DawnStar Video Games and Arcade

Phenomenal retro video game store and more in downtown Richmond - went a year ago and was blown away by the vast selection, fair market pricing and quality customer service! Came back a few days ago (7/16/25) and was genuinely impressed by the improvements in store layout and even more in the enhanc... Read more

Phenomenal retro video game store and more in downtown Richmond - went a year ago and was blown away by the vast selection, fair market pricing and quality customer service! Came back a few days ago (7/16/25) and was genuinely impressed by the improvements in store layout and even more in the enhanced and expanded selection especially in TCG products. Even got to check out the new arcade machines in the back - if you are a fan of any kind of gaming or related hobbies please do yourself a favor and check them out! Show less

Phenomenal retro video game store and more in downtown Richmond - went a year ago and was blown away by the vast selection, fair market pricing and quality customer service! Came back a few days ago (7/16/25) and was genuinely impressed by the improvements in store layout and even more in the enhanc... Read more

Phenomenal retro video game store and more in downtown Richmond - went a year ago and was blown away by the vast selection, fair market pricing and quality customer service! Came back a few days ago (7/16/25) and was genuinely impressed by the improvements in store layout and even more in the enhanced and expanded selection especially in TCG products. Even got to check out the new arcade machines in the back - if you are a fan of any kind of gaming or related hobbies please do yourself a favor and check them out! Show less

I was looking for video games for my nephew. I know nothing about video games but the people who work there were very nice and gave me recommendations and showed me several choices. It's a small store and was a bit crowded. But, if you are looking for used video game equipment I would definitely rec... Read more

I was looking for video games for my nephew. I know nothing about video games but the people who work there were very nice and gave me recommendations and showed me several choices. It's a small store and was a bit crowded. But, if you are looking for used video game equipment I would definitely recommend it! They have a lot of stuff. They also have some game room in the back, although I wasn't there long enough to check it out. Parking is along the street and even with construction I was able to find a spot. It might have been harder if I went during dinner time when others were trying to park to eat at local restaurants although I'm not sure. Show less

I was looking for video games for my nephew. I know nothing about video games but the people who work there were very nice and gave me recommendations and showed me several choices. It's a small store and was a bit crowded. But, if you are looking for used video game equipment I would definitely rec... Read more

I was looking for video games for my nephew. I know nothing about video games but the people who work there were very nice and gave me recommendations and showed me several choices. It's a small store and was a bit crowded. But, if you are looking for used video game equipment I would definitely recommend it! They have a lot of stuff. They also have some game room in the back, although I wasn't there long enough to check it out. Parking is along the street and even with construction I was able to find a spot. It might have been harder if I went during dinner time when others were trying to park to eat at local restaurants although I'm not sure. Show less

Best game/card store in Richmond hands down! Staff is super friendly, welcoming, and helpful. They have a wide variety of anime, tcg, and retro games for all ages. In addition to a TCG table room they also have an arcade with a great selection of arcade machines (especially if you like rhythm games... Read more

Best game/card store in Richmond hands down! Staff is super friendly, welcoming, and helpful. They have a wide variety of anime, tcg, and retro games for all ages. In addition to a TCG table room they also have an arcade with a great selection of arcade machines (especially if you like rhythm games). Show less

Best game/card store in Richmond hands down! Staff is super friendly, welcoming, and helpful. They have a wide variety of anime, tcg, and retro games for all ages. In addition to a TCG table room they also have an arcade with a great selection of arcade machines (especially if you like rhythm games... Read more

Best game/card store in Richmond hands down! Staff is super friendly, welcoming, and helpful. They have a wide variety of anime, tcg, and retro games for all ages. In addition to a TCG table room they also have an arcade with a great selection of arcade machines (especially if you like rhythm games). Show less

I loved my first, and hopefully not last, DawnStar experience. Came in looking for Pokémon cards and was not disappointed. Not many slabs, but great collection of vintage to modern cards,most of which are wonderfully organized in binders by set. That was enough for me, but then I found out that thei... Read more

I loved my first, and hopefully not last, DawnStar experience. Came in looking for Pokémon cards and was not disappointed. Not many slabs, but great collection of vintage to modern cards,most of which are wonderfully organized in binders by set. That was enough for me, but then I found out that their arcade ($15 to play all day) is pretty sweet. I actually left and came back to continue having a blast. And I didn't browse intently, but they seemed to have an awesome collection of video games on sale. Show less

