My go-to store for anything D&D, Games Workshop, or Magic the Gathering. The prices are good, there's plenty of play-space, and the employees are welcoming and friendly, which is a big plus in this type of retail. I normally get cards and sleeves here (huge selection), but recently I came in to get some paints and brushes after picking up 40k again, the guy behind the counter asked how I was doing and what I was thinking of painting. He also mentioned that any of the employees are happy to talk tips and technique on all sorts of modelling after I mentioned that I had been away from the hobby for ages. It's not easy finding a place that openly welcoming and charismatic towards beginners, and it really sold me on wanting to come back. read more

Horrendous customer service! Bought 150 dollars worth of items, they refunded 1 bc their inventory was wrong. Then didn't tell me. I was walking out the stores feeling the boxes when I noticed one wasn't there and then I looked at the paper and saw the refunded. Then told me it'd take a couple days to get my money back! I hate store with zero communication! And acting like i enjoy spend large sums of money! I'll be keeping my money at the east store or warp gate! And never order again! First time using this store! Update: still no refund! read more

Fantastic remodel! The staff is welcoming. They have any board game you can think of as well as card games. You can keep up with them via Facebook and tune in for updates about new releases. Best deal out of any hobby store. Everything is discounted. read more

Great store, huge inventory and awesome staff! Easily the best board game store in all of Columbus!

This place has not warhammer than the games workshop store. It's a must see Also has everything for dnd and board games, miniatures ect read more

This place is so awesome! It's sort of out of the way so you don't see it driving from the street, but when you get inside it's such a surprise! It's a really big location full of a super wide and unique array of "unplugged" games! The people who work there are super kind and knowledgeable, and you can find really any game there- they have dice and cards, board games, role player games, as well as action figures and supplies to paint and create miniatures and so much more! There's also a massive room in the back where people can meet to play together which I think is just so great! Definitely check this place out :) read more

See all

The staff is very friendly and welcoming. They provide a variety of products and offer a strong community for games. I hope this business stays strong and continues to do great things. Unfortunately, this business displays the Imperial Japanese flag. Which has even been abandoned by the official flag of Japan since WW2. Staff response "it's been here a long time". That flag represents the atrocities of 10 million people killed, millions of people forced into labor and sex slavery in WW2. This includes over 2,000+ Americans killed in Pearl Harbor. It's disrespectful to the thousand of Americans who sacrificed their life and to the millions of people killed. I encourage you all to think about this as equivalent as the Nazi flag. I can respect the story that the first owner bought a ton of flags at random to display but it's time you just update it to a modern Japanese flag. Please take this into consideration. I am willing to purchase any replacement if it makes it happen. read more

The staff was incredibly helpful and knowledgeable. I am a newer miniature enthusiast and they were able to answer all of my questions on specific paints, glues, a d brushes. This store has everything you could want for D&D or Warhammer. read more

I had some time to waste in Columbus and decided to check out The Guardtower. They greeted me as I walked in and then I went about walking around for about an hour, checking out all the games. I'm not a serious gamer, just a mom with two kids and a hubby. We all enjoy board games and I love supporting small shops. I would definitely return and feel they had a good selection of stuff. read more

For over 30 years the Guard Tower has been the best place to buy and play games in Ohio. Now they have two locations which make it even more convenient. Great prices and discounts based on how much you've purchased, knowledgeable and friendly staff, incredible selection, I can't think of much more you could wish for in a friendly local game store. read more

Best game store I've been to. Selection is really good, they're usually up on the latest and greatest in tabletop gaming. They have a loyalty program that can make the prices of cards/games unbeatable. Fun atmosphere and I've never had an issue with anyone, employee or customer, being a game snob/gatekeeper. read more

Decent selection of figurines, gaming dice, and board games. If you wander around you're guaranteed to find something of interest. This is tucked into the corner of a little shopping center with lots of parking. The tables setup for gaming in the front were a little off putting because of conversations between the players and the employee behind the register. Only giving three stars for now since I've only been here once. read more

