Video game stores in the US have been around since the early days of video games. The first video game store, Computer and Video Games, opened in 1979 in California.
Since then, video game stores have become a staple of the gaming industry, offering gamers a place to buy, sell, and trade games.
Today, there are many video game stores in the US, both physical and online. Some of the most popular physical video game stores include GameStop, Best Buy, Target, and Walmart.
These stores offer a wide range of games for various platforms, including consoles, PCs, and mobile devices. They also have trade-in programs that allow you to trade in your old games for store credit or cash.
1. GameStop
- Headquarters: Grapevine, Texas
- Number of stores in the United States: 2,960
- Number of stores (Worldwide): 4,400
- Market cap: $4.80 billion
GameStop is an American video game, consumer electronics, and gaming merchandise retailer. It was founded in Dallas in 1984 as Babbage’s and took on its current name in 1999.
The company operates 4,413 stores including 2,949 in the United States, 216 in Canada, 419 in Australia, and 829 in Europe under the GameStop, EB Games, EB Games Australia, Micromania-Zing, ThinkGeek, and Zing Pop Culture brands.
The state with the most number of GameStop locations in the US is Texas, with 301 stores, which is about 10% of all GameStop stores in the US.
2. Best Buy
- Headquarters: Richfield, Minnesota
- Number of stores in the United States: 1,048
- Number of stores (Worldwide): 1,144
- Market cap: $16.86 billion
Best Buy is a leading specialty retailer of consumer electronics in the United States and Canada. The company was founded in 1966 as an audio specialty store called Sound of Music in St. Paul, Minnesota.
It was rebranded under its current name with an emphasis on consumer electronics in 1983. Best Buy operates 1,144 stores in the United States and Canada.
The state with the most number of Best Buy locations in the US is California, with 145 stores which is about 13% of all Best Buy stores in the US.
3. Target
- Headquarters: Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Number of stores in the United States: 1,948
- Market cap: $65.31 billion
Target is a retail chain that offers a wide range of products, including video games and consoles. They have a dedicated section for video games on their website and in-store.
Target carries video games for all major consoles, including PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo. They also offer gaming accessories such as controllers, headsets, and charging stations.
4. Walmart
- Headquarters: Bentonville
- Number of stores in the United States: 4,622
- Number of stores (Worldwide): 10,623
- Market cap: $434.18 billion
Walmart is a retail chain that offers a wide range of products, including groceries, electronics, clothing, and home goods. They have over 11,000 stores in 27 countries.
It is a retail chain that offers a wide range of products, including video games and consoles. They have a dedicated section for video games on their website and in-store.
Walmart carries video games for all major consoles, including PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo. They also offer gaming accessories such as controllers, headsets, and charging stations.
5. EB Games
- Headquarters: Grapevine, Texas
- Number of stores in the United States: 162
- Number of stores (Worldwide): 2,280
- Market cap: $13.39 billion
EB Games is a video game and entertainment retailer with stores in Australia and New Zealand.
They offer a wide range of video games, consoles, and accessories for all major gaming platforms, including PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo. They also have a variety of gaming merchandise, such as collectibles, toys, and apparel.
6. GameCrazy
- Headquarters: Wilsonville
- Type: Subsidiary
- Industry: Computer and Video Games
- Owner: Movie Gallery
- Parent: Hollywood Video
GameCrazy was a video game retailer based in Wilsonville, Oregon. It was a subsidiary of Movie Gallery.
The stores were often, but not always, located adjacent to Hollywood Video rental stores. GameCrazy and its parent company, Movie Gallery, filed for bankruptcy in May 2010.
7. Toys R Us
- Headquarters: New Jersey
- Number of stores in the United States: 800
- Number of stores (Worldwide): 900
- Market cap: $18.98 million
Toys R Us is a leading kids' store for all toys, video games, dolls, action figures, learning games, building blocks, and more.
They have a wide range of products, including interactive play, classic games, and tween items such as room decor, jewelry-making sets, and art kits.
Toys R Us has an online store where you can purchase toys, games, and more. They also offer free delivery on purchases made online.
8. Play N Trade
- Headquarters: San Clemente, California
- Industry: Retail
- Founded: 2000
- Specialties: Video Game Retailer, Video Game Tournaments and Video Game Repair
Play N Trade is a video game and consumer electronics franchisor that operates in the United States, Canada, Panama, and Egypt. The company was founded in 2000 by Ron Simpson of Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Play N Trade stores sell new and used consumer electronics, including video games and consoles, Apple products, laptops, and cellular phones, and accept trade-ins of the same.
They also offer video game rentals, parties, tournaments, events, and gaming device repairs. It is the first video game retailer to host weekly in-store tournaments and also hosts corporate-sponsored national tournaments.
9. NewEgg
- Headquarters: City of Industry, California
- Market cap: $0.44 billion
Newegg is a leading online retailer of electronics, offering a wide range of products from laptops, desktops, monitors, gaming, and more.
They have a dedicated section for video games on their website. Newegg carries video games for all major consoles, including PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo. They also offer gaming accessories such as controllers, headsets, and charging stations.
10. Slackers CDs and Games
- Headquarters: Columbia, Missouri
- CEO: Tita Perez
- Main Industry: Retail
Slackers CDs and Games is a chain of entertainment retailers located in the Midwestern United States. The store specializes in both new and used video games and music.
They have a wide range of video games, from classic to current, and carry a variety of music genres. Slackers also has an online store where you can purchase video games, movies, toys, and comics.
They offer a trade-in program where you can trade or sell your merchandise and get a quote by email.
11. Ebay
- Headquarters: San Jose, California
- Incorporated: 1995
- Market cap: $22.09 billion
eBay is an online marketplace that offers a wide range of products, including electronics, cars, fashion, collectibles, and more.
They have over one million stores on their website where you can find your version of Perfect. eBay carries video games for all major consoles, including PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo.
12. FuncoLand
- Headquarters: Eden Prairie, Minnesota
- Number of stores in the United States: 406
- Incorporated: 1988
- Employees: 486
- Sales: $120.6 million (1997)
FuncoLand was an American video game retailer based in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, that specialized in selling new and used video game software.
The parent company Funco Inc. was established in the home of David R. Pomije in 1988, initially as a leaser of video games to video stores, and then as a mail-order business specializing in used video games.
Upon the success of this venture, Pomije moved Funco to a Minneapolis warehouse and began opening FuncoLand retail outlets nationwide. However, the company was merged with GameStop in December 2000.
13. Nintendo New York
- Headquarters: Kyoto, Japan
- Market cap: $13.43 billion
- CEO: Shuntaro Furukawa (2018-present)
Nintendo New York is a flagship specialty store of video game corporation Nintendo, located in Rockefeller Center. The store opened on 14 May 2005 and has since become a popular destination for gamers of all ages.
The store spans two floors and covers an area of 10,000 square feet, offering a wide range of Nintendo video games and merchandise, including apparel, hardware, and accessories that are exclusive to the store.
Nintendo New York is a must-visit destination for Nintendo fans. The store offers new and exciting titles headed to the Nintendo Switch system while also providing exclusive memorabilia featuring your favorite gaming superstars.
