I was in grade school when Tamiya became popular like a bat out of hell. Some anime, I totally…read moreforget the name, was responsible for popularizing it. If there was ever a country that was good at making shows that popularized merchandise it was Japan. Anyway, at its height, a Tamiya was to kids as cars are to grownups. Not that you could actually ride on a Tamiya mind you. Anyway, if you wanted really good parts, then the only place you could ever go to was Lil's. I used to ask a lot of my classmates where the would get their parts and most of them would point me towards Lil's. I'm surprised that this still place still stands. Walking right by it filled me with a certain sense of nostalgia and a desire to get back into an old hobby. I wonder what else they're selling in their store today?

Neutral Grounds is your go to place for everything geeky (not in any derogatory sense since geeky…read moreis cool nowadays anyway :p) Their main products would be collectible card games, the most popular ones would be Magic: The Gathering, Legend of the 5 rings, Vanguard, the different Gundam card games and a multitude of other Japanese games. They also have a huge stock of Board games and also the Warhammer 40k miniatures set. I'm pretty sure that I might not be able to enumerate all their products but I believe that they have most of the collectible card games and board games available in the market. The Neutral Grounds chain has lots of branches too, but mostly around Manila. One of the good things about them is that they have event for the popular games, especially for Magic and Warhammer 40k. They have lots of support for Magic players and provide numerous events for them weekly. However, they have little support for the lesser known games, I would like it if they promote the new up and coming games more than the popular ones in order to draw in a wider range of crowd too. Still is a good place to get your Board or Card games and their prices are pretty much standard of the market value.

As I find myself growing older, I seem to start straying away from solo games, and looking for more…read morechallenging, more social games. Neutral Grounds carries all the answers to my concern, and then some. Back in college, I used to be heavily involved (and in debt) with Magic: The Gathering. Collecting cards to form the best deck that will win you the game in two turns was a challenge, both in rarity and in price. This particular branch carries some sets that go way back into the late 2000's. Needless to say, they also carry card sleeves and accessories to aesthetically enhance your deck, and show off at tournaments. MTG aside, Neutral Grounds also has some of the latest tabletop games that are great for party games, if you want to keep it low-key, but still interesting. My recent favorites are Settlers of Catan and Dominion. Neutral Grounds also carries the expansions to these games, so that you'll never have to play the same exact game twice. This branch also has a couple of tables that allow the younger generation to play the most trending card game now, Vanguard. Although I don't see myself learning this game anytime soon, I'm certainly glad that there's still quite a following for the latest card games, and I hope that the next generation will continue to invest in these kinds of games.

Unprofessional, disrespectful and rude! If I could rate them 0 stars I would, the attendants was…read morevery rude. my friends and i entered and started browsing and talking about comic books we liked when all of a sudden we heard the attendants behind the counter say "wala yan, magpapalamig lang yan" (they're just here to cool off, they wont buy). we got annoyed, paid for our comic books and just left. we've bought from this branch multiple times before but we're never going back there again.

Believe it or not, Filbar's has been around since 1979. I remember going here with my dad and my…read morebrother -- both comic geeks -- when I was very young. It made such an impression on me that I found myself going there years later to feed my own nerdy needs. To categorize them just as a comic book store would be a big mistake. While bulk of their products do include comics from big wigs like DC, Marvel, Vertigo and more, they do have so much more than that. Graphic Novels are among the many things you'll find here. We'll technically speaking, it can fall into the comic book category as well. What I love about Filbar's is that they carry works by local artists. I was extremely impressed that they have Arnold Arre's collected works for Mythology Class and it's priced at less than P500. For someone who has pored over every page of Mythology Class in my college days, this is really a gem of a find. When famous Pinoy inker and local graphic novel legend Gerry Alanguilan came out with Elmer in 2011, this was my first place to look for a copy. Thankfully, I did get my hands on one. They also have a lot of comic-inspired shirts, posters and bags. Of course, they have collectible toys, too. I've been looking into collecting Funko POP lately and of course, they would be my top pick for sourcing my first ever piece. I can't wait to get my hands on that Dancing Groot Funko POP. Filbar's keeps the fangirl/geek in me alive!

This is the home of the Philippine Pokemon League. Yes, Pokemon League. Yes, you can battle…read moreregistered gym leaders and earn badges Pokemon League. If I was actually any better at metagame and/or still had my deck I'd-- *cough* ANYWAY. Courtside not only houses Pokemon tournaments but other card tournaments too! Magic the Gathering, Cardfight!Vanguard... I think they hold tournaments for Weiss Schwarz but I can't be sure. Either way, this is a pretty popular spot for both trading card game players and collectors as well as the occasional figure collector. They don't have the same stock of Japanese figurines as GreatToys but they do have American toys which definitely fulfills another niche. This particular branch is a little tiny though so if there's a tournament going on, I suggest waiting until it's over so you can browse the card binders in peace. As expected, they have a pretty good stock of cards from differing editions as well as a "bargain bin" and a bunch of rares on display so it's worth taking a look to see if they have that one thing you need to improve your deck.

