What are the opening hours?

Monday 3pm - 9pm Tuesday 3pm - 9pm Wednesday 3pm - 9pm Thursday 3pm - 9pm Friday 3pm - 9pm Saturday 12pm - 9pm Sunday 12pm - 6pm

Gam3Escape, 57 Shipman Street, Hilo, HI (2026)

04/07/2026

Weekly Events April 6 - 12
Written by Jim Ziegler

It seems like every big Pokémon event includes some kind of controversy around the game’s sportsmanship rules and player behavior, and Orlando Regionals were no different.

Last weekend we saw multiple players issued game losses for unsportsmanlike conduct, including at least two cases where the matches were over and the results were reversed.

In the first instance, a Pokémon GO player landed a decisive final hit in the Masters league finals and immediately tossed his headphones onto the table and jumped up to celebrate by pumping his fist at the audience. In another, a Pokémon TCG player drew exactly the card he needed to win and immediately threw his hand and headset onto the table and jumped out of his chair. That player returned a few seconds later and demonstrated the steps to win, but the judges ruled his behavior to be unsportsmanlike and penalized him with a game loss.

These are two very similar penalties for very different situations. In the case of the Pokémon GO finals match, Firestar73 had already won the match, and his celebration wasn’t over-the-top or potentially offensive like Ian Robb’s gesture in 2024’s World Championship. Allegedly the issue was how hard he put down the headphones, but the video doesn’t make it out to be a particularly energetic throw. As a result, this ruling looks a little excessive, and we can only assume that the judges on the floor saw or heard a little more than what we can see in the video.

On the other hand, Makani’s early celebration in round 12 included throwing his cards and headset onto the table and leaving the play area before returning to complete his turn. While he did have everything he needed to win the game (and did, in fact, demonstrate the win when he returned), that kind of celebration would likely net a loss in almost any competitive sport.

Imagine if it was a football game instead of a trading card game. If you catch the last pass of the game, with only a few seconds left on the clock and a clear path to the endzone, but instead of running in for touchdown you spike the ball and run out of bounds to celebrate, you’ll have a penalty instead of a score. It would be seen as one of the biggest bloopers of the season.

A game loss after the round ends always seems excessive, and I’m a firm believer that a judge should have a talk with players who get overly enthusiastic during a game. Maybe issue a warning. But at that level of play and on stream, a harsher penalty does make sense.

IN THE WORLD OF POKÉMON
Pokémon Day
Saturday, 3:00 PM
Come check out the wonderful world of Pokemon TCG! Does your child love Pokemon? This is a learn how to play event along with other fun Pokemon related events. This is a family-friendly event.

The day will start with learn how to play Pokemon at 3:00pm. Join Pokemon Professor Casey at Gam3Escape and learn how to play Pokemon TCG. This is a great event for students and children as well as adults and parents. Family friendly event. Note students under the age of 13 must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Each participant will receive a starter deck, a booster pack, and a promo pack for participating.

At 4:30pm we will have the fan favorite Pokemon BINGO! Prizes include singles, booster packs, promo packs, and other items. Entry fee: $10

Pokémon TCG League Challenge
Saturday, 5:30 PM
Best-of-one format, 30-minute matches, age divisions honored as much as possible based on participation. Deck lists are required, and must be submitted by 5:00 PM. Late and illegible deck lists may not be accepted. Prizes include packs, promos, and other Pokémon merchandise. Entry fee: $10

Pokémon TCG League Cup
Saturday, 1:00 PM
Best of 3 format, 45-minute matches, age divisions honored as much as possible. Deck lists are required by 12:30 PM, and are available online in-store. Late and illegible deck lists may not be accepted. Prizes include packs, promos, and other Pokémon merchandise. Entry fee: $15

Pokémon League Casual Play
Monday & Saturday, 3:00 PM
Receive a pack of your choice from any in the store, as well as a promo pack. Participants are entered into the end-of-season prize pool. Entry fee: $10

GATHER FOR MAGIC
FNM: TMNT Store Championship
Friday, 6:00 PM
Bring your best Standard deck and duke it out in this week’s Store Championship! Entry fee: $15

Commander BINGO Plus TMNT Commander Party
Saturday, 6:00 PM
Fill out a BINGO card by completing tasks in a Commander game to earn prize tickets. Plus bring a TMNT Commander to earn an extra ticket! Entry fee: $10

Casual Commander
Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday 6:00 PM
The most popular format in Magic, Commander, is back on the table. Bring your favorite deck, or playtest a new one against other Planeswalkers. No entry fee: These battles are for honor, not prizes!

