If Sacramento ever needed a new motto (we've gone from "City of the Trees" to "Farm‑to‑Fork"), I'd nominate "Good Enough." With so many State employees, "good enough for government work" fits a little too well. We've gained better boba spots since the pandemic, though still not at the Bay Area level. And from all the Bay Area people that I've met, they like Sac's housing prices, but miss their favorite restaurants. The Bay Area also has better board‑game cafes, but after my visit to Galaxy Game Cafe, I can say this one feels right at home, and that's good enough in the best possible way. (If you don't know, there's been a trend of Bay Area people moving to Sac). My friend suggested we check it out; he'd been before and enjoyed it. My first impression, was the "X" in "Galaxy" cleverly mimicking an X‑wing. Inside, a gallery of Star Wars 3.75" figures greeted us, with display cases thoughtfully placed throughout the store. It's a fun theme, and the shop fully embraces its geeky niche. A quick glance around the room revealed a game-focused layout. I was surprised because when I hear "cafe," I usually picture coffee, pastries, and light lunch options. If you just want a snack, Galaxy Game Cafe has you covered although there's no blue milk offered. My desire for more food variety was quickly forgotten once I looked at their game selection. I've been to game cafes where pieces are missing, boxes are dirty, or things are disorganized; the kind of place where you end up focusing more on your food than the game. Here, it was the opposite. I enjoyed my snacks and the games. In my small sample size (Dice Forge and Kronologic), everything felt like new. Out of curiosity, I checked Heat for expansions, but they seem to stick to base games, and again, everything looked liked like new. After we finished playing, I placed our games on the return shelf and realized they care enough to check. I appreciated the care they put into maintaining a good gaming experience- isn't that good enough? If you are in the area, I highly recommend them! They also list their board game collection on BGG: https://boardgamegeek.com/collection/user/GalaxyGameCafe read more

Galaxy Game Cafe - GGC logo - Tabletop Games Near Me - Citrus Heights, California

At first I was skeptical based on past game store places and that most of the highly advertised events were not my genre and that they all came with entry fees visiting this place changed my mind. I appreciated the diversity of genres from heavy to light and social games as well as strategy games (I don't like when other places have only light or party games!). We stayed the entire time for Twilight Imperium and were treated well. They didn't rush us out at close as other places do. They allow outside food where others don't. Price is actually reasonable considering their library and the people there are plentiful and diverse too. I haven't tried going to open gaming events where you mingle but can consider that in the future. They host their own monthly Twilight Imperium which I might try out in the future when I am free on the weekend! read more

Over 1000 games to play if you want to hang out with friends for a bit - bring in your own snacks or buy some here. We came in to check out their amazing Star Wars figure displays and more importantly buy some new games. The owners made some great recommendations for our upcoming family gatherings. Well priced and a better buy than going to Amazon or a big box store. SUPPORT SMALL FAMILY BUSINESSES! Check them out for your holiday shopping- great unique t shirt selection, kitschy items and stocking stuffer ideas, puzzles and games for ALL ages. read more

See all

Having a trivia night with your friends, or a game night with the family, or just want a place to get away and enjoy a board game with people like yourself? Galaxy Games Cafe (GCC) has just the thing for you! With 1,200+ board and card game options, you're sure to find what you're looking for, or they probably can find it for you. Plus you can play in person with different groups playing different themed games weekly. And or have the option to play solo at GGC, or rent games and take them home to enjoy. Staff were great and really helpful, and can/will learn how to play a game(s) they may not be familiar with. So as they can teach it to you. Along with the wide array of games, feel free to check out their assortment of sweets and drinks off to the right of the entrance as well. read more

See all

It's 9:15 pm. Why is my son still up? He's jazzed about his fun at Galaxy Game Cafe. We went just to hang out for a bit, and ended up staying way longer because it was actually so fun. He traded cards, bought a jumbo Pokémon card, and totally kicked my butt at the Pokémon Trading Card Game, which we were taught in time. (Fortunately, mom returned the favor at Bananagrams ) The place has the funnest vibe -- plenty of open tables, 1,200 games to choose from, and everyone on staff super nice. I was here late week to check this place out and both employees I spoke to remembered me (even though I wore a different costume this time ). Michelle is especially great -- helpful, funny, and patient while my kid debated which item to purchase for nothing shy of 20 minutes. Then, mom style, she encouraged him to determine his cash change. Love it! We'll definitely be back. Next time, I'm bringing dinner and maybe a little more Pokémon strategy. read more

