Black Lion Games
Discover Edinburgh's best-kept secret for tabletop gaming – friendly, knowledgeable, and packed with every board game, RPG, and wargame you could wish for!
Photos
About
If you're strolling near the University and spot a shop on Buccleuch Street with a bit of an understated front, don't walk past – you've found Black Lion Games! Step inside this bright, airy space and prepare to be amazed by the shelves overflowing with every kind of tabletop fun imaginable. From vintage RPGs and rare rulebooks that hint at its humble beginnings to all the latest board game and wargame releases, there's a treasure here for every gamer. The staff, like the incredibly friendly and clued-up Stu, are total gems and can chat for ages about anything from Monopoly to obscure indie RPGs. They even host lively evening clubs for Magic: The Gathering and Keyforge, fostering a real community vibe. It’s a genuine hub for the local gaming scene!
Shop
Black Lion Games is an airy and bright shop with well-stocked shelves, offering a variety of vintage roleplaying games, second-hand modules, and indie rulebooks.
Board Games
The Fen Orcs website presents a collection of board games, including titles such as Abyss, Aeon's End, Betrayal at House on Hill, Root, and Seven Wonders. The site also features an article highlighting Black Lion Games, described as a friendly local gaming store with well-stocked shelves and a knowledgeable, helpful staff, indicating a welcoming environment for all players.
Full Description
Black Lion Games is a highly-rated store with 4.6 stars from 339 user ratings, located at 90 Buccleuch St, Edinburgh EH8 9NH, UK, in the Southside/Newington area, near the University. The shop is easily missed due to its unadorned shop front, which only breaks convention with an ageing notice board by the door. Despite its subtle exterior, the interior is described as airy and bright, with well-stocked shelves. The store offers a wide array of games, including wargames such as Blood Bowl, Bolt Action, Frostgrave, Kill Team, Test of Honour, and Warhammer Ancient Battles. Its board game selection is extensive, featuring titles like Abyss, Aeon's End, Betrayal at House on Hill, Brawl, Conan, Dicey Goblins, Epic, Fireteam Zero, Hive, Keyforge, Metal Adventures, Oceanos, The Refuge, Root, Secret Hitler, Seven Wonders, Spartacus, Starfighter, Steam Time, Tavern Masters, Warlock, Western Legends, and Wiz-War. They also stock popular games like Monopoly and Temporum by Donald X. Vaccarino, the creator of Dominion. For roleplaying game enthusiasts, Black Lion Games provides RPGs such as AD&D A1, Basic D&D Orcs, and indie titles like Apocalypse World. A distinctive feature is a shelf dedicated to vintage roleplaying games and cardboard boxes of second-hand modules and indie rulebooks, commemorating the store's origins. Black Lion Games hosts evening clubs for Magic: The Gathering and Keyforge. However, it does not offer a dedicated play space or a café. The business operates Monday to Saturday from 10am to 6pm, and on Sundays from 11am to 5pm. The store has a rich history, beginning as a stall run by Liam in the basement of a retro-fashion store called Flip, which closed in 2007. After moving to its current premises, it experienced challenging periods with nearly bare shelves as stock was sold to fund new orders. Today, the business is thriving, with plentiful stock. The staff, like assistant manager Stu, are known for being friendly and knowledgeable, offering enthusiastic insights into various games and assisting customers, such as checking game components and reviews. The store embodies the spirit of a Friendly Local Gaming Store (FLGS), reflecting a strong and vibrant hobby scene. The store can be contacted by phone at +441316672128, and their website is https://www.facebook.com/blacklionedinburgh.
90 Buccleuch St, Edinburgh EH8 9NH, UK
Southside/Newington
EH8 9NH