TIME TO DUEL! YU-GI-OH!
Yu-Gi-Oh! Genesys Format Learn to Play & Tournament
Tuesday, 7:00 PM
Check out Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG at Gam3Escape's Genesys format events. These events are designed to be accessible for all ages. We will have preconstructed decks to help players learn to play. Participants will receive an OTS Pack. Entry fee: $5.00

Advanced Constructed Tournament
Thursday & Friday, 7:00 PM
Duel for supremacy in the Yu-Gi-Oh Trading Card Game. Earn booster packs and OTS Tournament Packs while demonstrating your skills as a duelist. Entry fee: $10

A WHOLE NEW WORLD OF LORCANA
Lorcana League & Learn to Play
Friday, 6:30PM
Share your love of Disney and trading card games with other enthusiasts at Gam3Escape’s Lorcana League! Entry fee: $10

STAR WARS: UNLIMITED
Constructed Tournament
Friday, 6:00 PM
Whether you’re an aspiring Jedi, a sinister Sith, or a bounty hunter looking for your next score, Star Wars: Unlimited has all the excitement of your favorite space opera in cardboard form.

GUNDAM TCG
Gundam Card Game Constructed Tournament
Wednesday, 6:00 PM & Sunday, 1:00 PM
Welcome to the battlefield that covers space and Earth. The “GUNDAM CARD GAME” expresses the world of the Gundam series through Unit, Pilot, Command, and Base cards. Collect cards and dive into the world of Gundam! Entry fee: $10

CARDFIGHT! VANGUARD!
Divinez Constructed Tournament
Wednesday, 5:30 PM
Bring your cards and get ready to fight! Cardfight! Vanguard is back with weekly tournaments, every Monday night. Entry fee: $6

SET SAIL FOR ONE PIECE!
One Piece Constructed Tournament
Saturday, 2:30 PM
Gather your crew and join us for Gam3Escape’s One Piece Constructed tournament! Entry fee: $10

RIFTBOUND: LEAGUE OF LEGENDS
Constructed Tournament
Saturday, 5:30 PM
Entry fee: $10

Casual Play
Tuesdays, 6:00 PM

TABLETOP CLASSICS
Casual Chess Play
Monday, 5:30 PM
Gam3Escape is excited to host, in conjunction with Hawaii Island Chess Association, casual play Chess every Monday at 5:30pm! Some chess boards will be provided but feel free to bring your own. Learn to play, fun for all ages. Youth under 13 must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

02/25/2026

Weekly Events February 23 - March 1, 2026
Written by Jim Ziegler

This Friday marks the thirtieth anniversary of the Pokémon franchise, and boy does that make me feel old.

My introduction to the Pokémon World was through the card game, although I never really played it until decades later. In the late 90s I was a huge fan of Marvel Comics, and had a pretty significant collection of trading cards. In the summer of 1999 the local game store had a trading card event where I thought I could swap a couple of my extra Marvel Masterpieces 1994 cards for the ones I was missing. It wasn’t until my mother dropped me off that I discovered that I was the only person there to trade, while everyone else was there for Magic or Pokémon.

I had seen commercials for the anime, but had never watched it, so the couple kids my age who were playing were my first real exposure. They taught me how to play and even built me a rudimentary Fighting deck, but after that I had nobody to play with. Once I found out it was based on a video game, though, I started saving all summer until I could buy myself a Game Boy Color and a copy of Red.

I probably played the whole game three times before buying my cousin a copy of Blue so I could trade him my Pokémon before I reset, eventually getting Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle on the same cartridge so I could complete the Pokédex. Later that year I bought a copy of Yellow, and had no context for the new Team Rocket characters because I’d still never watched the anime and had no idea who Jessie and James were.

The next summer I visited Hawaii for the first time, where my dad had lived for a couple years. We had heard rumors in Ohio about a new pair of Pokémon games where you could actually catch Pikablue, but aside from the name nothing was known about them. In Hilo, though, I found a Pokémon Gold & Silver translation guide and walkthrough at Barnes & Noble, and a brand-new Japanese copy of Pokémon Gold at the GameStop that was in Prince Kuhio Plaza at the time.