See all

I stopped by here for a little while this afternoon while exploring my new neighborhood, and I was very pleased with what I saw! So, the cafe itself is relatively small, selling some fantasy/scifi merchandise, a decent selection of board games, and all sorts of DND related items. Like I said, it's small, but they've got some gems in there. For great prices too! Now, the best part was definitely the tabletop gaming lounge. It was HUGE! It was maybe 3x the size of the store part of the building. The gaming area had tons of tabletop games to play, as well as displays of some really beautiful Star Wars miniatures. This seems like such a fun place to hang out! I can't wait to come here with friends. The weekend afternoon crowd was a mix of groups of all ages. The service was also wonderful, the employees here are very knowledgable and super helpful on top of being very polite! All in all, I would recommend this lounge for any nerdy friend groups or families looking for a fun, lowkey activity. I hope to come back soon with a group so I can enjoy the large gaming area. read more

Galaxy Game Cafe - Settlers of Catan and expansions. - Tabletop Games Near Me - Citrus Heights, California

See all

I found this place online. My 11 year old has shown interest in D&D and loves games plus he has a huge imagination. We stopped by the next evening to look around. It's a good size store with lots of tables for game play. I chatted with one of the employees and she was super kind and extremely helpful. Another woman, probably the owner, explained that she wanted a place where kids could feel safe and comfortable while able to explore and have fun. We went the next day for the $10 per person unlimited game play. We had a blast and will be back! He already told a friend of his who can't wait to visit read more

Galaxy Game Cafe - My son in his Inosuke mask ready to game - Tabletop Games Near Me - Citrus Heights, California

What a great spot! We had a birthday party here for my husband with a bunch of friends. Reservations were easy, though it seems like you might not need one for smaller groups. The staff and owner were all super nice and ready to help with anything we needed. There are plenty of games, organized by category and then alphabetically. The decor and atmosphere were super fun and laid back. The snacks looked good, but I also really appreciated that you could bring your own food. For our party, they sat up food tables and even offered birthday candles--again, super nice people. Our whole group agreed we all had an excellent time. We are excited to return! read more

This was a different experience I would go back to play the games. I think they should have like little bites to eat would make everything amazing but I will understand that somebody might get food on the game so that might not work either, but it'd be great for like a birthday party. If you're a gamer, you would really like this place. They have a great selection of games all types of games, board games, board games, interactive games, all kinds and it's at a good price too. I don't I will tell y'all event so I don't really know how much it is to come in read more

Galaxy Game Cafe - Tabletop Games Near Me - Citrus Heights, California

Its on like DONKEY KONG! Its a galaxy far far away full of unlimited board games from wall to wall. For just a $10 admission fee, you get access to all the games your heart desires. There looked to be almost 900 games in total. A bonus is that there is a kids section full of toys that your pre-k, tk and above kids will love for hours on end. They have snacks too! From sweet to savory to a bevvy of beverages, you'll have all the treats you need to have a night that you'll remember. This place is great for mixing up them dull days and doing date nites too! Loved it and will def be back! read more

Galaxy Game Cafe - Tabletop Games Near Me - Citrus Heights, California

See all

I love this place . Great owners , fabulous Team .. So much fun ... Star Wars .. D&D .. Pokemon , games galore !! Family friendly also .. If you are looking for a fun time- this is the place .. read more

This is our new favorite place to chill and play games! They have so many events every month, so many different board games you can play, and you can even rent some! The family who owns this place are super helpful and excited to see everyone who comes in. I highly recommend this great to chill or even meet new friends! read more

Great place to learn D&D - the D&D 101 class is great for newbies who want to learn the game. (Me). Very helpful and accommodating staff.

