Best Board Game Stores in Chicago 2026: The Definitive Guide to Chicagoland's Top Game Shops
Chicago has a large tabletop gaming community, and the local game store scene reflects that. From a big play-space store in Edgewater to suburban stores with game rooms, there is a store for every kind of player: D&D groups looking for a new home, Warhammer painters who need supplies, families hunting for the next great party game, or competitive Magic: The Gathering grinders.
This guide covers game stores in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs as of 2026, with addresses checked against each store's own website or public listings in October 2026, what each store is known for, and why it is worth a visit. It also covers gaming events, conventions, and online communities for Chicago-area gamers. Hours and event nights change often, so check with a store before you go.
Table of Contents
1. Dice Dojo 2. Cat & Mouse Game Store (closed) 3. Fair Game 4. First Aid Comics 5. Titan Games 6. Games Plus 7. Dice Dojo Game Night Events 8. Chicago Game Fest Events and Meetups 9. Online D&D Communities in Chicago 10. Chicago Gaming Conventions1. Dice Dojo
Dice Dojo
Dice Dojo, run by Chicagoland Games, is one of the best-known game stores in Chicago proper. It sits on Broadway in the Edgewater neighborhood on the north side, a short walk from the CTA Red Line Thorndale stop. The store is part retail shop and part play space, and it runs scheduled events through the week.
The store carries board games, roleplaying games and miniatures, including Games Workshop lines such as Age of Sigmar and hobby paints, and it buys and sells Magic: The Gathering cards. Sealed drinks and snacks are allowed in the store; it does not serve food.
Staff can help you choose a game if you tell them what you already like and how many people you play with. Personal advice like that is a good reason to shop at a local store.
Best for: Board games, RPGs, miniatures, game nights, knowledgeable staff
2. Cat & Mouse Game Store (closed)
Cat & Mouse Game Store (closed)
Earlier versions of this guide listed Cat & Mouse Game Store in Bucktown. That information is out of date. DNAinfo Chicago reported in May 2017 that the store closed its Bucktown shop at 2212 W Armitage Ave to focus on its West Loop shop at 1112 W Madison St. The West Loop shop has since closed too: Yelp, Tripadvisor and the store's Facebook page list it as permanently closed.
If you liked Cat & Mouse for its curated board games and family recommendations, try the other stores in this guide. Fair Game and Games Plus both stock a wide range of family and hobby board games.
3. Fair Game
Fair Game
Fair Game runs stores in Downers Grove, La Grange (19 S La Grange Rd) and Geneva in the western suburbs. Its shop sells board games, card games such as Magic: The Gathering, Pokemon, Flesh and Blood and Star Wars Unlimited, miniatures games and roleplaying games, and the stores keep an events calendar.
Fair Game also lists a youth Dungeons & Dragons program on its website, which makes it a good place to look if a younger player wants to try a tabletop RPG with a guide.
With three western-suburb locations, Fair Game is a practical option for players on that side of the metro area. Store hours and event schedules can differ between the shops, so check before you go.
Best for: TCG events, beginner-friendly atmosphere, suburban accessibility, organized play
4. First Aid Comics
First Aid Comics
First Aid Comics in Hyde Park is primarily a comic book store, but it has a gaming section that makes it worth including on this list. The store opened in 2008 on 53rd Street and later moved to 55th Street, near the University of Chicago campus. It also runs a second store on W Taylor St in Little Italy.
The store says it carries collectible card games, board games and RPGs alongside new comics and graphic novels. If you are a gamer who also reads comics, this store serves both interests under one roof.
The Hyde Park location also means you can visit the Museum of Science and Industry, explore the University of Chicago campus, or grab food in the neighborhood and make a full day of it. The store is within walking distance of the Metra 55th-56th-57th Street station for easy access from downtown.
