Our family loves this store. Not only do they have retro games but really cool collectors items. Staff is always friendly and knowledgeable and our kids always leave feeling good. read more

I've spent hundreds of dollars at Throwback Gamez because I genuinely like supporting mom-and-pop shops, but today I learned apparently you need a bachelor's degree in Pokémon Card Sciences before you're allowed to negotiate here. I'm getting back into Pokémon cards after collecting as a kid. Now I'm grown, have some money to spend, and figured it would be fun getting back into the hobby. Obviously I don't know every single thing about card conditions, pricing, sets, etc. yet. They had a card for $52. I looked it up and found one for $33, so I offered the guy $45. Seemed reasonable to me. What I DIDN'T notice was that the $33 card was listed as heavily played. My bad. I didn't know. I'm still learning. Instead of just saying, "Hey man, that $33 one is heavily played, ours is in much better condition, that's why it's $52," this dude looks at me like I just tried trading him a Caterpie for a Charizard and goes: "Why would I do that? That's my price. That one is all fucked up." BROTHER I DIDN'T KNOW. Then he basically tells me next time I need to learn and do my research before trying to make deals. Damn Professor Oak, my fault. I thought I walked into a card shop, not my final exam at Pokémon University. The funny part is I WASN'T trying to lowball the guy. I legitimately thought $45 was a fair offer based on what I had found. All he had to do was explain the difference and I would've been like, "Oh shit, okay, that makes sense." Instead he made me feel like an idiot for not knowing something. Then another guy walks in who obviously knows his Pokémon cards and suddenly the employee evolves into his final form. Now he's friendly, talking cards, buddy-buddy, having a great time. I'm standing there like damn, apparently I need 8 gym badges before customer service gets unlocked. Maybe the AC being ass had him irritated. Maybe he was hungry. Maybe Team Rocket stole his lunch. I don't know. But the customer service today was TERRIBLE. And that sucks because I actually like this store. I've spent hundreds here and specifically come here because I want to support a local mom-and-pop shop instead of buying everything online. Not everybody walking into a card shop is going to know everything about Pokémon. Some of us are getting back into something we loved as kids and finally have adult money to spend on it. Instead of making those customers feel stupid, teach them something. I promise you, we're probably the easiest people to sell cards to. read more

Throwback Gamez - Charizard card - Video Game Stores Near Me - Oceanside, California

Tiny but mighty shop for vintage games. I was genuinely impressed by the selection. Prices were fair in my opinion. Only minus for me was customer service. Didn't feel welcomed, maybe bc I had my kids with me. I get it, some places aren't kid friendly. But I still purchased several items. Other than that, I'd recommend checking this place out for vintage games. read more

I am BEYOND impressed with this place!! We are on Oceanside for a mini vacation away from Los Angeles today and on a side quest we stopped by here to just take a look. Little did I know I'd walk out today with a BRAND NEW WII! We got a Wii (it also included Wii Fit) and purchased a LOT of games too. The Wii was a huge part of my childhood and unfortunately the one I owned growing up was damaged and thrown away (gasp... I know! But not my fault)! Anyways, the worker there today (had on a My Chemical Romance hat & had some cool tattoos) helped us out today. I didn't get their name, but they were very nice and extremely helpful. The pricing here? Out of this world. It was so affordable to snag over 10 games and a brand new Wii. That's not something you'll get at Game Stop! On top of it, they offer a military discount (we couldn't use it but it's good to know for anyone who can)! This place is also dog friendly and I got to meet a cute dog named Bowie (I wonder if he's a regular)! All and all, I wish this place were located in Los Angeles. I really loved it and again their pricing was extremely fair. I really hope they can get a website up soon because I'd love to buy from them when I'm back home! Thank you for an awesome, affordable and great experience. It was like walking down memory lane in this store!! It took me back to my childhood. read more

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Manny and the team at throwback are the best. Great staff, great selection, and fair prices. Can't ask for more. Support local stores like these! read more

This is the perfect place to come if you're into Gameboy, Playstation, Nintendo, Xbox, and Pokémon cards. I thought it was going to be a little more of mix of throwback things, but it's still a sweet place! The guys working here are really nice, too. read more

Throwback Gamez - Outside - Video Game Stores Near Me - Oceanside, California

Wonderful store! Staff was so helpful! I needed a game to boot my memory card disc for my game cube's gameboy player and the staff member helped me get the right game for my set up. I'm happy to say it's working. Wish I would've got your name - man with the beard. Thank you again I'm at home playing my pokemon games on my big TV. Also the selection there is fantastic! They have pokemon cards and merch too! Thank you I'll be back again read more

The BEST place to go if you're looking for constantly updated shelves of new retro games. Customer service is the best I've ever seen and they make you feel at home. It's very welcoming and help you with all your needs. read more

great staff and really solid fair prices to the games that are really hard to come by.

