Top 8 Gaming Stores In The Albany Area

Gaming is a great pastime, and for some, it’s more than just entertainment, it’s a sport. Whether you’re casual about gaming, or you’re a die-hard player, all gamers can find comfort in the fact that there are several great gaming stores in Albany. Whether retro gaming is your knack, or you prefer modern games, there’s a store here for you.

You’ll also be happy to know that some of these stores offer trading cards, collectibles, and merchandise as well. If PlayStation isn’t your forte, but you’re an avid D&D player, you’re still in luck. There’s an option for everyone. Let’s take a look at what we consider the Top 8 gaming stores near Albany.

Zombie Planet

Let’s just start with this store’s aesthetic. Zombie Planet is in a cube-like building with posters, flags, and other nerdy décor in its windows. Its sign claims that it’s a comic and game store, but that’s pretty limiting. This place is chocked full of merchandise, including action figures and even board games. Further, there’s plenty of Pokemon cards and D&D supplies to browse through as well.

Oh, and did we mention books? Yep, Zombie Planet offers art books, guides, and much more. There are also coffee mugs available if you’re into repping your favorite heroes and antagonists (or protagonists if you’re one of those people). This store is one of Albany’s coolest attractions.

Flights of Fantasy Book & Games

This is another cool gaming store that carries much more than just video games. If you’re more into books and off-screen gaming, this may be a better option for you. Plus, Flights of Fantasy shares plenty of in-store cat photos with their customers, which is all the more reason to give them a visit.

Regarding physical gaming, this store offers a Dump Box Cards section. Basically, this is like a nerdy version of those Walmart clearance bins. There are random cards spread throughout these boxes. Even if you find a rare card, you only have to pay 50 cents. It’s pretty much a treasure hunt.

This story is definitely great for fantasy gamers and readers. Even the logo includes a dragon reading a book. It doesn’t get much more folklore than that. Flights of Fantasy is definitely a great place to stop if you prefer table-top options.

Great Bit Games

Now, this store is definitely going to be a must-visit for all those retro gamers out there. There are tons of arcade machines, including Pac-Man and Super Mario Bros. Oh, and The Simpsons. Additionally, there’s plushie merch, Amiibos, and tons of Nintendo gear.

This store sells entire retro consoles, handheld devices such as Gameboy, and they even sell old Xbox games. You can also find old Nintendo 64 games here. This is a great place to find classic games for an affordable price.

Pastime Legends

Pastime Legends finds the perfect balance between retro and modern gaming. Their Facebook page is filled with funny yet respectable content. For example, they shared a Zelda: Majora’s Mask photo to kindly emphasize the importance of mask-wearing in their store. That’s pretty creative.

This is a great place to get new controllers, especially for older consoles. Additionally, Pastime Legends claims to have the lowest prices due to its frequent sales. So, this one is a great option if you’re looking for affordability.

Mr. Dealz

This is a great store for all types of gamers, including PC gamers. Mr. Dealz will buy your used consoles, computers, gear, and games. Additionally, it carries retro toys such as Hot Wheels, for example. You can even find the old gaming steering wheels here.

However, Mr. Dealz also carries newer options, like the Nintendo Switch. The coolest aspect of this store is that regardless of a game’s age, they still include glass cases. That’s right. You’ll find old games, such as GameCube games, for example, locked behind glass just like you would see in 2006. This is a serious time warp.

Further, the games are organized well, which helps you find what you’re looking for. If you’re looking for Zelda GameCube games, you’ll find them right next to one another. This is definitely one of the best gaming stores to visit while you’re in the Albany area.

Vortex Video Games

As its name suggests, Vortex Video Games is another great retro gaming option. It’s also equipped with plenty of collectibles and action figures, as well as toys and table-top games. This one sells everything from Nintendo 64 games to Nintendo DS games.

If you’re into DragonBall Z figurines and Super Mario plushies, this is another great store to search for. The great thing about stores like these is that customers are always trading in games and merch, making each visit brand new. You never know what you may find at stores like these.

Flipside Gaming

Table-top gamers, comic book lovers, and crafty people will want to visit Flipside gaming. Flipside has stores in both East Greenbush and Clifton Park. Flipside focuses on card gaming. Pokemon lovers should make Flipside a top priority visit for sure. Their website is incredibly informative, including articles about cards and board games, which helps customers learn more about these items. This is especially handy for gift-givers who don’t participate in gaming.

Further, the website shows what condition each card is in and how much it costs. This gives you a heads up before you even walk into the store. All in all, Flipside Gaming is a great option for table-top gamers, but not so much for video gamers.

GameStop, GameStop, and… GameStop?

Yeah, Albany has plenty of options if GameStop is your preferred gaming store. That’s understandable given that GameStop sometimes sells exclusive items. However, it’s good to note that GameStop isn’t much different from these other local shops. In fact, you can find most of the same items, if not more, at places like Pastime Legends and Vortex Video Games.

GameStop is great for newer games and fresh merchandise, but it’s definitely a last resort on this list. Rarities and nostalgic trade-ins are much more likely to appear at the locally owned shops. However, every GameStop option in Albany makes it easy to buy games without traveling too far. These GameStop’s are evenly dispersed throughout the city. They’re also great options if you’re looking for new releases.

There’s A Gaming Store For Everyone

There are many awesome gaming stores in Albany. The best part is that there’s a nice variety, so every gamer type has a store or two to try out. Out of all the many reasons to visit these stores, the retro finds and collectibles possibilities are on the top of the list. You really never know what you may find at Zombie Planet, Pastime Legends, or Vortex Games. When you’re in Albany, consider taking an evening to explore these stores. You could spend hours just looking through the Dump Box Cards sections at Flight of Fantasy Books & Games.

Our honorable mentions include Ta-Da and Best Buy. Ta-Da is more centered around toys, but it does over table-top options. Best Buy is, of course, a general electronics store, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a great gaming option. It offers video games, consoles, and especially PC options, which makes it a great stop for PC gamers. We understand that GameStop and Best Buy stores are pretty much everywhere, but they’re still viable options.

Which gaming store sounds best to you? If you can’t decide just yet, visiting them in person may help you make up your mind. Your next retro find is just right around the corner.