Haven't been to a store like this in quite some time. It was nostalgic yes, but to share stories of what I did as a kid with my friends to my children made it even more special. We ended up sitting down to try out their electronic chess set and walked out with a card game and a board game. The owner and the lady (perhaps daughter?) were both very helpful in answering my kids questions. Go support local. Even as a visitor, it is small businesses like this that make Coolidge Corner meaningful and valuable. read more

Really great selection of puzzles and toys; spent a long while trying to decide which jigsaw puzzles to get because of how many options there were. Pretty averagely priced for an independent puzzle shop, but the cashier was super nice and personable! read more

Eureka Puzzles - Question for discount - Toy Stores Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

Great selection of puzzles! Well organized. Wide range of sizes and brands. Good value.

I came here to buy games for a week-long family reunion. The store has a large selection of games, but I wasn't familiar with many of them. I asked help from the young woman working in the store. I told her the kinds of games we've played and liked. She made a number of suggestions, though she threw them at me faster than I could take them in. Eventually I took a chance on several games she recommended. Overall, her suggestions were not good and we were disappointed in several of the items we bought. I love games and the store has a big selection, but a helpful store person can make all the difference. read more

Fabulous store with such an incredible selection. An essential business in the age of Corona! Lovely staff! read more

I love Eureka Puzzles. Their games are great, and the staff is super helpful. They seem to live for helping you find the perfect game for whoever your shopping for. I greatly prefer shopping locally at Eureka to buying a game on amazon.com. They're one of the few stores I know of in the Boston area that carries the addictive card game Killer Bunnies (and some bonus packs). The staff also know exactly what I mean when I ask about a game like Killer Bunnies, and don't look at me like I'm a crazy person for thinking the game exists. They have some great, free game nights for both experienced and beginner players. See their events page for a schedule: http://www.eurekapuzzles.com/Articles.asp?ID=254 I have a friend who writes cryptograms. One day, I was looking at some of the books at Eureka, and got very happy when I saw a book that was written by my friend. Of course I purchased the book, and called my friend when I got home to tell him that I hoped he'd make some money off my purchase. Stop by Eureka next time you're in Coolidge Corner, and you'll be glad you did. You may end up spending a hour browsing games, but it's quite worth it! read more

I really enjoy Eureka. One of my high school friends used to work here and I used to love coming in to visit her and playing with all the cool things they had in there. They have such great puzzles and I used to stand there for hours trying to figure out puzzles while she rolled her eyes in the background because she had already figured all of them out. My favorite purchase from Eureka would be their puzzle rings. I love it so much and I love stumping people once they realize that my ring is actually four rings intertwined into one! It makes me feel like a genius putting it back together and watching their amazement. Haha. This is also an awesome store to grab a gift for someone. I was going to say that this is a great place to grab a gift for an intellect, but I figured people would have common sense to buy stuff like this for someone of an IQ of at least over 50. Oh, and by the way, every time I see this place or hear of it, it reminds me of Eureka's Castle. Anyone? Anyone?! Haha. I'm such a kid. read more

Taylor @ Eureka was super friendly and helpful. He knows all about the games and was able to make some great recommendations with a lot of preview detail about the game play. Definitely support this local game store because they've got it all! read more

Eureka Puzzles - Setting up Forbidden Desert - Toy Stores Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

When you (most likely) don't have the space you'd like to have a "wow" of a store, you have to make decisions. In this case, I think they were all smart decisions. As much space as possible in the main part of the store is devoted to games, maybe not a huge quantity of any ones in particular, and still keep enough room to wander around excitedly. Then, have some specialties, and in this case, that's puzzles. I was impressed by the "batcave" around the corner to the back left, with their selection. If only I had been here a week earlier, I probably would have bought some as gifts. Finally, have a staff with a really good focus on customer service, with a focus on being able to get something that might not necessarily be in the store. The guy who was working here this afternoon - I don't know if he was the owner or not - spent ever minute chatting with customers or helping them at the register. This was an enjoyable store to visit, and if I lived locally, I'd be here often. read more

I love Eureka Puzzles. Especially this week. We're in the middle of the Corona virus quarantine. All the stores are closed. Yet Eureka keeps delivering puzzles to those of us who are desperate for distraction (and who isn't?). I bought 2 great jigsaw puzzles before the store was forced to close. Today I ordered another one on their website, and it was delivered before the day was over. They really take care of their customers. And they have the best puzzles. Go Eureka!! read more