I loved my first, and hopefully not last, DawnStar experience. Came in looking for Pokémon cards and was not disappointed. Not many slabs, but great collection of vintage to modern cards,most of which are wonderfully organized in binders by set. That was enough for me, but then I found out that thei... Read more

I loved my first, and hopefully not last, DawnStar experience. Came in looking for Pokémon cards and was not disappointed. Not many slabs, but great collection of vintage to modern cards,most of which are wonderfully organized in binders by set. That was enough for me, but then I found out that their arcade ($15 to play all day) is pretty sweet. I actually left and came back to continue having a blast. And I didn't browse intently, but they seemed to have an awesome collection of video games on sale. Show less

New location and WAYYY more spacious. You can purchase retro games, gachas, stuffies, mangas, cards, and so much more. I swung by there to check it out and was able to snag a classic controller for my wee for a reasonable (and not scalped) price. The back is still bare as they're still in the proces... Read more

New location and WAYYY more spacious. You can purchase retro games, gachas, stuffies, mangas, cards, and so much more. I swung by there to check it out and was able to snag a classic controller for my wee for a reasonable (and not scalped) price. The back is still bare as they're still in the process of getting their cabinets in. Overall a nice experience. There's definitely more to come and lots of potential with the new location. Check em out Show less

New location and WAYYY more spacious. You can purchase retro games, gachas, stuffies, mangas, cards, and so much more. I swung by there to check it out and was able to snag a classic controller for my wee for a reasonable (and not scalped) price. The back is still bare as they're still in the proces... Read more

New location and WAYYY more spacious. You can purchase retro games, gachas, stuffies, mangas, cards, and so much more. I swung by there to check it out and was able to snag a classic controller for my wee for a reasonable (and not scalped) price. The back is still bare as they're still in the process of getting their cabinets in. Overall a nice experience. There's definitely more to come and lots of potential with the new location. Check em out Show less

I absolutely love the arcade here. A great mix of newer and classic arcade cabinets, perfect for an afternoon hiding from the heat or the rain. The staff are super friendly and helpful as well! I've traded in some games I had lying around and got a great deal. The Magic the Gathering events are fun ... Read more

I absolutely love the arcade here. A great mix of newer and classic arcade cabinets, perfect for an afternoon hiding from the heat or the rain. The staff are super friendly and helpful as well! I've traded in some games I had lying around and got a great deal. The Magic the Gathering events are fun and welcoming! Show less

I absolutely love the arcade here. A great mix of newer and classic arcade cabinets, perfect for an afternoon hiding from the heat or the rain. The staff are super friendly and helpful as well! I've traded in some games I had lying around and got a great deal. The Magic the Gathering events are fun ... Read more

I absolutely love the arcade here. A great mix of newer and classic arcade cabinets, perfect for an afternoon hiding from the heat or the rain. The staff are super friendly and helpful as well! I've traded in some games I had lying around and got a great deal. The Magic the Gathering events are fun and welcoming! Show less

Pretty cool little arcade. Husband and I usually drive far out to Round 1 for rhythm games but this was only about 2 hours away. There's tons of rhythm games, even if the place is small. You will have to take turns with other players who are there or just wait patiently. They have wacca, sdvx, proj... Read more

Pretty cool little arcade. Husband and I usually drive far out to Round 1 for rhythm games but this was only about 2 hours away. There's tons of rhythm games, even if the place is small. You will have to take turns with other players who are there or just wait patiently. They have wacca, sdvx, project diva, jubeat and more. Even some old game cabs too. As well as guitar hero!! Theres a shop in the front that sells Pokémon cards and traded in video games and figurines. I even saw some old Pokémon games still in their boxes. I hope this shop/arcade does well, it would be cool to see them expand or have another location closer to Virginia Beach. Also it would be a neat idea to decorate the arcade or have the shop sell fanart from local / VA artists. Show less

Pretty cool little arcade. Husband and I usually drive far out to Round 1 for rhythm games but this was only about 2 hours away. There's tons of rhythm games, even if the place is small. You will have to take turns with other players who are there or just wait patiently. They have wacca, sdvx, proj... Read more

