I highly recommend this gem of a store. I found something for each member of our family. The employees are super helpful and knowledgeable. I was EXTREMELY happy with their Covid protocols and appreciate being able to shop in a safe environment. I love this small business and will return often! They host board game nights every Thursday and require masks AND vax proof! Amazing!!! read more

Long live brick and mortar game stores! I love this place. There's games for every level and intensity of gamer, from the casual catan player to the serious magic the gathering type. Seriously, there's wall to wall, floor to ceiling games - they have got every game and expansion pack you could possibly want. The staff is really knowledgeable and helpful and can recommend games based on what you like. The prices are on par or slightly higher than online retailers, but I'm more than happy to pay a premium to support local business. Pro Tip(s): -they have a loyalty program -free gift wrapping during the holidays read more

Super fun place. The go-to for games in DC. Huge selection. My son used to do the Magic the Gathering game nights. They have fun community events occasionally, too. We have bought numerous gifts here. The staff will help you find a new game for yourself or someone on your gift list. read more

This place is excellent in breaking down the stereotypes about people who love games. Your generic impression of gamers is that they're anti-social teenagers living in their parents basement. Wrong. They're young professionals that love to gather at here at night to socialize and play games with others who have similar interests. Aside from that, they have an excellent selection at reasonable prices. I don't have children, but if I did, I'd bring them here. They're all about encouraging puzzles and games as a means of educational enrichment. You could probably find some of their items online for cheaper, but they're a great local business to support. They're also very convenient, a block away from Eastern Market Station, so you can drop by after work to pick a game up instead of waiting for Amazon to ship it. read more

Labyrinth embodies the magic of a neighborhood store versus any box or online retailer. There's always an employee to talk to and I truly believe they have studied each game to be able to give the customer a very detailed review. It's my go-to for kids presents and I love seeing what new merchandise they have. Oftentimes I see items or brands I've never heard of before and every time it is quality. For people to complain about price when labyrinth has curated a selection of quality toys and games for you then launch into detailed descriptions of every single one is worth whatever nomination extra it is for me and for the community to benefit from their existence. Shop local and keep this amazing store and meeting spot thriving. Extra bonus for busy parents/people - they do free gift wrap! read more

Woah, I could have sworn I already wrote a 5 star review for Labyrinth! This is great shop has been providing me with great gifts and game night supplies for years now! Definitely not a place to get the mainstream boardgames, but the best place to find a gift for the game lover in your life. From puzzles, card games, to board games that will take hours to play and make you lose at one least friend, this place has it all! Even an extensive section of children's options. The staff has always been helpful, sometimes even to the point of explaining the full rules to a game you're holding in your hands, but I'll take that over a cold mass retailer any day. I'm glad this store exists and is always getting fun new items in stock! read more

Labyrinth Games & Puzzles - I don't need this I don't need this I NEED THIS - Hobby Shops Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

So wanted to leave 5 stars but have to say that the prices are high. If you want the game tonight the. You are paying for it. If you want to wait a day try and looking online as prices are about 20-30% cheaper. They do not have any discounts for multiple buys and while the staff is amazingly knowledgeable I think there is ways to give back to the customer. read more

This store definitely deserves its 5 star average. They have any game you could want and will special order with a discount if they don't. They're friendly and there's always someone available to help (I don't get how they can be so overstaffed). The store is well-organized, clean, and bright. They have a bunch of games to try, with space to sit and play, and those games are all clean and in good shape-- even though they allow people to bring in food! My 5-year-old and a friend and I spent an entire afternoon at the store just playing games and eating takeout. I first learned about the store when we received a gift card as a wedding gift from friends. For a while I'd still order games on Amazon but now I'm firmly in the Support Your Local Business camp, especially with such a lovely business as this. I don't want Labyrinth to go away, it'd be a huge loss for this city. read more