As Columbus has grown, there has been an uptick in gaming venues for those who like to sling dice and slay things in a fantasy-like fashion. This goes double for miniature machines, armies and various implementations of death battling to the end within the realms of imagination. However, nothing beats the Guardtower. It has been a bastion of hobbies that straddle the realm of fiction for my entire tenure in Central Ohio, and most of the gaming items I possess within the last few years have been purchases from their stock. They also have a shop cat that I like. Or they did. I've regrettably hung my communal gaming hat up within the waning years of my time in Columbus and deal strictly with more intimate private games with friends. You don't go to the Guardtower for the items, though. Most things are sold at MSRP though there is always usually a nice deal in rotation on certain IPs and everyday essentials like dice or playmats and the like. No, people go here for the people. There's always events underway that encompass the spectrum of gaming. Card games. Tabletop role playing adventures. Miniature combat of a wide scope and range. If ever in your life you've said, "I wish I could go somewhere where there are decent people that play the game I like," then stop everything and go. Just go. Shake hands. Smile. Make friends. Friendships that will last for quite a long time, I wager. The staff are knowledgeable and approachable. I think they have a particular affinity for helping the wayward parent understand exactly what the hell their kid is into and what to buy to make that child happy. For the wayward adult, their demeanor is just as friendly and informative. You're going to see a lot of posts from people saying, "everyone has already said everything" so that is the note I'm going to end on as well. Enough has already been said, and I've probably reiterated several sentiments already exhibited. But they are observations and sentiments worth saying. When it comes to business, accolades are earned, and they earned them. The same can be said for loyalty, and, well, as you can clearly tell they also possess that in spades. Thanks for the fun Guardtower. And for all the times to follow. read more

Theres a spacious game room in the back of the shop where you can gather with friends to play board games or tabletop RPGs. I believe they have special events as well that you can ask about. They also have a pretty wide game collection for purchase and miniatures and painting supplies. It is actually a pretty impressive spread on the minis and paint stuff. The only criticism I have that I wish this shop had more selection of loose dice. It isnt a huge deal anyway because the sets that they have are pretty nice. read more

Super cool store! Lots of table-top gaming stuff + miniatures for several games + paint supplies and tables where you can play in the store. (And snacks to keep you going while you play--there's also a pizza place nearby, it seems.) The staff was really nice but didn't interfere with our browsing, which pleases me. + What everyone else said. read more

The staff was super friendly and he talked to us all about his 3D printers! If you like tabletop gaming at all this is the place to go!

Found this place while traveling to Columbus. Impressive selection of boardgames organized smartly by publisher, then alphabetized within each section. Even more impressive were the prices which compared favorably to online retailers. Obviously not as cheap, but the difference was minute enough to easily justify supporting a FLGS. This will be an automatic stop & shop on all future trips to the area! read more

The staff were nice. I loved the fact that they let you just wander the store and don't follow you. They had a lot of different games. Most games I looked at had their own prices a little cheaper than the average. They also have two cute cats. I will go back to buy another board game from them. read more

I really can't avoid giving The Guardtower five stars. If it were possible, I'd give it six- seven- twelve! I absolutely love this store. Sometimes I'll make it all the way out to it just to browse around and soak in the gaming goodness, leaving without a single purchase. That's a hell of a thing. The Guardtower is the perfect combination of having a huge, varied inventory and plenty of space to put it in. Most gaming stores manage only one of these two options often to disastrous ends for my sanity as a customer. With most in-store gaming regulated to a back room, the sales area of The Guardtower is easy to navigate, fun to explore, and casual. Often a group of gamers will be painting miniatures and conversing jovially. There's even cats roaming around the place, indifferent to all the manic goings-on. Too much! When I need anything gaming-related, or just want to burn some extra cash, it's to The Guardtower I go. It's a one-stop, catch-all oasis of gaming in an otherwise hard-to-shop-for-locally industry. read more

