Odyssey Games is the premier gaming retailer and event venue in Pasadena. It started when store owner Paul Zuber and managers Robert Hermann and Richard Chung decided to take over when their friend, the owner of Game Empire, Chuck Robbins, passed away in 2020. Operating a business during the pandemic wasn’t easy, yet they aim to keep this gamers’ heaven, which has been in the area since 2006, for their strong and loyal gaming community.

“The community is very supportive, and we try our best to provide a space that is open to everyone and inclusive to all gamers,” Robert told us.

Odyssey Games offers over 50 gaming tables in the free gaming area and has invited artists to level up the comfy and immersive ambience for gamers to enjoy their time. If you look around closely, you might find yourself inside a fairytale forest, next to a 3D village, or having Pac-Men right above your head.

Robert believes that the best teachers are the community members who step forward and are passionate about the games they enjoy. While they charge for weekly tournaments that come with large prizes, the community holds free play gatherings every night, and gamers are more than welcome to use their open board game library, which is also available for purchase at the store’s register, and make friends at Odyssey Games. They also carry board games, party games, and trading card games like Dungeons and Dragons, Warhammer, Magic: the Gathering, Pokémon TCG, Star Wars Unlimited, Flesh and Blood, Miniatures, Paint, Hobby supplies, etc. There are also games created( and sometimes tested and demonstrated at Odyssey Games) by local game developers.

Robert believes that in-person gaming gatherings would better bond community members and offer them more sociable, interesting, and interactive experiences than online games and AI technology. Catan and Ticket to Ride are some of the board games Robert would recommend for new players to try out. Dedicated to making board games and TCG more accessible, Odyssey Games will continue its mission in growing the Game Community. New games will be coming in from time to time. Check this place out today and— “Have Fun! Play Games! Make Friends!”

Thank you to the English as a Second Language (ESLN) students from Pasadena City College for partnering with us on this special project. As part of their U.S. Cultural Traditions and Social Change class in Spring 2025, the students gathered stories and information directly from local legacy businesses, capturing their unique contributions to our community. We are proud to showcase their authored profiles and celebrate their hard work. A special thank you to Hin Choy (Rose), Taiwan Zhan, and Yuan Gao (Coco) for working closely with Odyssey Games Pasadena. Your dedication has brought these stories to life beautifully!