Gotta give the guys at Throwback another shout out. I have been coming here for almost 2 years now and man this is the spot. The only place I go now for all my video games and card collecting needs. The owner Manny has great deals on comics, games, cards, vintage collectibles, and so much more. I highly recommend anyone to stop in and swing by to pick up some amazing gems and have a laugh with the staff. read more

Throwback Gamez - Some GameCube games I've picked up. - Video Game Stores Near Me - Oceanside, California

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New owners, new store. Opened in 2020 If you're looking for games for your older systems, this is a place to go. I have been wanting to go to the store for quite a while. They have a lot of really good games almost every game system. You can think of along with stuffed animals game controls you name it. Staff is super knowledgeable and very friendly.. read more

I went into the store for the first time this past weekend and it by far exceeded what I was expecting to see. They had tons on tons of different consoles, games, collectibles to choose from and is all fairly priced compared to some other stores. The employee I was helped by was very informative and helped me choose what would be best for what I was looking for (n64 with some games for me and friends)I walked out feeling like a kid in a candy store. read more

Reviewing this place a year later. Throwback gamez as a store has plenty of pros but I feel like the negative out way the good. I wrote a review over a year ago about this store having extremely high prices (other reviews confirm this). The fact that the owner doesn't match pricing off internet pricing is baffling to me. This must be why all the Pokémon cards are still in the case. The same Charizard ex that was 799.99$ is still in the case. Hmmm wonder why? Going into this store a year later, all I see is employees playing Wii golf and ignoring customers. I see over priced games with reprinted labels going for over 300$. Im sorry to say that this place is a new game ADX just in 2024. This must be why they left the Ninja Expo. I hope they get it better because this used to be the spot. Now there are many other retro game stores and card stores to go too. I would pass on this one for the time being. read more

The service from Manny is great! He is great selection at awesome prices. We drive all the way from Palm Springs for this store!

I came here because of the art sale they were having to celebrate their 2 year anniversary. First, props to them for opening right before shut down and then staying open!! The celebration allowed emerging local artists to get their art out there as well and I bought several prints. And the taco truck they had was delicious (wish I'd noted his name to give him a review, I loved that he wore a black professional chef's outfit) This is a super cute store and great resource for vintage games. My boyfriend kept saying it took him straight back to childhood. All their games and consoles are warrantied so you don't have to worry about them not working. They had a huge selection too. If you've been wanting to share the games you loved as a kid with your own children then this is where to come. Local owners are super nice and community-oriented. Give them a shot! read more

Throwback Gamez - Anniversary celebration with community art sales - Video Game Stores Near Me - Oceanside, California

I wish I could give Throwback Gamez another five star review, because Bob sucks. Bob is cheap. Bob probably went into a retail establishment looking to make a quick flip on a Pokémon card, and then didn't get it at a decent enough price to fit his profit margin even after being offered a 30 percent discount. I get 10% off and I fought in a war. And let me tell you, I've always been thankful for that 10% because Manny and the crew have always, ALWAYS delivered me great customer service. Even if I'm not buying anything! Bob didn't buy anything, and now his eBay store is sad. Don't be like Bob. Be like me, and support a small gaming business. Also, they might still have some TOTK CE if you weren't lucky enough to get one. And if I'd have known they were getting them here (because let me tell you, it's rough for a business as small as this to get in on new game releases) I would have waited just because I'd always rather give Manny my money than Target. read more

Throwback Gamez - My opinion on Bob. - Video Game Stores Near Me - Oceanside, California

Sometimes when I'm away from home I just walk into a game store and I immediately fall in love. This store was fantastic from the moment I walked in until the moment I left. When you first enter Throwback Gamez you are immediately overwhelmed by thousands of video games, plushies, toys, Pokémon cards, and magazines to go along with all of it. I went straight for the Nintendo GameCube games when I walked in and even though most of them sadly didn't have a manual, I was able to snag one along with games for both the PlayStation Vita and the PlayStation 4. On top of the overwhelming amount of games they had, I have to give props to these guys for putting games in plastic sleeves for display as well, the store is so well organized, clean, and just looks like a top notch store. On top of the store being clean, the staff was super helpful and informative to talk to, which can sometimes be an even better experience then the store itself, to kudos to them. Overall, I will never visit San Diego again without hitting up this amazing game store on the way back. Did I buy 400 things? No, but this is easily the type of store that you find those rare and uncommon gems you've been hunting for and I can't wait for my next trip back! read more