So much fun! After our quick perusal of the Eastern Market we walked a few blocks to explore the neighborhood and stumbled upon this gem. It is a store dedicated primarily to board games. They have thousands! At first we just wanted to look around but one of the friendly workers there got us to try a few games. We were very skeptical and admttedly my husband was a bit concerned with "nerdy" atmosphere however we ended up having a blast! They have tons of games for you to choose. Playing the games there are free to try and the workers help pick out the games based on your preferences. Apparently they have weekly events such as Booze Nights on Sunday. Sounds intriguing playing games with drinks! And always kid friendly. If you're in the neighborhood, stop by! And dont be afraid to try something new! read more

I'd rate this place 10 stars if I could! Not only do they have an amazing selection of games, but the staff is extremely knowledgeable about almost all of them. The selection makes it worth visiting for games for all ages (toddler to adult), plus puzzles galore, legos, Pokemon, etc. The staff take it up a notch-- if you're not sure what you want, they can really help, and you can even try out many of the games. We never would have bought Ticket to Ride if not for the opportunity to try it out at the store and learn how to play from the staff, and now it's a real favorite in our house and we have multiple versions. They also have a Pokemon professor on staff-- what could be better for Pokemon fans!? read more

Labyrinth Games is a game store on Capitol Hill one block from the Eastern Market Metro and may be the best game store in the city. They sell all types of games from strategy board games, to D&D, to cards...just about anything. They have a small selection of kids toys but most of their inventory are geared for adults. If you go on an evening, you'll see tables set up with people playing games. The staff are friendly. The prices seem steep, but I can't blame them. How else can a game store in the city stay open? read more

An excellent game shop, with a comprehensive selection of tabletop games and puzzles. They have a large children's game, puzzle, and toy area, with a separate gaming area for young people. Their play libraries - in both the kid and adult play areas - contain a good variety of games. The selection includes everything from light family games to heavy eurogames. The shop offers event nights - MTG, board game, and RPG nights. There's a bulletin board where gamers can post games they play and players needed. The shop is in a high rent area, so the games are pretty much MSRP or slightly higher. The quality of the shop, helpfulness of the staff, excellent game library, and inclusive events justify it. I'm not a local, but would be here often if I were. read more

Outstanding collection. Friendly, helpful knowledgeable staff. Hands on accessible owner. Impressive library of demo games. Quite simply a must visit store for anyone currently in or interested in the boardgaming hobby. Highly recommend!! read more

Absolutely spectacular little shop! And very easy to get to; right next to the metro station at Eastern Market. The selection inside is much larger than the outside of the store would have one think and includes a huge assortment of non-electronic games, puzzles, brain teasers, Legos, etc etc etc. Bonus! There are playing tables in the back so you can try out and/or play any game they have opened on the shelves. My family and I meant to pop in for a moment but the store is so interesting and the staff so friendly that we stayed much longer than planned. The folks who work there are very knowledgable and approachable so don't feel as if you need to be a huge board gamer or puzzle pro to enjoy this store. (We aren't.) There's a lot of something for everyone within these aisles. Stores like Labyrinth are a great asset to D.C. I wish we had one where we live! read more

Labyrinth is, hands down, the best game store in DC. And my favorite in the entire DC/MD/VA area. Lovely space, amazing location (right next two 2 of the best coffee houses in the city), extremely friendly and knowledgeable staff, and a great selection of all types of games (Euro board games, Amerittrash, puzzles, kids games, party games, murder mysteries, and Magic: The Gathering and other CCGs). The best! read more

A small, but all encompassing game shop near Eastern Market, Labyrinth is my go-to for small replacement components (such as card sleeves that I need properly sized) and recommendations. The staff is extremely knowledgeable and will demo games with you to find the right fit. Labyrinth does weekly open game nights, which I wish were more frequent. As I'm busy on Thursdays, and that is the only night they offer open play, I am always hesitant to invest in a game that I'm uncertain about. A brief demo can only tell you so much. They offer the spaces for private events and parties, but adults beware - no alcohol at these events. When we tried to book a party, the space was booked up for the entire month of August, but the staff had a few helpful suggestions for other locations to try. I would love to see more game nights or events geared towards adults that don't require an intricate knowledge of Magic or the purchase of drinks at a nearby bar. read more

