I went here today for the first time. On a personal note, walking through a board game store in a tie (after a meeting) feels ridiculously awkward. But nonetheless, not living in the area I decided to check out the local BG store. This place is AMAZING. My family's collection borders on 125 to 140 games and my wish list is even bigger. Gamescape had every damn game on my wishlist and If I had more time, I could have spent 2 hours and several hundred $$$ there. The selection is by far the best I have seen, from classic cardboard to new releases. The game I bought was in fact a new release and not one I expected to see in stores for a while. I'm also not a miniatures guy but the paint and miniatures selection was double that of most stores, not to mention the row of open gaming tables in the back. For my money this is the best store board game shop in the Bay Area and I wish I lived closer. For me, at least once in a while, Gamescape would be worth a long drive and a longer visit. read more

This is my favorite game store. I remember driving an hour to come here to get my fix of Magic the Gathering. Gamescape is THE place for the gaming hook up in the San Francisco Bay Area. Where can you go wrong here? Lots of games of all types. They don't play favorites. Role-playing games, board games, miniature wargames, card games and loads of other stuff. If you're looking for a gift for a gamer, and you're not sure what to get, ask the staff. They are a friendly knowledgeable lot. I know I like hitting this store and Comix Experience a few doors down when I'm on this block of Divisadero. This place is a Natural 20 to me. read more

Gamescape is the only place I go to for my roleplaying/games needs. True I sometimes buy off the internet when I have less money, but I like to support the local businesses when I can. They have the best selection of small press release games and suppliments I've seen. They also carry traditional board games in astonishing variety, and jigsaw puzzles. Special event live games are held in the back, scheduals are listed. They have a board in the back where local gamers advertise to find a game or find other gamers. They also carry a very small selection of game related books, comics and magazine. They have a deal where you can get a discount on role playing products if you save your reciepts totaling 400$. Unfortunately I'm bad at saving reciepts otherwise I'd be getting a discount there already considering how often I visit. read more

Gamescape has made me a customer for life. I try to save my 5-star reviews for places that really impress me in some way, usually with their service. If you know what you want, you can buy it anywhere, including the internet. You can't get fantastic service just anywhere though. I went to this store for the first time last night. Pretty cool. It was loaded with tons of stuff. I ended up buying a big boxed set of some tabletop war game. Anyway, I got home, opened it up, and started reveling in the geeky fun. After a bit, I realized that a few pieces were missing. I looked everywhere, and they were nowhere to be found. I checked the box to make sure they were supposed to be included. They were supposed to be there, but they just weren't. I was pretty disappointed. So anyhow, I trekked on back to the store this morning, and brought the set I had bought with me. I told the guy working there what happened, opened up the box, and he took a look to try to figure out what pieces were missing. After that, he went to go look around some racks to see what he could find. Eventually, he grabbed another one of the sets that I had bought, unsealed it, opened it up and found the pieces that I was missing. He gave it to me, and the problem was solved. I was impressed with this service, it was everything I could have asked for. They solved the problem quickly, and without hesitation, even though they had to open up another copy of the game. It's said that the mark of good service is not from when everything goes right, but from when something goes wrong. This store came through in that respect remarkably well. I ended up browsing for a bit after that, and bought a few more things. Whenever I need some kind of game, or something game related, I'll be going here to get it. read more

Great place to geek out for all of your super geeky gaming needs. They have all kinds of crazy games and tons of puzzles, everything from a few hundredpieces to several thousand pieces! The only thing I can recommend is that if you don't know what you want before you go there, you may want to check out boardgamegeek.com because you can get lost reading the backs of all of the boxes and you may not want to rely on the advice of the guy behind the counter. (They have led me astray and I know something about this stuff -- it's like calling the airline and asking them where you should go on vacation.) Greate place to get a game for yourself of a loved one, if they are in the mood for something different. This is especially a good place to go if you know a nerdy 14-18 year old who needs a gift that they wouldn't get anywhere else... read more