Best for: Comics and gaming crossover, south side location, university community, graphic novels
5. Titan Games
Titan Games
Titan Games is a central Illinois game store with shops in Champaign and Springfield, and a Decatur location also appears in public listings. None of them is in Chicagoland, but they are worth knowing about if you travel downstate or study in Champaign.
Titan stores host organized play, and event listings show card game nights and tournaments at the Champaign and Springfield shops. Check the store's own pages for the current calendar.
If you are already in central Illinois, Titan is worth a stop.
Best for: Central Illinois players, card game events
6. Games Plus
Games Plus
Games Plus in Mount Prospect has been in business since 1982, which makes it one of the longest-running game stores in the Chicago area. It is about a block west of the Mount Prospect Metra station on the Union Pacific Northwest line.
The store carries roleplaying games, miniatures games, board games of many kinds, paints, scenery and card games. Twice a year, in March and October, it holds a community auction where local sellers bring in used games, which is a good way to find older board games and RPG books.
Games Plus has a large game room with about a dozen tables, and it hosts regular events such as board game nights and a monthly historical miniatures night. Check the store's events page for the current schedule.
Best for: RPGs, miniatures, used games at the twice-yearly auction, game room, northwest suburban location
Prep for Game Night with Free Tools
Before you head to any of these stores, make sure you are ready for game night. Spunk Quest has a free dice roller that reads dice notation like 2d6+3 and shows the exact odds of hitting a target number on a d20 with advantage or disadvantage. No downloads, no sign-ups.
Use the Free Dice Probability Tool7. Dice Dojo Game Night Events
Dice Dojo Organized Game Nights
Dice Dojo deserves a separate entry for its events. The store sells event tickets on its website, and its calendar covers several kinds of play. The exact nights change, so check the calendar, but these are the kinds of events to look for:
- Board game nights: Open gaming where you can bring your own games or play with other people at the store.
- Roleplaying games: Organized RPG sessions where new players can join a table without needing to find a group first.
- Trading card games: Magic: The Gathering, Pokemon and other card game events, including drafts and prereleases for new sets.
- Miniature wargaming: Games Workshop titles such as Age of Sigmar and other miniature games on the play tables.
Store events are one of the best ways to meet other gamers in Chicago. If you are new to the city or looking to expand your gaming group, showing up to a board game night is the fastest way to find your people.
8. Chicago Game Fest Events and Meetups
Chicago Gaming Festivals and Meetups
Beyond individual store events, the Chicago area has gaming festivals, conventions and large meetups through the year. Names, venues and dates change from year to year, so this guide does not list a fixed schedule.
Larger gaming events usually rent a hotel, convention center or community space and offer open gaming tables. Many have a game library you can borrow from, and some add tournaments, designer talks or playtesting of unreleased games. The conventions section below lists recurring events we could confirm.
To find upcoming events, ask at your local store, check store bulletin boards and event calendars, and look at local gaming groups on Meetup, Reddit and Discord.
Best for: Large-scale gaming, meeting designers, trying new games, community building
9. Online D&D Communities in Chicago
Chicago-Based Online Gaming Communities
If you prefer to play from home, or if you want to find a local group that also plays online, Chicago has a thriving online D&D and tabletop RPG scene. Several options for connecting with local players:
- Reddit: Chicago-area gaming subreddits are used for LFG (looking for group) posts, event announcements, and store recommendations.
- Chicago D&D Discord Servers: Multiple Discord servers exist specifically for Chicago-area D&D players. These range from casual text-based RPGs to organized voice-channel campaigns that meet weekly.
- Meetup.com Groups: Several Meetup groups focus on board games and tabletop RPGs in Chicago. These organize both online sessions and in-person meetups at local stores, bars, and community spaces.
- Facebook Groups: Search Facebook for Chicago board game and D&D groups, where players look for tables, sell or trade games, and share events.
- Roll20 and Foundry VTT: Many DMs run campaigns on virtual tabletop platforms. Roll20 has a looking-for-group tool where you can search game listings and mention Chicago if you want to meet in person sometimes.