I've been attending this establishment for a few years now and I should say: wizards of the coast recognizing this place as a stellar and note worthy shop makes complete sense. It is a friendly, fun and welcoming establishment that hosts incredible and easy to access events and is always stocked with some of the best merchandise and most helpful employees I've seen out of many games shops and stalls I've been too. I would highly recommend! read more

Absolutely AMAZING service. We live out of town but recently placed an order for our nephews and niece living in DC and within minutes of placing the order online, Labyrinth staff members called us to ask if we wanted gift wrap, based on the comments we left in the comment section (indicating it was an X-mas gift). That kind of thoughtfulness is what you get when you shop small businesses. Thanks Labyrinth!!! read more

Love this place! I was a little anxious stopping here. It's one of the few (if not only?) game stores in the district, and in my experience, game stores can be hit or miss. I've been in some that were small and dingy with awkward or rude staff and let me tell you - this was the complete opposite! The store is spacious, bright and clean with games neatly organized, making it a fun space to browse. They have everything well laid out, so if you're looking for a specific game or type of game, it's easy to walk through and view similar games, expansions etc. The staff was incredible as well - so friendly and helpful! I'll definitely be back, hopefully for one of the store's many events! read more

Wow! What a great experience! A team full of gamers on staff that know their board games. Who knew there are so many new board games in so many different genres. Very impressed! We walked in only to check out the store and walked out with bags of games in tow. If you are nearby, definitely check it out! read more

The second time I have visited Labrinth, and for the second time, I was sold on new and different games that built on past experiences. The guy helping me out yesterday truly loved board games and was the perfect salesman. He listened to the games my family likes and gave me awesome suggestions to try out. Highly recommend this place. And I'm not a Magic player but they were packed with players in a weekly tournament. FYI, I ended up buying the Minecraft card game, "gonuts for donuts" (highly recommended) and Exit: The abandoned cabin (the escape room game). read more

We're in a time when most people research what they want on their own and order it on Amazon. Trust me--that's what my boyfriend and I do, too. We were looking for a specific game that I don't think is made anymore (Shakespeare in a Box - good group game for older family members). Since we were going to be near Eastern Market we decided to stop by Labyrinth and poke around. 1) it has an AMAZING selection of so many different types of games. 2) the people who work here are extremely helpful and informed -- they talked a mile a minute to tell us about different games that could suit our needs. We ended up getting a card game that neither of us had ever heard of, and we're hoping that his family will enjoy it! I also picked up a few gifts for my nieces, since it's never to early to do some Christmas shopping. read more

One of the best game stores in the MD/DC/VA area. Very friendly, fully-stocked, they carry the full range of casual family games, heavy Euros, RPGs, plus puzzles and toys, and they even carry a few hardcore wargames for the grognard crowd. It's a game store for lovers of games; you can tell the owner and the employees really put their hearts into it. Game stores have a hard time competing with Amazon and OLGSs, but Labyrinth has a customer loyalty program which takes a bit of a bite out of paying full MSRP. If I lived closer to DC, I'd do all my game buying here, but I always try to make time to stop here when I am in the city. read more

By far the best game store I've ever been in. The staff know the ins and outs of every game on the shelf, that mixed with their awesome events and community engagement make it a great place to spend your time and money! read more

We visited Labyrith from Arizona, and having visited many many stores in many many states, this one is pretty darn good. Good selection, they sell singles, amount of gaming room is a little limited (they can seat maybe 30-40) in the store. read more