Probably the best place in the city for games. Very helpful staff who are very very knowledgeable about the games they sell. Walk in and tell them roughly what type of experience you're looking for and they will most certainly be able to recommend some great options! And hey they are close to Comix Experience so you can get your full nerd geek out in one trip! read more

Where do I start? Gamescape is everything I ever wanted in a game store. The selection is amazing, and the staff have an encyclopedic knowledge of what's on their shelves. Their stock covers all skill levels - if you're in the mood for a hardcore gaming experience, they've got something for you. If you'd rather have a simple game to goof off with your friends for an hour or two, they've got that too. Also, check out the game selection flowchart above the cash register! It hasn't steered us wrong yet. The best part is the customer service. I've been treated like dirt just for having the nerve to be a lady in multiple game shops - here, they treat me like the obsessive gamer I am, and I swear they always have the perfect recommendation for me when I come in. Seriously, Gamescape is the best game shop around. read more

The staff member that helped my friends and I recommended Mind which made our afternoon! He had a good feel for what we were looking for. I'm definitely coming back come gift time. read more

I have to admit this store seriously rocks, but not in a my heart only beats for Dungeons and Dragons sort of way. It rocks because it doesn't discriminate whether you are coming in to buy a fancy (or plain) deck of cards to some $150 special edition set of Settlers of Catan they are there for you and appreciate your business. I particularly like the layout of the store. When you first come in to your there are all of the "classics"-- scattegories, taboo, apples to apples, trivial pursuit, some jigsaw puzzles mixed with many games that are not as common and yet intriguing; on your right some cards and card games. Their main display features games that have been ranked high by boardgame monthly? etc or are the employees personal favs. My boyfriend and I who have been on a new board game kick have tried several of their recommendations and find them infallible. You can be tan, with cool clothes and have up-to-date slang vocab and enjoy a new board game from time to time! Then as you go further back in the store you see a bunch of kids games hidden and sealed on a shelf. As if to say "that's right, we have some kids games, but we aren't not going to make a big deal about it" (I think that's there way of discouraging annoying kids from showing up). Then as you go even further back and especially if you veer to the right of the store. You see the nerdy side of the store really come out. As 20 sided di, fancy card sleeves, world war II games, some graphic novels and figurines of some sort mystically appear... err, actually they were there the whole time just hidden by the L-Shape of the store. The people are also pretty helpful, they are passionate about board games and want you to find the right one. Also the prices are actually pretty good. We price shopped on amazon and other websites while in the store and found that after tax and shipping were about the same price. Naturally, we want to see the store stay put and liked not having to anxiously wait a couple days for a game to show up so gladly paid. read more

Gamescape is a fantastic game store. The staff is helpful and knowledgable and the selection is first rate. RPGs, minis, loads of board games including the latest expansions when they are released. Also, the scheduled events are great. I've attended board game night and Fantasy Flight card games night (basically Android: Netrunner night) and I've observed D&D encounters. Board game night was lively and welcoming, with an exceptional selection of games from the play-me shelf, and D&D was going off! I really intend to come get in on a 5e game sometime. Lastly, there is a wide selection of traditional games. Gamescape is a first-rate location if you're looking for a puzzle, party game or a fully stocked nerd-cave. Oh, and save your receipts because if you spend a certain amount ($100 i think?) you get a discount on your future purchases. Nice bonus! read more

Gamescape is hands down one of the better game/hobby stores in San Francisco, some reasons being: 1) Friendly and helpful customers service, the staff here are very knowledgeable about almost every game in their store, and can communicate about products at in depth level 2) A wide selection of products, appealing to all types of gamers whether they be players of TCGs, Miniature games, boardgames, and others. 3) Generous prizes for events they have, even people who get last place at certain events get prizes This venue definitely offers one of San Francisco's more extensive gaming selections, and great customer service. read more

Super friendly and helpful staff. We went in to get Clue and they had 4 different awesome versions to choose from. Great local business.