Throwback Gamez - First thing you see when you walk up is this fantastic chair outside. - Video Game Stores Near Me - Oceanside, California

i couldnt have had a better experience with Manny the owner of the store. You can tell he's passionate about his business and he is very respectful. Anytime an owner makes a special accommodation to make sure a customer is satisfied, they really earn my respect. I can't recommend this place enough to any hobbyist. Even if they don't have what you need, whether a specific product or repair service, they're knowledgable and should be able to help. read more

The owner is super cool dude. He Went above and beyond making sure my game and console adapters worked. I appreciate that type of customer service to ensure I have a properly working game. read more

I have gotten a lot of games and a few consoles from them and everything is always in better than working order. After ordering these same things online before throwback had opened, I can say that's not always the case in the world, but Manny and his staff care so much that what they sell you is always 100%. For things like gameboy games they make sure they replace the battery cartridge and give you fresh batteries in the gameboy itself. For disk games I've never come across an error or scratch. I've also bought a ps2 from them with no issue, it runs like a charm. They have a list they can put you down on if you want something they don't have at the time and will call you to let you know when they get it in. Exceptional store, merchandise, and people working in it. Not only a good and successful addition to the neighborhood, but to san diego's gaming space. read more

My best friend recommended this little gem to me, Manny and team are fair and treat you with respect. Willing to work with ya! Better service than their competitor!!! Highly recommend this place for all your gaming needs, they have an awesome selection and it's clean and well organized too! Will definitely be back to check out some vintage PlayStation finds, or the next time I need Pokémon cards! read more

The guys working here are cool, very nice and helpful. Good selection of older games. A few games are higher priced because they're popular collector games, but overall the prices are low and fair. All of the games I've bought here are in excellent condition. As a guy who just wants to play some classic games (without an emulator), I'm happy, will be back often to see what they get. read more

Awesome staff ! Very knowledgeable and welcoming. They have everything you need basically for your old game consoles!

Love this game store!! They're open whenever I feel like shopping for new videogames and they always have a great selection that is well organized. I love to come here to browse for all my different Sony consoles and hand-helds. The owner is a super nice guy and makes you feel like family, the employees are always helpful and they always give us a great deal on our trade-ins. Totally recommend stopping by here whether you have a certain item in mind or just want to browse for games. read more

My family and I have been to this establishment multiple times and had great experiences and have even referred a bunch of people there but I guess that ends today. They posted that they have received a shipment of the new Pokémon celebration ultra premium trainer pack (which is super hard to come by) and I was ready to buy immediately cause Christmas is around the corner. But I'll admit that I had sticker shock when they told me the price: $349.99. After taxes, that will be triple the retail price of $119.99. I get that this a "mom n pop" location and markups are usual but tripling the retail price is ridiculous and puts them on the level of scalpers. I even pointed this out on their Instagram page and was instantly block from the page. It was constructive criticism but I guess that they couldn't handle some feedback. This is America though and they can price their products the way they want too. Wish them all the best and hope they reconsider the way they approach their pricing methods but until then, no more of my business nor referrals. read more

Throwback Gamez - Overpriced product (scalping) - Video Game Stores Near Me - Oceanside, California

My wife wanted a new Gameboy Color and we ended up with a whole PS2 setup with a couple of games -- plus some Gameboy stuff, of course. Throwback Gamez has a huge selection of carts and discs, with some REALLY awesome gems from every era of electronic gaming. The store itself is really clean and has ample walking room to comfortably check out their selection. Throwback's proprietor Manny is knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful. In the time since they opened, sometimes they'll have cool little events that bring nerd fandoms together. Great place for the community and an awesome shop to have in South Oceanside! read more

This place is legit. After I first discovered it I was in the store almost daily for a couple of weeks. Manny is very friendly and willing to help with any issues should you run into any with the retro software/hardware. Why feed the sharks of big corps like GameStop when you can get more for your trades here all while supporting local business. read more

Throwback Gamez - Front Entry. Great photo op. - Video Game Stores Near Me - Oceanside, California

I went in on a whim with a friend and saw they had a PS2 in stock, my god mother has been looking for one so I was very excited. Not only was the price fair and in her budget, but the owner also pulled one out for me that had a box and still had the manual. I'm so excited! Also, the team was so friendly and spent a lot of time talking with me and making sure I found everything I needed. Thank you! read more