Eureka Puzzles - Toy Stores Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

Hmm I'm actually very surprised by the five stars. I thought it was a pretty decent store and they are definitely more of a puzzle house than games but they are so rude it made the entire experience unbelievable. Im a beginner and trying to get my feet wet in the puzzle world and they were incredibly inpatient and snooty and made the experience very negative and the puzzle community seem very exclusive read more

Like everyone else, I love this place. Eureka's helps me embrace my Peter Pan complex, but offers a lot of grown up looking puzzles. Every visit to this store ultimately costs me an hour of my time and $20 (zero regrets on either). The employees at this store are always an incredible help. Whether I'm looking for something for myself (usually the case) or a present, they have helped find the perfect puzzle every time. It's a great place to bring visitors, buy a "different" present, and act like a kid. I'm sure I'll be back there soon when I'm too frustrated with Pentaminos (seriously go ask for it; best puzzle ever) and need a new challenge. read more

Who needs TV when you have Eureka! Nothing beats coming in from skiing and sittng down with a cup of hot cocoa and a game of Guillotine. When I told this to the guy who works here, he immediately had 3 specific suggestions of games I should try and why. While I was in there, he also helped a 10 year old find a board game which he didnt know the title of, and a grandmother find a gift for her little ones. This store has everything! I wish I knew about it earlier. Card games, puzzles (jigsaw and other), board games etc. Old classics and new gems, children and adult, lazy afternoon time killers and intense mind-bending life changers! The store also runs a weekly game night at a nearby hotel. They have different themes every week and cater some weeks to learning new games and other weeks to competitive play. I haven't been to it yet (stupid class :P) but I can't wait until I can break out my other-worldly Carcassone skills on some unexpecting strangers! read more

Eureka! This place has a lot of puzzles! Come here, quick! Before you forget how fun it is to play games and be silly. It's not too late to reverse the damages of growing up and becoming cynical and bored. There are big things and little things to play with inside the store. Find Matthew-- he's a riot and really knows his stuff. Yeah, their prices are a little higher than, say, Target's. But I don't mind paying the two extra bucks, if it means it's going to a local business. read more

The only thing better than geeky board games? Geeks to play them with! Eureka, amazingly, provides them both. In their store, they have a huge selection of the best and most obscure board and card games you could ever imagine. If you've heard of a game, they have it here. The sales clerks are incredibly helpful and friendly and their games are arranged in such a way that you can find exactly what you need and still uncover new treasures on the same trip. In addition to all their in-store fun, they have a game club that meets a few times a month to play board games together nearby. It's a fun way to meet new people and learn new games. You can see their upcoming events here: http://www.eurekapuzzles.com/catalog/announcements.php?aid=101 read more

I need to explain a few things first. 1. I'm a child inside. Always will be. 2. This place is near my apartment 3. My apartment is really, really old. So My roommates and I live in this kick ass old apartment. One night in the middle of the winter, it was only myself and one of my friends in the apartment. I had the apartment to myself for a few weeks, and its a huge terrifying apartment. There was snow on the ground, and a storm warning on the TV. So we were watching TV and some weird stuff started happening. We immediately went to the idea that there was a killer in the house. We were convinced. And with every sound, I screamed like a little girl. Then we moved on and went with "oh. Okay. It's probably just ghosts. NBD. What does this have to do with Eureka? They had a Ouija Board in stock.One last Ouija Board in stock. I went out in the snow just to get the board to contact the ghosts that were screwing with our lights and power and knocking stuff over and whatnot. The guy I talked to on the phone was super helpful, and I think he knew that I was going through a crisis and went through hell or high water to find me this last one in the store room. I went to the store and he even recommended I buy this game that also came with a flashlight, solely for the flashlight. Did we just become best friends? Yep! I went home, I got more people to come over, and by the time that I had calmed myself down enough to the point where we were going to do it, I decided dinner was wayy more important. So moral of my story (a bad one at that) is that Eureka Puzzles is amazing. Go here and have yourself a time. Also! There is a brain teaser up [weekly?] in their window in the alley next to the store. Every time I walk by here I stop and try to figure them out. It's fun. Keeps you young. I'm going to go deal with my ghosts now. Super. read more

Guys. GUYS. Seriously. This place. Wonderful. I have a friend who's out of commission for 6 months after surgery. My goal: find a super time-consuming gift. I was greeted immediately and when I shared my intent the folks behind the counter were full of suggestions. I basically told them that he loves trains and he loves tinkering. Go. Maybe a train set? He loves trains. Maybe a puzzle? That'll keep him busy. Maybe a game? There are some neat train-themed card games. Oh, often it'll just be 2 people? That game is fun, but it's not as fun with just 2 people. Maybe you want to try this other one... I spent a good 30 minutes poring over my options. They answered questions when I wanted help, insightfully and with mindfulness to price (here's the highest end train set, here's the mid-range, here's the cheaper-but-still-great one, here's how they differ), and they let me explore on my own unobtrusively when I thanked them and told them I'd continue my investigation. When I ultimately diverged and picked a nature puzzle, they applauded the decision, and kindly offered a gift receipt just in case he wanted to swap. I also may or may not have bought a puzzle for myself. Any other Amelie obsessors want to come help me work on Renoir's "Luncheon of the Boating Party?" read more

