Me: How much is this? Employee 1: I dunno, 7.99? 6.99 or something. *leave* Me: I'll take *other item*, oh and how much for this? Employee 2: 4 or 5 bucks. Me: Can you check? He fiddled with the computer for a while, couldn't find the information Employee 2: Hey Employee 1, how much are those Employee 1: Punch in code #### Employee 2: Ah OK, they are 5.99 Seriously? It should not be this difficult to get a price, which was a pack of 50 card sleeves. I've also had problems calling them for tournament information, the person answering wouldn't know anything and would tell me to call later. Another time I called and asked if they had a certain item still in stock, one I had seen there a few days prior but decided not to buy because it was a little overpriced (much like everything in the store) and was told they didn't. I went back there anyway since I live close. They still had it, in fact one was still exactly where I had left it out of place. It's like they don't want business. The employees are frequently splayed out on the Magic glass with some pet project of theirs. read more

*The sun sets over a distant mountain coated in dry grass and shrubs. Upon the wind, the sound of speeding cars and sparkling laughter comes sweeping by. Our intrepid hero steps out from his dust-covered 1993 Camry, and strides confidently towards a set of clear-glass doors...* "Game Empire? Yeah, I've been there more often that I can count, and that is completely unrelated to the fact that I failed every college-mathematics course I've ever taken. You will never find a more worthwhile hive of games and camaraderie. You one of those Warhammer-wielding lads, with their intricate pieces of masonry and their mock-battles? You'll fit right in, then, but I've personally never had a taste for that unique combination of bloodlust and calculations. Or are you one of those Boarderlanders, from the regions of Catan, Arkham, Agricola, and the like? We get alot of your kind around here, with their "Game-Knights" and "Fantasy-Flights." Unless you're with those Planewalker fellows, who just seem to be a bunch of geographers, constantly talking about mountains, forests, swamps, islands and plains. I thought you all were sorcerers, not cartographers! Some of you even seem to be in the love-trade, what with your constant talk about buying and selling singles all the darn time... Tabletoppers? I don't talk to them. With their Are-Pee-Jees and dice-bags clicking all the darn time. Who spends their free time in dungeons, anyway. And they always seem to be trying to Find the right Path. You'd think after a dozen goes at it, you'd get it right! They all get way too immersed in their role-playing, anyway. I would never role-play as anyone, ever. " (Do you participate in nocturnal activities such as Warhammer, Magic: The Gathering, Board Games, and DnD? Or perhaps one of the many other Nerd-like activities of which my knowledge is startlingly minute? Then Game Empire is here, willing to subject you to it's blissful monarchy.) ((And um...the prices are average for most things and slightly above-so for Board Games, from my experience. Also the store associates should spend slightly less time talking when there's customers walking in through the door. It can be a bit uncomfortable to ask for help, especially if they're initially brushed off. Most of the time it's A-okay, though!)) "Alright, meet up again same time next week for another session?" read more

If you're looking for 4, 10, or 20 sided dice, lesser known board games, miniature table top game models, and puzzles, this is the place for you. On most nights, half of this establishment is crowded with model gaming players who can be seen measuring distances with tape measures and rolling dice. Hobbyists of varying levels of geekiness can be found here perusing or playing different nerdy fantasy or sci-fi games. If you have girlfriends who wonder where they can meet guys... point them to this store. It's like a dude ranch. With dice. You certainly wont find our hero rolling for critical hits here. PROS: - Fairly spacious game room. - They have a good assortment of products. - This is probably THE place to go in San Diego for table top games. CONS: - Service is not very friendly, and seems rather lackluster in knowledge of collectible card games. - Prices are higher relative to other game shops. read more

Game stores like this are a dying breed so it's nice to see something old school still hanging around. They have a very large gaming area in the back with several large tables. That in and of itself makes it a pretty special place. The prices here are pretty much MSRP. It's not the place to look for a deal but it's a nice place to browse around. The staff generally seem friendly. I spent some time talking to one of them about WH40K and he seemed knowledgeable. He was also painting up an Ork mech the entire time: can't decide if that is a good thing or a bad thing. :) The have regular gaming leagues here for most popular games and a lot of customers in on Saturdays playing the game. For such a niche hobby it's nice to see a business that realizes they need to help promote a community around it. read more