Throwback Gamez - Video Game Stores Near Me - Oceanside, California

Great hidden gem of a store!! The staff is absolutely amazing and friendly from the moment you walk in. They make sure to acknowledge you and easily available to help find what you're looking for. They truly have everything you need for gaming. My son purchased an old school PS2 and when he went back in a few days later to purchase some games, the staff immediately asked him how his console was working and if there are any problems bring it back in. Exceptional customer service! read more

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LOVED this place. Like walking into a museum of my childhood. Seeing the gaming consoles I grew up with, all the classic games I used to own and want (but could not afford), and even funko pops, merch and other gaming goodies, this place is perfectly named. THROWBACK gamez. It's literally like walking into GameStop in the late 90s, early 2000s lol. Which is perfect for me because nowadays I'm not much of a gamer but I still own my OG Xbox. Lately I've been wanting to find the games I used to own but somehow no longer have, so I can both revisit my childhood and overcome the levels I never beat as a kid, and this place was hands-down a one stop shop for what I needed. My gf and I actually had dinner plans in Oceanside and to kill time we looked up some shops in the area and discovered this little gem. Their Instagram even showed it was their 1 year anniversary so I was able to get some pretty sweet deals on a funko pops and some games. Staff was very friendly and everything is reasonably priced. My biggest joy was copping games I never owed because they used to be so expensive lol. Guess I'm whipping out the OG Xbox for the next week! Thanks y'all, this is an awesome spot. read more

My name is Romeo and I myself own a video game store in Los Angeles, CA called LA Video Games and I must say as a collector and store owner. This video game store is so awesome!!! The staff was very friendly, with great customer service! I got to hang out for a bit with the owner and his associate, which were very nice & easy to talk with. The inventory they had in stock actually got me by surprise, I saw they had a lot of amazing titles in stock & all the prices were very fair. My visit was a quick pit stop since I was in town for business and when I asked about other game stores in the area I should check out, they referred all their neighbors which was very nice to see that Throwback Gamez is friendly to their community. Would highly recommend this store, my business to any gamer or video game collector. Thank you for everything Throwback Gamez team!!! Much love from LA Video Games!! read more

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i came in to sell a stack of vintage zelda games and a few others i'd treasured for the last 15+ years. i am so happy that they went to this shop. the owner, manny, and daniel are super friendly and personable. throwback gamez is a true oceanside gem! read more

I've driven past this place a handful of times but never had the time to stop in. Today I finally checked it out and it's awesome. Stores like these are, unfortunately, a dying breed. But I would much rather give my business to a passionate local business like this than a chain any day of the week. Store was clean and well organized, staff was welcoming and helpful, and the selection was great as well! read more

Awesome store! Dropped in for my first time today and got lucky, because they were having an awesome sale. Picked up far too many games, because of the sale, but had a great time, everyone there was super friendly and helpful. The store was clean and well-organized and it was just a really nice experience. Will certainly be back! The people running this place seem to understand that it's the little touches that matter! Way to go, guys. Keep up the good work. read more

Owner's always in a good mood. Super passionate about what he's doing and it shows with his eclectic in store selection and presentation. Always has what I'm looking for (and sometimes things I didn't know I was looking for) and I'm stoked to be supporting this business. Have made about 4-5 purchases now. Also, COOL NINTENDO CHAIR read more

Throwback Gamez - Video Game Stores Near Me - Oceanside, California

Friendly staff, great selection of video games new and used! Definitely a nostalgia trip with the games I found on the shelves, also a selection of toys and collectibles. Prices are very fair, games that are still going for $60+ on Xbox Live you can find at half price here used. It definitely is worth a stop and browse. read more

Fun shop for kids is all ages. My son and I walked out with nostalgic games, plus decent prices.

I love coming here on the weekends with my brother always excited to come in and buy some video games I would recommend the store to any person collecting video games or just wanting to relive the past 5 stars this place is amazing read more

I never write yelp reviews but this place made me feel like I needed too. I've been in multiple times, and everytime the service and vibe of the shop has been outstanding. My most recent trip was to pick up a psp 1001. The product was in amazing condition and listed at a reasonable price. They play test everything and make sure it's ready to be enjoyed. You can tell when you walk in that the people running and operating the store genuinely love what they do, and that's the sort of store that i love to support, I will definitely be back. read more

This Video game store is amazing...They have pretty much anything your looking for when it comes to classic video games from our childhood. And the store is nice and clean and everything is super Organized. The Employees that work there are awesome and friendly and very knowledgeable . The guy from Newark New Jersey was awesome talking to as well since I'm from the east coast as well . And the other young man that works there was very friendly and helpful. I would definitely check this place out if your ever in the area . You'd be glad you did . I'll definitely be going back there !! read more

Throwback Gamez - Video Game Stores Near Me - Oceanside, California