I was here before back in 2021 but only wrote a review of the place on Google so on my 2nd trip here, this is going on Yelp. I enjoy going to game shops with variations of games that span across all generations and not just current gen like Gamestop. I just came in for a few games after trading in a couple of old games and the transaction was pretty smooth. I might come back around here since there are a few other games here that caught my eye. read more

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Selection (4/5): Tons of classic games especially in the Nintendo department. It brought a ton of nostalgia especially for the Gameboy advance and SP which I had as a kid. Their selection is super impressive for all these classic games as it seemed like they had hundreds of games for classic systems. Service (3/5): No one really greeted us or were particularly friendly when we walked in. They gave us no issues though. The store's ambiance could be improved though because it seemed like boxes were just strewn in the back and the decorations weren't particularly enticing. Value (3/5): The retro games here are quite expensive! Some of the Gameboy advanced games are $60 and the machines were especially expensive. For example, the SP was almost $200. I guess it kind of makes sense since they aren't manufactured any more and it's in a premium location. read more

J & L Game - Inside - Video Game Stores Near Me - New York, New York

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I highly recommend their vintage game repairs. I brought in our excellent condition Sega Mega Drive (from Japan, mid 90s). It went unused for a while and stopped powering up. I know that it is generally some testing and resoldering to make things right. J&L quoted a reasonable price, and completed the work in under a week. We got the unit back, working great and even cleaned up of dust. The folks here are knowledgeable, and they have a great depth of vintage units, games and accessories. Was excited to see things from my childhood, Intellivision, etc. Super cool store, a mid-town gem, and there's a few cool shops nearby as well. read more

They have a very respectable selection of items. But I have NEVER seen such overpriced items in my life. 100% of what I came in looking for, I found for a cheaper price at a different store in Manhattan. I don't know how they pay for their rent, because some of the items were hanging on the wall and "yellowing" from sun damage. And they still have the outrageous price on them. If you're looking for a place to score some video games, avoid at all costs. Nice for viewing purposes only. read more

J & L Game - Nintendo Amiibo - Video Game Stores Near Me - New York, New York

While I haven't purchased from here as of yet, it's only because there's so much to go through! If you love video games in general, on ANY system, this is the place for you! I've never seen so many games in one place in my life, but keep in mind it can be overwhelming. Their website is helpful before coming in but look forward to a cool and retro experience! read more

Love the selection at this mom n pop type, Cantonese fam, gaming shop. The ceiling might be a bit concerning but I like that I ordered from the website and picked it up next day on my lunch break... I didn't like having to use and sign up for PayPal. Crossing my fingers I get home and there are no issues with my put hide but I have no reason to think there will be; store clerk said to come back if there's any issue. Friendly staff. read more

I'm not a big gamer but according to my boyfriend who is, this place is ' gamer heaven'. My boyfriend began asking the staff if they had several games just to see if the store as legit and according to him they were. They had games for all consoles even games dating back to the early 90's in familiar with only a few but the smile on my boyfriend's face made me know that store has all the good stuff. They also repair consoles, controllers etc. read more

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Garbage prices; most items they have are either half or even less on sites like Mercari & eBay. Don't buy from them; save your money. read more

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If you see a slightly off pikachu in the streets, you know you've come to the right place! Here's the thing, this place has an EXPANSIVE collection. Even if their site does not advertise a game you want, come down to the brick and mortar and I'm sure it'll be there. Consoles, games, limited editions, it's all there! The staff is so friendly and helpful and willing to help you find even the nichest (I know that's not a word) of games. However, those prices will hit you in the nickel and dimes! I understand rarer items demand a higher price. But even some of the boxless games go for cheaper on GameStop. If you're willing to pay the price, go for it! But if you have the time to do your research, you might find your holy grail for a better price... read more

Pretty much every game or console you can think of, they have! Decent prices too. I'd shop here again.

While the selection was wide and varied, it was all very overpriced. On top of that, most games were set up in a very confusing way that made it hard to see what titles were available. As a video game nerd, I was a bit disappointed. read more

One of the worst experiences in my travels to New York. Awful customer service, and even worse prices. Use eBay! read more

J & L Game - Dirty and empty store. - Video Game Stores Near Me - New York, New York

Bought an original XBOX, they answered all my questions and even tested it out in the back just for my peace of mind. Brought it home and it worked perfectly read more

I remember my friend told me about J&L and that I could get video games for early. Oh yes this became my spot for all things videos games just to show my friends that I had it early. They have changed location of the years and I always found them still great guys who know videos games. They Repair consoles and controllers. For gamers like me who accidentally break their controllers. The store is a gamers heaven and you could get lost looking at all the older game's memories that puts a smile on my face. I will continue to be a customer and a friend read more

J & L Game - Video Game Stores Near Me - New York, New York

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I wanted to really root for the 3rd party video game store/repair shop in a landscape owned by chains and mega corporations. Went in to have my Switch fixed. Wouldn't turn on. Charged me $163. I could have bought a lite for 200 or a new one for 300. Just letting that sink in... I should have walked away then but I reluctantly agreed because this was close to my girlfriends place. They fixed it but upon asking BUT they couldn't tell me what the source problem was. Even if I had waited days to talk to the head repair guy, they still wouldn't "remember what they fixed". I just wanted to know in case it happens again, especially since this store only has a 30 day return back policy upon fix. I will unfortunately not come back here unless I'm desperate and am actively urging future customers to question the existence of brick and mortar video game stores and If J & L can continue on. Thanks for the repair but what a headache read more