Nerd-vana!!! Came for Wizkids Heroclix open on October 4, 2014. Everything you would need for board/table top games! Huge place! Very well organized! read more

Game Empire is the premiere store for indulging one's non-video gaming needs in San Diego. Sure the selling prices can be a little steep, as opposed to some online retailers such as coolstuffinc.com or amazon.com, but every once in awhile I'll make a purchase here to support our local gaming scene. They have a nice selection of tabletop games, roleplaying material, miniatures, collectible card games, etc. I have had nothing but good experiences with the employees and they always answered my questions in a friendly and knowledgeable manner They have a large room connected to the sales floor that they use to host various types of tabletop games and even have a decent collection of already opened games to test out before buying. My only issue with these free to play games is that some of them are missing pieces, but that just comes with constant use. I can't speak on the crowd during those game nights because I haven't sat in on one yet, but I do remember slight BO seeping into the storefront. This is kind of an odd thing to mention, but at least the BO wasn't as bad as some similar establishments I've been to. Overall I like the place. I do enjoy the experience of physically holding the product in my hands before deciding on a purchase and you simply can't get that from an online shopping site. My biggest gripe is that the prices are definitely on the higher end but that comes with having a storefront. read more

Love this place. We walked in and they had all the table top games we've been wanting at reasonable prices (Arkham Horror, Mansions of Madness, some of the expansions) They certainly weren't as overpriced as some reviewers make it seem-- some even matched their online prices. The worker was also genuinely kind and informed me and my hubby, who've recently gotten into board games, about their weekly tabletop events. We're pretty excited about coming back and purchasing more :-) great service. September 12, 2016-- We dropped by to look at their paint selection for miniature figure painting! Ever since playing MoM, we've become really interested in the hobby of painting miniatures for our board games. Luckily enough, the woman working the cashier was very knowledgeable! She helped me pick out basic brushes and paints and taught me a few tricks. She was friendly and didn't mind that my toddler was walking around the store grabbing whatever games he could get his little hands on while hubby chased him around and I looked at paints. read more

I've lived nearby for over two years now and never knew this place existed until recently when I started getting into tabletop games. So conveniently located! They have a huge selection with plenty of each game in stock. Unfortunately, everything was sold at full price. For example, Forbidden Desert was about $30, and a quick search on Amazon showed that they were selling it for $18. I don't mind paying a little extra to support a local game store, but that's too much. They do have a used game/clearance area, but if they're hosting a game that night, then forget about going to that section. I felt like I was getting in people's way as they were trying to play their game. I will say that the enthusiasm in the store is astounding. As people played games, it was fun to hear everyone be excited and into the games. Lots of laughing, chatting, and playing. I could hear people explaining and teaching too, so it's great for those who want to learn new games. Seems like a welcoming community. Overall, I think I'll come here for smaller items, like accessories or cheaper card games where if it's overpriced, it wouldn't be overpriced by a lot. For example, Fluxx was $16 at the store and $12 on Amazon. The location is hard to beat for me, so I'd pay extra for the convenience. read more

Biggest collection of nerds, geeks, socially awkward losers you'll find in SD aside from Comic Con. As far as game stores in SD goes this is probably one of the better ones. Having said that it's still not a great place to go in my opinion. In terms of selection of games they have a big inventory. I play warhammer so I'm not exactly sure what else they have there but I've seen board games, role playing games, card games, hobby supplies, and more. Pretty much whatever you want they have. Their prices are pretty standard nothing on sale or cheap here so expect to pay full price. They have a huge gaming area for war games such as warhammer or warmachine etc. This is a nice option if you're looking for a place to play and people to play with. However, I feel that if you're new to gaming it's hard going into a place like this because it's full of regulars and not everyone is very welcoming. The staff is knowledgeable on their games but I wouldn't say they're very friendly or helpful. They won't even acknowledge you when you walk in. Unless you ask them a question they won't talk to you. Parking in this area can be a pain on the weekends for some reason. All in all I say it's an OK place to go but I wouldn't say it ranks high up on my favorite places to go because of the lack luster service and clickish community. read more

