The Top 5 Places to Buy Video Games in Winnipeg
The gaming world has introduced many to wonderful virtual places where they can hunt for treasure, fight monsters, and overcome evil and darkness.
And with the pandemic keeping people mostly at home, many resorted to playing as a way to cope, have fun, and meet new people via virtual worlds.
For gaming novices and enthusiasts alike, let’s explore the best places to shop for video games in Winnipeg in this article! The FAQ section below will also give you some insights to common questions about video games.
How much do video games cost on average?
Video games can be expensive due to the resources poured into its development, as well as the calibre of the team behind the creation of the visuals, lore, world, and mechanics.
From what we’ve found, video game prices may also vary depending on the platforms they serve and perhaps the prestige of the companies that developed and distributed them.
Take a look at this table showing the average price ranges of video games based on the most popular gaming platforms:
Note that most PC games are sold digitally. However, you may still find some physical copies of a handful of games.
While these are average price ranges, keep in that some video game costs may change due to certain factors.
These could be influenced by accompanying downloadable packages or the version of the game. Limited-edition copies may also be more expensive as they come with collectibles such as posters, art prints, PVC figures, or gaming peripherals.
How do we choose the best places in Winnipeg to buy video games?
While you can purchase video games through online stores for a more convenient transaction, nothing beats the fun of going to the store and exploring different aisles to see which titles you’ll discover.
To help you find the best places to buy video games in Winnipeg, we’ve chosen the following stores based on these factors:
1: Play N Trade Winnipeg
| CRITERIA | RATING |
| SELECTION OF GAMES | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| AVAILABILITY OF OTHER GAMING-RELATED ITEMS | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| STORE AMBIANCE | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| ⮕Clean and well-organised | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| ⮕Easy to navigate | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| CUSTOMER SERVICE | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| ⮕Kind and friendly | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| ⮕Knowledgeable | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
Play N Trade Winnipeg is primarily a trading card game shop, but we found that it is also a great place to purchase video games for various platforms!
We like that most of the games here are for the latest consoles and even those dating from 20 years ago. In terms of PC games, sadly, we found that it doesn’t have that many hard copies since these come in digital formats nowadays.
From what previous buyers have told us, Play N Trade is an excellent place to get popular game titles from the 80s and 90s. However, since these aren’t reproduced anymore, stocks are limited.
You might want to check the shop’s online store and see which retro games you can get. We also think that setting aside your payment beforehand will help you purchase these limited titles as soon as they come in.
Besides being a haven for old and new games, we like that this store offers trading services. If you have any old video games you want to trade for other titles, take them to this store and come home with a new game to explore!
That way, you’ll be saving some money, and perhaps make someone else happy.
Regarding staff service, we found that this store’s employees are friendly and knowledgeable. Customers are happy that they are helpful, making thoughtful suggestions and giving tips to both newbies and hardcore gamers looking to expand their territory.
Perhaps a downside to this store is its limited selection of newer titles, which are sometimes even completely out of stock. We wish that the store would have a ready inventory of newer video games for those looking for the latest gaming experiences.
Pros
- Great place to buy games for older consoles
- Has trading services for buyers who want to get rid of their old games
Cons
- Limited selection of newer game titles
Customer Reviews
Great for restoring your favorite games
Excellent, Friendly, and helpful staff. They have an excellent disc restoration service that brought my favorite GameCube game back to life. The disc looks brand-new, and the game even plays smoother with nicer graphics and the best part is it only cost $5! Will definitely be returning! – Liam Richardson
Quite a selection of old games for many platforms
Great for people into the ps3, Xbox 360, GameCube, ps2, and og Xbox players but a limited stock of new and classic 80s and 90/ games. I have been there a few times and they have a great ps3 collection with prices that are nice on the eyes. If you are interested in any of those consoles, then here’s your place. Don’t expect obscure and random games but it’s still a great shop. – Jackson
2: PNP Games
| CRITERIA | RATING |
| SELECTION OF GAMES | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| AVAILABILITY OF OTHER GAMING-RELATED ITEMS | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| STORE AMBIANCE | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| ⮕Clean and well-organised | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| ⮕Easy to navigate | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| CUSTOMER SERVICE | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| ⮕Kind and friendly | ★★★☆☆ 3/5 |
| ⮕Knowledgeable | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
If you have gaming consoles other than PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo, then PNP Games is an excellent shop for you.
We were delighted to discover that it has hard copies of games for SEGA and Atari consoles, as well as older Windows versions. Since these gaming platforms are quite rare these days, finding your favorite retro game titles might be a challenge – and we’re glad they can be of help.