I had an amazing time at Galaxy Game Cafe! This place is a hidden gem for board game lovers and casual players alike. The atmosphere is super welcoming, with a cozy yet vibrant setup that makes you want to stay for hours. (Floating candles in the back?! YESS!!! Star Wars collectables in glass display cases? Amazing! The drawing table!) Melissa (the owner) was incredibly friendly and helpful. She took the time to show us around the cafe, explain how to check-in and check-out games, and how they organized their game selection. She even offered great game recommendations and was such a pleasure to chat with! The game selection is impressive--everything from classic favorites to niche strategy games. Whether you're looking for something lighthearted or a deep, competitive challenge, they've got you covered. Plus, the convenience store style food and drinks were a nice touch! I know I can get peckish playing games on occasion. I also love you can bring in your own food as well! they have menu's from walk-able restaurants incase you want something more than chips/candy/beverage options. Note for parents: they have an amazing little nook for the kiddos! Not just games, but also things like legos, coloring pages, mr. potato heads, etc... It has an abundance of options to keep your little one engaged while you visit. I'll definitely be back and highly recommend Galaxy Game Cafe to anyone looking for a fun, relaxed, and engaging place to hang out. read more

It is friendly and has a large variety of games, great retail section and snacks. Fun place to be and have a cheap date or family time. read more

Friday night is the best! We come and Greg teaches us new games to play! We have become friends with other members of GGC and together we all play these new games! It is a great time for us and our kids. They get to play with other kids both with games and toys. They love coming and so do we. We are so happy we get to come here! read more

My wife and I love this place. They have a selection of hundreds of games to choose from. These range from classic family games to some complex "Euro" games. Tonight, we learned and played "Terraforming Mars ", which we will come back and play again. The space is clean, comfortable and welcoming. The owners seem to always be onsite, and are very friendly and knowledgeable about board games. Ten bucks for a day pass seems a pretty good deal. We are going to get a membership, as we live nearby and having access to all of these games may make more sense for us than buying (and storing) more games of our own. Check them out! read more

We love Galaxy Game Cafe! We have a family membership and we go almost every Friday night. The kids love playing Blood on the Clocktower with the crew, and my husband and I play board games with great people we've met at the game store. My 10-year-old also loves the kids D&D on Wednesdays with Andy. We drive across town 2-3 times a week to enjoy all the games and events at Galaxy Game Cafe. The owners and staff are wonderful. read more

I always wanted to see what this place was about when it finally opened about a year ago, and my son and I had a lot of fun when we were finally able to take a visit. The location is very clean with decor that any nerd at heart will appreciate (especially if you're into Star Wars). The price of admission is also welcomingly low, as you get Unlimited game time for $10 per person, making it an affordable way to have a lot of fun. Outside of board games, they also have jigsaw puzzles that you can put together. My son and I had a blast piecing together a really cool 1983 300 piece marvel puzzle. Service wise, Melissa was also making her rounds with a smile cleaning off all of the tables and asking us how we were doing. Lastly, I was surprised to see that they allow outside food, which is a very nice and convenient touch for those that want to eat and play at the same time. With all that being said, I hope this place thrives and is here for years to come. We will definitely be back. read more

Please do not take this review as a negitive review of the business, it is not! The positive. The owner has a great location and lots of space. Lots of parking and nice chairs. A whole lot of games to play, too!!! Kids play area is a great idea! The rental box of games is a great idea for families! The Star Wars theme is cool and I can see it really being a dedication to Star Wars. I am sure over time it will get better and I honestly want it to! What will bring me back? I hope the owner gets some actual game tables for board gamers. I know thery are expensive, but takes the gaming expereince to another level. Expand thier board game sales selection (sell actual good recent ones and get promos too) unlike most of the board game stores in Sac. Sell copies of games people check out to play. I would love to see an actual cafe area with food and beverages other than Costco snacks. This would make more sense if I am going to spend $10 just to sit down and play games. If you do not have a membership, this would be a great idea. Make the space something that makes me want to get out of my house and go somewhere else to play. Many of the local FLGS will allow people to play in thier store for free as long as you like and with the same snacks, so competing with "free and more games to buy" is going to have to be worth it. Final thoughts. I have hope for this business! The owner was really nice and very proud of their store, rightfully so. I look forward to going back in the future to see have it has grown and updated. As I stated, please do not take this review as a negitive review of the business, it is nice and clean and I truly want this to be the premier place for Board Gamers in Sac, not just TCG, D&D and other scrimage games which dominate lots of the FLGS community gaming and I understand why. Board games are not just for being at home and hope this place can change peoples minds about what it mean to be a Boad Gamer. May the force be with Galaxey Game Cafe. read more

