amazing selection of games to buy - both traditional and new-fangled. The staff always have great suggestions and any time I have been there, they have been friendly and kind to me. The space is huge and comfortable - so many rooms to sit with friends and try the various games in their game library. The social scene is wonderful. Most nights there are a lot of people there and it is a great alternative to the bar scene for a night out with friends. read more

Finding a board game cafe is tough, so many of my favorites I have met in various cities have unfortunately not survived the pandemic. It is a gift that Elm City is still standing. Their game shop and rooms are spacious and plentiful. When I visited, the game room was closed due to the recent spike, which I can appreciate a business that will make decisions that are safe for the community. I will look forward to playing games again. $10 for a day pass isn't too shabby. read more

Super nice staff, great selection of all types of tabletop games. Haven't played here yet but will definitely try.

This place is so funnnnn. Every game you can think of and a super knowledgeable staff, too! I just wish they had more puzzles...but! My friend and I stopped in on a whim and both left with new games to try at home with friends. I can't wait until life is back to normal, too, because you can come here and rent tables to play games! It's byob and snacks! What an awesome rainy weekend idea!! They did get a little political when I inquired why so little regarding Harry Potter. Sometimes we have to separate business from politics, the same way we separate things we love from the people who create them... read more

Was excited to visit this place after seeing the post from group members on Facebook. The trek was well worth it as the atmosphere and layout of the "store" is different from other shops I've seen. A little tricky to find it is located next to Dollar General also known as The Grove. Wasn't sure where to go but the second floor is the main floor with games and tables in separate rooms that allow gamers to have their own space without bothering others. We went there for Dungeon and Dragons that is hosted Thursdays and Sundays registering through Eventbrite and paying $10 a session though they have a monthly pass for $20. They are in the process of expanding but checking out the games they have a wide range of games for casual to more intricate games. Wish I was closer because this would be the place for me. read more

The staff was very rude to me and my party. We were polite and respectful but got a nasty attitude from the person working there. It was like they couldn't be bothered with our questions. Sorry we're not locals but did actually have money to spend. Oh well... read more

I LOVE this place. I've visited new haven twice and both times, my boyfriend and I end up spending the majority of our time here. It's a relaxing space with endless options for board games. At $5 per person, you can spend the entire day here. As of January, they've moved to a new space that no longer serves food. However, I'd argue that the new space is SO much better. It can get pretty lively here, but it's never overcrowded. Truly this is a great environment to hang out, study, and play board games. The staff Is also so great. They are quick to recommend lots of games and they really know their stuff. The variety of board games here is amazing and it's a great way to try a game out before purchasing. All in all, I wish there were more places like this. I will definitely come back here the next time I visit new haven, truly one of my favorite spots! read more

A great spot to find any game you can think of, and even ones you haven't heard of yet! They feature local creators and the organization of the store makes for an easy experience when shopping. Although the prices are a bit higher than places like Amazon, it is nice to support the local business! There is a lot of care and dedication put into this shop and it shows! read more

I love Elm City Games. Came in here on Small Business Saturday and they had a ton of great deals including some super fun mystery games for very affordable prices. Plus decent discounts on D&D stuff like the Monster Manual. I think my favorite thing about it though is how encouraging they are to you having a good time. I brought a date here once and was looking for something to play. Not only did Greg find a great game to try (Patchwork), he also taught us how to play and even clarified the rules for us as we played. I'd also say, personally, that he helped us out just enough without like hovering around us. Also, whoever is writing reviews that Matt is racist is insane. I've met Matt. I've interviewed Matt. I don't consider him like my best friend or anything, and I may not agree with what he says, but he is far, far from a bigot. The dude treats everyone equally. Except alt-righters, maybe. Which is fine by me. Matt, Trish, and Greg are all lovely and super helpful and terrific people who will teach you how to play, what games to buy, and nerd out on MTG and D&D with you. Overall love everyone here and sad that some trolls on the Internet try to hurt Elm City Games by attacking their owners. But that's how it goes sometimes. Love having them in New Haven and love the community of welcoming, terrific people here. Hope they stay for years to come. read more

Four months ago I visited this shop. I would never have if I wasn't under a ton of stress from the hospitalization of a family member, My wife and I decided to find a game shop which would help me unwind and refocus myself a bit. Had a question which I tried to ask a member of staff who seemed to busy on his phone to care. If you see a customer just standing there waiting odds are he or she has a question and your phone shouldn't be in your hands anyway when you are working in the first place. His response to me was well uninformed and I called him out on it. I'm well versed in most games. I tried to speak to a manager but that was a no go. Do you really expect to ignore, lie and then disrespect someone. Well not a problem. Since you can't get me a manager I will just take my patronage elsewhere. Why did I post this now today and not then. I was taken back to this store by my brother in law to grab a few essentials for a game night which was a celebrated past time in my family's house. Needless to say things don't seem to change much at this store. My suggestion put down the phones. You want to know the funniest thing as well I find after a search that the owner of this store has assaulted people and lied about it an is now getting sued for it. I chuckle at the notion of neckbeards punching neckbeards. How is this place in business, I mean the behavior by the employees while not super bad is distasteful this place does needs work. read more