One day I will invent a board game that will involve piracy, space and mutant animals and I will hopefully earn a place on Eureka's shelves. The have Killer Bunnies the game (fun and more adult than the title indicates) several pirate games and all the most popular genre games. They even had the game I was looking for. I wandered in here and began to look for the game I desired... For some reason I can never remember the title. Luckily it was a very popular game in 2007-2008. I knew it either had the word 'space' or 'galaxy' in the title. I approached the guy in the radioactive green/yellow t-shirt and asked for help. He was admittedly new and could not find it. He then asked me to wait while he asked everyone else. The other staff member was busy and before she was free another guy came in and immediately said the title was "Quest for the Galaxy" and they had one in the back that was not on the shelf yet. Very helpful. In addition to their excellent customer service and game selection, they also have educational puzzles and other goodies. My GF who is a veterinarian checked out the mastodon anatomy model (amazing how they know that the liver of it had three lobes) We were both impressed and will visit again. read more

This store makes me wish I were the type of person who sat around, playing board games with friends and talking over drinks instead of loafing around on the couch watching tv and playing Wii. When you enter Eureka, you enter a world in which video games don't exist. It's pretty incredible. Here, only board games, card games, puzzles, and the games of your childhood (pre-Atari- now I am dating myself) line the shelves. The staff are incredibly helpful. They don't judge you for not being familiar with these old school meets new school games. Rather, they bring you into their world. They love these games and they want you to love them too. They'll spend ridiculous amounts of time teaching you to play the games, so you're sure to become as addicted to games and puzzles as the staff of Eureka are. It really is fun for the whole family. Now where did I put my Wiimote again? read more

My girlfriend and I would come here at least once a week to pick up some new puzzles because, yes we are that cool and WE LOVE EUREKA. They have a great selection and their staff is very knowledgeable and helpful. They also have great gifts for kids of all ages. Very refreshing to go into a store like this, not a big chain give us your money type store. Also, look out for their street sales and other specials! :) read more

Love this store! They have a surprisingly large number of games and puzzles for occupying such a small space; they carry everything from jigsaw puzzles, to mechanical puzzles, to party games, to Euro-strategy games. I used to live in Brookline, and always had fun walking into Eureka Puzzles and checking out the games. Perhaps more importantly, the staff is second to none. My husband and I recently made the trek down from Wakefield, specifically for the purpose of visiting the store so he could browse and pick up a game for his birthday. We told a staff member what kinds of games he typically enjoys (strategy and Euro-style games), named a few examples (Axis & Allies, Dominion, Settlers of Catan), and she immediately had several recommendations for us. We continued to browse after she pointed out a few likely candidates, and went to her with a few questions when they came up. We eventually chose a game (Eclipse) based on her comments; we have since played it several times and she was right on the money with her recommendation. I will definitely continue to go back to this store. As an added bonus, you can score a 10% discount on an item if you can solve the puzzle of the day in their window. Gotta love that! read more

This weekend Eureka Puzzles and games facilitated games at my son's bar mitzvah party. Rafi, coordinated with the restaurant and even did a site visit prior to the party to make sure that he would know how to set up the room because it was an unusual set up. The two facilitators arrived early set up the games, and helped children and adults have a great time during the party. They brought multiple selections of games and when one game looked like kids had enough, they switched games out for new ones. They are creative, fun, lovely to work with. Exceeded my expectations in every way and I highly recommend them for a party for children and adults. read more

They say that when Archimedes discovered that volume and density were related to mass in his bathtub, that he shouted "Eureka!" and ran down the street naked. That was a puzzle, dood, and he solved it. Naked. This quaint little treasure on Beacon Street will boost your IQ 3 points just walking in the door. I heard that in order to work there, they make you solve a puzzle. Or they give you your first paycheck in a box that unlocks only when you have shown proficient skill in the art of puzzle-figuring-outing. That's the rumor, anyways. I went here to get a present for a friend and ended up buying all this stuff for myself. Puzzles are fun, and this is the go-to place for that kinda thing. Also, they stayed open late for us this one time, and didn't even seem inconvenienced by it. Also, sometimes they set a booth up outside and chat up old Brookline ladies. I like that kind of community involvement. read more