Pretty cool little arcade. Husband and I usually drive far out to Round 1 for rhythm games but this was only about 2 hours away. There's tons of rhythm games, even if the place is small. You will have to take turns with other players who are there or just wait patiently. They have wacca, sdvx, project diva, jubeat and more. Even some old game cabs too. As well as guitar hero!! Theres a shop in the front that sells Pokémon cards and traded in video games and figurines. I even saw some old Pokémon games still in their boxes. I hope this shop/arcade does well, it would be cool to see them expand or have another location closer to Virginia Beach. Also it would be a neat idea to decorate the arcade or have the shop sell fanart from local / VA artists. Show less

This place is a blast! Just happened upon it and so excited that I did. Talked to the owner Dakota quite a while while in the store, very knowledgeable about everything in the store. We talked about some artists, Japanese toys and pinball machines. They have a great selection of manga, Nintendo, toy... Read more

This place is a blast! Just happened upon it and so excited that I did. Talked to the owner Dakota quite a while while in the store, very knowledgeable about everything in the store. We talked about some artists, Japanese toys and pinball machines. They have a great selection of manga, Nintendo, toys, figures and tons of other good stuff. Best thing is the little arcade room in the back ten bucks and you can play as much as you want all day. Lots of pinball machines and a few old 80's coin-op games. Brought my wife and kids, my kids wanted to hang out in the front of the store and my wife and I played video games for quite a while. Kind of hard to miss this place looks like almost an abandoned building on the side of the road but look for the glass window with their logo. If you're an old-school gamer want to kill some time playing some pinball machines or just want to talk shop this is a great place to go! Show less

This place is a blast! Just happened upon it and so excited that I did. Talked to the owner Dakota quite a while while in the store, very knowledgeable about everything in the store. We talked about some artists, Japanese toys and pinball machines. They have a great selection of manga, Nintendo, toy... Read more

This place is a blast! Just happened upon it and so excited that I did. Talked to the owner Dakota quite a while while in the store, very knowledgeable about everything in the store. We talked about some artists, Japanese toys and pinball machines. They have a great selection of manga, Nintendo, toys, figures and tons of other good stuff. Best thing is the little arcade room in the back ten bucks and you can play as much as you want all day. Lots of pinball machines and a few old 80's coin-op games. Brought my wife and kids, my kids wanted to hang out in the front of the store and my wife and I played video games for quite a while. Kind of hard to miss this place looks like almost an abandoned building on the side of the road but look for the glass window with their logo. If you're an old-school gamer want to kill some time playing some pinball machines or just want to talk shop this is a great place to go! Show less

I always have questions when I buy a dreamcast. Especially when I am spending $150.00 in doing so. When I asked questions there, I was met with "well I have never had an issue with a dreamcast when I take care of it." Which in itself, is a very tone deaf response. So I take home said dreamcast, ... Read more

I always have questions when I buy a dreamcast. Especially when I am spending $150.00 in doing so. When I asked questions there, I was met with "well I have never had an issue with a dreamcast when I take care of it." Which in itself, is a very tone deaf response. So I take home said dreamcast, and the system is filthy. Controller had sticky stuff on it and was also filthy. Lastly, the controller has drift issues. Not something that is uncommon with the dreamcast, but for $150.00, I was not expecting a yard sale result with it. Incredibly disappointed, and on top of that, I see there is a hidden $2.50 "service charge", or however you folks phrase it. Will most definitely be my last dollar I spend there, and I hope they read this and perhaps try to do better. Show less

I always have questions when I buy a dreamcast. Especially when I am spending $150.00 in doing so. When I asked questions there, I was met with "well I have never had an issue with a dreamcast when I take care of it." Which in itself, is a very tone deaf response. So I take home said dreamcast, ... Read more

I always have questions when I buy a dreamcast. Especially when I am spending $150.00 in doing so. When I asked questions there, I was met with "well I have never had an issue with a dreamcast when I take care of it." Which in itself, is a very tone deaf response. So I take home said dreamcast, and the system is filthy. Controller had sticky stuff on it and was also filthy. Lastly, the controller has drift issues. Not something that is uncommon with the dreamcast, but for $150.00, I was not expecting a yard sale result with it. Incredibly disappointed, and on top of that, I see there is a hidden $2.50 "service charge", or however you folks phrase it. Will most definitely be my last dollar I spend there, and I hope they read this and perhaps try to do better. Show less

I’ve always wanted to go to a classic arcade spot and they have it down perfect. The atmosphere is top tier first time I went I was overflowing with excitement, very good price to be able to play all day if you like and the selection is fantastic. The only thing I could complain about is that some c... Read more