I learned to play cribbage before I learned to speak. Now I can feed my cribbage fetish again, for $8. "Great store. I learned about you on Yelp," I said to the guys. "It's a local business website that does customer reviews. There's over 10 reviews on your store, all positive. That's why I'm here." The dude behind the counter pulled out a pencil. "Yelp-dot-com?" he asked. "Yeah, it's a super-cool site." "I'll check it out," he said. "Thanks." Two of his coworkers were visibly interested. Thanks for the tip Yelpers! I searched 'board games', because I needed a cribbage board and a deck of cards. Gamescape came up and I read the reviews. I called on Saturday, they were open until 7pm, so I got over around 6pm, found a board for $3.99 and grabbed a Bicycle deck of cards for $3.50. read more

I'm not an expert gamer ... So each time I go here I need help from the staff. And I always get great advice! I've bought a few interesting party games from this place and they have always been a hit. Just ask the staff. read more

The staff is friendly and helpful. Great website too. They usually have what I'm looking for. Give them a call and they will gladly help.

Soooo, I have to admit that I'm a bit of a nerd. I love boardgames. I kick it old school. I do not have any PS or Gamecubes or even any computer games (except for playing Ticket to Ride online). I have never gotten into role playing games in my life (except for a brief flirtation w/ Bard's Tale in the summer of '87). So when I walked in here I was super stoked. The selection is fantastic...but expensive. If I recall correctly though most video games are like $30-50 are they not? I have used this place for several gifts for other people as well as getting a couple Day of Wonder games. I thought, upon hearing of a game store in my hood, how can a place so specialized, and with such a select target audience, stay in business? Well, apparently I am not the only nerd around here the place always has customers and many are even girls! Although, the back area does seem heavy on the sausage quotient as I believe that is where the area is devoted to role playing games. If its a board game you'll find it here. They also specialize in a myriad of card games and the staff is friendly. Anyone know of Ticket to Ride pick-up games? read more

The first time I went to Gamescape, I knew exactly what I wanted so it was a quick in & out visit. Popped back in here the other week as we were looking for some new games to add to our selection. OMG, who knew the game world had this much going on? There were games for days! I gotta say, working at a game store like this must take some serious commitment and passion for the game world. The guy that was assisting us had extensive knowledge of his inventory and all game rules. He essentially has to briefly describe games including the strategy and rules without totally overwhelming you all while trying to interest you. I really got the feeling that this guy had literally played 90% of the games in the store. Have you seen the store?? That's huge!! His knowledge, service levels and the all around relaxed environment really contributed to our visit. We bought three games that day and I bought a cute card game for a friends birthday. I'll be back, I just know it. read more

They have almost every board game under the sun and the staff is so knowledgeable and helpful. My favorite games: Ticket to Ride Catan Chinatown Tangoes Set Ricochet Robot I am usually home alone playing games alone (how sad, right?) so they always come up with a new challenging 1 person game for me. They also sponsor game night on Wednesdays at On The Corner - the little cafe at Oak and Divisadero. I get to play with other people here :) This place is a gem and I have not bought a game elsewhere since I moved into the 'hood 3 years ago. read more

I am not a gamer and I don't know very much about card role playing games...but the two times I went to this lil place for something, they have been great. First I went to find a set of dominoes of which they showed me several styles and the other time was when I walked by and felt completely nostalgic to get a french card car racing game I used to play with my parents when I was a kid. I walked into the store and explained this game to them and they knew it right away! They even had two versions to choose from! Classic or the anniversary edition...but I had to get the classic. They have a ton of puzzles and a big sale box by the front door if you want an easy gift. Yay game guys! read more

