The End Games — Attraction in Charlottesville

As someone who was a loyal customer for over eight years and a true veteran of the store I am beyond disappointed with what The End Games has become. For context, I've been deeply involved in the tabletop and TCG communities for years, with experience across multiple systems, including Dungeons & Dragons, Magic The Gathering, and Lorcana. I’ve watched this store go from a bustling hub of passion and creativity to a money grabbing, community degrading mess.

For years, I continued to support the store, even when I realized the prices here were significantly higher than what I could find at other local or online retailers. But being a diehard regular, I ignored the gouging because of my love for the community. I willingly paid the inflated prices on products, cards, and even admission to events, telling myself it was worth it because of the connections I had made and the sense of camaraderie that The End Games used to foster. Well, what a mistake that was.

Over the years, the store has consistently raised prices to ridiculous levels, exploiting its regulars and newcomers alike. The price gouging wasn't just an isolated incident either it was a pattern FOR YEARS. From board games to card packs, the store made it clear they were more interested in profit than serving their dedicated community. And yet, because I was loyal to the store and the community, I kept coming back blindly, and far too willingly. But as time went on, I started to see the cracks in the facade, and they became impossible to ignore.

It’s not just about prices either. The biggest problem with The End Games is the constant turnover of staff. I’ve witnessed the departure of some of the best employees the store had over the years those who were truly passionate about tabletop games, TCGs, and DnD. Whether they were let go or left due to poor treatment, the result was the same the talent drained from the store. What’s left now? A group of poorly trained employees on minimum wage who are more focused on ringing up sales than creating an environment that fosters fun, inclusivity, and community values that should be at the heart of any gaming store.

I’ve spoken to many people from the Dungeon Dragons community, and the sentiment is the same across the board The End Games has lost its soul. Many longtime customers and players are leaving in droves, fed up with the store’s horrible business practices, lack of competent leadership, and poor treatment of the very people who kept it afloat for so many years. It’s as if the store completely disregarded the needs of the community they built, focusing solely on profit. And let me tell you, it shows.

It's both funny and ironic that, as The End Games crumbles, new stores are popping up all over the place. These stores are thriving because they’re doing it right. They understand that a gaming store is about community, passion, and respect for customers not just about hiking up prices and pushing unwanted products on people. Had The End Games just stayed true to its original mission and valued its customers, instead of treating them like cash cows, it could have weathered this storm. But instead, they’ve alienated the very community that supported them for years.

To the management of The End Games: You’ve made your bed, and now you’ll have to lie in it. It’s a shame, because there was so much potential here. This was once a place where gamers could gather, where we could bond over our love of tabletop games and TCGs. Now, it’s just another corporate shell looking to maximize profits at the expense of what used to make it great.

I won’t be returning. And I can assure you, the growing number of ex customers who have walked away are not coming back either. You’ve lost a community, and with it, your relevance in the gaming scene. The End Games is a shadow of what it once was, and frankly, I’m glad to be rid of it. Here's to hoping the new stores opening nearby will remember what it means to be part of the gaming community. Good riddance, The End Games. It’s been a hell of a journey but not one I’ll be...

I’m proud to give this place one star

More context so it’s fair for anyone reading. I used to go here when I was in college in 18 when I graduated this place was the destination for my girly nerdy self then. It was vibrant, open way later than now and even though they didn’t have dress codes back in the time the guys working somehow were dressed better than the girl with bad hygiene now

Location:

It’s right across the street from the other location. Though the stairs would kill the drive for anyone who’s impaired or bigger in stature. Playspace is smaller by a sizable amount so I would think their shift to online would be their goal. Especially since they close early now.

Price:

Ahhh now price….this is honestly just a big F U to the community. Back when I was here regularly the prices were on the fair to tad expensive side and when you bought a lot you could wiggle a small bit on it. Obviously not a lot but the few cents so I didn’t have to break more cash to make a sale.

But now…THIS IS JUST FUNNY it really is quite humorous…every price they have on singles is higher than TCGplayer per game respective. Their preorders are the biggest insults to their communities 350 for magic the gathering, 160 on the fat pack variant for pokemon, 6 booster pack for pokemon is 80 freaking dollars. That is more than 10$ a pack before state taxes. Their squish mellows are also 5$ higher than target (given they have the nerdy specific ones while target doesn’t) target still has the pikachu and eevee ones as well as the originals.

The community:

This is the last one I really want to hammer down, it was always the backbone and what made me coming back. It truly was a good place and was always welcoming. The only challenge and difficulty I experienced was in the tabletop and select card games I played. But NOW

wow I don’t even know where to start. The vibe is so much different than it was then, as a dnd girly and speaking to them it’s really sad, they had this whole back area to play and it’s just now a table or two and that’s it. The magic nerds one instance is you have a grown adult…human id say always wait for a teen to play with is just weird. Their community also has died compared to what it was too.

What really brought it all together was the owners used to always be there one way or another. Maybe they just got the place and needed to be there for efficiency Or this that and the other. Now you basically just see one. I think there was 4 or 5, maybe the one bought everyone out or they left. Their old employees all work elsewhere now but after reading up on it I’m not surprised. I’d love to talk to them and have dialogue on their departure.

In conclusion and after reading the other comments I tried to make this review more fair and give context than just saying what everyone else is saying. They have been here more than me recently so maybe there’s way more than I know. But the comments are true and real it’s a sad loss for Charlottesville indeed. It...

I am utterly disgusted by my recent experience at The End Games, a local game store that I had hoped would support the community. Instead, they have shown themselves to be nothing more than scalpers and predators, preying on the goodwill of people who are passionate about gaming.

I went into the store recently to buy the pokemon product called Prismatic Evolution, a set that I was eager to add to my collection. I was aware that the product was in high demand, but what I wasn't prepared for was the outrageous price gouging that greeted me. The store was charging well over the standard retail price for this product an obvious attempt to profit off people who just want to enjoy the game they love.

When I pointed out the inflated price and expressed my surprise, the response I received was nothing short of shocking. The staff, instead of apologizing or offering any explanation, just laughed and casually said, "Someone else will buy it at this price." That was the moment I realized that The End Games has no respect for its customers or for the community they supposedly serve. They clearly don’t care about fostering a positive environment for gamers they only care about squeezing as much money out of us as they can.

What’s worse is that I’m not the only one who has had this experience. A quick glance at online forums and reviews shows that this is a pattern of behavior for The End Games. They consistently overcharge for popular products and show a complete lack of empathy toward their customers. It’s not just a bad business practice—it’s disrespectful to the very people who make their business possible.

To make matters even worse, I felt like I was being treated like a fool. The attitude of the staff made it clear they didn’t care whether I walked out empty-handed or not. They were perfectly content with the idea that someone else would come in and pay whatever inflated price they had set. It was insulting.

For a store that claims to be part of the gaming community, The End Games has shown nothing but greed and a complete disregard for the people who support them. This behavior is damaging to the entire local gaming scene, and it’s a sad reminder of how some businesses can lose sight of what truly matters—community and respect for your customers.

I will not be returning to The End Games, and I strongly encourage others to avoid this store if you value fairness and integrity. There are plenty of other local game stores that treat their customers with the respect they deserve, without resorting to price gouging and predatory tactics. If you're looking for a place that actually cares about the gaming community, look elsewhere. There is another option in charlottesville that has given me the respect I deserve and will only be taking my...