My husband and I stumbled upon this gaming store by happenstance. We were having dinner next door…read moreat Phu-Yen when my husband spotted it on the way into the restaurant, so we popped in after dinner. It looked like they were having some sort of boardgame playing event with kids when we were there. They had tables set up and an employee was explaining the rules of some game. We browsed quickly, but from what we saw they had a good selection of board games. I saw Dix-it, Ticket to Ride, various versions of Fluxx, various versions of Munchkin and other cool games. Prices were comparable to other game stores. In addition to board games, they also had videogames, including older stuff like original Nintendo and Gameboy! They had some figurines and also lots of different types of dice. Since staff seemed to be busy with the event, we were left to our own devices to browse, which I prefer anyway. They did thank us for coming in when we left though and they seemed friendly. It's a cool store for games if you're in Kanata North. It's in a strip mall with lots of parking.

From the owner: We sell video games, board games and magic the gathering singles.read more

Wow, what a beautiful place to buy retro-games! I have to say that the presentation is great; all…read moreof the games are featured in a way that makes it easy to find what you're looking for - and you will probably find what you're looking for! They have everything retro games and even some current/next gen stuff but the focus is clearly retro. In addition, there are plush/plastic toys and even Lego. The owner is very helpful and the atmosphere in general is pleasant. Stock: Most popular titles for all game systems; they also have common underrated games. If you're looking for a particular gaming system, they will have that too. Price: For a game player,? If you want to play Mega Man 2, you will find it here for a fair price and be happy with your purchase. Price: For a collector? Well, you will enjoy your visit for sure but this is not a thrift store; that doesn't mean you won't find a good deal though. Overall a welcome store to the Ottawa area. There are simply not enough stores that showcase retro-games so well. So check it out if you're visiting Ottawa or just enjoy retro-gaming.

What can I say about GameZetera other than the fact I still don't think I pronounce their name…read morecorrectly when I say it... I've gone there a handful of times, done a couple trade-ins and bought a few things. Simply put, they have a really nice selection of retro games, that's for sure. No matter what game you are looking for chances are they have it in stock. The only down side is their prices rival what you find on eBay so don't expect to be able to acquire a large number of cheap games for your own collection here. Personally, I think they would move a lot more product if they dropped the prices of retro games by about 20%. But I don't really think that's what they want to do as it seems the owners treat the place like their own personal retro game collection where they're more interested in having and holding all these games rather than selling them. It also seems that they are gradually moving move away from retro games and into trading card, sports memorabilia and card games like Magic and Pokemon. Most games start at about $20 for all the retro systems (NES, SNES, N64..etc.) and go up quickly from there. It's not uncommon to see a title you can pick up on eBay for a flat $20 with shipping being sold at GameZetera for $30 + 13% tax. There are only a few titles for less but usually it's because the cartridge is trashed with a ripped label or permanent marker scribbled on it. Either that or it's a widely unpopular title that no one wants or has even heard of. Beyond retro games and consoles they also have trading cards, some sports memorabilia, various geeky knickknacks like wallets, hats and backpacks. They also have some random game guides/books, a few older PC games and other random game related items. Sadly, it's clear though that they don't take any pride in their inventory. While they did TRY to organize the titles at some point often when going in you'll find 'B' titles scattered in with the 'R' titles and so on. They've also got several giant bins of mis-mashed stuff just tossed in. There's game cases, games, cables, toys..etc. All totally unorganized and caked with dirt. Speaking of dirt - I'm convinced they don't clean the games that come in beyond a token blowing in the cartridge. Every cartridge game I have bought there I've have to clean myself at home with alcohol and Q-Tips before it would even work as the pins are dark and caked with grime. As well, when you get a receipt from them all games are listed simply as "game" with an arbitrary price beside it. No inventory number, description or anything. Honestly it's 1 step above a hand scribbled note saying "you buyed stuffz for $22.60 - come again". They're fairly responsive on Facebook though there's been times it's taken them a couple days to answer a simple question about their stock. Really, it would be nice if they had a live inventory of their games on their website - maybe even allowed online orders that you could pickup. But you can tell they just don't care enough to do this. But when you're the only "game" in town for a place that's dedicated to retro video games I suppose you can get away with that sort of thing. Bottom line, It's worth just popping in if you're in the area as just looking at everything they have is an experience in of itself. A trip down memory lane as it were to which there is no admission fee. If you're looking for something specific, chances are they will have it but expect to pay top dollar for it.