This review is mainly for their Friday Night Magic. The good: 1) Friday nights usually consist of a friendly player base of around 25-35 people. 2) Reasonable selection of goods in the front. They usually have plenty of packs, sleeves, and dice... whatever you might need to get your nerd on. 3) Two entrances and plenty of parking everywhere, huge parking spaces and it's well lit, even late at night. The really good: 1) They are lucky enough to be positioned near a bar (Players Bar and Grill) which allows players who finish matches early to go to the bar and drink. This reason alone makes it my FNM go-to location. What's even more awesome is that they hold release events in the bar... so awesome. The bad: 1) They don't have an awesome selection of singles like San Diego Games and Comics does and the prices here are bit higher than normal. I suppose they can do that though because they really don't have much competition in the area. 2) It's awkward that they close the registers before you get your store-credit prizes for FNM. If you're in town for just a weekend and looking to play FNM somewhere, this is not going to be the place to go because you won't be able to use the store credit that you win in the same day. All in all I'm a fan of this place. I like the community here for FNM and the workers there are sociable too. Aside from magic they have a huge collection of games and I was able to come here to pick up Settlers of Catan for my cousins birthday on very short notice! read more

The staff was very helpful and answered any questions I had about the products I was purchasing. I also had a few questions about the D&D on Thursday evenings they had all the answers. Great product on the shelves great environment nice people read more

LoL Game Empire Sign on to run MTG RPTQ Only have space for half the qualified players. Only let people know of limited space at the last minute. Don't rent a larger space. Enjoy the fail train, folks! read more

I don't play role games or character-based non-video games, so I got very little out of my visit. I really just wanted to check out their regular board games. The stock was okay, but not great. The specialty here is role-playing games. There were many books, materials and tables to play tournaments on. I shant be returning. read more

I really enjoy coming here and I come here frequently. They have a wide selection of popular and indie boardgames, including those seen on Geek and Sundry's TableTop. I would not outright buy games here unless I check Amazon first because that will save you a ton of money, $20 sometimes. For example, Munchkin is $25 here, $17 online. I love how they divide the place up with the check out counter in the middle so those shopping can shop and those playing can play. I haven't signed up for any of the tournaments but I've been meaning to. Seems like a relaxed place to play. MTG tokens are $0.10, commons (or uncommons) are $.25 I believe. But no sale here when it comes to MTG fat packs and boxes. Overall the place is not cheap, I wouldn't buy anything if you're trying to save money, but it's a fun place to venture to. read more

Fun place to play games and meet new friends. Game night is Tuesday and Friday. Anyone is welcome and everyone is nice.

I've been coming to Game Empire 1-2 times a week for the past three years, and I will always be loyal to this store. Come for the game selection, stay because of the atmosphere and the community. There are tons of board games and puzzles available here; if you're just looking to pick up something for a party or a gift, this is where you want to be. There's also a decent selection for any tabletop games that are played in their store, and you can always place a special order with an employee if they don't have something in stock (no additional charge). They've got basic miniature sculpting and building supplies, and a full selection of GW, Reaper, and Vallejo paints. There's also mini storage, RPG and tabletop books, and a bunch of dice and accessories sold there. If you're planning on coming in to use some table space, make sure to check their schedule ahead of time. Wednesday and Friday nights, and Sunday mornings are particularly crowded, but you can always call ahead to make sure there aren't any special events going on (such as Warhammer Apocalypse, tournaments, or MTG release events). BUT you can always reserve some table space for yourself or your group ahead of time. If you know you'll be needing a table during a particular time window, just book it and they will gladly kick people off to honor your reservation. Game Empire is a really easy place to make friends and learn new games. Feel free to cruise around the tables and ask a few questions. Most of the people who frequent the store are very helpful, and will gladly talk about their games. The employees are also willing to have a chat and give a little extra help or advice whenever there's downtime (but don't expect to have a very long talk if there are other people waiting to be helped). The camaraderie is particularly great among people who play the same tabletop or card game. If you're interested in getting into a new hobby, come in when the game is scheduled and there will always be someone who's willing to run a demo game for you. read more