Guardtower is nearly the platonic ideal of a FLGS (Friendly Local Gaming Store, for those of you who shockingly haven't yet devoted yourself to a life of gaming debachery). The staff are knowledgable and friendly, the games stock both broad and deep. They have a customer loyalty program where you can build up increasing discount levels (curse them for exploiting gamers need to level up!) and host free events like D&D World Game Day. Half their floor space is set aside for playing space, has plentiful tables and chairs, and even discount vending machines. And in the summer, they run very good air conditioning (important in a place that caters to nerds-- a certain percentage will always be, shall be say, a little behind on their hygiene, which any heat exaserbates). Even the *cats* that call the store home are well behaved and awesome. What more could you want? I can think of nothing. read more

Whenever we're going to make the trip up to The Guardtower, we call it "Hitting the Hague". You have to say it in a really metal falsetto voice to get the emotion right. This is probably the best gaming store in Columbus, offering a wide range of board games, card games, roleplaying and miniatures. Like any good gaming or hobby store, there are at least 2 cats that occupy the store. They're adorable and fat and sit on top of the computer monitors. There's some pretty obscure titles in the rows and rows of tabletop roleplaying manuals, including GURPS, TSR, White Wolf, Call of Cthulhu and BESM, not to mention all the independent developers. On the walls hang just about every miniatures gaming you can think of waiting to be painted. Speaking of painting, I always see someone spread out on the tables painting their latest purchase. I believe on some nights they offer how-to classes on painting. Towards the back of the main room you'll find board and card games from every reach of the globe including all the really hit Eurogames. There's a large back room for instore gaming, and there's always a tournament going on. A soda machine and snacks are available for fueling long epic battles. A bathroom is provided in store too. If you're looking for the latest release or something a little more rare, check The Guardtower first. read more

Color me impressed! I found out about this store after Origins this year and was excited to go and visit a local game store. I asked around and heard some good things about The Guardtower. I was surprised I couldn't find a website for the place, but I found some Yelp reviews which had the street address and phone number. I was running late at work, so I called them to hear their hours. "We're open until midnight" - it was music to my ears. So, I plugged in the address and off I went. Finding it was a little tricky as my GPS wasn't very close to the actual turn-off. It's on the tail end of a little strip, which sort-of looks like a bar from the street, in the middle of seemingly nowhere. From the street, the store looked dark and aged, but once inside, the true breadth of the store is completely exposed. There's an entire 2nd room full of board games and figurines, then there's a 3rd large backroom full of tables and chairs for people to game completely away from the store traffic. The gentlemen running the counter was extremely helpful sharing the schedule for all the open events they run every day of the week. My daughter just got into Pokémon so he spent time explaining about how to get started with the starter sets. Needless to say, my daughter went home with some sets for us to practice with. We enjoyed our experience so much, we came back the next day for their open pokemon night and got another round of cards. Ok, so now for the bad: It's an older shop, and it's age shows. While it doesn't dissuade you once you're in and have a chance to chat with folks, it's age can be a little intimidating. Also, it's really really dark up front after dark. With very little light on the inside, if I didn't hear it for myself, I would have never guessed it was even open. This can make it hard to look at and read things once it's dark outside. A lighting overhaul would really make a huge different both in the front and the back. Second, the smokers hang out right by the front door. It's not a big deal when you first walk in, but every time the front door gets opened, you get a cloud of smoke that travels inside. Honestly, it was so strong a few times, they might as well have just been smoking in the shop. So, overall - the place is really awesome, even for being an older shop than I anticipated. The people are really cool and happy to show you what they're playing and show you how everything works. Plus, 10% discount on the event night - how cool is that? And, the 10% off is usually off MSRP, not some over-inflated price to make up for the 10%. If you're a card gamer, board gamer, mini-fig gamer, D&D gamer, or just about any kind of gamer gamer, do yourself a favor and go visit this shop. It's worth your time and it's worth it to patronize and support a local establishment such as this. read more

