much better now that the grumpy old dick john doesn't;t own the store any more. lots of selection but prices could be netter

First of all I want to say this place used to be amazing price wise. I don't know if there was at some point a switch in management or something but something changed and they charge double what any other store does on trading cards now. Feels more like a store trying to make more money in any way they can than a store trying to give customers who have been coming for years fair pricing. read more

Another safe haven to explore games with friends, except way more cool! First of all, it entices your curiosity with its medieval castle exterior covered in painted vines, an awesome dragon on the east side, and a gargoyle-person spying on innocent customers over the south wall! (Cool yet creepy lol) Then you waltz inside to be greeted by racks upon shelves of endless board games, card games, party games, RP games, and all the accessories you can imagine! There's also a nice display in front with the stores top favourite 20 games :) Looking further up the wall are rows of various sizes of cute fluffy stuffies with the shape of a large basketball, lining the entire perimeter of the ceiling Over to the right side of the entrance is the area where you can play, with the sizeable library of games they have available. There are also some really interesting, eye-catching accent pieces along the ceiling and walls, including a life-size Hans Solo poster, mounted dragon head (so sad!), dice-smashed window, and Cthulhu ceiling break! But wait, there's more!!?!! Game night events are also offered at this location! You have opportunities to come learn and play game demos of whatever game is being offered to learn to play. I believe signing up for the events are free- just check the website for the upcoming games selection Example - tonight was Potion Explosion, and it was a bomb!! LOL P.s. if you don't wish to leave the castle after having so much fun board gaming, you can play with the outdoor chess board beside the small tower to the southeast read more

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I recently visited this place for the first time last weekend, I'll be honest I didn't know much about it - but my boyfriend is a big board game lover so onward we ventured. First thing is this place is so fun! it's a castle standing on the side of the road, how can you not venture in? For a crazy snowy saturday (like snowstorm snowy) it was WAY busier than I expected. Games EVERYWHERE. The staff were super helpful grabbing what I wanted - but let me tell you, without a staff member I would have had NO hope in finding what I was looking for. That's the reason I only gave it four stars - for a newbie like me I had no hope of navigating the shelves alone. I'm sure we'll be back even though it's pretty far off the beaten path for us. read more

Great selection and really helpful staff. We were been doing family game nights during the pandemic and bought a lot of games. Their suggestions were always big hits. read more

Board games are alive and well in St. Albert! I wasn't entirely certain what I was getting into when I approached this store. Maybe I assumed it was yet another video game store - no complaints if it was, but never assume! The store was literally packed floor to ceiling with board games! They had racks of accessories for games - game pieces, army men. They carry Webkinz which are apparently huge in the world of preteens. The games are apparently arranged alphabetically beginning in the back corner of the store. That's how it appeared anyway. I didn't see many familiar games like Candyland or Monopoly. They did have a Simpsons game. It looked like most of them were hardcore strategy games like Magic the Gathering and Dungeons and Dragons. But there were far too many for me to really check them all out. Interesting things I noticed pegged onto a pillar were replacement parts for foosball tables. I'd never seen them anywhere else. They had men and balls. (Think clean, people!) They also seemed to have a great deal of cards, poker chips and die in the display case and behind the counter. read more

Mission: Fun & Games - Hobby Shops Near Me - St Albert, Alberta

Now we went to this games store for the boys who have gotten into Magic and initially I was just sitting on the sidelines letting them look around. Then I actually opened my eyes and started looking around. Now I do enjoy playing board games but don't consider myself a "gamer" but wow this store was impressive. For gamers there was plenty but even for the average board game enthusiast or just someone who likes to play on occasion these guys are great. The staff is knowledgable about the games and recommended great family games (which were educational to boot!). They were friendly and I love the fact they are locally owned. They run games nights for the local food bank and have weekly games nights for Magic and Pokeman. I just wish we lived closer so we could go back more often! read more

Mission: Fun & Games - Very cool building - Hobby Shops Near Me - St Albert, Alberta