An amazing selection of games and puzzles. As a puzzler, I was so happy to see the wonderful selection of brands and piece counts. As a gamer, I was thrilled to see new games I didn't have (that I HAD to take home) and awesome help from the owner who was working the cash register. I would definitely return here if my journeys bring me back to San Diego. Top notch! read more

So game stores like these are a dying breed. One for the fact that they usually attract a healthy crowd of geek and slight deviants, and also because they sell(must?) all their wares are pretty much MSRP, which in the world of online shopping, makes the only time I purchase from establishments like this, impulse or poorly planned purchases. That being said... this place was well lit, decently stocked and the people seemed friendly. I'm not sure what the optimal way to create space for gamers to congregate and play is, but I'm always a bit wary of what looks like a fenced off or pen area for the deviants to spend time. Of course... not including myself in said group, I find them a bit odd, but appreciate their enthusiasm for their trade. Anyway... go shop at a place like this... board games are much better for interacting, learning new ways of thinking, problem solving etc than playing PS3 or even Wii at home.... shrug.. So yes... their prices are MSRP... but the staff also seemed knowledgeable, and sometimes being able to talk to someone about a game is better than just reading reviews on boardgamegeek.com read more

Perhaps my most frequently visited game store in San Diego, Game Empire has a considerable number of pros in its favor. Its stock of role-playing games is reasonable, with an emphasis on the more popular games like World of Darkness, Dungeons & Dragons and GURPS. While its stock of board & card games is not the largest, it is still diverse. Also, it has a lot of wargaming supplies, from paints to miniatures. Other perks are a wide range of poker supplies, traditional card game paraphernalia, chess and brain teasers. Over all, it is a well rounded game store. What really makes the store work for me is the large open space in back. Yeah, occasionally it is packed with wargamers, but often you can find a table to bust out a game on, either a demo copy, one you brought or one you bought. Also hidden in this back area are used games. A good place to check out when you're looking for an obscure book. What don't I like about this place? I would like to see more diverse stock in role-playing games here (though I understand the cost of keeping such stock as well). Also the sales people are not very outgoing, often sitting behind the counter painting or talking to friends. However, when approached, they are informative and helpful. Also, you have the advantage of Mysterious Galaxies, a science fiction, fantasy & mystery bookstore, only a few store fronts down when you visit this place. read more

Unlike many of the other reviewers, I don't think I'm a serious game hobbyist. For me card games don't get much past poker or blackjack at the casino or Uno with my kids. However, I wound up at Game Empire because I was looking for Trivial Pursuit to play over the holidays with some friends and family. I found the staff very receptive, helpful and knowledgeable about a lot of different games. Unfortunately, they did not have the game I was looking for, except for an obscure genre version that wouldn't have worked well for the party we were expecting. The person helping me told me that they just weren't able to keep those kinds of games in stock - kind of the "it doesn't make sense for our business" argument. Anyway I was directed to another game, which I'd heard good things about too. So I paid the 39.95 plus tax, bought the game and went home. When I got home with the game, my wife told me she'd seen the game for $20 and that I overpaid. I figured maybe it was a special edition so I got online and checked. I couldn't find any version of that game anywhere with a price that was anywhere close to what I had paid. They were seriously charging almost twice what everyone else was. So I returned the game to Game Empire. They took it back and credited it back to my card promptly with no issues. I don't know if the mark up is like that on everything they sell, but if I end up there again, I'm going to be much more aware of what I should expect to pay. read more

Great store for Moms of the nerdy and semi-nerdy and their nerdlings My kids and their friends are really into MTG & D&D, plus we have family and neighborhood board game nights. I've always found the people who work at this store to be very helpful. I have to admit, that I'm really ignorant of Magic the Gathering (and my eyes glaze over after my kids go on and on into detail about it.) However, the staff at this store has steered me in the right way in buying decisions for the kids and their friends. They've also helped me with board game decisions for gifts for other families and my very nerdy younger, gaming brother and his wife. The staff, even those that really don't play MTG, have also been very nice to my kids and their friends when they go there to look around. Haven't been to Friday night - the MTG nights yet, but plan on taking the kids and their friends soon. Yes, the prices are higher than Amazon. But, I like supporting a local store - except when the prices at Game Empire are really out of whack. I also like checking out the cool mini-figs that are on display in the store. Even though I'm not a "Gamer", I appreciate the creativity, the craft and the imagination of the gaming community. read more