J & L Game - Switch - Video Game Stores Near Me - New York, New York

This store and it's employees are fantastic! My son and I were looking for a specific and slightly rare Ambio to add to his collection. The Nintendo store at Times Square didn't have it and recommend we try this location. So happy we did. Both employees were incredibly polite and knowledgeable about their games and accessories. Thank you so much for an outstanding experience. read more

Over priced and service was horrible. Would not go ever. Your better off ordering from EBay or downloading an emulator yourself.

It's been a few years since I've been to over here, I just recently found out they moved to a newer location. I remember going to J&L when they were on Elizabeth and Canal since the 90s. They were always my go to spot for import games and deals. Always nice, courteous and recommending games (you know like a real game store). I'm pretty sure I've helped the owner put his kid through college with the amount of money I spent over there throughout the years. Best game store ever! read more

Great selection, but atrocious pricing. Some things (such as the Pikachu 3DS) were priced for double the market rate. They were charging $80 (I believe) for the Zelda Game & Watch released a few years ago, which is still available at retail for $40-50. read more

Amazing little gem of a store in mid-town Manhattan. Any game store like this is love at first sight for hardcore gamers. Store is simple, not cluttered and they have everything from current game systems all the way back to some really neat vintage systems. Current game systems pricing is in line with the market but since I'm no vintage collector I'm not sure if prices for vintage pieces are good or bad. From what I saw I thought prices weren't bad at all considering they had a good amount of old school stuff from games to hardware. read more

J & L Game - Video Game Stores Near Me - New York, New York

Everything is insanely overpriced. Sure, they have a great selection but not when almost everything is triple or quadruple market value. I get that this is New York and it's expensive but not lowering a price for a game that has clearly gone down just because you don't want to lose money is terrible. It would be better to sell the game for less rather than for the game to sit forever on a shelf because it's too overpriced. Not wanting to regulate the prices just because "there are too many games" is just lazy. Good to visit if you just want to look at cool video game stuff or buy brand new games read more

Well........I picked up my Xbox1 for the 2nd time and they made another repair to the unit that cleared the hard drive - everything was gone. Fortunately - I saved everything on a external hard drive, still took a day to re-install apps, profile etc. and there hasn't been a problem yet....... Again - if you are looking for prompt service and good customer service, read the reviews and make a phone call or two.... Personally - I would recommend a " mom and pop " shop in Washington Heights before this place. The concern should be for service..... and not for making a buck. read more

They have a great selection but i've never seen at any game store that a pokemon Red can cost 120$. thats insane plus their service was iffy because it wasn't clear what guy did what. i also tried to sell my PSP (working) and they offered 8$ What a joke. read more

$65 and $119 for Gameboy Advance games? The game I was looking for was $35. Go to eBay instead and save yourself a trip.

Garbagely overpriced which gives used game stores a bad name. And why so many are hating on the industry, charging $80 for a Zelda game and watch can find them all over at retail for $50 or even $40 on eBay. read more

My switch was broken where the joy cons attach to the console. They estimated about 2 weeks for the repair, but 4 days later they called me and said they fixed it, works like New now. Definitely a little pricey, but they are knowledgeable and efficient. They also carry a variety of current and retro games, you will find what you're looking for here for sure. read more

This place is a total treasure chest. They have so many goodies in here from all prior video game systems. Yes, from the 1980s original Nintendo to all current generation consoles. My colleague told me about this place because i had no idea it existed. We both wanted the original NES Classic edition, which turned out to be a limited release. He informed me this place carries it. I came in to buy the NES classic, but it was seriously overpriced at $400.00. I respectfully declined. Please know in advance, the majority of items here and prior generation consoles and games. A lot are pretty much out of print, so expect to pay a small premium on these hard to find items. Despite this caveat, i got to discover this store and their wide selection of current and past games. They even carry the Sega Genesis Nomad. I was able to score a special Nintendo Switch game that was discontinued. The only option was to get it digitally, and i wanted a physical edition. I even got the special edition, which game with some goodies, like a soundtrack and posters. I highly recommend this place to casual and hardcore gamers. The staff in here are so nice and everyone is extremely helpful. I do hope they make it, and the pandemic doesn't impact them. Sending them positive vibes as always. read more