By the time I got back to Ohio I had finished the game and was leveling up my team, eager to have a head start on the American release later that year. I was pretty popular for a couple months, until everyone else got their hands on a copy and I discovered that mine wasn’t compatible, forcing me to start over from the beginning.

I started losing interest in Pokémon when I bought my first Magic cards a couple years later. At that point the Pokémon craze had largely died down, at least in my school, but Magic was just starting to pick up. I count myself fortunate that when I moved to Hilo permanently I was able to find a vibrant community for both games.

POKÉMON DAY CELEBRATION
Saturday, 3:00 PM
Celebrate 30 years of Pokemon at Gam3Escape and receive a special Pokemon Day 2026 promo card and be entered in a drawing for additional prizes.

Learn about the wonderful world of Pokemon TCG! Does your child love Pokemon? This is a learn how to play event along with other fun Pokemon related events. This is a family-friendly event.

The day will start with learn how to play Pokemon at 3:00pm. Join Pokemon Professor Casey at Gam3Escape and learn how to play Pokemon TCG. This is a great event for students and children as well as adults and parents. Family friendly event. Note students under the age of 13 must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Each participant will receive a starter deck, a booster pack, and a promo pack for participating.

At 4:30pm we will have the fan favorite Pokemon BINGO! Prizes include singles, booster packs, promo packs, and other items.

Entry: $10.00

IN THE WORLD OF POKÉMON
Pokémon TCG Standard Constructed Tournament
Saturday, 5:30 PM
You gotta beat ‘em all to be the best that you can be! Bring your best Standard deck and compete for prizes and pride. Entry fee: $10

Pokémon League Casual Play
Saturday, 3:00 PM
Receive a pack of your choice from any in the store, as well as a promo pack. Participants are entered into the end-of-season prize pool. Entry fee: $10

GATHER FOR MAGIC
Universes Beyond Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Pre-Release
Friday & Saturday, 6:00 PM
COWABUNGA! Get out of the sewer and over to Gam3Escape for the latest Magic set, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! Enjoy a free slice from Antics while you build your deck, while supplies last. Entry fee: $45

Lorwyn Eclipsed Commander Party
Thursday, 6:00 PM
Return to one of Magic’s most beloved planes in the newest set, Lorwyn Eclipsed. Bring a deck built around a Lorwyn Commander and receive an extra raffle ticket!. Entry fee: $10

Casual Commander
Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday 6:00 PM
The most popular format in Magic, Commander, is back on the table. Bring your favorite deck, or playtest a new one against other Planeswalkers. No entry fee: These battles are for honor, not prizes!

TIME TO DUEL! YU-GI-OH!
Yu-Gi-Oh! Genesys Format Learn to Play & Tournament
Tuesday, 7:00 PM
Check out Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG at Gam3Escape's Genesys format events. These events are designed to be accessible for all ages. We will have preconstructed decks to help players learn to play. Participants will receive an OTS Pack. Entry fee: $5.00

Advanced Constructed Tournament
Thursday & Friday, 7:00 PM
Duel for supremacy in the Yu-Gi-Oh Trading Card Game. Earn booster packs and OTS Tournament Packs while demonstrating your skills as a duelist. Entry fee: $10

A WHOLE NEW WORLD OF LORCANA
Lorcana League & Learn to Play
Friday, 6:30PM
Share your love of Disney and trading card games with other enthusiasts at Gam3Escape’s Lorcana League! Entry fee: $10

STAR WARS: UNLIMITED
Casual Play League
Tuesdays, 5:30 PM
Whether you’re an aspiring Jedi, a sinister Sith, or a bounty hunter looking for your next score, Star Wars: Unlimited has all the excitement of your favorite space opera in cardboard form.