Labyrinth is a fantastic store, perfect for both quick browsing and for spending long afternoons away playing great games. It's surprisingly large, having undergone a recent expansion giving it two extra rooms, and every shelf in the store is chock full of tons of entertainment, from popular card and board games like Settlers of Catan and Munchkin to a variety of puzzles, puzzle books, deck-building card games, and more. There is so much content available that it is addicting just browsing the shelves and seeing what's there. There is of course also plenty of child-friendly material as well, making the store a fun family visit. The best part about Labyrinth is that they have a copy of most of the games they own in a room in the back full of tables for you to try in the store. This way you can playtest games for yourself before purchasing them, and occasionally a store assistant will sit down with you and teach you how to play the game. read more

Was visiting the area looking for something packable, these workers were beyond helpful and kind! Huge selection to chose from, knowledgeable people. Would definitely go again! read more

I stumbled across this place during a casual Sunday of window shopping and boy was it a nice surprise. From the outside, you're enticed by a clever word puzzle, which is harder than it looks. The store seems rather small and limited in selection through the windows, but once you walk in, you realize that the store is pretty deep and consists of several rooms stocked full of toys and games. The store has the widest variety of board games, card games, and puzzles I've ever seen. They even have a back section of open tables where you can try out some of their more popular board games before you decide to buy, which I thought was a nice touch. Walking around, I was greeted by warm, welcoming staff who were not only knowledgeable about their games but also seemed to be avid players too, which was a huge plus. All in all, stepping into Labyrinth made me feel like a kid again and the staff made it real easy to relive memories, learn about new ones, and just geek out for a bit. read more

It's been a little bit since I've visited Labyrinth and things have changed a bit. I haven't always been in love with the size of the store but it seems they still haven't learned how utilize their space. The thing that bothered me the most tonight was that once myself and my friends arrived, we were greeted and then promptly followed. One of employees took it upon himself, for whatever reason, to follow us around from the time we entered until the time we checked out. All 40 minutes. At first he was chatting with us about games but then it became annoying because we couldn't discuss games with each other without his personal interjection and seal of approval or disapproval. No one else was being followed except us. He even went so far as to tell us they specifically don't stock a game "because we don't like it and it has bad reviews." What?! Because the staff doesn't like a game, they won't stock it??? That's a huge cut in their profit market. I love this said game and he essentially was telling me that had I not got it elsewhere (a large chain bookstore of all places) I wouldn't have been able to find it in their game store. Wow. Not only that, he and the owner (hopefully unknowingly) took several opportunities to try to make us feel dumb. They told us the following: 1. The game we were looking for didn't exist, they hadn't heard of it. Except upon further inspection, they actually had it on the shelf. 2. Another game we were looking for he didn't believe I had the name correct. Even after checking my Amazon Wish List on my phone, he insisted that I was thinking of another game. 3. We might be considered lazy for not attending their weekly game night. 4. When we were finally pressured into checking out (yes, being followed around for 40 mins by a personal store rep with endless recommendations makes it hard not to buy something) the owner double checked that we knew what game we were buying and that it was an expansion, not the game itself. Which would have been fine except clearly after talking with us most of the night it was apparent we were all avid gamers and the small box says "Expansion" on the front. Pfft! I wish I had a different review for this place I once was head over heels for but this is what I experienced. When a game store starts treating potential customers like potential criminals and charges an arm and a leg above online prices it's my time to politely bow out. read more

This place doesn't need any more rave reviews, but they are second to NONE for board games puzzles and the like in town. Seriously considering proximity to them in our housing hunt in DC!!! They have the NICEST and most helpful staff, and they have hard to find expansions and games to boot! We love Labyrinth read more