Get more for your money at any other game store. Woke up, went to Elm City Games, disappointed with the prices. Go anywhere else in my opinion as someone new to New Haven. Broke isn't a reason to have unreasonable prices. read more

I attended Elm City Games for the Dominaria MTG prerelease, and it was a horrendous event! I'm a longtime player, but prereleases are casually minded events, and they did a great job of making it horrible for new players. Much of that comes down to the preopened release packs, but I've been to enough gamestores to know that the folks who run the game store tend to have an outsize influence on the culture of the players who attend it, so the owners definitely deserve the credit. The event was poorly run, the space itself is great, so 1 stars all around. I've been to a few FNMs as well, and my only note is that it's not a super "spikey" store , so if your goal is top loaded prize support, highly competitive atmosphere, and etc, it might not be the best fit (though they'll still have a good time robbing you). But for a more normal MTG event, with a mix of experienced and newer players, this store is sad. Very upset. read more

Kind of a weird space, but I'm just glad a spot for game playing exists. Not too hard to find parking a block away, and elm City games is in the building with the stone facade and then up a flight of stairs. Feels like sort of a co-working space but the staff is friendly and nice and you can buy games or pay 10 bucks for the day to play any games in their library (see pic). It's also BYOB, if you're so inclined! read more

Elm City Games - Tabletop Games Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Elm City Games is the coolest game store ever. Trisha, Matt and Greg are awesome. The game selection is massive. The tables and space are amazing. Definitely check it out if you haven't been yet. read more

See all

I had THE WORST experience ever the other day at Elm City Games. I went in with my cousin and we were hoping to find some vintage Magic cards. The very moment we walk in a man with short hair, a short beard, and tattoos all over his arms walks up to us and asks "can I help you?" We said we wanted to check-out their selection of vintage magic cards, and he glared at us and says, AND I SAY THIS VERBATIM, "we don't see too many of your people in here, nice." And walks away. Wow, really? Is that how this store talks to customers of color? If you're a black nerd, I recommend you stay clear of this place. No need to give business to bigots. read more

Best tabletop game store in the state, hands down. Owners aren't afraid to take a stand for what's right.

I am an old guy who walks with a cane. I have long white hair and beard. I wear loud Hawaiian shirts. Remarkably, I always feel welcomed there. Their game selection for loan or sale is excellent. read more

I love Elm City Games! The store has tons of games and the staff is always friendly and very knowledgeable. During COVID they even offered free, Zoom based workshops on things on topic like hot to run D&D sessions. They offer membership, which entitles you to joining their public games, discounts, and access to their lending library, including comic books. The store is clean and well organized. It's basically everything you'd want from a locally owned place like this! read more

This is a super awesome game board cafe in downtown New Haven. It's a coffee shop by day, game board party extravaganza by afternoon/night. You can buy a one day pass or pay by the month for unlimited gaming. They have a gigantic selection of board and card games, and if you're worried about not having enough players, they have convenient "looking for players" signs that encourage patrons to mingle and make new friends. They have three separate rooms with tables for game playing. I have never had a problem finding a place to sit and play. They have themed parties during the week, my personal favorites are the Pokemon Go parties (complete with costume contests!). They have a varied selection of drinks and pastries. I recommend the whoopie pie. This place is such a new and great addition to downtown. It has a super positive and friendly vibe. Highly recommended. read more

Elm City Games - Tabletop Games Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

See all

Not into board gaming yet? Well, you should be. I'm not talking about Monopoly with some crazy, inane house-rules and games that never end. No, not "Sorry" either or even "Scrabble". How about something like "Pandemic", "Codenames" or even "Avalon:The Resistance"? If you're not sure how insanely fun these games can be, maybe you should check out some popular videos on Youtube such as Geek and Sundry's "Tabletop" series. Then, when you've finally decided you really want to play some games you can stop on in on a Wednesday night for "Friendsday Wednesday". I came in on a Wednesday night and for a day when school isn't in session, I was surprised that I was able to get a game of "Zombicide" going. The seating areas are excellent, there's a couple of couches if you want to get a 2-4 player game going, or a couple of larger tables that could probably accomodate up to 8-10 players. There's also this super cute, little room hidden away with tiny couches if you want to get away from the crowd. Game selection is excellent, they've got everything from the more popular gateway games like Catan, "Carcassonne", "Pandemic", and "Ticket to Ride" all the way up to games that haven't even been released such as "Scythe". I know board games, believe me, everyone tells me I'm the best at board games, but this is one yuggeeee board game library. For now the place is BYOB, and if you're trying to stay sober you can just grab something from the coffee shop that is attached. Cover charge is $5, but its more than reasonable given that some of these games costs hundreds or aren't even released to the public. Or, you can just pick up a monthly pass for $20. If you come every Wednesday that's money recovered right there, or you can do every Wednesday and Saturday and come out well ahead. If you're worried about coming alone, don't be. You can easily find someone to play with by putting out the well-thought-out signs that say "Looking for players". There's not much else to say besides the fact that if you haven't been here, you probably should go. read more