A gamer's gaming store, this place has a MASSIVE inventory of all things paper and dice. Their variety is amazing, and their number of board games, gaming books, dice and other items is impressive. The staff are helpful, but not pushy, and they know their stuff. They hold regular gaming tourneys in everything from Pokemon to D and D and, from what I've heard, are respected all over. Check this place out if you have a jones to roll the dice (the twenty sided dice,) and give it a shot... One thing though; DON'T PET THE CAT...he's not called "Ripper" for nothing;) read more

I happened to be near Columbus and needed something to do. I have been looking for a good LGS to get MTG from and get advice for. The owner was super helpful and the selection of cards was GREAT. Though I didn't really look at them there was also a great selection of miniatures and a wide variety of board games. And if all else fails, you can get the amazing cats. Because they're cats. And cats are, well, great. read more

I believe that the clerks and clientele at the GuardTower had the same expression when I walked in as the clerks and clientele at Rod's Western Palace (I LOVE YOU, ROD'S!): 1. this girl is clearly in the wrong place and 2. are you here to make fun of us? Well, the answer to both questions is NO! Although I don't know much about gaming (other than that my brother forced me to play Magic with him as a child), some of my friends are very into D&D - and given my '09 philosophy of love and everything being beautiful, I decided to take them up on the offer to learn how to play so that I can spend time with them on "dork night" - time with people I love and cherish very, very much. So, my girl friend and guy friend and I walk into the GuardTower - both of them have been gaming for years, but m'self - I was simply looking for PINK SPARKLY DICE - my one requirement (other than that I get to be a princess!) for playing D&D. We had googled "pink sparkly dice" and found nothing, so I was a little worried, but we found them immediately upon walking in, and for less than 10 bucks! Super score! The whole store is very cool and I love how it encourages community and creativity (which is the appeal of gaming, for me) with the large playing spaces and friendly staff. There was an involved looking game going on, and some painting as well, and everyone seemed to be having a very good time. I also really liked that they had store cats - kinda over the top! I have no idea where my new pink sparkly dice will take me in the world of gaming, but if I ever need anything game-related, I'll definitely come back here! read more

When one first walks into this place it can be overwhelming... The pale men squinting at you as they look up from the miniatures they are painting carefully as if they were handling the crown jewels. The rows and rows of books with dragons and orcs and (I honestly don't know what that thing is there) on the covers. To me, all the bare metal looks the same and who cares what color the outfit on your dwarf looks like? And just to be clear- how many different colored dice does one person really need? I don't really need to know why those have, wait- how many sides do those have? Why? I am not a Magic card player, nor am I a Pokemon card player, nor a miniature painter... So, for me over 2/3rds of the store are "no go Zones," lol. Mainly, the first room and the back and side wall of the second room. But the other third of the store has some well stacked shelves of board and card games. They have lots of card deck games: some Munchkin, Poo, Nuts, lots of Fluxx, etc. They have major game families like Carcassonne, Dominion, Power Grid, Arkham Horror, Dixit, Resident Evil DBG, etc. I have bought a couple of Carcassonne expansions here (around $20 each) in the past. Sometimes you can find a weird title, like Redneck Life (which I personally hate, but my partner, I think, gets a kick out of it). Today I bought Miskatonic School for Girls. It was a game that was in their Newly Released section (by the door). I called two other gaming stores in Columbus who didn't have any in stock, so the Guardtower worked out for me. It was overpriced, listed at the manufacturers price- but I really didn't want to wait for Amazon to ship it to me, so I spent the extra cash and supported a local store. Bottom line- if you are brave enough to travel to this part of town- stop in here and browse their selection. Not my favorite store to go to in Cbus, but they usually have what you need. Oh, and one piece of advice- stay away from Ripper the cat... read more