Eureka saved my relationship! Let me start off by saying that I rarely ever get political online (and I won't start now) Anyways, So things were rocky between me and my significant other for a while, and the other day things just BLEW UP (pardon the pun). She is a very high ranking member of the canadian air force and so I can't put her name on here, but suffice it to say that she was the first female canadian woman to make it onto the Facebook page of canada's version of nasa. Anyways, she and I were fighting about the best form of ham sandwich--I don't like ham, but the best kind ALWAYS has Hellman's (tm) mayonnaise. Anyways, we were fighting when all of the sudden, Eureka! came out of nowhere. Did you know that Eureka is Latin for game store? Anyways, we had a blast playing PANDEMIC (tm) and Have been married ever since. Anyways, blasting off (pardon the pun!) Charley B. read more

If you are into board games or puzels, this store will become your favourite shop in Boston! The store is a small shop located near Coolidge Corner. Look out for it or you might miss it! They contain the largest selection of puzzles I have ever seen. There is a whole little section on limited release puzzles which would make a great fancy gift for just about anyone! They also have all sorts of classic puzzles where you try to create a picture by putting the pieces together. I do not particularly like those, so only skimmed over that section. My favourite section of the whole store is the left corner right as you walk in--the board games section. They have all the classics like Monopoly, Clue, Risk, and their variations. They also have all sorts of games you have never heard of. If you want to venture out and play a new game, make sure you speak to one of the friendly staff members. One guy showed me all their "resource management games" (e.g., Puerto Rico, Axis and Allies, Settlers of Catan, and Ticket to Ride) and took an extended time to explain how each one plays. He also told me the store hosts weekly or biweekly board game sessions at the nearby Marriott for those that want to learn how to play the games and have some fun while doing so. I have visited the store four times this past week as there is so much to see. Even if you live across town, this is a must-see. read more

This is an extremely solid game store. Went here looking for a new favorite game, and after getting help from a super cool knowledgeable dude(I forget his name but he looked like Bradley Cooper, I guess he could have been Bradley Cooper)walked out of there with Santorini-gf and I love the game. Will def be back. If you go here tell em Rick sent you and ask for that dude, dude. read more

I, along with my family, am absolutely in love with this place. It's perfect for gifts (both for others and yourself) and the staff are phenomenally helpful. Three of us had a conversation on the merits of movie adaptations of comic books and how they translate into card and board games. Nerd heaven. And not only are the staff fun to talk to, but if you describe vaguely what you're looking for, they can come up with exactly what you need. The puzzle selection is unbeatable, and there's every type of board game you could want, along with logic games for those oriented more towards mental puzzles. It's expensive, but so incredibly worth it. read more

I got to Eureka 10 minutes before closing and was so sad that I had to rush through all the goodies. They really do have every single board game/card game/puzzle/crossword... wooden contraptions..- in the world! Along with puzzles tricky, and ridiculous enough to make you wanna rip your eyeballs out, and board games related to every aspect of life and imagination, Eureka literally has it all. I read the reviews before going in and knew that the staff were nerdy enthusiasts, but wow! - they were so knowledgable, friendly, kind of nerdy and just a good time to be around. I will definitely make my way there again soon. read more

I can't believe this store has existed for so long without my knowledge!! I love board games and puzzles so this place is a slice of heaven to me! It's a tiny store with a large inventory. I can and have spent hours just looking around. The guys that work there are helpful and knowledgeable... Very knowledgeable. read more

Positives: - Clean, bright - Staff nice and helpful - Had every game in stock when I asked for it - Last time, had Puzzle of the Day, which if solved correctly provided a 10% discount on one item - Easily accessible from the C line Negatives: - Parking in that area of Brookline is tough Overall: - I always stop in here when I'm in the area! - While I wish the prices were slightly lower, it's the nature of the hobby. - Great store! read more

So happy I made a visit to Eureka! I've always noticed the bright blue awning and have been curious to check it out. When NYE came around this year my roommates and I decided we would stay in with some drinks and fun games. The guys in Eureka are super nice and gave us great suggestions on some fun games to play. I came here this weekend to get a puzzle because I remembered they had some of the Boston skyline. They were actually out of them but offered to take my name and number and call me when they came in. I settled for another puzzle which was really well priced. Then when I was at the counter I saw what may have been the best purchase ever....a deck of cards of "500 Best Pick Up Lines." Let's just say we took them out to the bar and it made our night very interesting and funny! read more