I made my first pilgrimage to Gamescape. I was impressed by the selection of games. They don't have games like Chutes and Ladders, but they do have a huge selection of role playing games (RPGs), serious strategy games, and major mind-bending 3d puzzles. It's because they don't devote floor space to the easy to find commercial games that allows them to have such a deep selection in so many areas. I was particularly impressed by their Go game section. They had at least three shelves of Go books, multiple Go boards from cheap to moderately expensive, Go stones (playing pieces) from ultra cheap to very expensive (and high quality). I would be amazed if any retail store in the US outside of New York City had a larger selection. The staff were absolutely non-snooty to me, and I don't particularly look like a gamer. They let me browse all I wanted and then politely rang up my order. Four point five stars, rounded up (it would be a straight five if they were closer to downtown or Japantown) read more

Wow, what an amazing selection of games: board games, casino games, collectible games, role-playing games, miniatures games, kids games, game-related magazines, just about everything. (I didn't notice any electronic or video games, though.) I spot-checked for a few of my favorite games and found all of them ... eventually. The store was clean and tidy, just hard to find things. That's why I'm withholding one star: The store's organization isn't quite good enough to support the completism. It's great for browsing but harder to find something specific. I suppose I could have asked for help, but I prefer to find things myself when I can. I was also disappointed to see the role-playing games shrink-wrapped. I understand that there are good reasons to do that, but I'll always choose a store that lets me read at leisure. read more

The previous reviews have it down. My addition would be about the selection. They have everything from Poker tables, Dart equipment, fine Chess boards, puzzles and of course all the various type of games you could hope for. Support you local business'!!!!!! read more

I've been here a couple of times, but stopped by tonight with my boyfriend in search of card shufflers for a project. We found the shufflers and then browsed the store. It was MTG night, and we came in about half an hour to closing. The back of the shop was pretty bustling. The store seems to have a decent selection of games, although they don't seem to be in any obvious order. I mean, I'm sure they're in some sort of order, but they're not marked as such. The guys behind the counter were very friendly and happy to answer any questions. We asked one of the guys what they had by the way of two player co-op, and he gave us some pretty solid recommendations. Glad this place can still thrive here! It's priceless for the event/community space alone, not to mention being able to come down and ogle games. read more

I came here for a Magic midnight prerelease. It was really hot... But lots of fun! The workers are cool. They give out many prizes so stick around to the end!!!! Most of the people that come here are pretty cool as well. Most, 99% not all :P They also sell a bunch of random board games and play warhammer and stuff. read more

Great selection of games. They run different games each night of the week. read more

I have been coming to Gamescape regularly since January 2014. Gamescape is my FLGS (Friendly Local Gaming Store) and it has served all of my gaming needs quite well! In addition to a great location, this place sells all sorts of gaming paraphernalia. Bpard games, card games, dice, drinks, puzzles, books, miniatures, kits, cases, figurines, snacks, paint, you name it! Well, don't name video games, because they don't sell them. Gamescape also runs sanctioned Magic: The Gathering events, D&D Encounters/Adventure League, Heroclix and even a board game night! The staff is super awesome and sometimes does a free little hamburger/hotdog bbq on special event gamedays which is really cool of them. Sure, the prices are higher than amazon, retail will always be higher than online, but I continue to support Gamescape for the community and since Gamescape is the ONLY FLGS IN SAN FRANCISCO! I love you, Gamescape! read more

Gamescape - Hobby Shops Near Me - San Francisco, California

Holy smokes Batman!!! This shop is FULL of games - hard to believe so many games are available ... I kept it simple and bought a double deck of cards I was stoked about !! Looks like there are game tables so more options for gamers - a cool place :) read more

Gamescape - Hobby Shops Near Me - San Francisco, California

This store is great for finding games that are different and more fun than your run-of-the mill board games. Though it's difficult to decide between one game you've never heard of and another, you can always ask for help from one of the dudes behind the counter. It may feel a bit nerdy at the store, but once you get your new game home and start playing you'll soon understand why a good game can compete with a night of drinking. read more

