Battleground Games & Hobbies — Local services in Abington

Good selection of board games, Warhammer, and D&D. Not why Im here though, the older gentleman with a goatee and glasses was very dismissive and rude to me. When I walked in I wasn’t greeted and I was never checked in on despite walking around trying to find items for close to 30 minutes. When I did find the area of things i was looking for (Non-D&D TTRPGS) I still couldn’t find what I originally walked in for. Thinking maybe it was in another spot i asked the guy working if they had Mork Borg. I was given a fast “out of print.” response. I then went to ask a question about Cyberpunk Red and before I could ask my question i was cut off with “out of print” again. I’ll admit, prolly didn’t hide my annoyed face well when I interjected back with “I know. I was going to ask if you know if the Data Screen came with the starter set.” To which i was given another fast and clearly annoyed “I don’t know.” He then turned around and went back to whatever he was working on behind the counter. Other customers had come in while i was there, im assuming a regular and then a family. He was very kind and open with them. Not sure what or why he wasn’t vibing well with me. Id understand if i was in one of my more less friendly looking black metal/Black Craft shirts but nope. Just a Disneyland shirt. Maybe he hates the mouse or something haha. But yea, that guy sucks. I know this review wont matter in the long run as I’m not from the town so my one interaction here was likely going to only be my only interaction with the store. But as a Store Manager for places like Spirit Halloween and Hot Topic, it’s disappointing to know that my much younger and often less put together staff are nicer to customers...

You can stop looking. This is the best game store with the best ownership in the greater Boston area. That doesn't mean other ones are BAD, mind you, it just means that this one is the best.

Inside Battlegrounds you'll find a wide selection of board games, minatures games, RPGs, and of course Magic the Gathering. It's a large area with plenty of space for gaming, and there are snacks and beverages for sale. This stuff is all very standard, so what makes Battlegrounds stand out? In my opinion, it's the ownership and the efforts they make to create a welcoming and friendly community.

When you come to Battlegrounds the staff will be ready to answer your questions, whether you want some general advice on gifts for your gamer friend or specific information about the state of the current meta in standard format for MTG. If the staff on duty don't know your particular game very well, they'll connect you with the people that do. They'll help you connect with gamers that share your hobbies and they'll tell you the best days to find matches/partners for the games you favor.

Even more importantly, the community within Battlegrounds is welcoming and safe. You'll find kids here, women, old folks, young folks, and people of all types. The shop is very queer/trans friendly and bigotry is not tolerated by the staff OR by the incredible community that frequents the store. I moved to Boston in 2007 and knew absolutely NOBODY. The moment I walked into Battlegrounds I was asked what sorts of games I was into and I was connected with people that became friends I have to this day.

You really can't go wrong with this store and you should take the time to stop by. You're going to be...

Derek (the owner) has been a fixture of my local community for as long as I can remember going there (2002-present). He is a huge movie buff and I distinctly remember one night where he made a bullet-pointed case as to why The Last Jedi was a better movie than Citizen Kane or even any of the Original Star Wars Trilogy movies. By the end of his presentation, a crowd had gathered, and the mayor of Abington gave him a key to the city for his bold, intelligent take on truly one of the greatest movies of all time. Though he now has three stores, and cloning and/or astral projection have not been developed yet, he will show up at the Abington location often enough, even on slow days. It is always a treat to sit and talk with him about his crush on Rian Johnson. Derek has a knack for hiring knowledgeable, friendly employees, and the inventory is the most varied smorgasbord of miniatures, board games, collectible card games, and other odds and ends in the area. I'd definitely recommend checking out the store at least once a month, as product cycles frequently and theres always something new to look at. And dont forget to mention his favorite movie,...