Skyhaven Games — Local services in Saanich

By far my absolute least favourite game store on the island (and if it can be included lower mainland as well). If you want board games they have an OK selection, but you’ll be running an obstacle course around all the tables (and if you make the mistake of coming in the evening or a weekend, you’ll also be trying to get around people sitting at the tables playing games). If you’re into TCGs their card prices are quite high with very limited selection (it will be cheaper AFTER shipping to order from house of cards on the mainland and arrive at your door in 2-3 days)

If you need a game store on the island head out to gauntlet games, they have better selections, cheaper prices, and a much better store layout. If you have an issue with gauntlet Victoria has a few other options that blow this one out of the water. Parking is a pain as half the mall is under construction so the main entrance/exit is blocked by fencing. This store is a hard pass in my opinion, check out literally any other game store on the island for a better experience.

Edit: while the owner is correct they have entrances on both sides, one falls on a divided road, and the other is quite a busy road so it will be difficult to get in, so you have to plan your route correctly, make sure to do your research if you trek out there. I would still advice to go to one of the other board game stores in town for all of the other reasons noted. Be warned if you do hike across the road from tilliculm, be prepared with a tote bag as they will inform you AFTER purchase that you have to pay for a bag, when they told me this I was about to do a full return after spending over $100 on a bunch of different items, and gave no other options than yet another credit card transaction (sorry but I don’t carry cash), but I just didn’t have time to make yet another stop that day.

Also note tilliculm mall parking lot, the owner mentioned below, is ONLY for the Tilliculm mall’s shoppers, and is posted as such, so I would not recommend following that advice unless you want to risk getting towed.

To the owner: As for pricing my regular LGS (toy traders on the mainland) uses starcity game pricing, most other LGSs I go to that don’t sell online start there, unless you sell online don’t inflate your prices to F2F like all the other online stores that ship for free, unless you offer the same service. This review is not after a single bad experience but 3-5 over the past 2 years, I keep hoping it is better but it never is.

As for giving enough space for in store play & shoppers, a few of the tighter stores I play in only hold in store play after closing. (Yes this sucks to pay for staffing, but regularly players do spend to buy cards, during this time) but I have walked out multiple times from your store when I wanted to browse board games and they were completely blocked off by...

Just left the store. Pretty rude that my boyfriend bought his cards then the staff member left despite me saying loudly and clearly I wanted to make a purchase. Was looking at cards for awhile but he never came back so I took my business elsewhere.

Ebay from now on for all my cards I guess...

Edit: It is untrue that I was there for less than a minute (as suggested in the comment below) and despite the many tasks required to keep a store running and stocked it is not usually seen as right to tend to those tasks until you have asked a customer if they need help. I shouldn't have to state that I need assistance as well when I am very animatedly looking at product within the front case. I should be asked when I said "I want this land that's so cool" if I'd like to see it. However, I never actually was able to ask my question or ask about my cards as, like you stated, once one individual was helped they prioritized other work related tasks.

I'm left wondering...

Top tier game store! Fantastic selection of MTG, DND, card sleeves, dice and board games, great prices and AAA service. I shop there quite often and I’m never less than absolutely impressed. Michael and the gang are all awesome - patient, friendly, welcoming, and always working hard. Hands down the absolute best gaming store in town! (Don’t tell the other game stores I said that).

Edit: i stopped frequenting this store due to the constant markups. The incident in question that got me to patron other card stores was that Michael told me his prices are based off of Face to Face Games prices. I ordered 6 magic cards off of him and between those 6 cards I was charged $30 more than I would have paid at both Face to Face Games and Gauntlet Games (for a local option as local is always my preferred choice). Well the customer service is great, you will spend more here than you will at any other game...