The Forge runs organized play every single night, Monday through Saturday for miniatures, and often on Sunday too. Miniature games, trading card games, board games, and RPGs each get their own regular night. Here is the weekly rhythm West University Place players plan around.
Your Game Store Near West University Place, TX
The Forge Houston
Your Game Store Near West University Place, TX: The Forge Hobbies & Games
Paints
Brushes
Hobby Tools
Miniatures
Sealed TCGs
Board Games
RPGs
Open-Play Hall
Private RPG Rooms
The Forge Hobbies & Games is about a 20 minute drive from West University Place, out Memorial Drive to 15123 Memorial Dr, Houston, TX 77079.
West University Place sits right in the middle of Houston's best tabletop scene, and the closest full friendly local game store is a straight shot west.
We are open 7 days a week and run events 7 nights a week. Warhammer, Pokemon TCG, Magic: The Gathering, One Piece TCG, board games, and D&D all have a home here. If you have never rolled a die or clipped a miniature off a sprue, that is fine. We built this place for first-timers as much as veterans.
Call (832) 544-1786, or read on to see why West University Place players make the drive.
20+
Tables
7 Nights
Of Events
Sat
New Drops
4.9★
480+ Reviews
Upcoming Gaming Events Near You
Browse the Latest Tournaments, Tabletop Sessions, Card Game Meetups, and Special Events in Your City.
The Sanctuary
Friendly Local Game Store Houston
Our Identity
What Makes The Forge a
True Friendly Local Game Store
A friendly local game store is a shop where you can buy the game, learn the game, and play the game in the same building. The Forge is exactly that. We are an independent, community-first hobby store at Memorial and Eldridge, across from Fire Station 78, in a medieval-themed space our regulars call The Stronghold. That means three things happen under one roof:
Buy. A deep, in-stock selection of trading card games, miniatures, board games, and hobby paint.
Learn. Free demos, learn-to-play sessions, and staff who love teaching new players.
Play. Twenty-plus tables and organized events every night of the week.
Founded on December 3, 2021, The Forge has grown into one of West Houston's busiest gaming halls. We hold a 4.9 star rating across 150+ Google reviews, and the reason shows up in the same three words over and over: friendly, helpful, welcoming.
The Pilgrimage
Getting to The Forge From West University Place
The drive is easy and almost entirely one road. From West University Place, head north to Memorial Drive and follow it west toward the Energy Corridor. The Forge is on Memorial near Eldridge, across from Fire Station 78, with parking at the door.
Most West University Place players reach us in about 20 minutes. Rice Village, Southside Place, and Bellaire neighbors are on nearly the same route.
The Watch
Store Hours: Open 7 Days a Week
We keep long hours so you can come after work, after school, or after dinner. New releases hit the shelves every Saturday, so weekends are the busiest and the most fun.
Mon & Fri
12PM – 11PM
Tue – Thu
12PM – 10PM
Saturday
10AM – 10PM
Sunday
12PM – 8PM
Inside The Stronghold: Houston's Biggest Gaming Space for West University Place
The Stronghold
Inside The Stronghold: One of Houston's Biggest Gaming Spaces
The Stronghold is built for play, not just for shopping. The moment you walk in, you see tables, terrain, and people already mid-game. The gaming area is set apart from the product floor, so you feel welcome to sit down and stay a while. Here is what waits inside for West University Place gamers.
| Feature | What It Means for You | |
|---|---|---|
| 20+ gaming tables | Room for wargames, card games, and board game groups every night | |
| Two private RPG rooms | Bookable D&D and Pathfinder space for your own campaign | |
| Paint station | Sit down, try a color, and paint your minis in-store | |
| Free-to-use in-store terrain | Mountains of terrain ready for your Warhammer battles | |
| Two floors of play | Upstairs and downstairs seating for busy event nights | |
"Super friendly and helpful staff with deep knowledge of their products and the various local gaming communities. Awesome store layout with two floors of gaming space. The Forge is the place to go!"— Randall Miller, Google review
Nightly Engagement
Games We Run Seven Nights a Week
★★★★★
"The staff are friendly and frequently do giveaways at their events. But the REAL draw is the community."— Anthony Ontiberoz, Google review
Night
What Is Running
Tuesdays
AMG Tuesdays: Star Wars Shatterpoint, Marvel Crisis Protocol, and other Atomic Mass Games systems
Thursdays
Warlord Games Thursdays: Bolt Action and other Warlord systems
Fridays
Friday Night Magic and Commander nights
Saturdays
Pokemon TCG at 6 PM with Professor Bryan, plus new-release day
2nd Sat
Warhammer 40K competitive RTT
3rd Sat
Horus Heresy
TCG Store, Warhammer Shop & Tabletop RPG Hub Near West University Place
The Armory & Archives
What We Play at The Forge
From the tactical depths of the 41st Millennium to the friendly tables of the Commander community, our hall is built for every style of gamer. Find your path below.
