Let me tell you the story of a guy who went to Level Up Games and bought some stuff and then traded…read morein some stuff. Normal, right? Then fast forward at least 15 maybe even 20 years and this guy entirely forgot he had credit because his job took him away from Santa Cruz. But one day he returns to get the batteries changed in his old Pokemon games (which they did quickly and for a very reasonable price) and he was informed he had almost 20 bucks sitting there. That's me. I'm the guy. It's been so long that they could never have told me and I would never have been the wiser. Also, even if I remembered they could have kept the money after so much time had passed and I would have fully understood. But nope, they held on to it and even told me about it. Their collection of retro games is amazing and you can buy modern games there too? It's all you could want in a game store.

I've had a week to get distance from this experience and mull over whether or not I should write a…read morereview, but I felt that it's right to respond instead of just letting it slide because shoppers should be aware of what to expect. I took several gaming hardware items - controllers, adapters, chargers, cases, and a GBA game - to sell because I wanted to get rid of them. I've been a regular customer at this local game shop for years and have always had decent experiences there. When I dropped off the items, the employee at the counter gave me a very firm rundown about policy, percentages, and profit margins right off the bat - not exactly the warmest greeting, but fair enough. They had a backlog of other trade-ins to appraise, so they let me keep the items there and said they'd follow-up over the phone with their prices later, which they did after a couple of days. During that phone conversation with their employee (who was not the employee I dropped off the items with), I asked if she could list out the prices on each item. She provided me with that info and I told her that I agreed to the prices on the smaller items, but that I'd come by in a few days to pick up the GameCube controller because the price was lower than I was hoping for. I didn't argue about it - I just said I'd pass on that one and pick up the rest. About 3 days after that phone call, I came into the store to pick up my items and had what was honestly the worst customer service experience I've had at any local shop, which is why I'm writing this review. There were two employees behind the counter who I recognized from previous visits. After I walked in and asked for my items, one employee handed me the bag and then brought up an old issue from a few weeks earlier where I had attempted to purchase METROID PRIME 4: BEYOND from their website when it was mistakenly listed for $0.00. Immediately after checkout, they had sent me an email revoking the purchase, explaining it was an error on their site. I understood and moved on from it at the time - these things happen. I wasn't actually expecting the game. However, it felt strange to have this brought up again now, especially in a tone that seemed like I had done something wrong by placing the order in the first place. The employee said, "no worries," but the context made it feel like I was being called out rather than reassured. At this point, I was just standing there ready to complete the transaction for the items I'd agreed to sell (a GBA game and one of the cases aforementioned). But then the other employee - the same person I had dropped off the items with initially - told me that they had actually decided to pass on ALL the items and would be offering me $0 instead. I said, "Oh, so you changed your mind from what was offered on the phone?" He then told me that I had haggled with his coworker on the phone and had come back into the store in-person on a different day to push for better prices on all the items. This was completely incorrect. I never came back to the store between drop-off and this pickup, and I never haggled - I simply declined the controller and accepted the other prices. I tried to clarify: "That didn't happen. I didn't do that. You have the wrong information." He dismissed this and launched into a lengthy explanation about their policies and evaluation process, talking over me even when I tried to correct the misunderstanding a second time. His coworker even attempted to interject and redirect the conversation, but he waved him off and kept going. Eventually I just said, "have a good one" and left because I was feeling very uncomfortable. Look, I understand trade-in shops need to make a profit, and I understand that pricing errors happen on websites. What I don't understand is the conflicting information (being offered prices, then being offered nothing), the accusation about behavior I didn't engage in, and the unwillingness to hear me out when I tried to correct the record. I've spent a lot of money here over the years and have always been respectful and nice. I'm disappointed that this is how things ended, but I won't be returning to this shop or spending my money here ever again. I'm posting this so others know to get clear, written confirmation on any trade-in offers and to be prepared for potential communication issues as well as some pretty bad customer service overall - particularly from certain employees.

So many games! And puzzles! I love going here to buy gifts for little ones and people that I don't…read morealready have a gift idea for.