One of the best toy stores, particularly for older kids, with the choice of board games and brain-teaser games. My son loves the board-game summer camp that includes outings to museums. There're also board-games gathering at the nearby Temptations cafe (on Beacon St) where anyone can walk in and play the board games with other like-minded enthusiasts, for free. I love it. read more

In my house as a kid, we were always putting together a puzzle. Usually a well-worn Springbok. We would put it together and then mail it to a relative, who would do the same and then pass it on. What a cool system! Alas, they don't make puzzles like that anymore. I am so tired of monotonous monotone puzzles. I want puzzles with interesting pictures, pictures you want to put together. Eureka has the best puzzle selection I've seen, including Springboks. They could still do better, but I suspect the puzzles I really want aren't made anymore. Eureka has a great selection of games, crossword puzzles, mindbenders, and gadgets. If you are shopping for a ten year old, or your uncle or yourself or just trying to kill some time in Coolidge Corner, you couldn't pick a more fun place to go. read more

Great game store in Brookline. Super convenient from the Coolidge Corner T-stop. Awesome selection...knowledgeable and super friendly staff...great atmosphere. I came in here to get my Scategories fix...and YAY! they had what I was looking for. The only problem was that I found a whole bunch of other games and puzzles I "needed"... read more

Great mix of puzzles, casual games, and even some more complex games for the hardcore. Prices are pretty good but the service is what makes this place really shine. Even if you don't know what you're looking for or potentially what to get a for a friend, the people here will take the time to listen to what you're trying to find and send you in the right direction. No hard sells, just good honest advice. Unfortunately for us geeks we'll still be hiking to Pandemonium to get the geekier stuff that occupies our time when we're not playing World of Warcraft or Yelping. read more

I love this little store. The employees are very helpful and knowledgeable and don't look at you as if you are a) not smart enough to talk to or b) the only woman they've seen in 20 years, both of which have happened to be at both games stores and comic book stores. They have an impressively good collection of games and puzzles, considering how small the store is. They usually only carry 1 copy of a lot of things but they'll order things for you. They're pretty good about stocking expansion packs as they come out. read more

We go here for board games (we love strategic Eurogames...things like Settlers of Catan and Agricola) and absolutely love it. How much do we love this shop? We live about 3,000 miles away, and every time we're in town, we visit this game shop and wind up packing new games home. Why isn't this place on my street? read more

Holy cow! They've got a lot of stuff crammed into a fairly small store space. Most toy stores you go into and they have huge shelves with a lot of real estate dedicated to just a couple of toys. This place is very densely packed (the board games for example are stacked on the side). The employee when I went there was extremely helpful with another patron, and seemed very knowledgeable about what the store had to offer. I did have a question about one of their items, but he was unable to answer it because he said it was a new item. My reason for only a 4* rating? Well I'm a teacher, and I bought a couple of items from the store for my classroom. I inquired about whether they offered an educator discount, and they said yes, which made me happy. But then they clarified that it was only for teachers in the state of Massachusetts which made me sad. Shame on you, Eureka, for discriminating against out-of-state teachers! read more

Do you like games? Puzzles? Mind teasers? Optical illusions? Eureka has it. I wandered in here the other day with my girlfriend, and a staff member was trying to help a customer find a puzzle that he had heard of. The only catch is that the customer had no idea what it was called, only some vague details. Nonetheless, he was being helped with suggestions. While no answer could be settled upon, the level of customer service impressed me. Beyond that, this store is packed. It's not large, but everything seems logically organized. There's an area for board games and card games, an area for jigsaw puzzles, a shelf for sudoku books and the like, and a sizeable young adult section. They even have trick dice, which I always enjoy. There's more that doesn't really fit into any of those categories as well, like books of optical illusions, some trivia games, and 3d puzzles of both the "build the Eiffel tower" variety and the "extract this ring from the rope and wooden pillar" type. Eureka is an amazing store, and if you're looking for some off the wall or odd puzzle that just doesn't seem to be anywhere else, there's a fair bet you'll find it here. read more

I have mixed feeling about this place. On one hand, the selection, atmosphere, and the staff there is very knowledgeable about what they sell. On the other hand, the same products can be had on Amazon.Com for 20% cheaper. I think its somewhat fair, because you do pay for service. My biggest gripe with Eureka is that - once I had to return a board game that I bought. It had a ripped piece in it, and I wanted to return it. The store manager/owner gave me some grief about actually returning the product, due to a minor issue (in his opinion.) Eventually, after counting all of the pieces, which took nearly 1/2 hour, they took the game back, but it should not have been that difficult. So, generally the place is fantastic, if it was not for their scrutinizing return policy. read more