Madrid is one of my favourite cities, overflowing with architectural intrigue, delightful cultural experiences, and brimming with the kind of sunlight that makes you feel like basking outside in the park with a handheld and a cool drink.
While the city is known for many things, one of its remarkable (and largely unsung) features is its game shops. On a recent holiday, I had the pleasure of visiting three superlative examples of the retro game store.
As digital storefronts attempt to muck up the gears of what I and so many game enthusiasts adore most about the physical sensation of shopping for games, these Madrid-based independent stores work around the clock to bottle the magic. More than anything, they represent the joy of our gaming community at large, demonstrating the connective tissue that physical games and accessories can create.
Next time you find yourself in ‘la ciudad del abrazo’, stop in and show these shops some love.
Madrid Retro Game Shops
#1 Chollo Games
C/Arenal,8 1ª Planta Local 18, C. Comercial Arenal 8 28013
My first impression of Chollo Games was being unable to find it. It’s located on the second story of an unassuming commercial building just a few streets away from the bustling Puerta del Sol. Once I managed to work my way up the stairs and through a few winding hallways decked with glass and emerald wood, I was treated to one of the best game stores I’ve ever had the pleasure of visiting.
Chollo doesn’t look like much at first. Its packed shelves of games, consoles, and figurines might not wow you relative to any other retro shop in a major city upon an initial glance. However, digging into the store’s selection reveals its true beauty.
On top of a stellar selection of games from every retro console you can imagine (including a particularly impressive set of complete-in-box SNES and Super Famicom titles), Chollo is also home to a well-curated CD soundtrack section. Most of the albums for sale are from JRPGs, with a refreshing amount of Squaresoft titles. Better yet, Chollo’s CD prices beat eBay in nearly every comparison I did. It made picking up the Black Mages and Seiken Densetsu 3 tracks I’d been looking to add to my collection a no-brainer.
Chollo has consoles, posters, and cool figurines, too, but the other truly noteworthy element of the store’s sale catalogue is its wide variety of rare licensed accessories and merchandise from the Famicom era. I saw Famicom wristwatches and branded reading glasses for the first time ever in the wild while perusing Chollo’s hallowed shelves. It was an unexpected joy, especially considering I hadn’t even been able to find licensed merch of this quality in Japan.
The icing on the proverbial cake is that Chollo’s vibe is entirely unique, carrying the frosted glass and painted wood aesthetic of its building’s hallways into the store itself. It almost reminds me of an avant-garde museum in the way its design blends both the utilitarian display of its wares with artistic flare. It’s but another reason Chollo is Madrid’s all-around best store.
#2 La Tienda de Videojuegos
C/ Los Vascos, 4 Local 28040
La Tienda De Videojuegos (which translates, simply, to “The Videogame Shop”) is located a few miles north of the hustle and bustle of Madrid’s city centre, close to the elegant neighbourhood of Chamberí. The train trip is more than worth it; La Tienda boasts the most polished section of rare games and retro consoles in the city, with a particularly impressive Game & Watch section whose plated sides gleam beautifully out of luminous glass cases at all who have the pleasure of passing by.
Of course, such quality comes at a price. That’s why I recommend treating La Tienda like Chollo games’ aloof rich uncle. It’s more of a museum, reminiscent of some of Tokyo’s game stores that have become more like well-guarded troves of artifacts than merchandise one might actually feel comfortable purchasing.
Still, even if you aren’t looking for the cream of the crop when it comes to console purchases, La Tienda has plenty to offer. Its neon signs done up in fetching pixel art might be just the thing to tie your entire gaming setup together. It also has a number of newer Switch titles on offer for fair prices. In this way, La Tienda functions as both a viable option for modern gamers and a retro enthusiast window shopper’s dream.
After making the trip up to La Tienda to have a look around its rows of glorious treasures, you’d be foolish not to enjoy the rest of what Chamberí has to offer. The stately neighbourhood is home to multiple striking galleries and museums (my favourite being the transport museum, located in the disused Andén 0 Metro station).
However, the best activity in town is completely free; there’s nothing better than a stroll around the residential streets encircling La Tienda. Its plazas and gorgeous, tree-lined avenues sing with the soul of the city itself.
#3 Kaoto
C. del Barco, 18, Local Izquierda, Centro, 28004
Kaoto (which is sometimes called “Kaoto Store” on navigation maps) is nestled in the heart of Madrid’s mini-mecca for game stores, otaku hubs, and comic shops. In this case, the city’s take on a Japanese media alley clustered around Calle de la Luna provides a perfect backdrop for Kaoto’s grungy brilliance.
At first blush, the store is cluttered, its poorly-lit corners playing host to the types of shaders on display in N64’s Perfect Dark. However, venturing into those corners allows collectors the pleasure of witnessing a truly unique compilation of grails amidst the stacks of one of Madrid’s best-kept video game secrets.
While Kaoto’s stock might not be as glitzy as La Tienda’s or as accessible as Chollo’s, its rarity and quirkiness more than make up for these shortcomings. While I was there, I was treated to my first complete Atari Lynx collection I’ve ever seen in the wild, in addition to some truly wonderful and esoteric Zelda collectibles that need to be seen to be believed.
Among these were limited editions of every Nintendo console out there, including an odd, red GameCube (a colourway whose existence I would have doubted until that very moment). These types of revelations are what represent Kaoto at its core. It’s a store for collectors who are okay with doing a little bit of digging to make it to the promised land.
Unfortunately, the required archaeology doesn’t do anything to defray the cost of Kaoto’s wares. In the main direct comparison I was able to complete, the same Black Mages album I bought for €20 at Chollo games was €35 at Kaoto. I found this pattern to be somewhat representative of the store’s pricing in some cursory internet searches on other items, as well.
That said, the customer service at the store is top-notch, and it’s still well worth a visit. While you’re there, check out the rest of the otaku sites around Calle de la Luna. If you’re the kind of person who enjoys reading Nintendo Life (like me!), I think you’ll be very happy with the trip.
¡Bonus! OXO Museo de Videojuegos
C. del Postigo de San Martín, 8, Centro, 28013
While this isn’t a game store, I’d be remiss if I didn’t make a quick reference here to the OXO Video Game Museum.
It boasts a strong collection of retro consoles that you can play to your heart’s content, in addition to some interesting historical delves. I spent a whole afternoon in the museum’s neon-flooded halls during my vacation, and I honestly wish I had had the full day. The gift shop is a great place to stock up on Nintendo plushies, in particular.
¡Chao!
Bouncing between retro game stores has quickly become my favourite way to enjoy a new city. I hope this guide can encourage you to do the same. Thanks for riding along with me on our journey across Madrid. If you ever find yourself amidst its sun-drenched streets, I highly encourage you to honour the hubs of gaming mentioned here with your patronage.
And give me a ring when you’re inside! I’ve been itching to get my hands on Nintendo’s rare line of Tetris and Mario Bros promotional watches that came out in the early 90s. I’m hoping Chollo Games might be able to cut me a deal. Or maybe La Tienda de Videojuegos has them in one of its glass displays. It’s also possible they’re under piles of magazines and cards in Kaoto. Possibilities await!
Let us know below if you have any other gaming recommendations in Madrid!