GUNDAM TCG
Gundam Card Game Constructed Tournament
Wednesday, 6:00 PM & Sunday, 1:00 PM
Welcome to the battlefield that covers space and Earth. The “GUNDAM CARD GAME” expresses the world of the Gundam series through Unit, Pilot, Command, and Base cards. Collect cards and dive into the world of Gundam! Entry fee: $10

CARDFIGHT! VANGUARD!
Divinez Constructed Tournament
Wednesday, 5:30 PM
Bring your cards and get ready to fight! Cardfight! Vanguard is back with weekly tournaments, every Monday night. Entry fee: $6

SET SAIL FOR ONE PIECE!
One Piece Constructed Tournament
Saturday, 2:30 PM
Gather your crew and join us for Gam3Escape’s One Piece Constructed tournament! Entry fee: $10

RIFTBOUND: LEAGUE OF LEGENDS
Constructed Tournament
Saturday, 5:30 PM
Entry fee: $10

Casual Play
Tuesdays, 6:00 PM

TABLETOP CLASSICS
Casual Chess Play
Monday, 5:30 PM
Gam3Escape is excited to host, in conjunction with Hawaii Island Chess Association, casual play Chess every Monday at 5:30pm! Some chess boards will be provided but feel free to bring your own. Learn to play, fun for all ages. Youth under 13 must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

02/23/2026

Frontier Scum is a western themed role playing game. Gam3Escape is excited to announce we have a brand new table starting for this RPG!

Games are weekly on Tuesdays from 4pm to 9pm. No experience necessary. Open to all ages.

Please DM, call (808)498-4095, or stop in to join! Spaces are limited so reserve your spot!

02/18/2026

Weekly Events February 16 - 22
Written by Jim Ziegler

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles has been a cultural icon for over forty years, originally published in 1984 as a parody of Marvel’s Daredevil comics. Master Splinter and the turtles themselves were mutated by the same canister of toxic waste that blinded Matt Murdock and gave him his radar sense, and Master Splinter himself was named in parody of Daredevil’s mentor, Stick. Even the clan of ninja that constantly threaten the turtles, The Foot Clan, is a parody of The Hand, a similar troupe of ninja that harassed Daredevil.

The turtles have gone through countless changes over four decades. Originally printed in black-and-white, the four brothers were drawn almost identically, and even wore the same red masks when they transitioned into color. Identical outfits are a common tactical choice for groups of warriors and outlaws: Several ninja that look identical can create the impression that one is in several places at once and confuse their opponents, and even biker games like the Hells Angels have had traditions of wearing identical outfits and riding similar bikes in order to make it difficult for police and witnesses to identify individual members.

The switch to four different colors and unique signature weapons came from the 1987 animated series, which was largely written in order to sell an endless array of action figures. That philosophy led to the Turtles’ redesign: If all four were identical, kids would only need one toy. And then every episode featured a new character or a new villain, with an associated action figure, who would never appear again. Sometimes Playmates, the toy company with the action figure license, would create an action figure for a new character and then insist on the writers including that character in an upcoming episode.

Michael Bay’s blended CGI/Live-Action movies tried to make some enormous changes to the characters. In early interviews, Bay mentioned that the four turtles had been reworked to be aliens, rather than mutants. The outrage among the fans at such a huge change was enough to get the script rewritten into… whatever that was that we actually got in those movies. Notably, changing other, less central characters from mutants to aliens worked perfectly fine.

We’ve had a couple more reworks since then, including the Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, which made the four brothers into four different species of turtles, and the popular Mutant Mayhem film that leans into the ‘teenage’ part of the turtles’ identity.

The Magic set coming out next Friday is the latest development for everyone’s underage anthropomorphic martial-artist reptiles, and as always, I hope it’s good and look forward to whatever comes next.

IN THE WORLD OF POKÉMON
Pokémon TCG League Challenge
Saturday, 5:30 PM
Best of 1 format, 30-minute matches, age divisions honored as much as possible based on participation. Deck lists are required, and must be submitted by 2:30 PM. Late and illegible deck lists may not be accepted. Prizes include packs, promos, and other Pokémon merchandise. Entry fee: $10

Pokémon VGC League Challenge
Saturday, 7:30 PM
Format: Double battle Swiss, best of 1, regulation H, open team list.
Double Battle, best-of-one, Swiss format. Regulation H, with open team sheets. Team sheets are available at https://www.pokemon.com/static-assets/content-assets/cms2/pdf/play-pokemon/rules/play-pokemon-vg-team-list-2023.pdf. Entry fee: $10

