Wellington's curated board game shop since 2019.

New arrivals

Just landed on the shelves.

We bring in 10–15 new titles a month, mostly from small European and NZ publishers. Everything below arrived this fortnight.

• Arcs

  1–4 players90–120 min$89

  Leder Games' space-opera sequel to Root. Asymmetric factions, campaign mode, incredible art. Our most-requested pre-order this year.

• Daybreak

  1–4 players60–90 min$75

  Co-op climate-crisis game by the Pandemic designer. Stunningly produced and genuinely tense. Great for couples who like Pandemic but want a new theme.

• Ticket to Ride: NZ

  2–4 players45–60 min$55

  The local map pack with ferry routes and the TranzAlpine. A must-stock — it outsells the original for us three to one.

• Cascadia: Landmarks

  1–6 players30–45 min$42

  Second expansion adds landmarks and six-player support. Easy gateway game for families; pairs well with a flat white.

• Waka Waka

  2–5 players30 min$38

  NZ-designed card game based on Māori kai gathering. Quick teach, gorgeous illustrations by a Pōneke artist. Finalist at the NZ Games Awards.

• Brass: Birmingham

  2–4 players120 min$95

  Restocked after six months out of print. The best economic euro in the shop, no argument. Canal era plus rail era, relentlessly good.

Game library

200 games on the shelf. Grab one and play.

The library is free for anyone in the shop — no membership, no table fee. Games are sorted by player count and weight (complexity). Staff can teach any game rated under 3.5 on BGG — just ask.

We have four tables seating 2–6 and one long table for 8+. Busy Saturdays we ask groups to cap at two hours so others get a turn. BYO snacks are fine; we sell coffee, juice and biscuits at the counter.

Staff picks this month

• Wingspan

  1–5 players60 minLibrary

  Beautiful engine-builder with NZ birds in the Oceania expansion. Our most-borrowed game three months running.

• Codenames

  4–8 players20 minLibrary

  Still the best party game for a mixed group. We keep three copies because one is always in play on Thursday nights.

• Spirit Island

  1–4 players120 minLibrary

  Heavy co-op. Ask Joel to teach — he has run it over 80 times and can get you through setup in five minutes flat.

Workshops & demos

Thursday is demo night. Always free.

Every Thursday 6–9 pm we teach a featured game. No booking needed. We also run ticketed workshops for heavier games and painting sessions. Upcoming:

• 19Sep

  Demo Night: Arcs

  Thu 6–9 pm · Free · All welcome

  Joel teaches the base game (no campaign). Four seats per table, first come first served. We will have two tables running.

• 26Sep

  Demo Night: Daybreak

  Thu 6–9 pm · Free · All welcome

  Co-op night. We play through a full game and discuss strategy. Beginners encouraged — the rules are simpler than they look.

• 5Oct

  Mini Painting 101

  Sat 10 am–1 pm · $35 (materials included) · 8 spots

  Learn base-coating, dry-brushing and washing with our resident painter, Mei. Bring your own minis or paint one of ours.

• 10Oct

  Brass: Birmingham Deep Dive

  Thu 6–10 pm · $10 · 8 spots

  A full two-era game with Joel coaching strategy in real time. Prior plays not required but you should be comfortable with 90+ minute games.

Hours & location

Cuba Street, upstairs from the record shop.

Level 1, 128 Cuba Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011. Take the stairs past Slow Boat Records — we are the door on the left with the meeple sticker.

Closed on public holidays except Matariki (open 11–4) and Wellington Anniversary (open 11–4). Extended hours in December — check our Instagram for updates.

FAQ

Quick answers before you visit.

• Can I try a game before buying it?

  Yes, always. If we stock it and it is in the library, you can play a full game in-store. If it is still shrink-wrapped, ask staff and we will open a demo copy — we keep demo copies of our top 30 sellers.
• Do you sell second-hand games?

  We run a consignment shelf. Bring your game in, we price it, and if it sells you get 70%. Condition must be complete with all components. No mass-market titles (sorry, no Monopoly).
• Is there parking nearby?

  Cuba Street is pedestrian. The closest parking building is the Michael Fowler Centre car park on Wakefield Street, a three-minute walk. Street parking on Vivian Street is metered until 6 pm.
• Can I book a table for a group?

  We do not take bookings for the free library tables — first come, first served. For paid workshops we take bookings by email. For private parties (birthdays, team-building) we hire the shop after hours: $200 for up to 20 people, three hours, games and a host included.
• Do you do mail order?

  Not currently. We are a single shop and our margins do not cover courier costs at competitive prices. If you are outside Wellington, we recommend Mighty Ape for availability. For anything rare or imported, email us and we will check our distributor.

Gift vouchers

Give the gift of choosing their own game.