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Mission: Fun & Games is a giant Castle shaped store in St. Albert. This is by far the HANDS down, Thumbs up , Nerdiest, and Most Boardgamery , boardgame store in Edmonton and Area. I have 99 reasons to NOT go to St. Albert , but Mission: Fun & Games ain't one. I'll make my quarterly pilgrimage to the store and always be amazed by the amount of games there. If you are the type of person who has A. Ever gone to Boardgamegeek.com B. Wondered why Toys R Us doesn't sell boardgames besides Monopoly This is the store for you. A huge store where you can get your game fix on. It carries Euro games, prize winning games, odd little things like Bridge card holders and Trading Card games. If you ever wanted a crokinole board this would be where to find one. The staff and owners are all super charitable, and recently organized GameAlot, a food bank fund raiser which raised close to $2000 in cash and 500lbs of food for the St. Albert food bank. It also has a huge open game library which you can actually try out the games ahead of time, pretty cool. (See my photos) The store is family friendly and is a great resource for teachers looking for a game for the classroom. The staff there all play board games, so can handily recommend a game depending on what you like, and what your'e hoping to get. It's always amazing to watch people coming in here for their first times. They either seem stunned , or just wowed. The only problem with the store is that they don't organize their games in a way which I can understand. If I'm looking for a particular title I just ask the staff. While the staff can find the game you're looking for if you give them a title, it seems to have no rhyme or reason how the games are displayed. (I've been told it's by publisher....which is like walking into a bookstore and trying to find a book in the RANDOM HOUSE section) That minor quibble aside, the only thing that would make this place better would be if it was in Edmonton. On the southside. Right beside my house. Is that too specific a request? read more

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I finally visited this store for the very first time recently to use the gift certificate I won at a game tournament last year. And not only was the game I had been eying for months now available, it was only a couple dollars more than my gift certificate so I was happy to leave the store with precisely what I was looking for and play it that evening! This store's architecture is like a big castle with a dragon painted on the outside of it. The store carries a huge selection of board games and bridge supplies and other nerdy toys and accessories (like squishables!). As a relatively short gamer, it was a bit disconcerting how high up some of the games were shelved (obviously they were short on space to stock things, but I had to ask my companion for help to reach some of the items we were browsing while we were there). I had originally been quite intimidated about journeying out to this store but it was less intimidating once we were greeted by a friendly female staff person at the main counter, who quickly helped me find what I was looking for before we continued browsing the shop. It looks like the also have a reasonably sized gaming area in the shop with snacks for sale for events and activities that the store hosts. While I'm unlikely to travel this far outside of Edmonton for my gaming hobby, it is good to have a better idea of what exists here. read more

This store is well out of my way but I had the chance to check it out once. Now I enjoy a board game like most every now and then, like most people do and don't really need a store like this one. However, board games is what this store does and it does it well. When you walk into the store they literally have shelves packed with board games and I mean packed. They are pretty much stacked wall to wall. They have pretty much every type of board game you can imagine, from old to new to everything in between, they have something for everyone. The store used to be a video and game rental store when it started out many years ago but soon changed to board games and business must be good because they have been around since the 90's. I have never seen anything quite like it. read more

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I absolutely love coming into Mission: Fun & Games! I love how cool this little spot is, and how it makes me feel like I'm stepping into some other nerd world. Mission: Fun & Games has become out go-to spot when buying new games for numerous reasons. The first is the level of customer service you get when you're in the store. Everyone there is so knowledgeable and can help you with any questions you may have. Looking for a good two-player game? They can point out a pile of them! New to board games and have no idea where to start? They have you covered! Another reason we come in here is because they have such a large selection of games for you to choose from. They have everything it seems, and if they don't, they can always get it in for you. We've been here on a few Saturdays recently and each time it's been packed on the gaming side of the store. Packed with kids, that is! Looks like they have some kind of league on Saturdays for kids to take part in (I might have heard something about Pokemon). They also have other game nights on their calendar. Make sure to check online or in store to find out what game is what night. The only reason I'm giving this 4 stars instead of 5 is because some of the games are outrageously priced. I've found them cheaper elsewhere. Otherwise, all my experiences would cause me to give this a higher rating. read more