Very mixed feelings about Game Empire. The store itself is great, with a huge selection of table top game manuals, pieces, board games, dice, knickknacks etc. It's one of the most well stocked game shops I've seen. That said the customer service is severely lacking. Whenever I walk in there is a feeling of unease and judgement, odd considering the clientele are mostly overweight male gamers. The cashiers are just a bit short of being outright aggressive. It seems to me that they're your basic snappy gamer guys and they don't like talking to people, all they really want to do is talk with their friends/regulars and ignore their customers. It's worth mentioning that a full half of their store is a series of large tables for gaming groups to meet, but I honestly don't see why people would come here to play instead of just meeting up at someone house... In the end, if you're looking for a specific gaming manual like a 3.5 edition book then this is your best bet, just don't expect a warm welcome from the attendants when you arrive. read more

A rather well-stocked shop of most things gaming, albeit with rather high prices. This store has a great selection of board games, a decent stock of Magic cards (but not really singles other than rares on display, unless that has changed), Warhammer stuff, not sure about D&D books or figurines. There is a big tabletop area and there are always people playing here - I suspect they have very regular events, which is nice - there are not too many gaming stores in this area. Staff is generally helpful and friendly. 4 stars for the actual shop and its stuff, -1 for higher prices. It is California, but still. read more

This store doesn't know how to run events. Don't ever go here for pptqs for Magic the Gathering. They capped the RPTQ LAST MINUTE. And are to lazy to rent out a bigger place for the event which THEY signed up for. If people ask about the store I would tell them to run away. read more

Found the store again after thinking they went out of business. They have a great selection of board games, RPG game books and supplies, miniatures. Lots of people playing games last time I was there. I think the place is pretty popular. Would have been 5 stars but the help was spotty. read more

After visiting this place several times in the past year I had to edit my review. When the place is busy the place just constantly smells awful. So bad that my wife doesn't want to go there anymore. On several occasions, I had to seek out staff to actually help me and oftentimes the patrons know more about their stock than the employees did. This of course isn't a surprise for a place like this. My old review is below, but honestly, guys - the place reeks and customer service here is terrible. -------- In terms of a local card / hobby / gaming shop, this place takes the cake in terms of atmosphere and selection. It constantly smells poorly in there (seriously guys, really?) Individual customer service is really lacking - they don't care to go the extra mile for anyone that I've seen Cost is of course massively higher than online but, hey - that's the cost of a storefront. pros: good selection great displays location location location! read more

They seem to run lots of events here that draw solid crowds. I came for a board game night and played some good games.

I play board games as well as dabbling in miniatures, so I find Game Empire ideally suited to my needs. The staff, though admittedly prone to gabbing with friends, is nevertheless friendly and knowledgeable when approached. My experiences at the store have been consistently satisfying. The one game night I went to revealed another feature I didn't see mentioned in many reviews, namely a loyal and passionate base of customers who are an additional resource to the hobbyist. It's a huge store, which tries maybe to do too many things, but it does so many well so well that I find much of the carping to lack perspective and realism, especially since no other venue in the county offers all of Game Empires features in one place. read more

We went in on a very busy day the weekend before Christmas. The store was packed with folks gaming as well as customers shopping. I had friends in town and we were looking for something to pick up and play. We landed on one of the D&D board games, basically a dungeon crawl in a box. Before we were half way to the register an employee told us about a mint condition used version for half the price. SOLD! We got home took an inventory and found all the pieces as described, mint in the box. Made me a customer for life. Reading the other reviews, the customer service appears to be hit and miss. I can only say that my experience was excellent on an incredibly chaotic day. Very glad I walked into that store. I will be going back. read more

Nice selection, but overpriced Magic the Gathering cards. FYI - they don't offer a box discount, like most shops I've visited. Still, the staff is knowledgeable and it looks like they host some fun events. I'll probably give them another try in their new location. read more

They got the stuff you probably want if you are looking for board game or TCG stuff but like I don't know much past that.

great place great stuff & good service all around awesome store. Two thumbs up highly recommend if your close.