Pokémon GO League Challenge
Saturday, 3:00 PM
Great League, Best-of-three format. Team lists and registration are required no later than 2:30 PM. Late and illegible team lists may not be accepted. Team lists are available at https://www.pokemon.com/static-assets/content-assets/cms2/pdf/play-pokemon/rules/pokemon-go-team-list-2024-en.pdf. Prizes include packs, promos, and other Pokémon merchandise. Entry fee: $10

Standard Constructed Tournament
Saturday, 5:30PM
Show the world that you’re the very best, like no-one ever was. Bring your best Standard deck and compete for prizes. Entry fee: $10

Pokémon League Casual Play
Saturday, 3:00 PM
Receive a pack of your choice from any in the store, as well as a promo pack. Participants are entered into the end-of-season prize pool. Entry fee: $10

GATHER FOR MAGIC
FNM: Lorwyn Store Championship
Friday, 6:00 PM
Bring your best Standard deck and claim the title of Champion of Lorwyn. Entry fee: $15

Lorwyn Eclipsed Commander Party
Thursday, 6:00 PM
Return to one of Magic’s most beloved planes in the newest set, Lorwyn Eclipsed. Bring a deck built around a Lorwyn Commander and receive an extra raffle ticket!. Entry fee: $10

cEDH Tournament
Saturday, 4:00 PM
Play at the highest level of Commander in Gam3Escape’s latest cEDH tournament. Bring your Bracket-5 deck and play against similarly powerful commanders. Entry fee: $20

Casual Commander
Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday 6:00 PM
The most popular format in Magic, Commander, is back on the table. Bring your favorite deck, or playtest a new one against other Planeswalkers. No entry fee: These battles are for honor, not prizes!

TIME TO DUEL! YU-GI-OH!
Yu-Gi-Oh! Genesys Format Learn to Play & Tournament
Tuesday, 7:00 PM
Check out Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG at Gam3Escape's Genesys format events. These events are designed to be accessible for all ages. We will have preconstructed decks to help players learn to play. Participants will receive an OTS Pack. Entry fee: $5.00

Advanced Constructed Tournament
Thursday & Friday, 7:00 PM
Duel for supremacy in the Yu-Gi-Oh Trading Card Game. Earn booster packs and OTS Tournament Packs while demonstrating your skills as a duelist. Entry fee: $10

A WHOLE NEW WORLD OF LORCANA
Lorcana League & Learn to Play
Friday, 6:30PM
Share your love of Disney and trading card games with other enthusiasts at Gam3Escape’s Lorcana League! Entry fee: $10

STAR WARS: UNLIMITED
Secrets of Power Store Showdown
Friday, 6:00 PM
Standard constructed format. Entry fee: $15

Casual Play League
Tuesdays, 5:30 PM
Whether you’re an aspiring Jedi, a sinister Sith, or a bounty hunter looking for your next score, Star Wars: Unlimited has all the excitement of your favorite space opera in cardboard form.

GUNDAM TCG
Gundam Card Game Constructed Tournament
Wednesday, 6:00 PM
The “GUNDAM CARD GAME” expresses the world of the “Gundam” series through Unit, Pilot, Command, and Base cards. The number of ways to enjoy it are endless! Attractive illustrations, new fierce battles. Collect cards and dive into the world of "Gundam". Welcome to the battlefield that covers space and Earth. Entry fee: $10

Gundam Card Game Newtype Challenge 2026 Mission 1
Sunday, 1:00 PM
The “GUNDAM CARD GAME” expresses the world of the “Gundam” series through Unit, Pilot, Command, and Base cards. The number of ways to enjoy it are endless! Attractive illustrations, new fierce battles. Collect cards and dive into the world of "Gundam". Welcome to the battlefield that covers space and Earth. Entry fee: $15

CARDFIGHT! VANGUARD!
Divinez Constructed Tournament
Wednesday, 5:30 PM
Bring your cards and get ready to fight! Cardfight! Vanguard is back with weekly tournaments, every Monday night. Entry fee: $6

SET SAIL FOR ONE PIECE!
One Piece Constructed Tournament
Saturday, 2:30 PM
Gather your crew and join us for Gam3Escape’s One Piece Constructed tournament! Entry fee: $10

RIFTBOUND: LEAGUE OF LEGENDS
Constructed Tournament
Saturday, 5:30 PM
Entry fee: $10