This store is a bit of a hidden gem. The only store that I know in Gatineau for retro gaming and…read morecollectibles. They've got Pokemon TCG, various old consoles; Xbox, Nintendo, SEGA, etc, as well as figurines and other collectible items. It's hidden in the strip mall across from the Promenade Mall. The parking lot is accessible and I've never had issues. The service at the store is good, what I like about it is that they usually leave you alone to browse and don't get in your face like at most stores. It's a good place to get a gift as well.

I only review stores that sell retro-games - see my other reviews if you want to see more…read more If you live in or are visiting the Ottawa/Gatineau area and you are into Retro Gaming you must stop in at The Blue Gryphon! What an awesome store - they have everything retro-gaming. Also, their prices are very reasonable. If you have some retro (or newer) games they will accept them in trade too. They also sell retro consoles. Sega fan - they got tonnes! Nintendo - tonnes! Turbo-Grafx 16 - some Neo Geo - some Playstation - lots Playstation 2 - tonnes! Xbox - lots Gamecube - lots. They have another store at 380 Notre-Dame but this location just recently opened up and, because it is a bigger store, has more stock. Additionally, this store has regular store hours; open daily. And they have a HUGE amount of stock. Most popular games are available and many can be purchased complete in box. The staff are very friendly and are ready to help if you need anything. The owner attends many conventions and, as a result, is always bringing in lots of variety. If you are looking for a specific title, just ask; they will make a note of it and when they get it, give you a call. I live in Ottawa and have been to ALL the retro-gaming stores in the area - don't pass through without checking it out, you will not be disappointed.

I accidentally stumbled upon Toy Heaven during a Google search. I'm thankful I did. I ordered a few…read moreitems I've wanted for sometime and the price and customer experience were both excellent. My items arrived in great packaging with a couple fun cards too :) I'm looking forward to ordering again in the future and hopefully visit someday. Highly recommended!

I never thought I would feel so compelled to write a review for a shop I haven't even had the…read morepleasure of visiting in person but here we are! Toy Heaven is AMAZING. I discovered them online and marveled at their selection of rather rare toys at really excellent prices (not to mention I love their selection of gently used toys, too- I hate seeing perfectly good toys thrown out when other children can be enjoying them). Since I live on the other end of the country, I had some questions before purchasing. The staff were SO kind and knowledgeable, got back to me very quickly (over and over again- sorry, guys!) and went out of their way to help. I cannot recommend Toy Heaven enough, I will certainly buy more from them in the future. On behalf of me and my 4-year-old daughter- THANK YOU!!

I've never had a bad experience at this location, I have been a customer here for years. I…read moregenerally try to buy all of my video games, consoles, accessories, and paraphernalia here. Friendly and knowledgeable staff.

Although I am not a huge gamer I often stop in here to peruse their other nerd-culture merchandise…read moreand apparel. They often have stuff from Batman, Deadpool, Harry Potter, Star Wars and many other franchises and properties that I enjoy. Much along the same sort of stuff you would expect to find at Hot Topic but in a space that is more lit up, has way more space to move around, and I find is much more categorized to find things. When i do have video game needs though these guys are far more helpful than Walmart or Bestbuy because they actually know their stuff and give me straight answers to my questions. If they think I will hate Overwatch or Fallout even though they are both huge titles that sell lots, they still tell me they think I won't like those games, why they don;t think I will like them and what they would recommend instead. Even if I come in convinced I am going to buy a particular game, they will not hesitate to let me know when I have been had by advertising that doesn't quite show me how the game really plays, I'm looking at you Jurassic World Evolution!

Video store owner Barry is quite polite and knowledgeable on the various videos he has and always…read morehas a recommendation. Phoenix Video is a nice little video store with lots of options and some toys! Bubble gum machine to try your luck in getting a black gum for a free rental.