This place is great for any level of gamer; they have it all. Classic games, puzzles, darts, card games, role playing games, cooperative games, games for all ages. Everything except video/console games. The staff seem to know about every game out there. They can tell you about a game your interested in or suggest a game that would work for the people you want to play with. They have many game nights and a Pokemon club every Saturday where kids can gather and play against each other. The people running the club are very patient and more than happy to teach you how to play. If you have any interest in games, this is the place to go. read more

Not impressed, my wife took our daughter to a family day puzzle event that's from 1 to 4, they got their at 1:45 and were told they could not do the puzzle because their was only 2 of them, and they were late. There was no mention you had to be there at 1. I've spent a lot money there in the past even though I could buy on the internet cheaper. I will never buy anything from they're ever again read more

One of my goals in life is to become "That Crazy Game Lady". I love board games. Whether they are fun, community games (Pictionary, Bladerdash, Apples to Apples, or Cranium) or strategy games (Settler of Catan, Dominion, Powergrid, and Agricola), I love them all. And I want my home to be the place where folks can come to play games. Stacked floor to ceiling with games, Mission: Fun & Games is just the store to help me achieve my goal. The staff at Mission is very knowledgeable. They have played these games and they can help you find a game that is right for you. Tell them a few games you like, and they can make recommendations. They can discern your skill level for strategy games and refer accordingly. They know which games play best for two people and which work well for large groups. If you don't see a particular game you are looking for, ask them. Chances are they may have it in back. They run the website www.boardgames.ca, so their inventory extends beyond what you see in their store. If they don't have it, chances are, they can get it for you. They also have game nights on Friday nights so you can try out games before you buy them. I've not been to one yet, but it's nice that they have that option. St. Albert is a bit out-of-the-way. But a trip to Mission: Fun & Games is always worth it. Recently, my Beloved gave me a gift certificate for a trip to St. Albert to pick out the game of my choice for my birthday. Between a partner who knows me and Mission: Fun & Games, I am well on my way to becoming "That Crazy Game Lady". read more

There is no better place in the Edmonton area to get board games. Located just up the Anthony Henday (Ray Gibbons Drive) in St. Albert, Mission: Fun & Games is a family run store that's been around for years and specializes in... well, fun. And games. If you're looking for an obscure (or brand new) card, board, role-playing or miniatures game, you can bet that Mission will either have it on hand, or be able to get it in for you with minimum fuss. And if St. Albert is a little out of the way for you, they also run online store boardgames.ca - and they'll ship to Edmonton addresses. Mission also stocks a huge number of puzzles, bridge supplies, Foosball tables - and carries toboggans in the winter! They also have plenty of specials on throughout the year, and offer up game space for people looking for a place to play. The store also stays open late on Fridays for an open gaming night - drop ins are welcome. read more

One of my most treasured activities is playing board games. I love getting a bunch of friends together and challenging each other to a game and just having a good time. Mission is one of the best stores for ensuring that boardgames can be enjoyed by everyone. Even if you have never played any game before the staff are very friendly an knowledgeable to help you find what you need. They also have frequent group activities that get people together to have game sessions. You don't have a bunch of friends that can come out to play your favourite game? No problem sign up to one of the group events and come and meet many like minded people. This store has also teamed up with the Edmonton board game league and hosts their gaming events every 2 weeks. Check them out at www.ebgl.org. This is a place where everyone can feel welcome and just let their inner geek out. read more