Casual Play
Tuesdays, 6:00 PM

TABLETOP CLASSICS
Casual Chess Play
Monday, 5:30 PM
Gam3Escape is excited to host, in conjunction with Hawaii Island Chess Association, casual play Chess every Monday at 5:30pm! Some chess boards will be provided but feel free to bring your own. Learn to play, fun for all ages. Youth under 13 must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

02/03/2026

Weekly Events Feb 2 - 8
Written by Jim Ziegler

Last month we finally returned to one of Magic: The Gathering’s most popular planes, Lorwyn, and based on prerelease turnout it seemed to be a huge success. Sure, there were a couple new players who were overheard asking what movie the set was based on (with the consensus apparently reached that it was a Jim Henson Studios film from the 80s that they saw when they were kids), but for many of us it was a celebration of all things Universes Within.

There was one design decision that was disappointing, however: Lorwyn Eclipsed marked the first set I can recall that didn’t include date-stamped promos in the prerelease kits. Those promos are typically pretty common, so they can be a cheap way to get foil copies of cards, but they’re also extremely collectible and a frequent souvenir for regular players. I still have my first stamped prerelease promo from 2012’s Dark Ascension, as well as an Avabruck Mayor promo from the Innistrad prerelease that featured unique art that hasn’t been printed since, and looking at them reminds me of playing Magic with the Guild of Games at UH Hilo years before Gam3Escape opened.

According to Wizards of the Coast, they discontinued stamped promos because internal research revealed that most players don’t want them, or at least don’t care about them. But “internal research” that they never release is an easy excuse for just about any changes they want to make. The stamps could have been discontinued because it saves them a few cents per card, increasing the profit margin just a little. The same excuse was used for the removal of Collector Booster Samplers from Commander precons before their price was raised, and let’s be honest: Does it seem realistic that research indicated players wanted fewer cards for a higher price?

Profit margins seem like a more likely reason. After all, Hasbro’s CEO, Chris C***s, is being sued for trying to manipulate the market for Magic cards, and has gone on record that he wants Wizards of the Coast to use AI for product development and art in order to cut production costs.

Another reason might be the pace at which they’re putting out new cards. Lorwyn Eclipsed got pushed back several months to make room for Spider-Man, and the prerelease kits were likely already printed when that decision was made.Moving the set from 2025 to 2026 would mean that the stamped promos would need to be reprinted, and it was probably faster and cheaper to just print more sheets of standard foil cards than to set a new print job for a 2026 stamp. Removing the date stamps also makes it a little easier to move other sets around if other companies insist on earlier or larger sets to represent their IPs.

IN THE WORLD OF POKÉMON
Standard Constructed Tournament
Saturday, 5:30PM
Show the world that you’re the very best, like no-one ever was. Bring your best Standard deck and compete for prizes. Entry fee: $10

Pokémon League Casual Play
Saturday, 3:00 PM
Receive a pack of your choice from any in the store, as well as a promo pack. Participants are entered into the end-of-season prize pool. Entry fee: $10

GATHER FOR MAGIC
FNM: Standard Showdown
Friday, 6:00 PM
Bring your best Standard deck and play to win! Entry fee: $10

Lorwyn Eclipsed Commander Party
Thursday, 6:00 PM
Return to one of Magic’s most beloved planes in the newest set, Lorwyn Eclipsed. Bring a deck built around a Lorwyn Commander and receive an extra raffle ticket!. Entry fee: $10

Casual Commander
Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday 6:00 PM
The most popular format in Magic, Commander, is back on the table. Bring your favorite deck, or playtest a new one against other Planeswalkers. No entry fee: These battles are for honor, not prizes!

TIME TO DUEL! YU-GI-OH!
Yu-Gi-Oh! Genesys Format Learn to Play & Tournament
Tuesday, 7:00 PM
Check out Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG at Gam3Escape's Genesys format events. These events are designed to be accessible for all ages. We will have preconstructed decks to help players learn to play. Participants will receive an OTS Pack. Entry fee: $5.00

Advanced Constructed Tournament
Thursday & Friday, 7:00 PM
Duel for supremacy in the Yu-Gi-Oh Trading Card Game. Earn booster packs and OTS Tournament Packs while demonstrating your skills as a duelist. Entry fee: $10

A WHOLE NEW WORLD OF LORCANA
Illumineer’s Quest – Palace Heist Event
Friday, 6:30 PM

Lorcana League & Learn to Play
Friday, 6:30PM
Share your love of Disney and trading card games with other enthusiasts at Gam3Escape’s Lorcana League! Entry fee: $10

STAR WARS: UNLIMITED
Casual Play League
Tuesdays, 5:30 PM
Whether you’re an aspiring Jedi, a sinister Sith, or a bounty hunter looking for your next score, Star Wars: Unlimited has all the excitement of your favorite space opera in cardboard form.

