Labyrinth Games & Puzzles

Labyrinth Games & Puzzles is a family-friendly game and puzzle shop at 645 Pennsylvania Ave SE in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington, DC. Board games and jigsaw puzzles are the core of the store, but it also serves card players, with Magic: The Gathering, Pokémon and Disney Lorcana on the shelves and a regular event calendar. It suits families, casual tabletop groups and card players who want a shop that is just as happy to talk about a Lorcana deck as a cooperative board game.

What's on the shelves

The collectible card game section covers Magic: The Gathering singles and sealed product, Pokémon sealed product, and Disney Lorcana. Star Wars: Unlimited and several Living Card Games (Arkham Horror, Lord of the Rings and Marvel Champions) are stocked as well. Accessories for card players include binders, deck boxes, playmats, sleeves, dice and stickers.

Beyond cards, the store carries modern board and card games in casual and complex weights, historical and war games, roleplaying books and dice, miniatures and paint, and classic games such as chess, go and backgammon. Jigsaw puzzles run from under 100 pieces to 1000 and up, alongside escape-room games, logic and twisty puzzles, LEGO and building toys. A large, free, try-before-you-buy game library is available in the store, so a game can be played before it is bought.

Events

Magic: The Gathering is one of the store's regular events, and Pokémon events for all ages are held as well. The recurring lineup also includes Dungeons & Dragons and other roleplaying games, board game nights, boozy board game nights, kids' game clubs and a kids' Dungeons & Dragons program. Special events through the year include Free RPG Day, puzzle swaps and speed puzzling competitions, game designer meet-and-greets, and an annual used game sale with a charity auction that raises money for a Teacher Wish List Fund.

The store has also run Pokémon learn-to-play sessions, tournaments and play-to-win raffles at Awesome Con, and Magic prereleases there.

Private parties and events are booked at the store, with private rooms and table reservations available. Pricing depends on attendance, event type and duration. Parties should be scheduled at least 3 months ahead, and deposits are required to confirm a reservation.

Store policies

Orders placed online can be picked up in the store, and they are generally pulled as soon as they are placed. Orders ship anywhere in the US, and any order over $200 ships free. The loyalty program awards 1 Victory Point for every dollar spent, redeemable for discounts and merchandise.

Hours and getting there

Holiday hours differ: July 4th is 10 AM to 5 PM, Christmas Eve is 11 AM to 4 PM, and the store is closed on Thanksgiving.

History

Labyrinth opened in November 2010, started by a founder who set out to build a community-focused game store in DC after a frustrating search for a mancala board. By 2012 it had become a place to buy and play, with boozy board game nights and Magic: The Gathering tournaments. Around 2015 and 2016 the store doubled in size by taking over the retail space next door. During 2020, staff delivered games around town, and in 2023 the store took on an out-of-school-time enrichment contract through play and board games.

The founder retired in early 2026 after fifteen years, and the store was sold to its long-time manager, who now owns it. Recognition includes a 2023 Best of DC award for children's toy store from Washington City Paper, a 2024 America's Retail Champion honor from the National Retail Federation, and a 2025 Hobby Shop of the Year title.

The local scene

Groovy Cards and Gifts is about 0.1 miles away, and Derby Comics is about 0.4 miles away. Venus's Comic Shop is about 1 mile off, while Big Planet Comics and Cap City Cards are each about 3 miles away.