I've been role-playing since 1982 starting with the first edition Dungeons & Dragons set bequeathed to me by a friends older brother. Since then, I've plowed through limitless RPGs, turn based strategy, board, card, and dice games. And no matter what my need, whether nostalgic, immediate, or otherwise, Gamescape has never let me down!* I would highly recommend to anyone living even remotely close to San Francisco to make the trek. The affable and infinitely knowledgeable staff are on hand to help you with any question, whether they're behind the counter, or tossing d12s in the back during a weekly hosted game. This was surprising to me considering that most of these guys were younger than me, but were perfectly comfortable fielding questions about games and editions that well predated their existence. And around the holidays, you can't beat Gamescape for gift ideas... make a day of it, and grab lunch on upper Haight after your run! *I was let down once when a small-box copy of Illuminati! was unavailable because it was 'out of print', or some such nonsense... ;-) read more

I have been gaming since 1981. This place rocks! There used to be a separated room in the back where a gaming club met. I was the treasurer for a couple of years and the president for one. That is how much of a geek I am. The owner, Bob, is very personable and cool. The staff, once you distract them from animated conversations about the latest trading card game booster expansions, a local concert, or the warhammer battles that now take place in the back of the shop, are always willing to start an animated conversation with you about the latest games. They are terribly knowledgeable and welcoming. Game enthusiasts of all types come to this local Mecca. Chess nuts, Go pundits, Darts masters, Chapter House commanders, Card sharks and a slew old-school gamer geeks with an endless treasure trove of stories and +12 Keen Vorpal Holy Nail-Clippers of slaying abound. The shelves overflow with RPGs, party games, card games, and tons of fun stuff! I love this place, and if you like games at all, you will too. If you don't, I'll be more than happy to whip out my customized Space Marines and show you what for! read more

First I have to praise Gamescape's super helpful and friendly staff. Second the store stocked with award winning games, new classics as well as hard to find favorites and expansion packs. Third is they take AMEX, which isn't a big deal unless you are an AMEX user. I would recommend Bang!, Ticket To Ride, Dix-it and Munchkin. read more

Stopped by here to pick up a few two-player board games during a short vacay in SF. They had a great selection and the staff were super nice! read more

We have walked by this place so many times and it was always when they were closed. Finally, we went on a weekday, and got to visit! Oh my, like a kid in a candy store. So many games it was overwhelming! Love it. read more

Gamescape - LOVE this guy. - Hobby Shops Near Me - San Francisco, California

Best game store ever I go every Friday for Friday night magic and have a blast. The employees are vary nice and help out if needed it is the only place I play Mtg for a reason!!! Great store, great employees, great customer service and a great selection of items toys and games love this place!!!!!!!!!! Keep up the good work and love having you in my hood so I'll see you soon. BEST GAME STORE EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! read more

I come here whenever I can, and I'm impressed with how knowledgeable their employees are. I've recently started playing D&D 4th edition, and they were able to help me with what I NEEDED, not what they could sell to me. I've been in sales for a few years now, and these guys make their customer service top notch. Only thing though, is the prices for books. I bought a 4th edition player's handbook for 30 something bucks. Also, I used to have them call me when a certain gaming satire-comedy book would come in, but they forget to call me now? Peace out. read more

Like everyone has already stated previously Gamescape is one of the best stores to buy games in the city. You can buy old games like scrabble, new games like Yu-Gi-Oh the card game, and games that you've probably never heard of! Their staff is extremely nice, and always greets you when you come in/out. Not only does this shop have nice selection of games it also hosts the ONLY Pokemon league in San Francisco every Tuesday (unless stated otherwise) from 5-7! They coordinator for this event is also one of the nicest person that I have had the pleasure to meet. He will provide you great tips on the Pokemon card game, and will teach you how to play it too! The community is small because it only started a few months ago, but everyone is nice. The league community includes card game players, as well as video game players (both have their experienced players!). It's just a fun little place where you can hang out too! read more