We also found that it has a better selection of old games than most. And since it has three branches spanning Winnipeg, you’ll have more than one branch to rummage through to find that dream game in case your go-to branch doesn’t have it in stock. Their webstore includes titles from their warehouse and all three stores, making it a one stop shop with delivery and local pick-up at any of their three stores.
The store also repairs or resurfaces game discs, bringing them to great working condition for older consoles. For the more nostalgic players wanting to relive their favorite games, this is a great way to take them back to memory lane.
However, a possible setback is that some discs may no longer be readable after repairs. This is quite a risk for those who avail of this service, as we’ve heard some concerning reports that the staff don’t offer refunds or compensations for broken discs.
We hope that management considers upgrading the resurfacing device to avoid destroying precious video game discs.
We’ve also heard some feedback on the staff, with a handful of customers being at the receiving end of unfriendliness. We’re hoping the company can do some upskilling on customer relations to address this.
Pros
- Carries an impressive collection of retro games for older consoles
- Staff are pretty knowledgeable about different games
Cons
- Several reports of unfriendly and rude staff
- Some criticisms on implementation of “garbage” protocols (e.g. no touching allowed if not buying)
Customer Reviews
Slightly pricey, but still a great store to get video games
They’re a good local company to deal with, where the staff are pretty knowledgeable and happy to help. I’ve had to special order things in, took stuff there to trade, and never felt I got a bad deal or unfair treatment from them. They aren’t always the cheapest, but they have good people that seem to genuinely enjoy their jobs. – Brad Hickling
A great stop for retro games and consoles
I recently purchased several nostalgic game items such as a Sega Genesis and games for it, along with Gamecube and PS2 games – all used. All items were in great condition and in working order when they arrived! I ordered online and the package arrive a couple of days after I ordered. A big thanks to their customer service department – they went over the top reaching out to me after I had already ordered and ensured I purchased the right item I was looking for. Overall – great products at a fair price, and amazing customer service for online orders. Thanks for helping me relive some of my childhood PNP!! – Justin Hildebrand
3: The Source
| CRITERIA | RATING |
| SELECTION OF GAMES | ★★★☆☆ 3/5 |
| AVAILABILITY OF OTHER GAMING-RELATED ITEMS | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| STORE AMBIANCE | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| ⮕Clean and well-organised | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| ⮕Easy to navigate | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| CUSTOMER SERVICE | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| ⮕Kind and friendly | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| ⮕Knowledgeable | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
The Source is one of the most popular stores in Winnipeg that sells a wide variety of items, ranging from smartphones to cameras, office supplies, business equipment, and video games.
It also has three branches across Winnipeg, which means you’ll have multiple stops to find what you need, in case the branch near you doesn’t have what you’re looking for.
In terms of video games, The Source seems to have a small collection mostly limited to best-selling titles. While that is the case, we found that the store keeps enough stocks of these titles in their inventory, which is always a good thing in our books.
Also, because video games can be quite expensive, we recommend checking the shop’s website to see if any of the titles you want are on sale.
Now when it comes to the store’s ambiance, we found that it can be a little tricky to navigate the place since it houses other items besides video games and gaming tech.
Fortunately, we hear that there are a handful of staff who are accommodating and helpful to customers. Of course, like many other shops, we were told that a few others might not be as knowledgeable or aware about the titles the store carries, even where they are located.
We think it might be wise if staff members stay up-to-date on the shop’s video game inventory so they’ll know where to direct buyers. At the same time, it might be a great opportunity for the staff to organise the store and maintain items in their correct locations.
Pros
- Carries bestselling video game titles for different platforms
- Multiple branches
Cons
- A few criticisms on needing to keep items organised
- Some reports on needing to improve customer service
Customer Reviews
Got the help I needed for my new tech stuff
Icah was great and I’m really happy with the service I received! Technology is really good but if you don’t know how to use it it’s no use but Icah went out of her way to teach me I got a new phone and I’m very happy thank you! – James McRae
Great store to shop for games and tech overall
Good variety. Reasonable prices. Staff available and friendly tho turnover seems high and product knowledge often happens only if someone asks. The staff is always polite regardless. – Jim Stuart
4: GameStop
| CRITERIA | RATING |
| SELECTION OF GAMES | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| AVAILABILITY OF OTHER GAMING-RELATED ITEMS | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| STORE AMBIANCE | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| ⮕Clean and well-organised | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| ⮕Easy to navigate | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| CUSTOMER SERVICE | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| ⮕Kind and friendly | ★★★☆☆ 3/5 |
| ⮕Knowledgeable | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
Another prime video game store in Canada is GameStop. And like the other shops on this list, they have more than one branch you can visit, so do check out which addresses are the closest to you.
