Tabletop gaming is a huge part of nerdom. For those who are unfamiliar with the term, “tabletop” is an umbrella term for games that are typically played on a table or flat surface like board games, card games, dice games, miniature-based games, and others. Tabletop gaming is a crucial part to nerd culture as it once provided an escape for those who were bullied or seen as outcasts and allowed them to become whoever they wanted in whatever world they wanted. Now, it’s just as important for nerdom as it not only allows for that escape, but it’s also a major form of social event for gamers. Tabletop games have also become a big part of mainstream pop culture. There have been movies based off of board games like Clue and Battleship, and everyone can name the pieces in Monopoly.
Tabletop gaming has become so popular that there are now niche stores that only sell tabletop products and offer a place to hang out and play them. Two Kings Gaming in the Eastern Hills Mall in Williamsville is one of those stores, and is a fantastic space for those looking to meet up and spend time playing games.
This exciting store offers a lot of space and tables for large games and events. A strength to being located in a mall is that shoppers can stop in and bring a game there to relax and have a fun time. Countless products that fit your gaming needs are sold there. They have a massive selection of Magic the Gathering cards from just about every set, which can take quite some time to flip through. The majority of my recently-built dinosaurs commander deck came from their collection. They also sell dice, miniatures, card sleeves, and more.
The focus of Two Kings Gaming seems to be on games featuring miniatures like Star Wars: X-Wing, Dungeons and Dragons, and Warhammer 40,000. The majority of their product is for games of that particular genre, including supplies for painting miniatures. Much of the back end of the store features masterfully handmade terrain for use in such games. In fact, even most of their events that aren’t for Magic: the Gathering are tournaments for RPG miniatures games. If you’re someone who’s into that kind of game, then this is the absolute perfect place for you.
There is one shocking detail in this store, and that’s the absence of board games. I personally feel as though a store centered around tabletop gaming would sell board games. I
can understand that perhaps the shop’s owner is only interested in the the tabletop genres found in-store so that’s what they want to sell, but typically, one who is interested in the hobby of tabletop is interested in board games. I don’t just mean the casual, mainstream ones like Monopoly, but also the ones usually only found in game stores like Castle Panic!, Boss Monster, and Lords of Waterdeep. Two Kings Gaming has the perfect space for some board game fun, and the perfect setting to have games for public use to attract shoppers into their store to hang out and try games. I feel like a large portion of the tabletop gaming fanbase is ignored by not offering board games.
Overall, I am glad that there is a store here in WNY that is so perfect for fans of such a niche part of gaming. Two Kings Gaming offers a comfortable and fun atmosphere for gaming and is conveniently located in a shopping mall. If you’re looking to play Magic: the Gathering or RPG miniatures games, this is definitely the place you need to visit.
Two Kings Gaming | 4545 TRANSIT Rd | Williamsville, New York 14221 | (716) 276-8371 | Facebook