Buying board games in Bergen is definitely not as easy or cheap as one might think. However, it is doable, and my living room is rapidly shrinking. All the places listed here have been tried and tested by me. I crawled so fellow meeples could walk.
Where to Buy New Board Games in Bergen
Let’s start with the most obvious place. Don’t pretend you don’t know what I am talking about.
Outland Bergen
Website: outland.no
Address: Outland Bergen
An amazing place—a geek haven in Bergen. Located near Fisketorget, its doors are guarded by large LEGO figurines of Harry Potter and Darth Vader. This is the only store in Bergen specialized in board games and geek culture. It has everything, from popular board games to niche ones, from comics to books, from mugs to console games. You name it, they probably have it, including the five best board games from Norway.
Outland also hosts game nights, tournaments, and sponsors geek events. They offer member discounts and store discounts, so you can score some pretty good deals. You can also sign up for their newsletter—it’s useful and not too spammy.
All good things in life have a price. As a result, Outland is almost always crowded, as it’s not just a store but a hub for fellow geeks and board game players. The prices of some board games are also quite steep, so be sure to check Prisjakt before buying.
Other Physical Shops in Bergen
Besides Outland, no other shop in Bergen specializes in board games and similar hobbies. However, you can usually find board games in bookstores (Ark and Norli), toy stores, and even some souvenir and home decor shops. Ark and Norli also have functional websites, so that’s another option.
Most of these shops are hit-or-miss and are usually good if you want to purchase some entry-level games or currently popular ones. Games like Ticket to Ride, Scrabble, and Cards Against Humanity are abundant and sometimes on a very decent sale. These stores are also good for finding less popular titles, especially those in Norwegian.
However, bookstores and home decor shops are not specialized in board games. That usually means the selection is quite limited, and the prices are not competitive unless you manage to score a good discount. I bought my copy of CATAN in one such small store in Vestkanten storsenter. The year was 2024, and I paid 150 NOK, which was a steal. Sadly, that store is no longer open.
Norwegian Online Shops for Board Games
Yep, even in much larger cities, physical board game shops struggle to survive. No wonder the online options are much better. Some honorable mentions:
Prices vary between these shops, but not by much. Be patient, hunt for discounts and member perks, and keep an eye on delivery costs. As with everything in Norway, Prisjakt is your best friend.
Where to Buy Used Board Games in Bergen
There’s nothing wrong with buying used board games as long as they are well-maintained. Board games are an expensive hobby, just like any other. After all, after the first use, every game is “used.”
Finn
Finn is Norway’s go-to platform for buying and selling used goods, including board games. Here’s the link you need:
https://www.finn.no/recommerce/forsale/search?sub_category=1.86.5203.
Finn offers excellent sorting options (price, location, etc.), as well as some level of buyer protection. Prices are generally fair, and there’s always room for a bit of bargaining. Bulk buying is also an option if you’re lucky enough to find someone looking to downsize their collection.
To have a verified profile on Finn, you need to verify your identity with BankID, which requires a national identity number (fødselsnummer)—and the story goes on. So, new residents of Norway will have to wait a bit before fully accessing Finn’s possibilities. You can use Finn without verification, but you may have less success, as many sellers avoid dealing with unverified buyers due to scammers.
The only issue I’ve had with Finn so far is dealing with sellers who have little to no common sense (or literacy). Expect to see a plethora of ads simply titled “Spill”, “Brettspill”, or “Bordspill”, so finding the exact game you want can be a process.
Finn also charges for buyer protection (39 NOK) and delivery (starting at 39 NOK). While this makes sense, the costs can add up quickly. That’s why I prefer meeting sellers in person whenever possible.
Directly from Board Game Players
Now we’re talking. I love buying board games directly from fellow board game players. They are knowledgeable, willing to negotiate, and their games are usually in mint condition. Expect to get what you pay for. If you’re lucky, you might even score some rare titles.
The downside? Board game players don’t usually sell their games. They hoard them like dragons. As a result, second-hand offers are scarce, and you can’t always pick and choose what you’re getting. But I did manage to score a perfectly well maintained copy of Mercado de Lisboa from Stavros, one of the admins of Bergen New Friends Board Games. I paid 250 NOK for amazing game in perfect shape, and I couldn’t be happier.
There was even an attempt to create a Facebook group exclusively for buying and selling board games in Bergen, but it failed. The market is simply too small.
Board game players are usually a chill bunch (and they like to hike), but as with any face-to-face transaction, you should always be cautious.
Flea Markets and Second-Hand Shops
I love visiting flea markets and second-hand shops. You never know what hidden gem you might find. Most of the time, you won’t find anything useful, but the beauty is in the search.
These places can sometimes surprise you with vintage or rare games, and the prices are often more than fair.
However, you are mostly shooting in the dark. Checking whether a complex game has all its pieces is nearly impossible, and there’s no option to return or exchange a game if you don’t like it after purchase.
I took my chances, and bought Raiders of the North Sea in Sunday flea market in Møhlenpris, on the BKB parking. It was a rainy winter Sunday in the year of 2025, I was half asleep, and trusted the lovely lady selling it. I paid 200 NOK, and my trust was rewarded. Not a single card was dented, not a single coin was missing.
Facebook Marketplace
It had unmatched potential. Now? It’s usually where scammers prey on unsuspecting buyers.
You can still get lucky and find a decent seller, but since Facebook Marketplace offers zero protection, the only advice is: caveat emptor—buyer beware.
Tips for Facebook Marketplace:
- Never pay upfront.
- See and test the game before buying.
- Never trust the pictures.
- The market is flooded with bootleg games.
I don’t like Facebook Marketplace. Luckily, I hide it very well.
Summa Summarum
Bergen offers a decent selection of places to buy board games. As your appetite and addiction grow, you will rely more and more on online shops, but that’s just the way it goes.
Keep collecting, and keep buying more IKEA shelves to accommodate your ever-growing collection.