We’re impressed with its curation of old and new game titles, which means you can get your hands on the hottest games of the year, as well as those that hold extra sentimental value from fond days of playing them years ago.
On the downside, the store seems to only prepare copies of newer games for those who pre-ordered. If you walk in, you won’t be able to purchase these games unless someone cancels their pre-ordered item.
For us, this is very limiting as not everyone might not be familiar with the process of pre-ordering new game titles. We wish the shop would keep a handful of copies of these new games in their inventory with walk-in customers in mind.
Now when it comes to customer service, their staff apparently seems to also have a mixed bunch – some who are friendly and helpful, and others who are not very approachable. We’re keeping our fingers crossed that only a handful have encountered not-so-pleasant staff.
Because we’re concerned that any unpleasant encounter may hinder a potential purchase, we hope that store management consistently provides training for their employees on how to relate well with their customers.
Pros
- Offers a great selection of old and new game titles for different consoles
- Some staff are kind and friendly, especially to those new to video games
Cons
- A few reports on unfriendly staff
- New games are only available for pre-order
Customer Reviews
Amazing and helpful staff
Hands down my favorite place to shop! Staff are reliable, friendly helpful, and great problem solvers. Sean is incredible, he always does what he can to make us happy. Have gone there since my son was a baby and won’t go anywhere else because of Sean’s dedication and amazing personality. Thank you and stay awesome! – Christine Martin
Awesome store for shopping for gifts and pre-ordering items
Being 100% I think this store is awesome. I’ve been going there here for more than a year, the pre-orders come when they are supposed to. The guys working there are really kind and always have the tendency to make me and my Father’s Day. Their prices and much better than buying at Walmart or other places. – Jamie Walters
5: Cobra Collectibles
| CRITERIA | RATING |
| SELECTION OF GAMES | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| AVAILABILITY OF OTHER GAMING-RELATED ITEMS | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| STORE AMBIANCE | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| ⮕Clean and well-organized | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| ⮕Easy to maneuver | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| CUSTOMER SERVICE | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| ⮕Kind and friendly | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| ⮕Knowledgeable | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
Cobra Collectibles is a treasure trove of rare video games and collectibles – perfect for anyone looking to geek out on valuable games from different decades.
Upon checking, the store doesn’t just carry retro games, but also rare versions and titles from Japan. You might even get vintage consoles that still run like they’re brand new – an exciting prospect for those who collect anything related to gaming.
We were also happy to discover that the shop is clean and well-organised. Customers can attest to this, complimenting the shop for being easy to explore and pleasant to be in.
This is a great compliment to Cobra Collectibles since it would have been very easy for a shop that sells collectors’ items to look – and smell – like an old stockroom.
The staff are also kind and helpful to customers exploring the shop. Customers appreciate them for being knowledgeable on the titles they have on hand, making shopping more convenient and informative.
However, we were a bit disappointed to hear that some items are overpriced. Sure, the store may carry vintage games, but that doesn’t always mean they’re limited-edition.
This might throw gamers and collectors off since they’ll feel like they’re being ripped off with premium prices – and trust us, these people know their games and how much they should cost.
Pros
- Offers an impressive selection of rare and Japanese versions of video games
- Staff members know their game inventory quite well
Cons
- Some items are overpriced
Customer Reviews
Amazing shop with amazing staff
Well-organized, helpful, and friendly staff, SO much stuff. Prices are fair, too. It’s spread out over two floors. If you’re looking for it, there’s a good chance they have it. Definitely going back. – Dawn
A true hidden gem for video games and collectibles
I was blown away by the quantity and quality of cool stuff here. From classic toys to more modern, gaming systems and literature, one could easily spend hours perusing this place. Staff was great to deal with, really giving you that small business customer service you’ll never get online or at a big box store. Plus, I fell in love with ‘Gore’ the loveable pepper behind the counter. I will definitely be coming back here often. – ben Jimenez
FAQs About Video Games
And that sums up our unbiased review of the best places to buy video games in Winnipeg! Plan your next trip to any of these stores and explore the different game titles and gaming devices you can get.
Now, if your gaming computer needs some troubleshooting, check out the best shops for computer repairs in Winnipeg.