Card Archives
We are a trading card game store built for players, and our card community is one of the friendliest in Houston. Magic: The Gathering here runs on Friday Night Magic and Commander nights, and our crowd is about 99 percent Commander, so bring your favorite deck.
Pokemon TCG runs Saturday nights at 6 PM with Professor Bryan, a certified Pokemon judge, and we host Pokemon pre-release events too. We also run One Piece TCG, Flesh and Blood, Gundam TCG, and Riftbound, which we have run since its October 2025 launch as one of the first Houston shops to do so.
Active Home Systems:
- Magic: The Gathering (FNM & Commander)
- Pokemon TCG (Saturdays at 6 PM)
- One Piece TCG & Gundam TCG
- Flesh and Blood
- Riftbound (Since Oct 2025)
★★★★★
"I love how spacious the place is and how friendly the staff was, Michael was very helpful in answering every question I had. I'll definitely be coming back for future events."— Anh Le, Google review
The War Room
Miniature gaming is the heart of The Forge, and West University Place hobbyists find their whole army in one trip. Warhammer 40K, Age of Sigmar, Kill Team, Necromunda, Horus Heresy, and Warhammer: The Old World all live here.
Beyond Games Workshop, we support BattleTech, Star Wars Legion, Star Wars Shatterpoint, Marvel Crisis Protocol, Bolt Action, Team Yankee, and more. Whatever you collect, there are tables, terrain, and opponents waiting.
★★★★★
"Easily my favorite Warhammer related game store in all of Houston. Staff are incredibly kind and helpful, always willing to walk around the store with you and help you pick a place to start."— Alex Tanner, Google review
The Quest Log
Board gamers and role-players are not an afterthought here. We carry a large for-sale board game selection, including regular shelf stock of big-box titles like Twilight Imperium, and Friday board game nights let groups form organically around the tables.
For tabletop RPGs, we run D&D, Pathfinder, Shadowdark, and more, with two private rooms you can book for your own table. Our Session Zero nights are a friendly door into the RPG community for anyone who wants in.
★★★★★
"This is the best board game and TTRPG store! It has a fantastic room for playing and really nice private rooms. There are events each week and everyone is welcome to join in."— Cristi Simpson, Google review
The Sanctuary
Beginner Hobby Shop Houston
New to the Hobby?
Start Here
Never played before? You are exactly who we built The Forge for. Our staff will walk the floor with you, ask what sounds fun, and put the right starter in your hands. There is no wrong question and no wrong place to begin. Here is how West University Place newcomers get started at The Forge.
Staff-led sessions at the front table using our store demo sets, so you can try most games before you buy.
Small, guided intros to card games, board games, and miniatures.
Come to the open paint station, try the hobby, and leave with a painted miniature.
A welcoming way into the D&D and Pathfinder community with rotating systems and DMs.
Regulars and staff alike make first-timers feel at home fast.
Sealed TCG Product & Miniature Games Houston
The Armory
The Armory: What We Stock
The Armory is stocked deep so you rarely leave empty-handed. We carry sealed trading card product, miniatures, board games, hobby paints, and all the supplies to keep a project moving. We sell sealed product, not singles, so you always know what you are buying.
| Category | What We Carry | |
|---|---|---|
| Trading card games (sealed) | Magic: The Gathering, Pokemon TCG, One Piece TCG, Flesh and Blood, Gundam TCG, Riftbound | |
| Miniature games | Warhammer 40K, Age of Sigmar, Kill Team, Necromunda, Horus Heresy, BattleTech, Bolt Action, Star Wars Legion and Shatterpoint, Marvel Crisis Protocol | |
| Board games | Large for-sale selection, family titles to heavy strategy like Twilight Imperium | |
| Hobby paints | Citadel, Army Painter, Pro Acryl, AK Interactive, Vallejo, Two Thin Coats | |
| Supplies | TCG supplies, sleeves (Dragon Shield, Ultra Pro), deck boxes, playmats, binders, dice, tools, and glue |
"The Forge is the best gaming/hobby store in Houston. They have PLENTY of product, and pretty much all the different lines of hobby paint, including the newest stuff. They have plenty of gaming tables for all games from tabletop miniature to card games."— Ade Tracy, Google review
The Sanctuary
Hobby Shops West University Place
Local Neighbors
Other Great Game Stores Around West University Place
West University Place gamers are lucky. This part of Houston has several good hobby and game shops, and each one does something well. We are happy to point you to neighbors who serve the area.
G&G Model (West University). A local institution open since 1945, G&G is the go-to for scale models, kits, and classic hobby supplies right in the West University area.
Tea + Victory. A board game cafe with a library of more than 500 games, perfect for a relaxed afternoon of casual play with food and drink.
Halcyon Games. A strong trading card game and Warhammer shop with a friendly tournament scene for Pokemon, Magic: The Gathering, and Flesh and Blood players.
Asgard Games. A long-running Houston store that runs in-house events nearly every day across a wide range of miniature and card games.