The attendants were very patient and helpful with all my questions. Considering my server lack of…read moreknowledge of pokemon trading cards and the like. I will def be coming back 10/10

The Pokemon limit is outrageous because I went and it was 2 per customer for every item there was…read moreand I was in line and they ran out because of group of people that were in groups of more than 3 got a lot of of packs. They should make it one per customer for every Pokémon packs product

This location is awesome. Took in my Xbox series x for an overheating and bluetooth issue, for some…read morereason my controllers unpaired. After a quick diagnosis both repairs were quickly resolved and they answered all of my questions. I'm glad they were able to help me with my issue and now my series x runs smoothly without the issues I was having. Thank you for the professionalism, patience and understanding even though my issue was very minor. That alone goes along way - stay blessed and I recommend this location.

the owner is really rude and hostile towards his employees, he yelled at his employee and made her…read moreget off the register while in the middle of a transaction. if he feels he can create such an outburst in front of his customers im scared for how he acts with others alone. I encourage anyone looking for a good game store to look further into downtown as there are a few great ones nearby.

Customer service is a 11/10! The man behind the counter was…read morevery friendly and inviting! Asked me if he could help me find what I was looking for and I was stunned by the level of organization from this card shop. The prices of the cards I asked about are very reasonable and competitively priced. I almost walked out with a whole bunch but I didn't have too much time on my hands. Next time I'm in town I'm definitely dedicating a good chunk of time to fill in my decks with better cards from here. Awesome experience! The token cards are 10 cents each.

My favorite game shop this side of the galaxy and I've been to them all. They have the biggest…read moreselection and fair prices. The folks there are also very knowledgeable and fun to chat with. I often find myself coming here when I'm sad cause it always cheers me up. At least once a month, I'll bring my kids here. We'll visit the shop and then grab some lunch and boba afterwards. Can't recommend this place enough. Just ask any local gamer, they'll tell you the same. A must see if you are visiting from out of town.

If you want the closest thing to an authentic Japanese Super Potato experience, Gameshop Downstairs…read moreis the place to go to. The interior aesthetic completely reminds me of visiting game shops in Japan. They have vintage games, consoles, and collectables from all sorts of eras (Vectrex, anyone?). Things I've seen in the shop: - VHS tapes / Laserdiscs from popular anime and western films at the time - Lots of old Macintosh / Apple II computers - PC games from the 80s and 90s - 70s-2000s era consoles and video games, this also includes Japanese variants as well and also arcade boards such as the Neo Geo MVS - Pokemon and Yu-gi-oh cards - Lots of collectors editions of consoles and video games Staff is really friendly and extremely helpful, and it's clear that they have a passion for this stuff as well!

Store is really clean. Great selection of newer comics. Comic don't come with a bag and board which…read moreis a little odd. Second room has some back issues and a few 50 cent bins. Always fun to look through those. Staff was super friendly.

I've been on a hunt for a specific back issue of Dr. Strange so whenever I see a comic book store,…read moreI need to swing in. I'm so glad we just happened to park in the large parking lot next to this store. It was a delight. The store is much larger than it appears from the outside. Mainly because there's a whole second half you might not realize is there until you come in. The selection here is wonderful and the lay out newer issues in a very easy to browse way. The back issues are in your traditional long box that you need to flip through, but they're all labeled in a way that makes it easy to narrow down your search. While they did not have the specific issue I was looking for, they happily went online and found an online retailer that had it for a reasonable price. That's great customer service that no other store has ever shown me (including my own local comic book shop where I've been a regular for 10+ years). Even when I told them they didn't have to do that they insisted and had a site for me within a minute or two. I really appreciated that. The two workers were so friendly and helpful. When I mentioned I was from Los Angeles they asked where my local store was & immediately knew it and had nice things to say about the owner. You could tell they really loved what they did and the comic book community as a whole. While I don't know how often I will be in the area, if I am ever even remotely close I will absolutely come by again. This is one of the best shopping experiences I've has at a CBS outside of my area.