I have to admit, the only reason I heard about this branch is because people were referring to it…read moreas Funko Pop heaven. When I finally went to see for myself just what all the fuss was about, it was pretty obvious they weren't kidding. When you head inside, the first thing you'll probably notice is the floor to almost ceiling shelves stocked with nothing but Funko Pop figures. This is probably the most complete collection of Funks I've ever seen. If there's one in particular you're looking for, I'm sure you'll probably find it in here somewhere. But that's not all they have. They also have a good collection of both action figures and anime figurines so there's bound to be something for any kind of figure collector. Apart from that, I've also seen a good bunch of keychains and a rack of shirts and jackets. As far as collectibles are concerned, this is probably one of the best stocked hobby stores I've seen where they don't just focus on one type of collectible but have a bunch of different ones. I probably wouldn't say this is a place where you can find more obscure anime but it's definitely somewhere you can try to take a look.

With board games making comeback, are you wondering where you can buy your own? First stop for most…read moretabletop gamers would be Neutral Grounds. Boardgames, Magic the Gathering and other LCGs (Living Card Games) are readily available, and they sell gaming accessories like dice, protective card sleeves, containers for small game pieces, and figurines (for games like Dungeons and Dragons). Some of the bigger branches (like the one in Centris Walk) have a gaming area too! Their staff are pretty familiar with most of the games they carry, so you can ask them about expansions and other editions of the game. If the game you want isn't available, you can leave your contact number with them, make a reservation, and they'll inform you when they get a copy. No down payment needed but if they message you be sure to confirm your reservation right away, or they might have to sell the game to a ready buyer!

Neutral Grounds has existed way before the tabletop gaming boom in recent times, so they could…read moreprobably have a big fat "Uh yeah, we were here first" sign hanging over their shops. Though I've always known them more as a place for Magic The Gathering cards and Warhammer models and their corresponding supplies: card boxes and sleeves, or paint sets and dice, I've seen them gain a little more steam with all the gaming places that have popped up all over the metro. I've noticed that the stuff they sell are a tad more expensive than you would in the gaming places, but not by much. And since Neutral Grounds is almost everywhere, getting a great game from them would probably be easier as well. This branch is particularly chock full of games that would probably be harder to come by in other branches, since it is in Virra Mall, Greenhills, and come now, how many people actually end up here, at the third floor of Virra Mall, Greenhills?

I admit that I was a bit surprised that a store like this still exists. Sure there are plenty of…read morehobby shops out there that still exist. However, only a few such as this one still exist. Courtside is a hobby card store that sells NBA cards, YuGi-Oh, and Pokemon and that's about it. Usually, a hobby store would run a wider gamut of hobby cards like Magic the Gathering, which is probably the most popular trading card game in the country. These things are a rare sight nowadays. I appreciate that it still struggles to survive and sell items which only has a small market. I mean I used to love playing Pokemon as a kid. Back then, it was all the rage. We'd bring these things to school despite the hazard of being caught using them. Seeing this place instilled in me some sense of nostalgia. It made me take a walk down memory lane.

When I lived in various parts of the Metro from the late 80's to the late 90's, I'd always make my…read moreway to the Makati location. Even now in 2024 I find myself there buying some kits while on vacation. Found a few kits that were cheaper than in the US, since I'm here might as well take advantage. Staff was always helpful and knowledgeable, they knew what was on the shelves.

Nice convenient shop for scale modellers, there are selection of Academy Tamiya, Hobbyboss,…read moreTrumpeter, Airfix, Dragon models I've remember. Some RC car parts are also available (I'm not a RC guy) Recommended.

For all of your gaming needs in Manila, the only name you need to remember is Neutral Grounds. They…read moreare the sole accredited distributor of Magic: the Gathering cards as well as other games. They have miniatures like Warhammer, Dungeons & Dragons, and Star Wars, other card games like Yu-Gi-Oh! and Weiss Schwarz, and a very nice selection of new and classic board games. Their store in Eton Centris is the most comprehensive because it is their main branch. When you go inside, you'll be face with two huge walls of games. In fact there's a ladder there just in case someone wants one of the games at the top of the shelf. If you make your way to the back, there's a pretty big playing area where you can play with your friends. If there's tournament scheduled for that day, you can join in on the fun as well!