I’ve always wanted to go to a classic arcade spot and they have it down perfect. The atmosphere is top tier first time I went I was overflowing with excitement, very good price to be able to play all day if you like and the selection is fantastic. The only thing I could complain about is that some cabinets that are out of service I hope they come back soon but that is not the fault of the store. I will definitely be a regular here. Show less

I’ve always wanted to go to a classic arcade spot and they have it down perfect. The atmosphere is top tier first time I went I was overflowing with excitement, very good price to be able to play all day if you like and the selection is fantastic. The only thing I could complain about is that some c... Read more

I’ve always wanted to go to a classic arcade spot and they have it down perfect. The atmosphere is top tier first time I went I was overflowing with excitement, very good price to be able to play all day if you like and the selection is fantastic. The only thing I could complain about is that some cabinets that are out of service I hope they come back soon but that is not the fault of the store. I will definitely be a regular here. Show less

When getting back into Magic: The Gathering after a 20 year break, Dakota was very helpful and genuinely enthusiastic about helping me find a pre-constructed deck that would fit my desired play-style. He even provided suggestions on what cards i could switch out to upgrade the deck. I will always re... Read more

When getting back into Magic: The Gathering after a 20 year break, Dakota was very helpful and genuinely enthusiastic about helping me find a pre-constructed deck that would fit my desired play-style. He even provided suggestions on what cards i could switch out to upgrade the deck. I will always recommend Dawnstar to anyone looking for TCGs or Retro Games, as they’ve been consistently pleasant and helpful, with an ever-changing inventory, and a safe, family-friendly environment. Check out the arcade in the back, too! Great selection of rhythm games! Show less

When getting back into Magic: The Gathering after a 20 year break, Dakota was very helpful and genuinely enthusiastic about helping me find a pre-constructed deck that would fit my desired play-style. He even provided suggestions on what cards i could switch out to upgrade the deck. I will always re... Read more

When getting back into Magic: The Gathering after a 20 year break, Dakota was very helpful and genuinely enthusiastic about helping me find a pre-constructed deck that would fit my desired play-style. He even provided suggestions on what cards i could switch out to upgrade the deck. I will always recommend Dawnstar to anyone looking for TCGs or Retro Games, as they’ve been consistently pleasant and helpful, with an ever-changing inventory, and a safe, family-friendly environment. Check out the arcade in the back, too! Great selection of rhythm games! Show less

I always have a great experience at Dawnstar. The owners and staff offer a wide selection of games, including current and retro titles, and are very knowledgeable. My wife and I visit weekly to see their latest offerings and enjoy their fantastic arcade. I highly recommend this store to anyone in Ri... Read more

I always have a great experience at Dawnstar. The owners and staff offer a wide selection of games, including current and retro titles, and are very knowledgeable. My wife and I visit weekly to see their latest offerings and enjoy their fantastic arcade. I highly recommend this store to anyone in Richmond, whether you're a local or just visiting. I love this place. Show less

I always have a great experience at Dawnstar. The owners and staff offer a wide selection of games, including current and retro titles, and are very knowledgeable. My wife and I visit weekly to see their latest offerings and enjoy their fantastic arcade. I highly recommend this store to anyone in Ri... Read more

I always have a great experience at Dawnstar. The owners and staff offer a wide selection of games, including current and retro titles, and are very knowledgeable. My wife and I visit weekly to see their latest offerings and enjoy their fantastic arcade. I highly recommend this store to anyone in Richmond, whether you're a local or just visiting. I love this place. Show less

Was able to get a used Switch here for $40 less than the next cheapest option I found. Decided to get a game with it with the extra money, and they recommended the perfect game that my son is currently REALLY enjoying. Nice, friendly service; easy to shop and well-organized; and as mentioned, great ... Read more

Was able to get a used Switch here for $40 less than the next cheapest option I found. Decided to get a game with it with the extra money, and they recommended the perfect game that my son is currently REALLY enjoying. Nice, friendly service; easy to shop and well-organized; and as mentioned, great prices. And if you have any questions, they're super responsive on IG! Love this place, and I'll definitely be back for more games. Show less

Was able to get a used Switch here for $40 less than the next cheapest option I found. Decided to get a game with it with the extra money, and they recommended the perfect game that my son is currently REALLY enjoying. Nice, friendly service; easy to shop and well-organized; and as mentioned, great ... Read more