Fat Ogre Games & Comics. A large store pairing comics with tabletop games and regular event nights.
What sets The Forge apart is simple: events every night of the week, one of the biggest play spaces in West Houston, and a medieval-themed room built for hanging out. If your night calls for a tournament, a demo, or a table to paint at, that is our specialty.
Why West University Place Players Make the Drive to The Forge
Why The Forge
Why West University Place Players Make the Drive
West University Place players keep coming back because The Forge feels like a clubhouse, not just a checkout counter. The community is the product as much as the paint and the cards. That is what a 4.9 star rating across 150+ Google reviews reflects. Here is what the drive gets you:
A game every night, so you are never waiting a week for your scene.
Space to spread out, with twenty-plus tables across two floors.
Staff who teach, not just ring you up.
A room to call your own, with two bookable private RPG rooms.
A crowd that remembers your name on the second visit.
"Forge is such an amazing place for the miniature/gaming hobbyist. Staff makes you feel like you're part of the family. Everyone there is friendly and helpful. Fantastic place to meet and play games." — Stephen Pomaski, Google review
The Sanctuary
Visit The Forge from West University Place
First Visit
Plan Your First Visit From West University Place
Ready to roll? The Forge is an easy drive west out Memorial Drive, and there is almost always a game on. Come browse The Armory, watch a game, or sit down and learn something new.
| Detail | Information | |
|---|---|---|
| Address | 15123 Memorial Dr, Houston, TX 77079 | |
| Location cue | Memorial and Eldridge, across from Fire Station 78 | |
| Phone | (832) 544-1786 | |
| From West University Place | About a 20 minute drive west on Memorial Drive | |
| Booking | Private RPG rooms, demos, and event tickets via Square |
To book a private RPG room, reserve a demo, or grab event tickets, use our Square booking page. Private rooms can be booked up to 4 weeks ahead. Call (832) 544-1786 with any question before you head over.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Chronicler's Archive
Frequently Asked Questions
Consult the Master Codex for clarity on logistics, community, and the hobbyist's path within The Forge.
The Forge Hobbies & Games is at 15123 Memorial Dr, Houston, TX 77079, near Memorial and Eldridge across from Fire Station 78. It is a straight drive west from Bellaire out Memorial Drive.
Yes. The Forge stocks Citadel and Vallejo, along with Army Painter, Pro Acryl, AK Interactive and Two Thin Coats (wave 1), plus brushes, bases and hobby tools at the paint wall.
The Forge is open Monday 12 PM to 11 PM, Tuesday through Thursday 12 PM to 10 PM, Friday 12 PM to 11 PM, Saturday 10 AM to 10 PM, and Sunday 12 PM to 8 PM.
Yes. The Forge has an open paint station, paint-and-take workshops, and a Learning Center for new hobbyists. Staff help first-timers pick a starter palette and learn brush control.
Yes. The Forge carries Warhammer 40K, Age of Sigmar, Kill Team, Necromunda, Horus Heresy and The Old World, plus other systems like Star Wars Legion, Marvel Crisis Protocol and BattleTech.
New releases hit the shelves every Saturday. A weekend visit from Bellaire is the best way to catch fresh stock and new miniatures.
Private RPG rooms and workshops book through Square, up to four weeks ahead for private rooms. Open-play tables are first come, first served. Call (832) 544-1786 with any questions.
The Forge sells sealed product for Magic: The Gathering, Pokémon TCG, One Piece TCG, Gundam TCG, Flesh and Blood and Riftbound, plus sleeves, deck boxes, playmats and binders.
Yes. Pokémon runs Saturday nights at 6 PM with Professor Bryan, a certified Pokémon judge. Magic: The Gathering runs Friday Night Magic and Commander nights, with a Commander-first community.
Contact the Forgemasters for deeper inquiries at (832) 544-1786
The Vanguard Log
Words of the Gamer
4.9
★★★★★
487 Verified Google Reviews
We Are Social
Connect with Gamers:
Join Our Online Community
Join The Forge's vibrant gaming community on Facebook and Discord, the go-to online hubs for Houston's gaming enthusiasts! Our conversation never ends – connect with fellow gamers, stay informed about the latest events at our hobby store, and share your epic gaming moments. Whether you're seeking advice, looking for a gaming group in Houston, or just wanting to chat about your favorite games, our digital doors are always open. Engage with our active online community, a place where passion for gaming thrives.
Join the Community
Forge Your Hobby in Bellaire
Bellaire's fully stocked paint wall is a short drive up Memorial Drive. The Forge Hobbies & Games has the Citadel, Vallejo, Army Painter, AK Interactive and Pro Acryl colors you need, the brushes and tools to go with them, and an open station to paint the same day.
Call (832) 544-1786 or visit 15123 Memorial Dr, Houston, TX 77079. Book a paint workshop or private room on Square, and forge your hobby with us seven nights a week.
“Great staff, easily one of if not the best store in all of Houston in regards to miniature paint selections.”— Elijah Higginbotham, Google review