Active Imagination

Great place with nice selection and honestly, they are so lovely for hosting so many events and they even dedicate more space to play space than merchandise. Best gig in town.

Been a customer for many years now. The staff is great and helpful. The store has a range of products ranging from cards to miniatures to RPGs. Like many game stores in the last 20 years or so, seems focused on Magic: the Gathering, which is not my preferred game but they still have the best selection of games stuff in town. They also do special orders if what you’re looking for is not in stock.
They also have a large area with tables dedicated to playing games. Demos and leagues abound. All in all a great place to have in town

There’s never been a time when I wasn’t pleased by the staff at AI. Every time someone mentions a gaming place, it’s AI’s name that pops up. They’ve been helpful and know their stuff. And if they don’t have what you want, they’ll either order it or point you in the right direction.
I’ve been through basically every incarnation of the store and every single one has been a gem.
I tried the gaming area for the first time tonight and it was glorious. I had tons of fun and the other people were all very nice. Chairs could be a bit more comfortable, but it’s understandable that they’re not as that would cost a ton.
Overall, great experience and a lot of fun!

I’ve waited to review Active Imagination for almost two years now. Not for any particular reason, really. I have been to a LOT of game stores in my day. Yes, I’m a bit of a geek in that respect. And I just couldn’t quite classify this place. It’s small, but it’s big. There is a good selection, but it’s limited. The staff is small but attentive. It’s a conundrum. In a good way.
Actually, I love this place. They have a little bit of everything. And if they don’t have it, they can get it for you quickly. Most importantly, they know EVERYTHING about games. Seriously. It seems like they have played every game out there, and can comment intelligently about them. I have found this helpful on more than one occasion.
While they don’t carry a large number of comic books, they order my Knights of the Dinner Table for me every month. Sure, I could get a subscription from the publisher, but then I wouldn’t have an excuse to go in at least once a month and check out all the cool new product, and (most importantly) to support my FLGS (Friendly Local Game Store).
In addition, they have a huge game space, in which there is always something going on. And when I have walked around their game space, everyone playing has been so cool and open to me joining them. Wow.
Active Imagination also hosts a wide array of game events, play tests, tournaments, etc. I haven’t taken advantage of any of these, but that is way cool. They also support local cons and other events.
This is one of the best stores I have been to, seriously. I have been a gamer for a long time, and even though Active Imagination doesn’t have the largest inventory in the world (smart business decision, actually), they are one of the nicest and best stores in the country. Drop by!

Not much in stock but they can order anything you want. The staff is helpful and friendly. A large room next door is reserved for gaming and is nerd central ABQ.

So — the dilemma… My husband is a massive gaming geek, but me? Not at all. I played D&D with him for eight torturous years to make him happy, but finally escaped to blissful release when we moved here. He now has a new group, which I do not participate in, but he still loves. I am happy for him that he is still able to play and even hater that we were able to find a game store he enjoys.
So the question is — how do I rate a store that has nothing if interest to me?
Well, the staff are very helpful, the resources are great, they are able to find the things he wants, and they do the stuff we want, namely providing the comics he wants and adding him to a list wherein as new issues are delivered they call us to have them picked up, and they are set aside for him specifically. Sweet!
The store has a space set aside for gaming adventures if that is your thing, and there is ALWAYS something happening there. They have regular gaming sessions as well as tournaments. They advertise for the various comic and gaming events in town, and they sell all kinds of puzzles, games and other interesting stuff.
The major downside is the smell — if all those gamers would just shower…
All in all — great place! Give it a whirl! If I can enjoy it, seriously, you can too!