Friendly and knowledgeable staff - happy to chat and offer recommendations when the store isn't…read morebusy. I always feel well looked after when I visit. Small physical location but my favourite one to visit in town - so much heart.

"What do we say to the God of Scalpers?" "NOT TODAY!"…read more I walked into this GameStop in Barrhaven on December 23rd 2021. As usual, I was greeted by the friendly staff who were very accommodating and open to questions. I was looking at the Mandalorian Dark Saber (elite fx edition) that they have in stock because I'm a huge fan and they are always so cool with me coming in just to look at it.. One of the staff members came up to me (I'm pretty sure it was the assistant manager) and asked me if there was anything else I wanted to look at... she gestured toward the PS5 Display box. I asked if they had them in stock, and if they are selling them on the spot, she said yes. I was able to purchase a PlayStation 5 disc edition with two additional games, add a warranty on my controller, all for the product's retail price. NO TO SCALPERS! Thank you for making Christmas of 2021 a memorable one. I am loving the PS5, and I look forward to buying more games from you guys in the future. This is a very powerful console. The graphics, paired with a 4K HDR TV are absolutely stunning. The controller is probably the coolest part of this whole thing. It is unbelievably interactive. The haptic feedback on the triggers feels so real, Astros Playroom is a really cool game to introduce you to this console and it's features. And it's really cute and nostalgic for devoted PlayStation users as well. My bundle came with Ratchet and Clank and Spider-Man. Again, incredible graphics. Visually stunning. Very interactive with the controller. Feels very real. Every hit, gunshot, and story environment. The dashboard is no different than the one you are used to on the PlayStation 4. Very similar in layout, but more visually stunning that its predecessor. All of that being said, this is the biggest gaming console I have owned to date. My console is standing vertically as I barely have enough room to put it horizontally on one of my shelves. But, that does not make it a dealbreaker. As for the internal hardware, The operating system for the PS5 will take up a good portion of the 825 GB of storage you have available. I purchased a internal SSD drive from Best Buy. A 1TB western digital black series heat sink SSD. The installation was relatively easy. Make sure you touch a metal surface before you start opening your PS5. You don't want to shock and risk damaging your console. Be very gentle with the screws that hold down the additional SSD drive. Do not force The screw or tighten it too tight. you could risk misthreading the tiny screw. Also, I highly recommend getting an additional controller and the PlayStation 5 charging dock. I'll admit, these controllers do seem to drain after two hours or so. Overall, I give the PS5 five out of five stars! As well as GameStop in Barrhaven 5/5! Thanks a lot guys! Thrilled that I got my hands on one of these for its retail value. Did not want to support scalpers

So Westboro Books is a bookstore that recently (October 2023) opened up where The Wild Child…read moreProject used to be (before that it was Cococo Chocolaterie Bernard Callebaut). They obviously have books, of all genres, but they have so much more than books. They have board games/card games and they have toys too, including Celestial Buddies, which are plushies of planets, moons and all things, well... celestial, lol. I especially liked the Saturn plushie. They have "Every Child Matters" stuffed bears as well. They have really cool bookmarks (I especially liked the Spaghetti and Meatballs bookmark). They have earrings that are book covers! Perfect for the bibliophile in your life who also loves jewelry (and has their ears pierced). The bookstore is very open and not cluttered at all. They had some shelves still empty when I went the first week of November 2023, so I think they will be getting more merchandise. Prices are comparable to other regular bookstores. No bargain basement prices, but no huge markup for being in trendy Westboro, lol. Staff are friendly and pleasant. They leave you alone to browse, which I like, but seemed helpful with other customers who needed help (I did not need help, so did not interact too much with staff). Great place to pick up gifts. They are definitely a welcomed addition to Westboro! Street parking only.

This is an amazing new addition to our neighborhood. A new independent book store that is huge…read moreselection of books with a great kids section. Also a nice choice for unique small gifts. Prices are great and yiy have the added value of contributing to a local independent store..almost forgot to mention how nice and knowledgeable the owner is, I got great service a was able to get all my question answered. She also mentioned she intends to host book related events and have kids events which will be perfect for winter. Definitely added to my fevorite places list.