Very very cool place. As I continued on my geek spotting, this place made onto my list to visit in D.C. This place's got everything - board game and puzzles related. For all ages from Pre-K toys and puzzles (left wall inner room), to adults who are up for a magical night of Magic the Gathering or battling disease outbreaks with Pandemic (right wall inner room). I will spare the details but all the notable board games at the top of BoardGameGeek's rankings and expansions can be found here. The outer room has classic games of chess, GO, and even Mah Jong sets in a wide variety of qualities and levels. In the back of the store, a tournament in MTG is going on and buzzing with enthusiastic magic talk. The staff was very commendable, they really know their stuff and it is obvious they are passionate about the games in the store as much as we (the players) are. Whenever we expressed interest in a game, they gave us details about gameplay and explained the differences of each expansion. We were mostly interested in the more complex board games but we heard people asking about educational games and they were equally as knowledgeable and willing to help. They seem to dedicate some time to an educational program for teachers using puzzles in classrooms. Kudos. The only tiny discrepancy in my otherwise perfect experience with this store is that I can't shake the fact that someone's eyes were on us at all times, even as we were browsing we were interrupted often and was given more information about the game. I dismissed it as the staff being overly attentive and since I am a visitor, I don' t know much about the region and maybe they are just being properly cautious. But I've never had that feeling in Geek spots around Boston. Maybe I'm just overly sensitive but it certainly discouraged me from taking any pictures of the store. read more

There isn't a person alive who doesn't like a little puzz in their life. Be it crosswords or jigsaw, Jumble or nudie Photo Hunt, ring-and-hook or how women think, a challenge exists that every single person loves to overcome. In DC, the way to find yours is, not so ironically, through Labyrinth. An immaculate maze of board, ball and brainiac games, this shop will save time for those on your gift roster who have what they need and buy what they want. Hard-to-find titles, new stuff nobody's ever heard of and with just the right amount of quirk, it's practically impossible to leave without a purchase or something on your immediate "get me" list. The staff is supremely friendly and seem to know everything about any product, including GPS location, current inventory and price without looking. Encyclopedias they be! There's even a long table set up in the store's rear for D&D daemons to get their protection spell on. Their d20s rollin'. Their... wizard robes... elven... with Fire +1... magic. I don't know. Anyway, tourist or local, go check it out. You'll feel young and nerdy and curious and everything else that's great about life. Plus, if you see a guy balancing on the wobble ball labyrinth while working a 3D marble sphere and detaching two rings from chained horseshoes with his pecs, be sure to say hi. It's not me or anything (that shit's impossible) but he definitely deserves a hello. read more

We love going to Labyrinth and have purchased nearly a dozen puzzles and a few other goodies -- all very good prices and quality. My husband and I also partook in the Mardi Gras murder mystery and had a fabulous time (and it made our friends very jealous). What prompted me to write this review, finally, is that on our latest trip into the store my husband asked one of the associates for assistance picking a game. A few questions later and presto, Ticket to Ride. I'm hooked on that game now. I definitely definitely recommend stopping in the next time you're in Eastern Market or Capitol Hill. Heck, this place is a destination in itself. I have family visiting from New York for just one day this weekend and we will be stopping into Labyrinth (no joke). Plus, they take American Express credit cards; while I know that it costs a bit more for the merchant it is our card of choice/I appreciate that. read more

Nice game shop with good selection, knowledgeable staff, and a great vibe. You can almost miss the store from the street, but the it's actually fairly large inside. In addition to the sales areas, there is a nice communal space in the back where you can try out games or join in one of their events. The staff are also great about meeting you where you are and helping you pick out your next game, plus they have a loyalty point program for repeat customers. Great asset to the community! read more

What a great store!! They have so many fun games, and great recommendations for what to buy based on what you like! They have SO many open games that you can play, or come to one of their game nights- they're really welcoming. I had lots of fun here and love the game I bought! read more

Labyrinth is a cute little game store that carry games that aren't traditionally sold in Target, Wal-Mart and the like. This stores carries different board and card games like Settlers of Catan, Fluxx, Munchkins, Killer Bunnies and many more. Role playing games are available as well as collector's cards. Puzzles of different kinds are also sold. You can find any games for children and adults. There's also game tables set up in the back for people wanting to play games. When I was there, people were meeting to play some sort of role-playing game. I assume that different days bring out different game players. The staff were friendly. The games were reasonably priced. I'll definitely come back to buy some unique games. read more