I concur with Lisa's review. I'm a board gamer more than any other sort, and I and my friends have purchased several games here over the years. Sometimes you just want to play that game you played once with friends, and guess what? The Guardtower is open late, just for you.* *and the possibly-unwashed clientele who are, as Lisa noted, playing a tourny of something in the back room. read more

Simply put, The Guardtower is the best hobby gaming shop in Columbus. Their selection is huge, and being a few minutes' drive outside of downtown lets them afford more space for gaming tables as well as inventory. They stock hundreds of board games from a wide variety of genres. Parents can find a light 20 minute game for family game night as easily as a Euro fan could find a nice, meaty economic game or a wargamer could find an all-day endeavor. They also have dozens of RPG books (D&D, Pathfinder, FFG's Warhammer 40k stuff, GURPS, Savage Worlds, Star Wars Edge of the Empire, and the list goes on...). If that's still not your flavor, they have a crazy amount of selection for full-blown miniatures games (again, 40k and other Warhammer stuff, Malifaux, and a bunch of other stuff I will likely never play personally). If you want to play a tabletop game of any sort, chances are that you'll find it at The Guardtower. The staff is also generally friendly. Some nerd-skewing businesses are not known for their warmth, and the guys there can't possibly know every little thing about gaming, but my questions and requests have been met with a good level of customer service. Don't be afraid to ask them about a game you've heard of or for a suggestion. "I like __________. What do you have that's similar to that?" The Guardtower is my go-to for all of my gaming stuff. And they offer loyalty discounts once you've purchased a certain dollar amount at the store. Support local business! read more

I've been gaming for a good while now; Descent, Magic, Pathfinder, Twilight Imperium, Dungeon Quest, Runewars, to name a few. The guys there are excellent at what they do. They are very knowledgeable on anything current, past or ancient. I have seen them helping beginning gamers out as well. They always have a great selection of games from card to board to minis to role-playing plus they get shipments of new stuff almost everyday. Now the important stuff, the cats. I love cats but am a dog person, these cats are great. I've seen them lounging across tables watching people play war hammer, sitting high up on the shelves peering down at the customers as if they were some sort of feline security system, ive even had one asleep on my lap during a magic game with a friend who regularly visits. I've only ever had one instance of a "Cat Rage" where one jumped up on our table and scattered our magic game, but no worries cause i was losing. :) Seriously this place is awesome. It makes me wonder how other places ...cough ...cough ...The Soldiery.... can even stay in business. Keep it up guys and let me know when someone makes the mistake of quitting :D read more

We had an awesome experience here. We decided to stop by here on a Sunday to grab some dice. I was surprised to see that they are open past the usual retail hours. I think I saw around midnight during the week. There were a ton of people playing games in the store so I could see how that makes sense. The selection of tabletop games was pretty awesome here. I haven't seen a better selection in Columbus. We ended up grabbing a couple things. The employee working was super nice and friendly. We will definitely be back again. read more

All I have to say about this business is: On my second time in there, the guy behind the counter knew my name. We didn't talk beyond a question or two and the checkout. -Matter of minutes. I know I don't fit the stereotypical gamer/geek profile, but my head isn't on fire either. That was f&%@ing impressive. People playing WarHammer were very nice and invited us to have a look at their game. Nice change from the force field around the some gamers' games. Actually really comfortable feeling. As to selection, I am shocked at how big business has noticed the gamers. Everything you can think of to make a game of, they have. Firefly, Teen Titans, Dresden Files, what have you is there! Picked up a Munchkin game to try out with the family and a bunch of Pathfinder books for me to drool over... I'll be back for Bestiary #4! read more

I've been to a lot of game stores in my travels and this is one of the best! It has a huge selection of everything related to gaming, even some out of print games. Everything is reasonably priced too, low enough to make me rethink whether I want to buy on Amazon. The staff is friendly, helpful and knowledgeable too. read more