GUNDAM TCG
Gundam Card Game ST07/08 Release Event
Wednesday, 6:00 PM
Come to Gam3Escape to celebrate the newest Gundam sets Celestial Drive and Flash of Radiance!

Constructed Tournament
Sunday, 1:00pm

CARDFIGHT! VANGUARD!
Divinez Constructed Tournament
Wednesday, 5:30 PM
Bring your cards and get ready to fight! Cardfight! Vanguard is back with weekly tournaments, every Monday night. Entry fee: $6

SET SAIL FOR ONE PIECE!
One Piece Constructed Tournament
Saturday, 2:30 PM
Gather your crew and join us for Gam3Escape’s One Piece Constructed tournament! Entry fee: $10

RIFTBOUND: LEAGUE OF LEGENDS
Spiritforged Pre-release Event
Friday, 5:30 PM
Celebrate the next Riftbound set at Gam3Escape! Each Pre-Rift kit contains a mini deck and five booster packs. Entry fee: $40

Constructed Tournament
Saturday, 5:30 PM
Entry fee: $10

Casual Play
Tuesdays, 6:00 PM

TABLETOP CLASSICS
Casual Chess Play
Monday, 5:30 PM
Gam3Escape is excited to host, in conjunction with Hawaii Island Chess Association, casual play Chess every Monday at 5:30pm! Some chess boards will be provided but feel free to bring your own. Learn to play, fun for all ages. Youth under 13 must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

01/18/2026

It's been a long time since we last visited Lorwyn, and it feels like a long time since we've had a Universes Within set, so let's celebrate by opening a Lor...

11/19/2025

Weekly Events November 17 - 23
Written by Jim Ziegler

Pokémon hasn’t always had the best worldbuilding, but it’s uniquely positive in a way that you really don’t see in much popular media. And that comes from the franchise’s underlying philosophy.

Media franchises that aren’t based on the real world that we live in (and many of the ones that are) often take a negative outlook on life, establishing protagonists as exceptional in their willingness to try and improve life for everyone. Star Wars, for example, is set in a galaxy where an evil empire reigns supreme, where Luke, Leia, Han, and the rebels struggle for freedom.

Pokémon, though, has an underlying theme of optimism, of people generally wanting to do the right thing, for themselves, their Pokémon, and the world at large. And the worldbuilding reflects that.

Take pollution, for example. Throughout the twentieth century, industrial waste has been a major issue worldwide. Heck, it seemed like every cartoon on TV in the 90s had an environmental lesson to teach, to the point that Captain Planet was a cultural icon. In the world of Pokémon, though, it’s practically nonexistent. I’ve been working on a video essay about Grimer, and the hardest part has been finding instances of pollution in the anime or games!

It wasn’t always that way, though. The first generation of games included Grimer, Muk, Koffing, and Weezing, all of which are either made from or feed off of pollution. Grimer is unique in the fact that it’s spontaneously generated in industrial waste when conditions are right. The same games mention a war that Lt. Surge fought in, which has never been expanded upon.

Later Pokédex entries provide an update on Grimer’s status: Twenty years after Red and Green were released, Sun and Moon’s Pokédex entries said that due to a cleaner environment, their populations were decreasing, and Ultra Moon’s entry even said that they were near extinction. The only group that was thriving were the Alolan Grimers, which were specially bred to eat household garbage.

We’ve seen this trend of Pokémon being active participants in society, and of solving the problems we experience in the real world a handful of times. Electrodes have been shown hooked up in power plants to power entire cities, in much the same way elite firebenders able to lightningbend are reduced to throwing electricity into generators in The Legend of Korra.

I think one of the reasons for this is because the underlying theme of Pokémon isn’t battles, it’s exploration. The first games were made to evoke the feeling of going on an adventure in the great unknown, of seeing the world and all of its wonders. And I love that the franchise has kept that feel.

