The Game Wizard and Blue Sky Hobbies — Attraction in Bremerton

This place is actually amazing. Legitimately the best LGS (local game store) I've ever been to.

Downstairs they have private rooms for gaming (perhaps available for rent, but I haven't asked) and the open main space has numerous gaming tables for playing Magic, Pokemon, or D&D, and large terrain tables for playing war games (e.g. Warhammer 40k), all available to use for free.

Also downstairs are some pinball machines, a few great arcade games (e.g. classic Rampage), and a bar and kitchen. The bar is cordoned off from the gaming tables/space which makes it possible for minors to make use of the gaming space (until 9pm), but also allows adults to order adult beverages that can be enjoyed responsibly while gaming.

They have delicious food (including a vegetarian wrap that my vegetarian wife loved, and vegetarian-friendly pizza). As a meat-eater I LOVE their meatball pizzas and country tots. They also have unique drinks served in potion flasks, and all of the other normal bar stuff, like beers and ciders on tap (in a glass or stein). The downstairs staff are super friendly and efficient. The kitchen hasn't let me down once when it comes to speed or quality.

Upstairs (the main/ground level) you'll find a massive selection of games of all kinds, as well as some books and coloring books, model paints and supplies, RC cars, dice, and other hobby errata, as well as a coffee bar/barista serving espressos and italian sodas, etc.

The front counter staff have always been extremely helpful when I asked for advice about a good game to try, what paints or supplies I should consider as someone who is just starting out painting models, or what sleeves to choose for protecting my new Magic cards, and so on.

Also upstairs are two shockingly inoffensive bathrooms, and this was where I expected them to have a weakness, given all the gaming going on there (if you know, you know). The first occasion I've had to use one of their restrooms was last night, and I was very impressed to find that it was clean, well-maintained, and well-stocked, even though it was an hour or two before closing time.

Prices upstairs and down are all very fair and as good as you will find at a LGS, especially one as clean and appealing to all crowds as this one is.

As for the atmosphere, it's very comfortable and caters to folks of all kinds. In other words: if you are a gal who dreads visiting game stores because of the myriad unfortunate outcomes you may have experienced elsewhere, you'll have no such problem here. It doesn't stink like a filthy nerd pit or comic convention, and there weren't any alarmingly attentive neckbeards trying to "gentlesir" (or worse) all over my wife, as there tend to be at most game stores. My wife wasn't begging me to leave or glaring at me with her arms crossed the whole time. (Again: if you know, you know.)

If I could give this place 10/5...

My husband and I are die-hard gamers of just about every genre and type, but living in Gig Harbor means no real choices for us to feed our addiction. Imagine my delight a few years ago when he told me he discovered this place not too far from his work. They know us on sight now, which is a pretty neat feeling!

There's an incredible selection of games, a decent selection of comics, and food and drinks are available right in the center of the shop. They've got a huge game area to pit yourself against other local gamers, or just chill and play a few fun rounds. Just to name a few big ones: MTG, Warmachine & Hordes, Warhammer & 40K ... They've got enough board games and card games of every type to make your head spin. A great paint selection and a moderate amount of tools for mini-wargaming and modeling. I'd have liked to see a bigger offering of brushes, but I suspect when I went in to purchase mine, their sale in that section was just really well-received. I'll check again soon. Admittedly, I'm also very picky about my brushes.

We gleefully throw all our money at The Game Wizard and Blue Sky Hobbies, as gaming really is our only vice. In fact, it's our monthly date night to head over to this shop, spend an hour browsing, buying gobs and gobs of goodies, then walking over to the sandwich shop for dinner. When we get home, it's games til our eyes bleed and we pass out with smiles on our faces. We look forward to going, not just because it's fun to date your spouse, but because the staff and owners are just the nicest people, and the atmosphere is welcoming and exciting. There's something cool around every corner!

It's definitely worth the drive...

Last few times I've been in here have cured me of any desire to darken their doors ever again. Had to wait for 2 1/4 hours for a pizza on a Saturday. Last Sunday, I came in with my son-in-law and his cousin for a game of 40K and a birthday present for myself. Picked up a Primaris Repulsor Executioner (priced above retail), an assault squad, and a chai. When I was told the price, I questioned it and was told by the fella who looks a bit like Cowboy from Full Metal Jacket there was a service charge on the Executioner. I balked at this and he had no explanation for the service charge. He offered me the military discount, and when I mentioned I was a veteran, if that helped, he responded, "We don't offer a veteran's discount because everyone in this town is a veteran." Good to know you are an equal opportunity shyster. Crumpled up my receipt and threw it away before I could say anything. While watching our 40K game, a large party of folks came in and took up residence in one of their rental rooms (right behind where we were playing) and ordered a ginormous plate of nachos, in addition to a number of other items. They asked for some plates, at which point the bar manager told them they didn't have any plates and told the serving girl there were no plates. The same serving girl who within the half hour discovered a hidden cache of plates for some fellas who had ordered a pizza to the other...