In case you didnt know. The shop is great but where the real fun happens is on the compas'…read moreinstagram. Go follow that shit! Its so much fun. The thrill of the first come first serve new things common and rare and even epic! Seeing all the relics that go thru those door when you are unable to go to the store is absolutely the charm and fun about gaming that we all enjoy. Seeing old systems, in box games, toys, seeing our old memories preserved and watching them be relived or passed on. The world needs places more like this. In times of craziness, its nice to unwind and get angry at someone else at online video games and let go of all this random baggage we are carrying. Thanx for keeping salinas up boiz! We all appreciate it. More than our introverted asses will ever let you know! Daniel

"Gamers in Control in Salinas--let me tell you, folks, total disaster, absolutely the worst. I've…read morebeen to hundreds of shops, tremendous shops, the best shops, and this one? A complete mess. The owner--very rude, very nasty, not smart, not smart at all--goes after anyone who leaves an honest review. Sad! You think you're just asking a question, maybe about a card, very simple, very smart question, and suddenly you're under attack. It's unbelievable. People come in, they try to be nice, they try to be reasonable, and this guy--boom!--he's on you like nobody's business. Prices? Terrible. Service? Awful. Atmosphere? You wouldn't believe it. Very low energy. I've seen coffee shops with better vibes than this place. And the owner--he thinks he's running the greatest card shop in America, maybe the world, but really, folks, it's a total disaster. Very sad. He can't handle criticism. Can't handle it. If you leave an honest review, you'll feel like you insulted the president. And I know a thing or two about criticism, believe me. So do yourself a favor--don't go. You'll save your money, your time, your dignity. It's a very dangerous shop for anyone who wants an honest experience. I know the best shops, I have the best shops, people tell me all the time. Gamers in Control? Not one of them. Terrible, terrible, avoid at all costs. Bigly disappointing. And that owner? He needs a lesson in manners. Very sad!"

Had a fantastic collection of retro games, consoles, and games/anime memorabilia. The big draw for…read moreme however was the selection of Japanese arcade games, including WACCA my personal favourite. These were all in excellent condition and with the latest updates. Staff were always friendly and helpful. I was extremely sad to hear of the The Retro Fix II's closure, and wish all the staff the best of luck moving forward.

Bought a "refurbished" DS here for my kid's Christmas present here Dec. 2025 (and a bunch of other…read morevintage consoles and games over the years). Seemed to work fine to me, but my kid found a problem with the contrast and/or screen when he tried to play Christmas morning. We took it back to the location on Campbell Ave where I bought it. Showed the manager/owner and provided receipts. He said they would fix the DS because it was sold "refurbished." He said it would be ready in a few weeks, after the new year, and took my contact into. Never heard back. Called the store after the first month came and went. No answer. Months go by and my kid keeps asking about it. I keep calling the location but then I read on their instagram that the shop is permanently closed. But they they're still doing business online. So I reach out to their instagram and email the address on their Shopify, where in fact they are now selling a metallic blue DS, just like the one I bought in December! Still no reply. Hope to hear back now that I'm posting about this problem.

I came in this area to visit a coffee shop but stumbled upon Comicopolis! It's such a cute comic…read morebook shop! They have tons of comics, graphic novels, manga & games! I looked mostly at the comic and game section but the comic section was very organized. They separated current/new issues from the vintage back issues which were alphabetized. I also glanced at the games and there's many lowkey ones & a section for 2 player games. I came across a choose your own adventure game I've been meaning to buy. This was a downtown area so most of the parking was metered street parking. Free parking after 8pm! I'm glad I found this gem and hope to stop by next time I'm in the area.

We were looking for Pokemon cards and went out of our way to go here based on a yelp review. Cool…read morestore, just not what my 6 year old needed.

The energy here is IMMACULATE. Wonderful staff -- friendly, ridiculously knowledgeable, inclusive,…read moreand accommodating. Inventory is really thoughtful, they have a fantastic selection of anything a nerdy heart could desire. Definitely recommend. My fiance also comes here for MtG events, and he has nothing but glowing things to say about this place.

Very neat shop, I really liked it when I stopped by. The staff was very friendly, knowledgeable &…read moreengaged. Unfortunately I do not live near or I would stop by more often.