On the outside, it looks like just another GameStop clone. The almost-bootleg Mario and the small front is easy to keep this place overlooked, and I almost did. But walk in, and you're rewarded with gaming heaven. The store is designed like a hallway, with Xbox on one side, and PlayStation on the other. In the front, you're greeted with all the familiar faces: PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and all the latest releases. Some standard fare, but some special edition collectibles and items that will be eye popping and rare to find. But as you walk further into the hallway, you go BACK IN TIME! PS3, PS2, PS1, Xbox 360, Xbox, Wii U, Wii, GameCube, N64, SNES, NES, all the Sega consoles and even some Atari! Walls LINED with cartridges, accessories, limited editions and more! Refurbished consoles are plenty of any age, and prices are reasonable! If you're looking for something game related, they most likely have it! This all would be worthless without proper staff, but luckily here (while not trying to sound TOO cheesy), it's a store for gamers, run by gamers. The staff is knowledgeable and courteous. You don't feel rushed while looking at items, and you can ask them anything! I've bought a N64, PS1, PS4 Pro, and a host of games from them, and it's been nothing but a smooth experience! They have definitely earned my business, and I highly recommend a visit to see all of their collectibles! read more

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They have a great selection of video games however they are way to pricy they charge new prices for games and consoles from over a decade ago read more

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This store is a complete ripoff. I remember this place being a lot better years back, but now it's a joke. I walk into the store in the middle of the afternoon with nobody in it (I wonder why) and you have these three guys fiddling with boxes in the very back of the store not paying attention to anything in the front of the store. So right off the bat the service is pretty bad. I went in to see if this place had any Amiibos available. Turns out, they practically have just about every Amiibo ever released. Here's the catch, every Amiibo they sell is beyond overpriced and are marked up about 30% more than their actual market value on Ebay. But of course this pretty much applies to everything else in the store (Unboxed Mega Man 5 on the NES for $130.00. Give me a break). I walk all the way to the back of the store because they'll just completely ignore you otherwise, and I ask one of the gentlemen why the Amiibos cost so much? He tells me the reason is because they're hard to find, but the truth is just because you cant find these in stores anymore and you can easily buy this stuff on Ebay or Amazon...DOES NOT MAKE THEM RARE. He then gives me this nonsense about them being the 1st editions and that anybody selling online could easily be selling knock offs. Meanwhile the employees don't even know who they're suppliers are, so why would I trust them to know the value on this stuff? How do I know the ones in their store aren't knockoffs? I told them that if they'd actually sell these by their market value they would clean out within a week. But apparently it's not about cleaning out the shelves. Why are you running a business then? Bottom line, if you're going to buy ANYTHING here, just buy it online or go to the other numerous retro gaming stores around NYC. These guys WILL NOT negotiate prices and the prices could not be any more obscene. Probably the only reason this store stays in business is because they mostly prey on ignorant tourist who have a ton of money to spend and either don't know the real market value of this stuff or they're just really desperate. read more

This place has a massive selection, however when I arrived home and unpacked my pre owned switch game the cartridge was full of gunk and extremely sticky. Whoever was in charge of getting this game ready for resale should be paying more attention to detail and making sure that the cartridge was ready for retail as I paid a premium price for this title. read more

Disappointing that a store that my husband has gone to for many games and given them a lot of business decided to charge tax on a gift card that my husband bought from them. It is not a matter of $3 either, why charge tax on a gift card that will also charge tax to my husband when he uses it on the console's online store? That sounds like this business needs to figure out their accounting because NYS doesn't require this and I am sure that there are many people that continue to pay double tax because of businesses like this. Thankfully he has other store that know better than to steal from customers. read more

Ton of games including imports. All legit. The owner was very helpful. He seemed to have loser relative that was working for him that was pretty rude. He didn't understand the game I was requesting from the wall and tried to blame me for not being clear enough when I was literally saying the full title of the game. Seemed unnecessary. read more

Don't trust https://badbuyerlist.org/buyer/faf2b82278798b692744297a They buy games and swap boards to do fraud. read more

I've been coming to this spot for years. Used to buy my ps1 and ps2 games here back in the day and honestly now that I'm getting back into games I wouldn't think of going anywhere else. A true hidden treasure in the city. If you're a gamer and haven't been here yet I suggest you check it Out. read more

Very good selection of games! As far as i saw were just switch games and amiibo. There might have been more games for different consoles but I didn't see any. read more

They have any and everything related to gaming consolses, games and accessories. However the location is near time square which makes their rent really high, which makes sense why their prices are so outrageous. Either that or theyre really smoking some strong stuff. Why is Mario 64 for nintendo DS (2004) $79.99??? I just bought it on ebay for $20.00. Why is pokemon black for 3ds $129.99??? Its on ebay for $70. Its a bitter sweet place, very nostalgic, but time travel there costs lots of $$$. read more

This is a wonderful place I remember when I wanted to get a second PSP and they had one in mint condition and stuff probably used but it was worth it because up to now I still have the original PSP God of War Edition and the PSP that I've got from them. The staff is friendly and cool and customer service over tha phone is on point , i never once had a problem. Overall the place is amazing they have everything you need. read more

Quite pricey compared to other video game shops I have visited. The selection is awesome, so I'm sure they have what you are looking for, just be prepared to pay good money for it. read more

The first time I went here was back on Elizabeth. Place reopened in a much better location with a much bigger store, with way more things there now. What's not to like. Excellent store for old school video games/controllers. Nice people here. I might give this place a 4 instead of a 5 but for the area, it really deserves it's rating for how low the prices are. Only thing left to do for them is to get some import games/controllers, hint hint. read more