So, since getting back into playing MTG I have been frequenting several of the card shops around my area (I live in Kearney). I have been back to Game Empire several times, and have not had a bad experience again like the first time I was there. I am generally greeted as I come in the door (depending if there is someone at the register or not), and I am usually helped rather quickly when I approach the display case (even with something as simple as "Do you need help finding anything?" - which goes a long way in my book, and is what will usually keep me in a store). I also decided to partake in a recent Friday Night Magic (FNM) tourny, and the turnout was pretty good (I think something like 20 to 30 people). I've made Game Empire one of my first stops when I go hunting for cards, and they seem to be striving to improve their quality of customer service. Keep up the great work GE! read more

I am actually a fan! I've come here a few times now, and I am always intrigued. I could probably spend more time looking around here than the oldest game they have for sale. They might be a little pricey, but I can deal with the price because of the friendly staff and nice selection. I haven't attempted any of their gaming nights, but any of the Fridays I do go in, there is a nice crowd. The atmosphere is very nice with a hint of old bookstore/antique shop. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is looking for a nice hobby shop with an eclectic selection. The only negative, which is not their fault, is the parking. After 4pm, it gets pretty busy due being around so many businesses. Let's be real though, us nerds can afford to park a little further from the store to get our exercise on! read more

I'm not very experienced when it comes to games, but the staff is so friendly and helpful at Game Empire, my lack of experience did not affect my good time. When I visited the store, an extremely good looking member of the staff was able to help suggest a game that would be my speed, and that I would like. I loved, and still love the game! The whole atmosphere of Game Empire seems very friendly, relaxed, and clean. I love the tables set up so that others can play and compete, and I can test out a game. There is a wide selection of games to suit anyone of any age, and any personality. I do wish that Game Empire hosted one night a week in honor of anything involving pokemon......But everything else is wonderful at the store. There's a huge selection of games, the store is clean and smells nice, and the staff is friendly and sexy. read more

One of the worst customer experiences ever. "Empire" is apt, in that they have a large selection of games, but because of this, they feel they don't have to provide any kind of customer support whatsoever. The staff are some of the rudest, laziest, most unhelpful brats ever encountered in retail. Prices on just about everything are routinely 5-15% percent above MSRP, for which they are completely unapologetic. They have a decent play space, but are horrible at managing it, and regularly allow the scheduling of conflicting events, and then kick out which ever group shows up with less players, again, without remorse. I used to only give them money when I could not find products anywhere else in person, but I have since grown to loathe them so much that I will pay extra online for shipping just so I don't give them my business. Lame Empire is a the worst kind of gaming business, preying on those who don't know any better, and/or have no place else to go. I highly recommend avoiding this store and going online, or going to another local game store. ETA: After their grand re-opening, Villainous Lair has an equally large selection with more reasonable prices and excellent service, as well as a large, comfortable player space. Now that there is an alternative that is superior in every way, there is no reason at all to give money to Lame Empire. read more

Store itself is cool, they carry a lot of great products. The problem I have is the owner. He tells a guy on the phone that he can't guarantee held items will be saved by the time he comes in but he'll hold on to then. Then I ask if he has anymore of that same item and he doesn't. I ask if I could buy what he was holding on to since I'm physically there and he tells me he can't sell me the held items because it would cause problems. What's the point of saying you can't hold on to item over the phone then not sell me it? I don't know if he had something against me but that is BS. Good store, but if the owner doesn't like you for whatever reason, you be helped. read more

Awesome and knowledgeable staff always willing to help if you don't know what you are after. Tons of selection with prices similar to what you would find online. They were great chatting with my ten year old boy about Warhammer 40K. Highly recommend. read more

This will forever be the game store first in my heart! Thanks to the heroic actions of the owners, I was able to recover my Magic collection from the thieves who stole it from me. I really can't thank them enough and they will always have my business and support. Their online Magic storefront is extremely user friendly with an excellent selection and competitive prices. I recommend that everyone check it out! read more

Terrible favoritism in MTG prerelease. Owner's son was caught cheating, but ONLY suffered a warning rather than being DQed or even just facing a round loss. Furthermore any boosters won by the son was simply returned to the store, coincidence? Seems like the owner only cares about profit, all their products, from D&D handbooks to tabletop games to card singles, are also overpriced. read more