Games of Berkeley

Games of Berkeley is a large game store at 2510 Durant Avenue in Berkeley's Telegraph/Southside area, a short walk from the UC Berkeley campus. It carries Pokémon and Magic: The Gathering alongside board games, role-playing games, wargames, miniatures and puzzles, and it has four gaming rooms for organized and open play. It suits players who want a table to sit at as much as a shelf to browse.

What's on the shelves

The stock runs well beyond trading cards. The building holds chess, Go, checkers, dice, backgammon and playing cards; board games, role-playing, wargames, trivia, educational games and miniatures; jigsaw puzzles, coloring books, S.T.E.M. kits, origami and magic tricks; and toys such as yo-yos, flying discs and plush. For card players, collectible card game singles have their own section, and Dungeons & Dragons and Games Workshop each have dedicated categories.

The store may have the largest game selection on the West Coast. Items it does not stock can almost always be special ordered, and if it cannot supply something, the staff will point customers to who might. A used games consignment section handles secondhand titles. Orders can be placed for shipping, in-store pickup, or pickup at local conventions where the store vends.

The store also sells its own merchandise, including shirts, stickers, playmats, tote bags and a bandana. Physical gift cards run from $10 to $500 and are good only at the store itself.

Events and open gaming

Regular events cover Magic: The Gathering, Pokémon Trading Card Game, Digimon Card Game, Warhammer, Dungeons & Dragons and other role-playing games, miniature wargames, BattleTech, puzzles, and hobby and painting nights. Many events have limited seating, and tickets for those are usually available several weeks in advance, while other events are register-at-the-door. Event tickets requested for refund more than 48 hours ahead are returned as store credit.

Open gaming is a standing option. The game library sits in the main event room at the back of the store and holds about 400 games, shelved by theme or play mechanic. Drop-in play costs $5 per person and covers the whole day, even if a player leaves and returns. Tables in the main event room and the three private game rooms can also be reserved for private events such as board game meetups or role-playing sessions, and reservations include use of the library. The store cannot currently reserve its entire event space for a private group. The four rooms were renovated in 2021 with new decorations, premium gaming tables, and climate control and ventilation.

House rules and policies

Food is welcome in the store; alcohol is not allowed. Harassment of patrons or staff is not tolerated. Customers may trade game components and accessories with one another, such as card singles or miniatures, but sales and purchases between patrons on the premises are not allowed.

Store credit applies to the full purchase price of any goods but cannot pay for event entry. A paid patron tier takes $5 off every event and 10% off purchases.

Hours and getting there

Five lots and garages sit within two blocks, with the Telegraph-Channing Garage closest, and the Durant/Telegraph bus stop is about 50 feet from the door.

The garage has entrances on both Channing Way and Durant Avenue, and the walk from it takes a minute or two. As of April 1, 2026, garage rates are $1 for the first hour, $3 for each of hours 2 through 4, and an $18 flat rate beyond four hours. Metered curbside parking is available on Durant and the surrounding streets except Telegraph, and street parking is free on Sundays and holidays.

The bus stop serves several AC Transit lines. From the Downtown Berkeley BART station, riders can bus in or walk about 15 minutes across the UC Berkeley campus. Two bike racks stand outside, one shaped like a peace sign, and a mural decorates the exterior.

History

Games of Berkeley is the primary business name of Evil Empire, Inc., a California S-corporation formed in 1992. The company owned and operated Berkeley Game Distributors from 1988 to 1998, and for much of that stretch it was the largest tabletop game distributor west of the Mississippi. After selling the distributor and taking a few years off, the owners bought the store from Toy World, Inc. and have run it since 2002. The store has served the Bay Area for more than four decades. An online-only retailer, Multiversal Trading Company, has operated since 2023.

The local scene

Several comic and hobby shops sit within about a mile: Fantastic Comics (0.6 miles), Boss Robot Hobby (0.8 miles) and The Escapist Comic Bookstore (1.1 miles). The next card show on the calendar is The Grind Card Show on November 7, 2026, about 58 miles away.