Chaos Games

Chaos Games is a game store in downtown Minot, North Dakota, built around Magic: The Gathering but stocked well beyond it. Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh! singles, board games, used video games, Warhammer 40K, Dungeons & Dragons and miniatures all share the floor. It suits Magic players who want a full weekly calendar, families looking for a birthday venue with arcade machines, and anyone in the area who wants a place to play several different games under one roof.

What's on the shelves

Magic is the main focus. The store carries Magic singles and booster packs and stocks singles for Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh! as well, with a combined stock in the millions of cards. Beyond cards, the shelves hold board games, used video games from older classics to recent titles, dice and Dungeons & Dragons accessories, and both painted and unpainted tabletop miniatures with accessories.

Customers hunting for specific singles can send a card list ahead of a visit. The list should be grouped by color (or by type or format for games without colors) and sorted alphabetically within each group. Staff confirm what is in stock and the total, and customers who come into the store are served first. When the cards are ready, the store sends an email or text. Preorders for new Magic sets are handled the same way, through a request form as each release approaches.

Weekly play

Magic tables are open seven days a week, and players can RSVP to reserve a seat for tournaments and casual sessions. The recurring weekly schedule looks like this:

The Pokémon league welcomes all skill levels, which makes Sunday afternoon a natural stop for newer players.

Monthly events

The rest of the calendar rotates through the month, and the schedule changes, so the entries below are a sample of what has been running rather than a fixed lineup.

• Magic: Pauper on the 13th and 27th at 1 PM for $7; Legacy on the 14th and 28th at 6:30 PM for $7; and a run of Tier 3 EDH nights at 6:30 PM for $10, including a two-headed giant night and a Planechase night. A competitive EDH event on the 6th starts at 11 AM for $25, a Player's Choice draft runs at 6:30 PM for $25, and a Pre Con EDH night is $10, or free with the purchase of a Pre Con EDH deck.
• Pokémon: a Challenge on the 27th at 1 PM for $15.
• Dungeons & Dragons: additional sessions at noon on the 13th and 27th for $10.
• Warhammer 40K: an Escalation League for up to 40 players, plus a 10 AM event on the 5th that was nearly full when scheduled.
• Riftbound: Nexus Nights on the 10th and 24th at 6:30 PM for $15, and a Skirmish on the 19th at 1 PM for $20.
• Reality Fracture: a three-day event with a catered Friday session at 6:30 PM for $35 and Saturday and Sunday sessions at 1 PM for $30 each, with $5 off per event for players who enter all three.

The calendar also lists a free Bakken card show in Williston on the 29th, from 9 AM to 5 PM.

Birthday parties

The store runs two-hour birthday parties priced by head count: $125 for up to 7 players, $150 for 8 to 12 and $175 for 13 or more. Longer parties can be arranged when space allows. The package includes tables and chairs for gifts, cake and food, and guests can bring their own snacks, drinks and cake. Party guests get access to two Nintendo Switch setups, a Nintendo Wii, an NBA Jam arcade machine, a classic arcade cabinet and pinball machines, with room for 27 players when every machine is running. A $50 deposit holds the date, and hosts sign a mandatory Break it, Buy it policy covering damaged items. A separate form permitting photos and video is optional.

Hours and getting there

The store is at 121 Main Street South in Minot, North Dakota 58701, and holiday hours can differ from the regular schedule.

The local scene

Several other card and collectible shops sit within a short distance, including Magic City Magic, Force Of Habit Hobby Shop, Tom's Coin Stamp Gem Baseball & Comic Shop, Original comics & collectibles, and Grand Slam Sports Cards & Collectibles, the farthest of them about 0.9 miles away. That makes downtown Minot an easy place to spend an afternoon moving between shops.