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  • Attractions
    • women dances with large fans outside on a city street surrounded by people in colorful dragon costumesView All Attractions
    • Museums
    • Parks & Gardens
    • Family Friendly
    • Shopping
    • On a Budget
    • EVEN MORE THINGS TO DO
  • Culture
    • people sitting at tables eating foodView All Culture
    • Arts
    • Beer
    • Biking
    • Cannabis
    • Cultural Communities
    • Craft Spirits
    • Food
    • Makers
    • Music
    • Nightlife
    • Outdoors
    • Sports
    • Weird
    • Wine
    • MORE CULTURE
  • Neighborhoods
    • aerial view of downtown area with buildings and roadways, bridges crossing a river to a smaller set of buildings that expand into the distanceView All Neighborhoods
    • Alberta Arts District
    • Belmont
    • Central Eastside
    • Division/Clinton
    • Downtown
    • Hawthorne
    • Lloyd
    • Mississippi
    • Northwest / Nob Hill
    • Old Town Chinatown
    • Pearl District
    • St. Johns
    • Sellwood-Moreland
    • Williams
    • ALL NEIGHBORHOODS
  • Region
    • RegionView All Region
    • Near the City
    • Columbia River Gorge
    • Mount Hood
    • Oregon Coast
    • Willamette Valley
    • ALL REGIONS
  • Plan
    • Light rail train car driving past people shopping at an outdoor marketView All Plan
    • Portland Maps
    • Where to Stay
    • Tours & Itineraries
    • Transportation
    • When to Visit
    • Accessible Portland
    • Portland Weather
    • COVID-19 FAQ
    • Safety in Portland
    • Plan a Meeting
  • Events
  • Search
Emilly Prado

Emilly Prado

Emilly Prado is a writer, award-winning journalist and consultant living in Portland. Read More

Two friends clinking glasses over a large table-top board game. Two friends clinking glasses over a large table-top board game.
i
Friends play a board game at Mox Boarding House, a tabletop gaming bar and restaurant with a free game library and board games for purchase in West Portland.
Attractions

Portland Board Game Bars and Stores

Pair your board game night with a crafty cocktail or find a new favorite tabletop game at these Portland board game bars and stores.

Updated Mar. 21, 2023 5 min read
Emilly Prado

Emilly Prado

Emilly Prado is a writer, award-winning journalist and consultant living in Portland. Read More

Portland is a city of makers, doers and, of course, gamers. Whether you’re more of a Go Fish aficionado, Choose Your Own Adventure chaser, Dungeons and Dragons slayer, or, perhaps, a still-aspiring gamer, you’ll find a perfect match at these Portland game shops. Take your shopping experience to the next level at these stores and bars, which boast open invitations to gather and game in-house. From casual open-play hours to competitive tournaments, opportunities to discover new games (and friends) abound.

Gaming Vocab Speed Run

If you’re new to gaming, all you need to know is that games come in broad categories. “Tabletop games” is an umbrella catchall term for those typically played around a table. You can ask for specific games based on what tools they use: board games, card games, dice games, game miniatures, etc. Another popular phrase you may hear is “RPG,” which stands for “role-playing game,” in which players enact or embody the characters they’re playing with. RPGs can be a method of play for video games, board games and more, so a single game can fall into several categories. But don’t let the lingo scare you away; the Portland gaming community is friendly and happy to help new players.

The Portland Game Store

The cozy Portland Game Store on N. Killingsworth St. prides itself on crafting a welcoming atmosphere and a stellar selection of games, boasting the largest lineup of Magic the Gathering products and board games in North Portland. Although the store almost closed its doors during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, a dedicated patron used his life savings to buy PGS and ensure the exceptional gathering place continued. This zeal for community is apparent in the generous open-play hours, during which gamers can pick from the extensive in-house game library or bring in their own games — all free of charge — Monday through Friday, from noon–5 p.m. Check their calendar for frequent recurring events and tournaments. If you’re in on a Saturday, check out their painting primer, which provides free paints, miniatures and lessons in the craft of board game figurine customization. Four rotating taps of draft beers, canned cocktails and other beverages, plus munchies on munchies are sure to keep you sustained through all the action.