I've been all around the country visiting game stores, and this is one of the best. It has a great game store vibe and friendly staff. The prices are decent and there is even a pizza joint next door. My only complaints are insufficient parking and a crumby parking lot in need of re-paving. if you have bad cat allergies, be aware there are a few cats on premise. if you want to game on a weekend, please call ahead to verify there will be tables available. read more

Being a complete novice in the world of board games, I was a little intimidated stepping foot into the Guardtower this past weekend. However, after spending a minute walking aimlessly around the store these thoughts dissipated as we were greeted by a friendly staff member who made us feel welcome. We were guided through the aisles after we told him the style of game we were looking for and he gave us a detailed summary of 6 different games that may fit our tastes. I greatly appreciated the genuine passion from the staff here and enjoyed the Sherlock Holmes game we decided on. Next time I'm in need of a good board game I'll be returning here. read more

Great selection of RPG books and board games. The one place in town I can find all my savage world needs. They also have a pathfinder, D&D, Warhammer RPG, hero system and Gurps. Their selection of miniatures and painting supplies is the best I have found in columbus. Not to mention they have a painting club on select Friday's. Also can't forget to mention the game store cat(s). I believe they have two so if cats are an issue you've been warned. They do have a rewards system in place to earn discounts based on money spent inside the store. This is great if you plan on spending a lot of money as the 1st tier is 10% off after $1000 spent. After about 5 years of purchases at this store I just got my discount. ( this is not the closest store to me so I am only there every couple months) The staff has always be great helpful if I have a question or problem. read more

This is my favorite FNM location: draft, standard, modern, and open EDH tables. It is a fun and casual environment. Best prices in town for packs, boxes, commander and other WotC sealed product and all the accessories. They do not sell MtG singles, but on Fridays, there is a business (Sign Post Games) that buys, sells, and trades. SPG gives great trade value. Besides MtG, they sell a ton of other types of product for table top gaming, miniatures, boardgames, card games, books, and more. read more

For the most part it was a good experience but I bought two items pictured and I was going to pay in cash and do the rest of my card because didn't have enough cash and the guy at the register said you know we get charged $3 every time you use your Visa and I was like no. I didn't think it was right of him to do that seeing as I was spending 40 bucks at his store when there's plenty of other stores so I can buy the same stuff at that won't complain that I'm trying to buy something with two payments. There's quite a big selection of games all they didn't have the games I was looking for I ended up buying one anyway ended up giving me a discount because he says it would be cheaper for him to do that rather than whatever the $3 thing is but I've shopped at stores like that for a long time and no one has ever said anything to me so this is the first I've heard of it. read more

The Guardtower - Hobby Shops Near Me - Hilliard, Ohio

I absolutely love this store!! The staff is friendly and knowledgeable, the stock is generally full and constantly being updated, prices are solid, and they have store cats!! I love store cats!! This is my place to go and wonder every couple of weeks and to pick up either something new and in depth to play with friends or a quick two player game for breaks and random time wasting. The only thing I could wish for is a bigger back room so randoms can still play while FNM and Warcraft is going on. Make sure you spend lots of money here - they give you lifetime discounts that increase once you hit $1000 spent in store (which is easy to achieve). read more

Was in Columbus for the day and stopped in to The Guardtower and it did not disappoint. Great selection of inventory, friendly staff, and cats! If you were looking into anything between card games, boardgames, tabletop games, etc. they had something for it. One of the better on hand inventories for all types of games I have ever seen and the prices were great especially for a LGS. The man at the counter, who i think was the owner, was extremely friendly, helpful, and welcoming. Not to mention two adorable cats in the store and one just stood at the door like it was greeting people. Next time I am in Columbus this is definitely a shop I would gladly stop into again. read more

Great experience, I drove 2 1/2 hours and was not disappointed one bit. We definitely be back.