Game Outpost - Phoenix — Local services in Phoenix

If you're looking for a one-stop gaming paradise, look no further than North Valley Games! This place is nothing short of magical — a sparkling gem tucked right off the parking lot, where ease of access meets a warm, welcoming vibe. Whether you're a seasoned gamer or just dipping your toes into the world of trading cards, this haven caters to all ages and skill levels.

Let's start with cleanliness: North Valley Games could teach a masterclass on keeping things spotless. Every corner of the store gleams with care, and you can almost hear the cleaning fairies buzzing about (okay, maybe that’s just me, but seriously, it’s THAT clean). The layout is super accessible, so you’re never awkwardly shimmying past shelves or bumping into people.

They’ve thought of everything, including a kid-friendly VIP room! This delightful space doubles as a cozy movie haven for the little ones, so parents can duel it out in tournaments while their kiddos enjoy some on-screen adventures. Beyblade battles? They’ve got ‘em. Magic: The Gathering showdowns? Of course! Pokémon tournaments of all kinds, from card battles to Nintendo Switch challenges? You better believe it. And yes, even Lorcana tournaments (and yes, I totally Googled how to spell that — you’re welcome).

Beyond the tournaments, North Valley Games is a treasure trove of gaming goodies. Snacks and drinks? Check. Dice that sparkle like they came from a dragon’s hoard? Check. Cards, sleeves, plushies, starter kits, and a smorgasbord of games for all interests? Check, check, and CHECK. If it’s geeky and fun, they’ve got it.

But what truly sets this place apart is the people. Shoutout to Chris, who is hands-down a superhero in the world of gaming mentorship. This guy took my partner and me under his wing and turned us from total noobs into confident Pokémon battlers. Chris doesn’t just teach; he builds communities. He helped us craft our first decks, showed us the ropes in free-to-play events, and guided us through our first tournaments with the patience of a saint and the enthusiasm of a kid unboxing a shiny Charizard.

Recently, we decided to jump into the world of Magic: The Gathering, and naturally, we knew exactly where to go. Chris once again came to the rescue, helping us pick out starter decks and dice while ensuring we fully understood the rules. He even supervised our early games, making sure we felt confident and had a blast. It's no exaggeration to say that Chris is the heart and soul of this store.

And the community? Absolutely unmatched. It’s a melting pot of gamers from all walks of life. North Valley Games truly lives up to its name as a valley of inclusivity, proving that gaming is for everyone.

In short, North Valley Games isn’t just a store — it’s an experience, a community, and a place where magic (literal and figurative) happens every day. If you haven’t been yet, what are you waiting for? Grab your dice, cards, and a sense of adventure, and prepare to...

Updated review 2/5/24. I have been in a couple times since a revamp and the store is back to its old self.

They have organized play firing again and the shop has had a lot of customers/players when I have stopped in. Lots of buzz happening which is great for a game store.

They have a ton of product too now again to pick from. Pricing is fair and they’re willing to negotiate a little!

Old review: This place has gone downhill. It’s sad, used to be a nice shop for games.

First, the hours are even worse now. They used to open early afternoon, which fine I couldn’t come at lunch but hey. Now they open later afternoon. They’re closed Sunday completely and Saturday they’re open about as many hours as my bank (essentially worthless hours). I’ve played at game stores most of my life, I’ve never seen one not open all day Saturday.

Next, I used to stop by regularly as it’s close to me and would buy product(sealed magic and singles if they had what I wanted). Not one worker or other patron has ever invited me to play and I expressed interest multiple times. No other shop has this happened and usually I’ve had to defer games due to my time/schedule. So that slowly turned me away as a customer - I can buy product online but go local to support and play.

Lastly, they’re way off on pricing and the model to sell to customers. I wanted a bundle for the new LOTR MtG set and they had some. I asked the price and the worker had to look up in the computer to “price it”. He looked up the day’s going rate to give me a hyper specific price of $78. For reference a big box retailer (red circle) sells the same box for $64. So with no offer to play the game, pricing changing daily on sealed product, and bad hours, I’m going elsewhere.

I suggest you do the same. It’s sad, the shop used to be decent, but something...

I spent almost 2 hours putting together a buy list today, but after I brought my cards in, the associate told me he had bad news and that they were only willing to buy $5 worth of what I submitted to the buy list. Despite one of the main reasons the buy list database is in place is to tell u whether or not theyd be interested in each card.... I was told that they just added Pokemon to their lineup, and they're still "working on all the bugs"... I'm not not frustrated with the workers because they explained everything to me thoroughly, and it's not their fault. but that does change the fact that I spent that amount of time for basically no reason. That's what I'm upset about. Hope they fix their system so others don't have to...