Misty Mountain Games

Misty Mountain Games is a tabletop and card game store at 4672 Cottage Grove Rd in Madison, Wisconsin, open since 2001 and set up around a large in-store play space. It carries Pokémon, Magic: The Gathering and Star Wars: Unlimited, with Riftbound singles on the shelf too, and it suits both casual players looking for a weeknight table and competitive players who want a store with a long tournament history.

What's on the shelves

Singles are the store's card focus. Magic: The Gathering, Pokémon, Star Wars: Unlimited and Riftbound singles are all stocked, and a decklist search tool lets players check a list against what the store has on hand. The store also sells a range of tabletop games and accessories, along with strategy books for Magic and store-branded apparel. Some items, such as the seasonal cardigan, can be preordered for shipping or local pickup.

Weekly play

Commander and Friday Night Magic are the recurring events. The play space is built for casual and competitive players alike, so it works as a spot to learn a game as well as to grind a tournament.

Events and tournaments

Large, well-organized tournaments have been a hallmark of the store since its early years, and they drew players from across Wisconsin. The store runs events for a variety of games, and bigger tournaments are scheduled alongside the weekly play.

Store policies

Returns are accepted within 30 days of purchase for items that are unused and in their original packaging, and a receipt or proof of purchase is required. Collectible cards cannot be returned, and neither can gift cards or downloadable software. Sale items cannot be refunded, and board games that have been opened qualify for partial refunds at most. Customers pay their own shipping on returns, and that cost comes out of any refund.

Hours and getting there

The doors close every Tuesday from 2 PM to 3:30 PM for a staff meeting.

The store is at 4672 Cottage Grove Rd, Madison, WI 53716.

History

Steve Port and Dave Elsner opened Misty Mountain Games in 2001, and the store built its reputation on large tournaments that turned it into a community hub. As the community grew, it moved into a larger and more accessible location and widened the range of games it runs events for. Brian Kowal, a fan of the store from its start, became owner in 2017, with the stated goal of making it the most welcoming gaming space in Madison. The store has now been running for nearly 25 years.

The local scene

Several stores sit within a few miles: Comic Sans Nightmare (0.9 miles), Gemini Comics (1.3 miles), The Game Crafter (1.8 miles), Video game X-Change (2.1 miles) and Graham Crackers Comics (2.5 miles). The Isthmus City Card Show, 2.8 miles away, next starts on November 14, 2026. Farther afield, about 60 miles out, the Pokeween Trick-or-Treat Show starts October 31, 2026, and the Toy Vault Big Pokemon & Sports Card Show starts November 7, 2026.