Elm City Games - Tabletop Games Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

This little game shop is so clean and organized. I was very pleased. They have a great variety of board games.The best part is that the owner here is knowledgeable about various board games. I'll be back (: read more

I attended Elm City Games for the Dominaria MTG prerelease, and it was a lovely event! I'm a longtime player, but prereleases are casually minded events, and they did a great job of making it welcoming for new players. Much of that comes down to the community of players themselves, but I've been to enough gamestores to know that the folks who run the game store tend to have an outsize influence on the culture of the players who attend it, so the owners definitely deserve the credit. The event was well run, the space itself is great, so 5 stars all around. I've been to a few FNMs as well, and my only note is that it's not a super "spikey" store , so if your goal is top loaded prize support, highly competitive atmosphere, and etc, it might not be the best fit (though they'll still have a good time). But for a more normal MTG event, with a mix of experienced and newer players, this store is great. Very glad to have them in New Haven! read more

Haven't had a chance to play at this store since I discovered it during covid, but in terms of prices and service, no place is better! I had an issue with a warhammer kit and trish has gone out of her way to fix it for me. I'm very grateful and hope everyone will support our local game stores! read more

So, I was recently recommending this great place to some friends who are visiting and they told me about the overall 3 star review. Didn't seem right, so I came to drop my 2cents. I moved here blind, knowing no one and my first friends were made at this game shop. There are people of all sorts, from older folks, young kids & everyone in between that I've seen at the shop. It's a cool (and yes, weird) spot. I hang out here with my friends sometimes to play games and try out board games that I'm interested in but are too expensive to purchase without playing first. I also show up for the weekly D&D that they run, sometimes. It's BYOB and you can bring food if you want. So rolling in on a weekend with some drinks and a pizza to play some games with friends is a great way to spend a day off work. Finally- all those reviews that mention opened magic packs? Pretty interesting right? So many reviews with nearly the **exact same complaint**. Here's the funny part- They don't sell magic card singles, only packs, so it's an odd claim to make. Furthermore I've spent a decent chunk of change here buying boosters and have had 0 issues like those that have been described.... almost as if some online troll army has it out for the store....¯\_(ツ)_/¯ read more

My friend and I tried going in for the first time. We walked in and the employee stopped us saying there was a mask mandate. This was totally fine- we all had masks, are vaccinated and pro- mask. As I was getting the mask that was tied on to my purse off of my purse to put on, as he approached us again saying, "the pandemic has been going on long enough you had enough time to put your mask on by now". I responded that I was untying my mask but had trouble because of my long nails and he fired back with attitude saying "yah okay" even though he could see the mask in my hand, implying we should leave the store. I am totally respectful of the mandate. I am pro vax and pro mask, but to not have a mask mandate sign on the door and not even allow someone the time to put their mask on was a bit intense. His attitude was not acceptable read more

I started going there for their Thursday Night take on D&D Adventure League back in August 2018, I am so glad my friends found this place and got me to go. It's such an amazing shop and the employees and owners are wonderful. As a female gamer of over twenty years, I've had my negative experiences with creepy people so I was a bit cautious when I started, but every person I've met there is wonderful. Not only did I find a game shop that I love but the people who are attracted there are some of the most amazing folks I've met. I couldn't say enough positive things about Elm City. Wonderful store, beautiful, large selection, helpful and friendly employees, and the customer base is the greatest. It takes a great store to attract such a great "Elm City Family". read more

I stopped by this place heading to NYC and boy was it cool. The game library was legit. While I was there they were preparing for a mtg pre-release event and a day of D&D. There is also a little store to buy some great titles. I saw Ice Cool there which I haven't seen in many other game stores. They don't have food but allow you to carry-in for a small fee. read more

Elm City Games - Tabletop Games Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

See all

This store Reseals their MTG packs, taking out the valuable cards to resell as singles and selling the trash cards in resealed packs. Horrible business practice as well as ILLEGAL! read more

ECG is hands down the best game store I've had the pleasure of hanging out in. It's the antithesis of the unwelcoming, dank comic book stores I spent a lot of my youth in. It's filled with friendly, knowledgeable people more than willing to help you learn games and welcome you into the community. If you've ever wanted to learn more about gaming this is the place to do it. If you're looking for a laid back place to hang out and play games, this is it it. read more