POPnGAMES

POPnGAMES is a video game and trading card shop in Whitestone, Queens, on the lower level of its building. It opened in 2009 and splits its attention between console games and a broad run of trading card games, which makes it a stop for players who want a card pack and a used game in the same visit.

What's on the shelves

The card side covers Pokémon, Magic: The Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh!, One Piece Card Game, Disney Lorcana, Digimon Card Game, Dragon Ball Super Card Game and Weiss Schwarz. Union Arena, Riftbound and Final Fantasy cards are stocked as well.

The video game side is the larger part of the identity. The store carries games and accessories across Nintendo, PlayStation and Xbox generations, from NES, SNES and Nintendo 64 through Switch 2 and PS5. Imported versions of games are available, along with Amiibo, figures and collectibles, and memory cards. New releases and preorders are a regular part of the business.

Buying and trading

The store accepts trade-ins and buys game collections ranging from Atari-era systems to current-generation consoles. Buying is done in person only. Sellers can send pictures and a list of what they have to get a store credit or cash quote ahead of time, and should wait for that total before bringing anything in. Cash offers come in lower than store credit.

Store policies

Trading card products are final sale and cannot be returned or exchanged. Unopened new items that are not trading cards can be returned within 14 days of purchase, and a restocking fee of up to 50 percent applies if the item has been opened. Cancelling a preorder carries a fee of 20 percent of the item cost, so it pays to be sure of the title before putting money down.

Hours and getting there

The entrance is on the lower level, so look for it below street level.

History

The shop has operated since 2009, founded by gamers and built around buying and selling games quickly at affordable prices. The owners also run a long-standing online sales operation with a large volume of positive feedback, which is part of how a shop this size keeps such deep stock of older and imported games.

The local scene

Whitestone has a small cluster of hobby stores within a short drive. Celebrations Cards is about 0.2 miles away, Space Station Video Game is about 0.5 miles away, and Al Debow's Collectibles is about 0.7 miles away. For Gamers From Gamers in Flushing is about 1.2 miles off, and Chris Sports Cardss in Bayside is about 1.8 miles away.

Several card shows fall within a few miles. Project TCG EXPO at Queens College runs October 31, 2026, about 4.6 miles from the store, and a Project TCG Pokémon show at the same campus follows on November 15. SUPERCON: Queens begins November 8, about 3.7 miles away. The New York Evolving TCG Show, about 1.9 miles away, starts November 14.