The advantage of finding a local online group (rather than a fully remote one) is the option to occasionally meet in person at one of the game stores listed above. Many Chicago D&D groups do a mix of online and in-person sessions.
10. Chicago Gaming Conventions (C2E2 and More)
C2E2 — Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo
C2E2 (Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo) is one of the largest pop culture conventions in the Midwest, held each year at McCormick Place. The 2026 show ran March 27 to 29, and the 2027 show is announced for April 30 to May 2, 2027.
While it covers comics, movies, TV, and anime, C2E2 also has a tabletop gaming area and tabletop exhibitors, so you can try games and meet small publishers. Check the official program each year for what is on the floor.
Beyond C2E2, Chicago-area gamers should also look into:
- AdeptiCon: A major miniature wargaming convention that ran for years at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center. It moved to Milwaukee in 2025; the 2026 show ran March 25 to 29 at the Baird Center, about a 90-minute drive from Chicago. It covers Warhammer 40K, Age of Sigmar and other miniature games, with tournaments, painting competitions and seminars.
- Protospiel Chicago: A casual weekend event where game designers bring prototypes and get feedback from other designers and players. The 2026 event, its tenth year, ran September 11 to 13 in Countryside, IL. If you have ever wanted to design your own board game, this is the event to attend.
- Gen Con (Indianapolis): Not in Chicago, but about a three-hour drive, so many Chicago gamers make the trip. Gen Con is one of the largest tabletop gaming conventions in North America.
Best for: Large-scale conventions, cosplay, tabletop gaming area, celebrity panels
What to Look for in a Game Store
Not every game store is right for every gamer. Here is how to evaluate a store based on your specific needs:
For D&D and RPG Players
Look for stores with dedicated RPG sections (not just a shelf of D&D books mixed in with board games), organized play events, and space to run a table. Dice Dojo and Games Plus are strong choices in this category. Also check if the store has demo dice sets and character sheets available, which indicates they take the RPG community seriously.
For Board Game Collectors
Curation matters more than volume. A smaller shelf of well-chosen games is more useful than a large shelf of random titles. Also look for stores that offer a demo library where you can try a game before buying. Return policies for opened games vary by store, so ask before you buy something expensive.
For Magic: The Gathering Players
Look for stores in the Wizards Play Network, the Wizards of the Coast program for stores that run sanctioned Magic events. Check their event calendar for Friday Night Magic, draft nights, and prerelease events. Fair Game and Dice Dojo both list Magic events.
For Families
Look for stores with staff who can recommend games by age range and player count. Fair Game, with its youth D&D program, is a good place to start. Also look for learn-to-play events that are family-friendly, and stores with a welcoming atmosphere that will not intimidate kids.
Tips for Supporting Local Game Stores
Local game stores are small businesses, and every visit helps. Here is how to support them while still being smart with your money:
- Buy at least one game per visit. Even if it is a small expansion or a pack of card sleeves, every purchase helps.
- Attend events and bring friends. Full tables keep events running, and people who come to play often buy something too.
- Buy new releases locally. Buying a new game at your local store during release week supports both the store and the publisher.
- Spread the word. A review or a word to friends costs you nothing and drives new customers to the store.
- Use the gaming space and buy a drink/snack. Many stores have a small refreshment area. Small purchases help their bottom line.
Final Thoughts
Chicago's board game store scene is still strong in 2026, even after losing Cat & Mouse. Whether you are a north-sider who swears by Dice Dojo, a Hyde Park reader who browses First Aid Comics, or a suburban gamer who relies on Fair Game or Games Plus, there is a store in this metro area that fits your style.
The best thing you can do for the community is show up. Attend game nights, bring friends who have never played a tabletop game, buy from local stores when you can, and keep the community growing. Every person who walks through the door of a game store and discovers their new favorite hobby makes the whole scene stronger.
Roll well, Chicago.