A gamer has shown off their very own GameStop that they've built in their own basement. The passion project has drawn a lot of attention and nostalgia from other gamers who have fond memories of shopping at GameStop and other video game stores over the years.
GameStop is one of the last physical chain stores in the US that focuses primarily on video games. Over the years, a lot of game stores have gone out of business or closed the majority of their locations, due in part to more players buying their games digitally instead of purchasing physical copies from brick and mortar locations. As a result, a lot of gamers think back fondly to game stores they grew up with that may no longer be around.
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Gamer Builds Their Own GameStop
One gamer has taken that sense of nostalgia to the next level by building their own version of a GameStop in their home. On Reddit, user Chef-BILLIEVE shared their build with the community, showing off an impressive and realistic recreation of a game store, with their own collection making up the items seen on the shelves. Chef-BILLIEVE says they've been collecting games since the 1990s, so they have plenty to put on display, including games, consoles, memorabilia, and even a section with classic TVs that could be used to play on the older consoles. Chances are that gamers can spot a lot of their favorites in the photos shared.
Fellow gamers have been extremely enthusiastic about the home GameStop, and asked a lot of questions. The OP explained that they used shelving and fixtures from a liquidation sale at a store that went out of business, which further completes the look. One user commented that they were reminded more of a classic EB Games store than GameStop, which Chef-BILLIEVE was happy about, as they designed it based on memories of a shuttered EB Games near them. Plenty of fans also made jokes at GameStop's expense, especially regarding the value of trade-in games. Others mused that "we have GameStop at home," while some simply appreciated spotting their favorite classics in the photos.
The Real GameStop Takes Notice
While the accuracy of the recreated GameStop is debatable, it didn't take all that long for the real GameStop to take notice. The official GameStop Twitter account shared some images from the post as well, celebrating the efforts of the fan. That drew a lot of celebration from the gaming community as well, with one fan even joking that they were on their way with pizza and Mountain Dew to hang out in the basement GameStop.
Sadly, despite the nostalgia expressed in both posts, physical game sales saw another drop in 2025. A report in late 2025 indicated that only 3% of PlayStation's revenue was made up of physical game sales, with digital game sales at 20%. Additional reports showed that overall, physical game sales are down in the US and Germany, with 99% of PC games sold in the country being purchased digitally. While some players are buying physical copies because of concerns regarding digital licensing and potentially losing access to digital games that they've paid for, the industry as a whole seems to be shifting to digital distribution.
One of the major advantages of buying games digitally is the convenience. Players with high-speed internet can research a game, find it quickly for a good deal, and download it within anywhere from minutes to hours. It's easier than going to a game store and looking for a physical copy of a specific game. However, some of the nostalgia around stores like GameStop are due to the community a physical location allows. For some fans, especially those who have been gaming for decades, the experience of lining up for midnight game releases with like-minded gamers is part of the fun. If the trend towards digital gaming continues to grow, however, recreations of game stores like Chef-BILLIEVE's may be all that's left some day.