Now, this is a game store! Shawn and I had driven past here a few times, not knowing what the awesome building with the dragon on the side was. When we finally found out, I was stoked. A gaming store, decently close it our house? Excellent. We had to check it out. So, when we decided that we were too exhausted to make it to the last day of Sonic BOOM! this year, we went here instead. It was worth it. I have never seen such a variety if games in my life. It doesn't matter if you're looking for table top, board, card, or pen and paper RPG, they have it all. Right when we walked it, I was drawn to a display of the 10th anniversary edition of Ticket to Ride. Now, we already have this game, but this version is a must have for any collector or fan, and being able to see a copy open and displayed was great. This was our first pick of the day. After wandering around on our own for a while, we asked for some game recommendations that would be solid for two people. We don't have a lot of people over for game night often since Finn was born, so having more games good for a duo is something we've been looking for. We grabbed a copy of Monty Python Fluxx, one of the recommendations, and we actually ended up at a coffee shop later on to play a few games. It's hilarious, easy to learn, and doesn't always take very long. We also got Quarriors, which looks complicated because of all the dice involved, but it really simple once you play a turn. The service was excellent, the selection is phenomenal, and the pricing is on par with other stores in the city (and cheaper than, say, River City). We want to go and get in on one of their game nights some time, but that will probably have to wait until the boy is a bit older. For now, we know this is going to be the place we get our games. I love this store. read more

From the places I was in Edmonton this near by store is about the best overall for board games and well stocked in some other game choices. Overall a nice place to visit with very helpful staff. Yes I can see myself back here some day in the future. read more

Mission: Fun & Games - Hobby Shops Near Me - St Albert, Alberta

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This game store is family owned and operated. The owner came out and personally spoke with me about ordering in books for Ars Magica, specifically for me. They offer in-depth reviews about every item that they sell in the store, and have an area where you can trial games. This store is the best for customer service and friendly staff. read more

Great place to buy Magic Cards and other Trading cards, and Board games as well. Visit Mission Fun and Games once and you will love it read more

My favourite place for all my tabletop needs. The selection is massive and the staff is incredibly knowledgeable. I love that it's owned by a family who has a passion for their product and have carefully chosen the rest of their staff. Their prices are reasonable and the exterior of the store is the coolest I've seen to date. I will be a longtime customer. read more

If you are a gamer and are prepared to pay cash for your purchase then this may be the store for you but I will not set foot in this store again. If you plan to pay by debit or credit card be prepared to pay a significant fee for the privilege. Also their bookkeeping process for gift certificates seems to be beyond the capabilities of the owner and staff. I am not a gamer but have visited the store 3 times to purchase gift certificates for my kids and each time I have left the store frustrated and or angry. The first time they wanted to charge GST on the purchase of a gift certificate and failed to grasp that GST would be added to what was purchased with the certificate so that was double taxation. The second time I was returning an unused game - only the shrink wrap was removed but I was charged a 15% restocking (grudgingly - they did not want to accept it back at all) because their shrink wrap machine was broken. I had to take a gift certificate for the net amount and it took 45 minutes for them to figure out how to process it. They made me wait while they figured it out. The gift certificate they gave me had the fact that it had been a return which made it impossible to use as a gift for my kids. The last time I visited the store was to top up the certificate to a round number and get a more normal looking certificate. The owner of the store wanted to give me a separate certificate for the difference instead of a new one for the total again because he could not figure out how to process it. When I said this was unacceptable he asked me to come back later (south side Edmonton to St Albert and back - no thank you.) I suggested he should issue me a new certificate and do the paperwork on his own time. 15 minutes later I got my certificate but he just had to have the last word by writing on it that the original certificate was for a returned product. Now when I give the certificate as a gift I will explain why the owner decided to write on it and relive this frustrating story all over again. Maybe the owner thought he was winning a small battle by doing this but he has lost my business for ever and now you know why. Deal with the friendly and helpful staff if you go there but avoid the owner at all cost. read more

