A Muse N Games — Local services in Winnipeg

(Alone, center stage. A single spotlight. The speaker clutches a worn copy of Catan, its corners frayed like their trust.)

Oh, cardboard kingdom, how swiftly you crumbled.

I remember the scent of you—cardboard and coffee, laughter and laminate. You were more than a store. You were sanctuary. A place where dragons were slain, alliances forged, and friendships tested over dice and destiny. I gave you my weekends, my wallet, my wins and losses. I gave you me.

And you? You sold me out for a Kickstarter exclusive.

They said it was just business. That the new chain store had better margins, flashier shelves, a loyalty app. But where was loyalty when you boxed up my memories and replaced them with sterile rows of shrink-wrapped betrayal?

You knew my name. You knew my favorite faction. You knew I always picked blue, even when it was cursed. And still, you let me walk in one last time to find my table gone, my people scattered, my heart... rerouted to the recycling bin.

I stood there, clutching my dice bag like a lifeline, hoping someone would say it was a mistake. That the tournament calendar would return. That the clerk with the purple hair and encyclopedic knowledge of obscure expansions would pop out from behind a shelf and say, “We saved your seat.”

But silence. Just silence and a clearance bin.

So now I wander, a meeple without a map, a rogue without a party. I roll my D20 and pray for a nat 20 on healing, but all I get is a 1. Critical heartbreak.

Still, I keep this copy of Catan. Not for the game, but for the ghosts. For the nights we built empires on hexes and hope. For the store that taught me how to lose with grace and win with humility.

You were my friendly neighborhood board game store.

And now you’re just... gone.

(They exit slowly, the box held close, as if it still holds the echoes of laughter long...

During a recent visit to a local gaming store with friends, our experience was marred by interactions with the store's owner, whose behavior significantly detracted from our enjoyment. From the outset, our dealings were characterized by a lack of professionalism and fairness. Initially, an agreed-upon price for a product was unilaterally increased by the owner—a product that, incidentally, was not even in stock, nor available from suppliers, with no delivery date in sight. Despite this, we endeavored to support the local gaming community by purchasing related products at premium prices.Our patience was further tested during a subsequent visit when the owner imposed a fee for using the store's space—a common practice to cover staff assistance with games. However, we were denied this service based on our previous purchase decisions made elsewhere, highlighting a punitive approach to customer service. This scenario escalated to the point where our group, having agreed to additional fees for staff assistance, was confronted with yet another unexpected price hike mid-visit. Attempts to address this issue were met with hostility and unreasonable accusations of financial detriment to the store, culminating in our party being unceremoniously expelled from the premises.This series of encounters not only caused embarrassment to ourselves and the store's staff but also left us questioning the owner's commitment to fostering a welcoming community space. It is with regret that we must advise others to consider these experiences when deciding whether to patronize this establishment. Our commitment to community and fair play extends beyond mere transactions, and we hope for a future where all patrons can enjoy their gaming experiences without such...

What an amazing experience!

My husband and I ordered a wiz kids red dragon trophy head from A Muse N Games online store; the website is very easy to navigate.

We had been wanting to purchase one of these trophies for a while, and this would be our first time ordering through A Muse N Games. We saw many positive reviews about the establishment and felt more than comfortable ordering through the store.

After we placed our order, the manager Brian gave us a call to check in on us. He gave us a heads up about the possible wait time, but then said the trophy may possibly come in a week later due to the warehouse having one in stock (we were expecting a few months since the heads are made to order, so we got lucky!) They do place the possible wait times on their website when ordering, so there are no surprises.

We got a call from the store about a week later saying that the trophy head arrived. The employee was very kind on the phone and said they opened the box because it looked squished; they wanted to double check that the trophy was not damaged.

We came to pick up our order the next day; this was our first time inside the building. What a beautiful store front! Very clean, well designed, and spacious.

The staff who helped us was wonderful! She showed us the box and made sure we were satisfied with the condition. She helped us carry the large box to our vehicle, and helped us unpack the trophy so it could fit in our car.

The staff went above and beyond to make sure we were happy! Definitely would order/shop...