Labyrinth is an awesome find in Capitol Hill. The owner, Kathleen Donahue, and her staff are welcoming and engaging, definitely going out of their way to make the game store warm and friendly, a place you want to hang out. The selection of board games and puzzles, some that you can't find online or in the big-box retail stores, is great, and she even stocks a small but good selection of role-playing games (my personal fave), and is planning on increasing her offerings as demand warrants. The store is laid out very nicely, with lots of inventory accessible, but with plenty of room to move above, and beautifully appointed with wood floor paneling and lots of natural lighting. The store will be offering various game demos and events, and has tables for sit-down play. All in all, a fairly awesome game store run by some fairly awesome people. Support your friendly local game store by shopping at Labyrinth! read more

When it comes to a board game stores three things matter: the store, your product, and your people. Labyrinth Games being one of the hidden gems within Washington D.C. does exceptionally well if not outstanding in all categories. The Store. Bottom line, its very nice but could be bigger. Its located in a nice part of town near 8th & I and the store front is easily identifiable. Walking in you realize the store might be small but makes up for it in depth. It continues further into and all the way through the building it occupies which is nice. This gives the gamers in the back room another option for breaks instead of having to awkwardly loiter out front. The shelves are plentiful, especially in the back which make it a tight fit. However they make up for it. Product. The store offers many different games and does a good job avoiding the typical stagnation of a specific niche. They offer puzzles of all types, nice wooden games, card games (CCGs & LCGs), RPGs, dice games, and many board games from top publishers (FFG, GMT, Queen, Asmodee, etc). They even carry a healthy stock of excellent kid games including the popular HABA line. They carry so much it can be overwhelming for the untrained eye. No need to worry though, they have outstanding people. People. Outstanding customer service makes this store a 5 star establishment. As you walk in you are greeted in a friendly manner to where you don't feel bombarded. As I walked through I found many employees making recommendations to new gamers. Their recommendations were spot on for what new gamers can handle; games not to heavy and suited just right for an intro into this fun hobby. I even picked a few games up and asked questions which the staff answered quickly without hesitation. A solid knowledge base goes a long way. The cherry on top was the owner who was very kind and showed a genuine interest in our wants and needs. Extra. In addition to just plain awesomeness the store also holds many gaming events for younger children introducing them to the hobby. Outstanding. Visit this store if your up in D.C. Its one of the few localities you will want to support, even if your not a gamer. They can find something for you or help you spread the gift of gaming for the people in your life. Good luck and have fun gaming. read more

There's a real shortage of well-run stores that cater specifically to dorky hobbies. Places like Labyrinth restore my belief that it's possible for it to happen. This place is clean, well-stocked, and organized sensibly. That said, as is often the case, the staff are what make this place amazing. I've been twice in two days (they're that awesome). The guy who helped me both times (whose name I never caught, unfortunately) was knowledgeable, helpful and enthusiastic, almost-singlehanded my turning me into a repeat customer. Honestly one of the best game store experiences I've ever had. read more

Labyrinth Games is an incredible store with an amazing selection of puzzles and games and a friendly enthusiastic staff. The store stocks games from old classics like Pit to the newest innovations in card and board gaming. When I was unable to find the game I wanted (Tichu), the staff ordered it for me and had it ready for pick-up a couple days later. They also have a wide selection of beautiful chess sets and wooden puzzles. Kathleen (the owner) and the rest of the staff are very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the games and puzzles they sell. I've dropped by the store on many occasions to see Kathleen working on a puzzle with her son or discussing the new Spiel des Jahres nominees with staff and patrons. Everyone here is very friendly and very helpful. The store runs several events every week, from demos of new games to Friday Night Magic the Gathering. I'm especially a fan of the latter since the players that frequent the store are fairly casual and friendly, not too broodingly serious and socially-inept like the stereotypical player (contrary to what some reviewers have reported). All in all, Labyrinth is an amazing addition to DC. read more