Mission fun and games in St. Albert had some of the worst customer service I've experienced at an LGS. Some may call it "old school" but it left me with a sour taste in my mouth and a reluctance to ever step foot in the shop again. Today (April 18th) at around 12:30 I was looking to purchase some reserved list cards (Lion's Eye Diamonds) from the store after being told from an employee online that they have them in stock. Upon encountering the Magic counter at the store, I waited a fair amount of time for any of the multiple employees working to greet me and give me a hand. I can see that there are multiple LED's in the display case, however in the lighting available I can see that the front copy is not near mint. The employee who greets me tells me to use an iPad that is on the magic desk to check the price (which is already a red flag given that they are not using a standard pricing site.) The program on the iPad is buggy and not overly user friendly. Upon finding the LED pricing, it states that all 4 copies are Light Play (LP). However, the pricing is somehow $15 ABOVE Facetoface for similar conditions. At this point I ask to examine the cards from the employee working behind the counter, who promptly says no. The employee states that I am only able to look at the cards AFTER I purchase them. For the first time ever in a MTG store am I completely confused. What type of store would expect me to pay well over $600 dollars for cards without being able to see the condition myself? The employee was rude and could not give me a valid reason as to why I was not able to view the cards myself after himself holding the cards in his hand with his back turned to me examining the cards himself. I've never felt so insulted from an LGS employee by making me feel like a thief and/or completely distrusted. At this point I'm utterly disheartened by this exchange. All I wanted to do was confirm that the condition of the cards matched the condition that was listed on their website. Thankfully I was told by another employee that "the magic guy" would be in soon. After dealing with Chris, it was a better experience. I was able to actually view the cards I was interested in purchasing and walked away with some product. However, I have zero interest in ever going back to this store and supporting their business. I would not recommend this store to anyone I know, and would actively discourage anyone from dealing with the staff outside of their MTG specific employees. Overall a terrible experience that I hope all other MTG customers are able to avoid. read more

This is by far the best place to buy board games!!! I live in stony Plain and will go out of my way to travel here to find that not so easy game to find. Hey have a huge selection of games to choose from and staff are very friendly and helpful. read more

Dishonest owner! Had an employee who was right in price matching a product with another store. The price was not matched because it was sold minutes later when I was trying to add another product to use my store credit. Owner lacks integrity and I would advice anyone not to shop there. Integrity is way more important than profit! read more

A very unpleasant experience. I wanted to return an unopened and unused $24 item that was a 'duplicate' Christmas gift purchased the day before. A clerk told me the store only took returns in exchange for issuing a gift certificate; to do otherwise would need the owner's approval. I asked her to seek it. The owner came out. He didn't say hello, or smile, but simply repeated his policy. I again said the gift was a duplicate and would prefer a cash refund. He thought for a few seconds and then said he'd return it for a 10% re-stocking fee. It was a boxed puzzle mat - I could have put it on the shelf myself - so I again said I'd really prefer a full refund. He then abruptly stated "There's nothing I can do for you", turned, and walked rapidly away to the back. Two things. First, the store's stated non-refund policy is on a small 5x7 card in front of each cash register, under the glass/plastic, and is not at all obvious considering that's where you place your goods for purchase and that there are other display items, notices and things on the surface and around the cash. There's no policy sign on the door. It doesn't jump from their web site. It's not a common policy these days and it should be made very clear to all customers when they enter the store - perhaps by an obvious good-sized sign. Second, the owner wasn't interested in me at all as a customer - either as a first time or repeat one. He was brusque to the point of rudeness - to the point another customer who overheard him commiserated with me after he left. He was only interested in his policy, my adherence to it, and making me pay $2.40 if he was actually kind enough to give me a refund. He is clearly someone interested only in making money - not in making customers. After the owner stalked off I was helped by another clerk who filled out a gift certificate. They looked chagrined and embarrassed by the boorish behavior of their boss. I'll no doubt use it at some point but I'll never shop there for another item, nor recommend the store to others. Mission: Fun and Games rates 9/10 on the "Grinch" scale. read more

I was a return customer, having purchased many games over the years. Terrible return policy. Won't be back.

I have liked this store in the past however I will never return. I bought an expansion pack a few days ago. It was marked $35.19 but I was charged $44.95. Today I returned to show the store their mistake. I dealt with the owner. He would not honour their mistake. He checked their website and that price matched what I was charged. My point was that they had made a mistake. He said he would meet me half way and would give me $5 back. Because he wouldn't do a return I had to take his offer. So for $5 he loses a customer. Wow that doesn't seem like good business. I will never return. read more