GAM3ESCAPE'S COLLECTIBLES MARKET
Saturday, 2:00pm
Gam3Escape is excited to host another Mini Collectibles Market! Start your holiday shopping early!
Items will include trading card games such as Pokemon, One Piece, Lorcana, Magic, and others. Collectibles such as Labubu, Sanrio, Funko, Anime, Hot Wheels and others.
Stop by and support local vendors and artists.

IN THE WORLD OF POKÉMON
Standard Constructed Tournament
Saturday, 5:30PM
If you didn’t get enough Pokémon at the League Cup and Challenge last weekend, here’s a chance to play a little more! Entry fee: $10

Pokémon League Casual Play
Monday and Saturday at 6:30 PM, Sunday at noon
Receive a pack of your choice from any in the store, as well as a promo pack. Participants are entered into the end-of-season prize pool. Entry fee: $10

GATHER FOR MAGIC
FNM: Avatar: The Last Airbender Draft
Saturday, 6:00 PM, Sunday, 7:00 PM
The first thing an Airbender learns is how to make a draft. Join Aang and the gaang for Gam3Escape’s Avatar: The Last Airbender release draft! Entry fee: $30

cEDH Tournament
Saturday, 4:00 PM
Compete in Gam3Escape’s latest no-proxy cEDH tournament. This time, a Wheel of Fortune is up for grabs! Entry fee: $25

Magic League
Thursdays, 6:00 PM
Receive a booster pack and promo for each week. Entry fee: $10/week.

Casual Commander
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday, 6:00 PM
The most popular format in Magic, Commander, is back on the table. Bring your favorite deck, or playtest a new one against other Planeswalkers. No entry fee: These battles are for honor, not prizes!

TIME TO DUEL! YU-GI-OH!
Advanced Constructed Tournament
Thursday & Friday, 7:00 PM
Duel for supremacy in the Yu-Gi-Oh Trading Card Game. Earn booster packs and OTS Tournament Packs while demonstrating your skills as a duelist. Entry fee: $10

A WHOLE NEW WORLD OF LORCANA
Lorcana League/Tournament
Friday, 6:00PM
Share your love of Disney and trading card games with other enthusiasts at Gam3Escape’s Lorcana League! Entry fee: $11

STAR WARS: UNLIMITED
Casual Play League
Tuesdays, 6:00 PM
Whether you’re an aspiring Jedi, a sinister Sith, or a bounty hunter looking for your next score, Star Wars: Unlimited has all the excitement of your favorite space opera in cardboard form.

GUNDAM TCG
Newtype Challenge 2025 Mission 2
Saturday, 1:00PM

Gundam Card Game Constructed Tournament
Sunday, 1:00 PM
Welcome to the battlefield that covers space and Earth. The “GUNDAM CARD GAME” expresses the world of the Gundam series through Unit, Pilot, Command, and Base cards. Collect cards and dive into the world of Gundam! Entry fee: $10

CARDFIGHT! VANGUARD!
Divinez Constructed Tournament
Monday, 5:30 PM
Bring your cards and get ready to fight! Cardfight! Vanguard is back with weekly tournaments, every Monday night. Entry fee: $6

SET SAIL FOR ONE PIECE!
One Piece Constructed Tournament
Saturday, 2:30 PM
Gather your crew and join us for Gam3Escape’s One Piece Constructed tournament! Entry fee: $10

One Piece Treasure Cup
Saturday, 2:30 PM
Compete with other pirates to earn exclusive black and gold DON!!, alt art Tashigi, and Sabo cards! Entry fee: $15

RIFTBOUND: LEAGUE OF LEGENDS
Constructed Tournament
Sunday, 3::00 PM
Entry fee: $10

TABLETOP CLASSICS
Casual Chess Play
Wednesdays, 5:30 PM
Gam3Escape is excited to host, in conjunction with Hawaii Island Chess Association, casual play Chess every Monday at 5:30pm! Some chess boards will be provided but feel free to bring your own. Learn to play, fun for all ages. Youth under 13 must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

Gam3Escape

04/07/2026

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02/03/2026

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11/19/2025

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Monday	3pm - 9pm
Tuesday	3pm - 9pm
Wednesday	3pm - 9pm
Thursday	3pm - 9pm
Friday	3pm - 9pm
Saturday	12pm - 9pm
Sunday	12pm - 6pm