This place is so much fun. Hosted a birthday party! They had space for littles to play. We brought in food - Chinese from the place next door. We had a host describe games for us all to play and we had a blast! Such a great idea! The picture is of the space we used. The place is huge! read more

Galaxy Game Cafe - This is the space we used for our small party. Two of the participants had two kids - 8 & 3. So thankful one or both were fully occupied - Tabletop Games Near Me - Citrus Heights, California

This cafe is a great place for game loving families. It's $10 a person and you can stay as long as you want to play games (we stayed for four hours today and they let you bring in outside food just not drinks, but they sell drinks and snacks there). There are lots of different types of games to choose from and a section with imaginative play toys. They're open Wednesday through Sunday at 11am. They also host different events like family night, moms night, chess nights, magic the gathering and Pokémon etc. Good for all ages, check em out! We will be back (: read more

See all

Loved it! Awesome family atmosphere, we were greeted by the owner. Place has an amazing game selection (although no dominion expansions???), is clean and bright, has some great events and an awesome kids section. We live pretty far away, otherwise would be spending a lot of time here! read more

We visited the game cafe recently. We are a family of board games. There are Unbelievable number of games. I think over a 1000. You can check out a game and play at one of the tables. The owner is really friendly and helpful. She helped my child learn a complicated game. There is also a snack bar. It's a fun place to hang out for a few hours and play lots of games. We loved it and going to go back again. read more

See all

Hosted a D&D session here last Saturday. Melisa and the team were excellent hosts and pushed 3 tables together, making plenty of space for my group of 5. Melisa also pointed out to us that there was supplies that we could borrow (great for my new players) and there were extra pencils and papers for us to use read more

I could not give this place a better review, all of the employees are so so sweet, the games range from dnd lvl to trivia and uno along with so many wonderful fun spots to take photos, 100% recomend read more

See all

We love this place. With 1000 games and a great staff that helps you learn the games we've have so much fun. I've learned DND plus there's Friday night blood on the clock Tower, which is a mystery game that I didn't think I would like, but is really a lot of fun. Our family likes the monthly membership because we can go as much as we want. It would be amazing if they had a café as well, but there are lots of snacks and drinks to choose from. The owner is really nice and taught us how to play Catan cities and nights and we've learned a lot of other cool games like everdale and forest shuffle. Before coming here, I was not really into board games but now I am a total enthusiast. It's a great way to spend family time and take it off screens. If you're curious, I would recommend checking it out and if you're already a game enthusiast this is a must. Also DND meet ups as well. The people who attend here are also really nice, which is part of the attraction and I've learned games from some of the patrons as well. read more

This store is amazing!! They have so many board games that you can play, and for an incredibly reasonable price! They also have a wide selection of board games and D&D stuff that you can purchase! The staff and owner were awesome to talk to and were so helpful! We will definitely be back! read more

So many games to choose from! Had a lot of fun learning a new game with some friends. Played Sorry! With a couple of strangers who were great fun. Snacks and drinks are cheap too. read more

Galaxy Game Cafe - Layout of store and people paying games - Tabletop Games Near Me - Citrus Heights, California

See all

I had my 54th birthday party there tonight and we all laughed and just had a blast playing games. Our host Veronica was just right for our group. She explained the rules and helped us play the games) Very nice too) I chose the party package with a host to pick games and teach them to us all. I would definitely do that again! The family section with toys for littles was PERFECT for our group. My 3 year old nephew had fun with the trucks while we played the card games- you guys NAILED a relaxing, fun family atmosphere. The Star Wars action figures had me enthralled. The littles saw them and were all in the world they created) Very organized and easy set up too. Love this place) Thank you for the work creating this space ) read more

Came here with a friend to pop in really quick to see what the vibes are like. The employees enthusiastically greeted us and explained how the place was set up. As a board game enthusiast, I have been interested in finding a place to just hang out and play games. The staff showed us a great selection of games, how everything was well organized and general house rules/etiquette. Additionally, you can bring food and drinks! Just make sure to clean up after yourself and respect keeping the games clean. The admission is $10 for the whole day and all games are available to be played. Personally, I enjoy being able to demo a game without buying it and this place has a vast amount of selection so it's a great way to test if you want to really commit to buying a board game. The atmosphere is lively as well as everyone seems to be enjoying themselves and friendly! I found myself staying for the whole day and will be coming back. read more