Was able to get a used Switch here for $40 less than the next cheapest option I found. Decided to get a game with it with the extra money, and they recommended the perfect game that my son is currently REALLY enjoying. Nice, friendly service; easy to shop and well-organized; and as mentioned, great prices. And if you have any questions, they're super responsive on IG! Love this place, and I'll definitely be back for more games. Show less

My favorite business in Richmond. I have been visiting consistently for almost 3 years, mostly for the arcade, but they have an incredible selection of games and consoles as well. Prices can get steep for the games, but the arcade access is only $10 except for Saturday. Well worth it, considering yo... Read more

My favorite business in Richmond. I have been visiting consistently for almost 3 years, mostly for the arcade, but they have an incredible selection of games and consoles as well. Prices can get steep for the games, but the arcade access is only $10 except for Saturday. Well worth it, considering you get access for as long as you want during the day. The selection or games in the arcade is great, they really have something for everyone. Highly recommend visiting! Show less

My favorite business in Richmond. I have been visiting consistently for almost 3 years, mostly for the arcade, but they have an incredible selection of games and consoles as well. Prices can get steep for the games, but the arcade access is only $10 except for Saturday. Well worth it, considering yo... Read more

My favorite business in Richmond. I have been visiting consistently for almost 3 years, mostly for the arcade, but they have an incredible selection of games and consoles as well. Prices can get steep for the games, but the arcade access is only $10 except for Saturday. Well worth it, considering you get access for as long as you want during the day. The selection or games in the arcade is great, they really have something for everyone. Highly recommend visiting! Show less

We rented out the arcade and their balcony for my son's 12th birthday party. They were easy to communicate with and reasonably priced! It was the perfect venue for a party. The boys had free rein over the games. They loved the mix of old school, modern. and unique games. The balcony was the perfect... Read more

We rented out the arcade and their balcony for my son's 12th birthday party. They were easy to communicate with and reasonably priced! It was the perfect venue for a party. The boys had free rein over the games. They loved the mix of old school, modern. and unique games. The balcony was the perfect space for 15(ish) boys to gather for a short period (pizza, cake, presents.) The staff were helpful when we needed them-- even grabbed us extra trash bags and a lighter when we forgot ours. Show less

We rented out the arcade and their balcony for my son's 12th birthday party. They were easy to communicate with and reasonably priced! It was the perfect venue for a party. The boys had free rein over the games. They loved the mix of old school, modern. and unique games. The balcony was the perfect... Read more

We rented out the arcade and their balcony for my son's 12th birthday party. They were easy to communicate with and reasonably priced! It was the perfect venue for a party. The boys had free rein over the games. They loved the mix of old school, modern. and unique games. The balcony was the perfect space for 15(ish) boys to gather for a short period (pizza, cake, presents.) The staff were helpful when we needed them-- even grabbed us extra trash bags and a lighter when we forgot ours. Show less

This place is to video games what your local record store is to music: It's personal, not corporate, the associates are equal parts fun and helpful, the stock is a "you never quite know what you'll get, but you will love it" kind of vibe, and the arcade, which is really nicely priced at just 10-15... Read more

This place is to video games what your local record store is to music: It's personal, not corporate, the associates are equal parts fun and helpful, the stock is a "you never quite know what you'll get, but you will love it" kind of vibe, and the arcade, which is really nicely priced at just 10-15 bucks, is a total blast from the past (but with plenty of newer games, too). finally, they do offer disc resurfacing (for games or dvds cds etc.) and that's a service their biggest corporate competitor has stopped offering in-store. Parking in the area can be a little tricky and you may need to practice your parallel parking, but hey, that's like a real-life game! Show less

This place is to video games what your local record store is to music: It's personal, not corporate, the associates are equal parts fun and helpful, the stock is a "you never quite know what you'll get, but you will love it" kind of vibe, and the arcade, which is really nicely priced at just 10-15... Read more

This place is to video games what your local record store is to music: It's personal, not corporate, the associates are equal parts fun and helpful, the stock is a "you never quite know what you'll get, but you will love it" kind of vibe, and the arcade, which is really nicely priced at just 10-15 bucks, is a total blast from the past (but with plenty of newer games, too). finally, they do offer disc resurfacing (for games or dvds cds etc.) and that's a service their biggest corporate competitor has stopped offering in-store. Parking in the area can be a little tricky and you may need to practice your parallel parking, but hey, that's like a real-life game! Show less