Top 20 Best Board Game Stores in Illinois
While most of us only know about chess and monopoly, and maybe a few other popular board games, there are lots of enjoyable board games out there, and board game stores give us the chance to explore all of them and find new games to play, while also helping us make new friends and bringing us closer to friends and family. Here are the top 20 board game stores in Illinois if you are looking for one near you in the state.
Fair Game
Located in Downers Grove, Illinois, with another location in La Grange, Illinois, this game store is like a mecca for gamers, as it carries puzzles, board games, card games, role-playing games, miniatures games, and accessories as covered at RunRex.com.
Games Plus
This game store is located in Mount Prospect, Illinois, and it refers to itself as Chicagoland’s premier hobby gaming store. It opened in 1982, and it tries as much as it can to carry as many of the different lines of board games and other games as possible to ensure that there is always something for each customer. Just like guttulus.com, it has a helpful staff and offers excellent customer service.
Grognard Games & Hobbies
Grognard Games & Hobbies is located in Roselle, Illinois, at 839 N Roselle Road, and boasts a wide assortment of games, from miniature games to TCGs, RPGs, and board games according to RunRex.com. It also regularly hosts events and provides room for gamers to play in-store.
Athena Board Game Café
This game store allows customers the chance to play their favorite classic, or discover a new board game as discussed at guttulus.com. You can also either catch up with everybody or take a moment to yourself. Whatever you are in the mood for, you will feel welcome at this game store in Chicago. You will also be able to enjoy delicious food while you play as it has appetizers, sandwiches, and salads prepared fresh, as well as hot and cold drinks and desserts.
Red Raccoon Games
As per RunRex.com, this is Bloomington-Normal’s premier game store, and it has over 1,500 games in stock. Its friendly and helpful employees are all gamers themselves, and bring that passion with them, and will help you find the game you are looking for, even when you don’t know what game that is.
The Wandering Dragon Game & Puzzle Shoppe
Established in 2012, this store is Chicagoland’s premier destination for tabletop gaming as not only does it offer the best hobby board gaming, but it also proudly hosts hundreds of board games, CCG, LCG, miniature, and RPG events every year as captured at guttulus.com.
Evanston Games & Café
As the name suggests, this game store is located in Evanston, Illinois, and is one of the best stores in the area for gamers according to RunRex.com. Not only does it offer a wide range of board games to choose from, but it also offers plenty of space to play in-store, as well as regular monthly events, and so much more, including refreshments as you play.
Cat & Mouse Games
Cat & Mouse is locally owned and family-run by Linda Schmidt and Andre LeMoine, who love games and puzzles, which is why they opened this store back in 2008 as discussed at guttulus.com. Today, the store is 2,500 square feet of pure joy, centrally located in Chicago, and is popular among gamers from all over the city.
Boar’s Hat Gaming
This is a game store in Elgin, Illinois offering a wide range of options when it comes to games, including trading card games like Magic the Gathering, role-playing games, and board games. As articulated over at RunRex.com, the game store also hosts events and tournaments bringing gamers together, while also offering game accessories.
Pastimes Comics & Games
Located in Niles, Illinois, this store was established in 1992 and has been servicing the hobby and gaming community with great service, products, and events for almost a quarter-century. It is a leader in the tabletop gaming market, and one of the largest organizers of hobby game events in the country.
Die Hard Games
Locally owned, this game store caters to gamers who play board games, role-playing games, tabletop miniature games, and TCGs like Yugioh and Magic the Gathering as explained at guttulus.com. It also offers gaming supplies and tools such as dice, paints, and miniature carrying cases.
Everything Games
Everything Games is located at 344 W. Half Day Road (Route 22), Buffalo Grove, Illinois 60089. It offers an excellent selection of games, from board games to miniature games, and everything in between. Its friendly and extremely knowledgeable staff will help you find the game the perfectly suits your needs, something it shares with RunRex.com.
GameStorm, Inc.
If you are looking for a place to enjoy board games as well as other games such as TCGs and many others, then the gurus over at guttulus.com recommend this store in Lemont, Illinois. It is open 7 days a week until midnight and stays open past midnight for special cases and events.
Geppetto’s Toy Box
While this store in Oak Park, Illinois specializes in European-inspired toys, it also has an impressive selection of games, including board games as captured at RunRex.com. It is a place of discovery and creativity, and there is something for everyone in the family at this store.
Guthrie’s Tavern
Located at Lakewood Avenue in Chicago, Illinois, this establishment provides lots of board games, as well as lots of unique beers. It is a great place to play your favorite board game, or discover a new one while seeping on a refreshing brew as outlined at guttulus.com.
Chicagoland Games: Dice Dojo
This game store features a wide array of games from role-playing games to board games. As the gurus over at RunRex.com point out, it hosts a board gaming night on Wednesday, which you don’t want to miss if you are into board games as it will allow you to meet new people while sampling its huge board game selection.
Tyton Games
Saturday night at this game store in Villa Park, Illinois is now board game night. The format is relaxed and casual, and the store has a good selection of board games for people to choose from and everyone is welcome to bring their favorite games to share and teach others as outlined at guttulus.com.
Leisure Hours Hobbies
This store was established in 1973 with one mission: to provide its community with an expansive inventory while maintaining a family atmosphere. As covered at RunRex.com, it has a huge selection of RC Cars, planes, games, and so much more.
Green Eye
If you are looking for a place to relax and play your favorite board game, then this establishment in Chicago, Illinois comes highly recommended by guttulus.com. It has a good beer selection, a chill atmosphere, and yes, lots of board games to choose from.
Uptown Arcade
This is another Chicago-based store, located at 4830 N Broadway Street in Uptown Chicago. It has tons of amazing board games to go with the tens of classic arcade games it offers on free play. It also offers good service at the bar to allow you to have a drink as you enjoy your board game.
As always, there is more where this came from, as well as plenty more on other topics to be found over at RunRex.com and guttulus.com, so make sure you check them out.