Galaxy Game Cafe - Everdell - Tabletop Games Near Me - Citrus Heights, California

See all

We attended a hosted event for a birthday party here and it was great! Veronica taught us all the games and managed the rules for us. We had so much fun playing games without worrying about knowing all the logistics. We had Chinese food catered in from a place a few doors down and it was perfect. It was inviting place with a good selection of games and our 3 year old played for 3 hours with the big selection of toys they had in the family area. It was so chill and the space was perfect for families to play and enjoy games together. Their pricing is also really reasonable and all the staff was really nice. read more

Amazing selection of games for all ages, interests, and group sizes. The staff is really knowledgeable and will even help you learn a game you haven't played before. The space is really comfortable and there's a separate area for kids with games and toys. You can bring in food and they also have snacks and drinks for sale. I hope this place stays around because I will be going again and again. Check it out! read more

What a great place for Dungeons and Dragons campaigns. They even have weekend options so that you don't need to squeeze in late in the evening during the weekday. My son loves it and can't wait to sign up for another campaign when his current campaign ends. Campaigns are reasonably priced and occur reliably. read more

Galaxy Game Cafe is a perfect spot if you love board games like my family and I do. I went to Galaxy a few days ago and will definitely be back! It is a conveniently-located place to play board games and other small games, like Klask (pictured) and mini-ladder ball. There is a selection of hundreds of games to choose from, and for a modest price you can stay and play as many and as long as you'd like. There are themed weekly events like family and trivia nights, and they have a nice selection of drinks and snacks. The perfect thing about it, in my opinion, is that it allows you the opportunity to try expensive board games before committing to buying them! The facility is clean and welcoming, and it boasts an epic Star Wars memorabilia collection! Honestly, it's worth it just to look at that! Galaxy is a perfect spot to bring the whole family because there is something for everyone, kids and adults alike. The staff were friendly and helpful, and it is obvious they do a great job keeping the games looking nice. We had a great time and will be back with more family! read more

See all

Melissa is so sweet and a wonderful owner!! The game cafe is so cute and a perfect place to come vibe with your family or friends!!

A great new local spot for screen free fun! I popped in the other night to check this place out and the owner (Melisa) kindly let me browse around to check out their enormous selection and cool Star Wars displays. While chatting with another employee, I noticed a number of variations to a game called, "Catan" and inquired about it. Melisa shared that this was a favorite of her family's and told me anecdotally that potential new members of her family are "tested" on their ability to play. The cafe also has a sizable retail area, where they actually sell themed merchandise and a number of games including "Catan Junior", which she recommended as a good starting off point for us with younger kids. Well I always prefer to shop locally when I can, so I bought it on the spot and I'm so happy I did! It's a strategy game recommended for 6+, but my 4.5 year old is keeping up with our help, my 8.5 year old grasped it easily and it's a great level for her, and it even keeps my 12 year old's attention and has him wanting to visit and try the more advanced Catan versions! We can't wait to come and check it out together soon for a family night. Thanks to Melisa and her passionate team for creating this thoughtful community space! read more

Galaxy Game Cafe - Tabletop Games Near Me - Citrus Heights, California

My 13 and 16 year old boys just did a Marvel RPG (Role Playing Game) for three hours. It's summer and they had a blast role playing and laughing without phones or digital screens in front of them. The story-teller, AKA Dungeon Master, was amazing! Galaxy Game Cafe is a fun place to take the whole family for several hours of entertainment! It is also the best value at only $10 for as long as you like! No more digging through that closet for a game, they have a huge selection to choose from. read more

Great fun and a way to disconnect from tech for a while. Have a great range of games and lots of fun items for sale. Family owned and ran, and you can see the love they put into the store. Things seem reasonably priced. Came for trivia night and will be coming back. read more

Absolutely awesome place. Highly worth the trip because not only is there are so many board games but they also host D&D games. I had such a great time. read more