If you like retrogaming, you can't help but be tempted by a little tour of the specialized shops in Paris, to breathe in the atmosphere of the place, find a console or a game, start or continue a collection, at worst leave with goodies, etc. Geographical observation: this happens in the East, a little on the left bank, towards Jussieu, and especially on the right bank, towards République, around Boulevard Voltaire, the historic video game district in the capital. Theoretically, you can visit all these shops in one retrogaming afternoon: there are 9, a little more if you count the shops exclusively dedicated to figurines.
Content table
- Two historic video game districts: Jussieu and République
- What do retrogaming shops offer?
- The retrogaming shops of Paris
In the retrogaming shops of Paris, we are of course moving away from the Next-Gen, but also a little from the Internet, the mass distribution and the arcade machine generic. Let's just say it right away, the latter is not necessarily to the taste of purists: a question of screen formats, prices, nostalgia for the console-cartridge combo or "real" arcade terminals... We can talk about a common passion, retrogaming, which is expressed in two different ways: the search for physical media (old consoles and games) on the one hand, and beautiful design objects and the use of emulation on the other. One does not preclude the other, that said, someone who has an arcade terminal at home can perfectly develop a passion for physical retro and search for everything related to the Neo-Geo, the SNES, the 987 versions of Zelda, etc
1. Two historic video game districts in Paris: Jussieu and République
Until the mid-1990s, the largest Parisian gaming district was in the V. arrondissement, around the Jussieu faculty. Then the neighborhood changes with the asbestos removal of the faculty and the shops close. Which reinforces the preeminence of the other important gaming district of the capital: République, more precisely around the boulevard Voltaire (XI. arrondissement).
At the time, we weren't talking about retrogaming, of course, just about video games, and the Playstation was driving the market. The years 1995-2010 are now seen as the golden age in the district, there were about ten video game shops there, there are now 7 (6 are largely retro oriented). Either they have closed or have reoriented themselves towards the sale of figurines. The names of some stores have also changed, but the locations have remained the same. Businesses have simply reoriented themselves towards the past of video games. Some continue to offer the most recent games, but this is no longer the heart of the activity, competition from the Internet and supermarkets being of course too great.
2. What do retrogaming shops offer?
All offer more or less the same services: import, sale and trade-in of video games and retro consoles NTSC (most often Japan) and PAL (Europe), as well as of course various accessories and some gadgets and figurines.
They offer a bit of everything, and even Next-Gen, but they mainly target two types of (demanding) customers: the collector who likes collecting, even speculation, and will not necessarily open the game box (it exists); the so-called “hardcore” gamer who searches, snoops, tracks, bargains, tracks down, compares, resells to buy… The second seeks authenticity, the original conditions of the product, the game in its original form, the bet bets on the product itself and the rating that goes with it. There remains the occasional nostalgic looking for the console(s) of his childhood, the one looking for a Christmas present…
There are therefore two markets for video games: that of NTSC (Japanese and American imported products) and that of PAL (Europe). The shops sell both, but with varying degrees of specialization depending on their clientele (purists willingly turn to Japan).
All these stores are of course likely to buy back your games, consoles and accessories.
3. Retrogaming shops in Paris
The stores of course have online sites (or failing that, a Facebook account) that we link to.
Right bank, boulevard Voltaire and surroundings
The figurine shops, apart
Of course, you will find in the retrogaming shops accessories and figurines, but this is not the heart of the store, rather dedicated to the windows with the materials and games conscientiously packed inside. As a result, some video game shops have turned into stores exclusively selling figurines, goodies, posters, gadgets...
If you are looking for these accessories, there are three shops at the entrance to Boulevard Voltaire:
All Geeks (6 Boulevard Voltaire)
Geek Story (7 Boulevard Voltaire)
Bandai Hobby Store (5 Boulevard Voltaire)
A little further, between the big retrogaming shops (from 11 to 19 boulevard Votaire, we find hobby one (which also sells recent video games and does some retrogaming), as well as two major sellers of manga and derivative products, Tsume Store and Manga Story.
retrogaming stores
There are 5 video game shops on the top of Boulevard Voltaire (starting from Place de la République), 4 of which offer a wide choice in terms of retrogaming. The 5. also offers video games and accessories but less retrogaming (HobbyOne, already mentioned). These are large stores, in terms of volume and surface area. The atmosphere is one of shelves well sorted by brand, of windows, of air conditioning. The choice is necessarily very wide and that is the whole point.
A sixth, smaller one is located just behind Boulevard Voltaire, rue de Malte, and another a little further (ten minutes on foot), near the Voltaire metro station. Finally, two others mainly offer repairs (tronix, Sat.Elite).
Trader Games (4 bd Voltaire)
This is the first store when you arrive on the boulevard. The Next-Gen section is on the ground floor and the (superb) retrogaming area on the first floor. You can get everything there from the Atari 2600 era. A nice little curiosity: a small display of vinyl records with soundtracks from video games and cartoons.
Game Off (22 Boulevard Voltaire)
A little further on the same sidewalk, Game Off offers the sale and purchase of products ranging from the Neo-Geo to the Playstation 4. The shelves are less present but that's intended: terminals allow you to consult the catalog. (We are linking the Facebook page, but the Gameoff.fr site should be online soon.)
retrogameplay (11 Boulevard Voltaire)
We cross and go up the boulevard a little to find the biggest shop in the spot, with Full 7 (at 19). Large departments classified as it should be and, inevitably, many, many choices in all genres.
Full 7 (19 Boulevard Voltaire)
Lots of choices too and a basement entirely dedicated to Sega imports.
Game Them All (38 rue de Malta)
If you move away thirty seconds (at most) from Boulevard Voltaire, you take Rue de Malte to find this more modest and slightly more specialized shop, in this case in games and consoles imported from Japan. The reception is very friendly and instructive, especially on the details of the manufacture of games and the speculative market. posters of Metal Slug, it's cool, and it can give the opportunity to discuss prices around the Neo-Geo (basically, it's often expensive or even very expensive).
Retrogame Shop (41 rue Basfroi)
To get to the last address in the district, you have to walk about ten minutes (or get off at the Voltaire metro station).
Go down boulevard Voltaire to the metro of the same name, turn right onto rue de la Roquette (a large Darth Vader painted on a wall can serve as a guide), then left onto rue Basfroi.
The very special atmosphere of the shop (it must be the wooden shelves) gives more than in any other shop the impression of being in a treasure cave, especially if you are interested in Japan. A bookstore atmosphere, in short. A nice aspect in our eyes, moreover: there are many books and magazines there.
Left bank: Jussieu and a little beyond
Of the half-dozen shops that occupied the sidewalks of Rue des Ecoles, only two remain. The atmosphere is inevitably more subdued than at République. A third shop is located ten minutes' walk from Rue des Ecoles, near Saint-Michel.
replay (6 School Street)
A friendly flea market atmosphere. The space is overflowing with retro equipment from all eras without any particular obsession with classification. You can find a bit of everything (a bit everywhere) from the first consoles to the PS2, and a bit of Next-Gen. Replay is a partner of the association WDA, which works to preserve digital heritage, and this permeates the spirit of the place. The store also offers repair services.
Stock Games (15 School Street)
Historical shop, pillar of the district in terms of recent and retro video games, but more oriented towards recent consoles than its neighbor. As with the latter, the shelves overflow a little and that is part of the charm of the place. Small size, of course, but you can easily find what you're looking for.
GameCorner (15 rue Saint-Jacques)
A little apart from the others, a very well-stocked shop despite its small size, and above all very well-organized. A wide variety of choices (video games, figurines, DVDs, books, etc.) and good advice.
