Should be easy right? I mean, you can buy pretty much everything using Amazon these days, can’t you? Well, yes and no. Despite a real boost in the popularity of new board games in the past few years, getting your greasy hands on them can still be a challenge unless you know where to look, and prices can vary enormously from store to store. Amazon can sometimes provide a bargain option with the bigger, flashier games put out by people like Fantasy Flight, but much of the time turns up expensive US import options which are blown out of the water by tracking down the game in your Friendly Local Game Store, or FLGS as they are sometimes known. Did you say Argos? Get out.
Let’s start with your online options:
BoardGameGuru is run by board gaming hero Paul Lister, who jacked in his well-paid day job a few years ago to launch the site. As you’d expect from an enthusiast it has a huge range, and offers discounts of between 2.5% and 7.5% for purchases of £50 to (gasp) £250-plus. Delivery is about £3, or you can pick it up in person during the day on Thursdays, presumably from his Brixton lair.
GamesLore, the EasyJet of online board game buying, initially looks pretty cheap but sneakily adds VAT to your items AND postage and packing once they’re in the basket, so watch your back. They offer some legroom in a range of discounts topping out at 10% for £250-plus, which is a much friendlier altitude. Sorry, attitude.
Infinity Games UK does a brisk trade in everything from Magic: The Gathering cards to roleplaying games and miniatures, but it’s board games we’re after and this place offers excellent value. All the prices shown include 2nd class delivery but there’s no discounts for large orders, so get your calculator out and do your sums if you’re planning on spending a lot.
Live in the big smoke? You’d think London would have dozens of dedicated board game shops desperate to flog you their wares, but amazingly there are basically only two options:
Orcs Nest (I know, I know) is slap bang in the middle of London, just round the corner from Covent Garden tube and has a grand selection of board games. More of a gamble than online shopping as you can’t guarantee they’ll have what you’re looking for, but what could be better than popping in while in the centre of town and rifling through the shiny boxes?
Leisure Games in Finchley is the other bastion of London board gaming, and is just a short stroll from Finchley Central tube. If you’re watching your wallet, prices are likely to be higher in bricks and mortar stores than trawling the web for deals, but obviously you get the game straight away, there’s no postage and packing, and real life people can offer tips on which games to buy or on alternatives if the one you want is out of stock.
Boardgaming behemoth BoardGameGeek has an extensive list of other shops around the country, and indeed the world, on its website thanks to submissions from gaming fans across the land.
Good luck! If you know of an amazing store which you think should be lauded pop it in the comments below.