I stumbled upon this store year ago when I was at the car wash across the street and it is truly a treasure. I believe this store offers everything you could want in a game store. In addition to a huge selection of board and card games for adults, they have a decent section for kids' games. They even carry some games for casual gamers and people who are looking for a light party game. The only products they don't seem to carry are theme games; for example, don't go here if you are looking for The Simpsons' Scene It game...I know because I was looking for it for my sister-in-law. The service here is also great. While the staff is decidedly geeky (this should be no surprise at a board game store,) they are also friendly and helpful. If you go in when it's not too busy, they will usually chat with you. Last time I went in, I had four Visa gift cards to use with odd amounts left on them, which is super annoying, but the employee let me do it. It turned out to be a disaster as there system would only take three credit cards even though the credit card reader let him scan all four. He was very flexible in solving the problem and though flustered, did not convey how annoyed he really must have been! I have not been to other game and hobby stores in San Francisco so I cannot compare my experience here with others, but I really don't feel the need as this store is great! read more

Completely disappointed with the Pokemon League event held here. No league points or league promos, can't really be considered a true Pokemon League event. read more

My friend and I were on our way to a dinner party, and I'd volunteered to go look around for a new party game for us to play. Our usual fare is something along the lines of Liar's Dice, Apples-to-Apples, Bang!, Euchre, Trivial Pursuit... something fun, social. My nearby game-finding options were Ace Hardware, The Ark Toy Store, and Green Apple Books. Not exactly the sweet spot for game stores. That's when I was recommended (by all three of these spots) to hit up GameScape. Here's where I'll simply say: this place rocks. The guy behind the counter had plenty of suggestions for our needs. They also have a very wide variety of brain teaser contraptions, puzzles, board games, chess sets, card/strategy/role-playing games. BUT THE PEOPLE WATCHING... outstanding. Not only were my fellow patrons helpful as well (eager to be), they were awesome. What a great slice of life. I'm coming back here soon. (Don't forget the comic book store two doors down either. I think the two places cross-polinate.) read more

I moved to San Francisco a year ago, and this was one of the first shops I visited in the city. I am a Warhammer Fantasy player, so obviously I wanted to find a game shop filled with like-minded nerds. When I first visited, I was quite thrilled to see such a large selection of Warhammer miniatures. Our game store back in Upstate New York was fairly small, and a limited selection, so you could say I was "having a moment". The shop also has a large variety of board games, tabletops, puzzles, etc. That being said, I also found a lot of things about this store that I definitely did not like. The cleanliness factor being one of them. Can you say, dust? DUST! Dust everywhere! Even on the models! I don't think I've ever sneezed so much in a store before. That and there is sometimes a faint musky smell that seeps in, especially in the back of the store. I was also pretty disappointed when I was told that they only play 40k in the store, due to the lack of interest in FB from many of their customers. I was always aware that 40k is way more popular than FB, but at least in the other game stores I've been to, FB has always been a thing. Even for its small remaining fanbase. The overall vibe from the store is also not very exciting. Yeah, there's a big selection, but that's not what makes a store "great", in my opinion. The customer service here is very poor. The guys working behind the counter are not very engaging, even when you try to start a conversation with them. The only time they ever feel obligated to say much of anything to me is when I ask for help, or have a question on one of the products. Their product knowledge is impressive, and these guys really seem to know what they're talking about. I just wish the environment was more friendly and extroverted, so newcomers would feel more welcome. That's possibly why this store isn't usually full. Each time I've ever visited, there is barely anyone in here, unless there's a draft or if it's 40k night. Aside from the occasional guys I see playing MTG in the back. As far as a game shop goes, it's pretty good. But it's definitely not the best one I've been to. If you want a shop with large variety, excellent customer service, and great prices, head over to Games of Berkeley. They're possibly the best store I've visited in the Bay Area. read more