Red Castle Games

Strolling through the spacious Red Castle Games in Foster-Powell might feel like fantasy, but thankfully it’s real life. Peruse well-stocked pine shelves filled with today’s most popular games, jigsaw puzzles, dice in every color and denomination imaginable, and even some spiffy store swag. In addition to a robust calendar of recurring events such as Digimon Tournament Mondays and Warhammer Sundays, you can rent a sleek room and/or a Dungeon Master for a private night of fun, or borrow a game from their rental library for just a few dollars. Open daily, the Café at Red Castle offers fuel — caffeinated, fried and adult — this Portland board game bar can appease palates of all ages.

Mox Boarding House

Transport yourself into a gaming experience that oozes opulence at Mox Boarding House, an expansive retail shop and restaurant in a self-described “Parisian-inspired” atmosphere. Pick from over 200 games to play while you nosh on gluten-free tempura tenders or charcuterie and sip cocktails (including zero-proof  options) at long, communal tables, or snag a private room rental for a unique, whimsical space for you and your pals. The elevated excursion at this Portland board game bar comes with a price point to match, but it’s a memorable outing worth dressing up for. Tip for newbies: Worried about parking? Use the nearby parking garage, accessed through Morrison St. between the Mox building and Providence Park,  and ask a Mox employee to validate your slip for up to 90 minutes on the house.

More Gaming Stores in Portland

Get hooked on painting miniatures or fine-tune your next board game strategy at these local spots.

  • Cloud Cap Games

    Cloud Cap Games has classic board games, card games and puzzles, plus work by local artists. They also host regular game gatherings and special events, and provide some games for rent to play at home.

  • Bricks & Minifigs Portland

    This national LEGO trade and resale chain carries a large selection of new and used LEGO brand individual minifigs, bulk bricks, components and accessories.

  • Senet Game Bar

    Named after the ancient Egyptian board game, Senet offers a stylish setting with a creative menu of hot and cold cocktails. Their game library is designed to focus on quick games, but renting a table gives you access to their longer premium games.

  • Games Workshop – Eastport Plaza

    This hobby and gaming store is a great place to brush up on gaming arts like model painting or for a gathering of friends to play your favorite tabletop game.

  • Other Worlds Games & Comics

    Open since 2007, this well-loved community gaming store is the perfect place for kids and families to enjoy a wide selection of tabletop hobby games, comics, and family-centered events.

Puddletown Games and Puzzles

Splashing onto the scene in the summer of 2021, Puddletown Games and Puzzles is already beloved in the Beaumont neighborhood  and beyond. Enter the brick building to discover all that this charming Black- and veteran-owned spot has to offer. It’s the perfect place to peruse and play in a homey, inclusive setting featuring high ceilings, baroque rugs, friendly faces and amazing natural light. A great assortment of games like  Pokémon cards, indie RPGs, lawn games and more can suit every need. Stay updated on weekly events via social media, such as Adult Casual Commander on Wednesdays, Board Games on Thursdays, and Magic the Gathering for Teens on Fridays. With every inch of the shop preserved for precious inventory, don’t forget to BYO snacks — and perhaps consider bringing enough to share with all the new friends you’ll make!

Guardian Games

Last but not least, we’d be remiss to not mention Guardian Games, one of Portland’s largest retail stores and long-time favorites. Visitors, beware: With over 10,000 square feet (929 sq meters) of space, be prepared to get lost in this enormous, well-kept space that feels like a warehouse filled with every goodie you could imagine. It even has a bar with rotating craft beers and snacks! Among its best features, Guardian Games stocks an extensive used game selection — good for the environment and your wallet — and a spectacular in-store display of locally created games like Dungeon Degenerates and Formation for the ultimate Portland souvenir. Stop by any night of the week for live events and to check out the 450+ game demo library.

Attractions, Shopping

The Best Arcades in Portland

Portland offers a wide range of arcades, from family-friendly game rooms to dive bars and adults-only bar arcades.

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