Knight Moves

I love board games and I was hoping Knight Moves would be similar to Snakes & Lattes in Toronto, which set a seriously high standard for a board game café.
The price is $ 10 /​person on weekends, $ 5 on weekdays. You can pay an additional $ 5 for BYOB /​BYOF. $ 10 /​person is fcking steep. Snakes & Latte was only $ 5, always. At $ 10 /​person with a group of 4, we might as well buy our own games.
I don’t love the ambiance at Knight Moves either. Snakes & Lattes is bright, friendly, approachable, with a fun family feel to it. Knight Moves is darker with a more library feel, and honestly just feels like a place people would gather to intensely play Dungeons & Dragons or Magic The Gathering. I’m not hating on these games by any means… but there’s a difference between the casual feel at Snakes & Lattes with a younger demographic that want to play some games of Catan, Jenga, etc. and the hole-​up-​in-​a-​dark-​café older demographic of Knight Moves that plays games with a cult-​like following. The space at Knight Moves is also really cramped, once again adding to that dark library feeling. Snakes & Lattes was a nice, open space.
It was also really effing hot in Knight Moves. Like I was getting sleepy because it was so warm. I ordered a root beer float to try and wake me up but the root beer was actually room temperature and the ice cream was not cold enough to offset this.
The game selection is decent, but the games are in pretty poor condition. Scrabble was missing the letter J. The cards in 7 Wonders, which is not a well known game and didn’t seem like it was played that much based on the number of score sheets used before us, were pretty horribly beat up and stuck together like crazy. Everything seemed okay with Fire & Ice Stratego though I guess…
Knight Moves is no Snakes & Lattes, unfortunately. I don’t think I’ll be returning.

— BOTTOM LINE:
Top notch place for people who get starry eyed looking at piles, shelves, and tables full of board games. So glad a board game café like this place exists — because sometimes you want to inject some (intense) competition in your regular meetups with friends.
— PRICE:
+ $ 10 weekend entrance ($ 5 for some weekdays)
+ $ 5 BYOF/​BYOB (YEAH)
Entrance price can come off steep, but it essentially pays off for itself after we finish off the beers and pizza pies we pick up down the street beforehand.
— GAMES:
List of games is here:
So many — from classic board games like Sorry and Candyland, to Ascension, Ticket to Ride, to Munchkins. They have an enormous collection that stay impressively organized. Devon will take the games you like and suggest a ton of more games, and will teach you how to play it, too!
— SPACE:
Cozy with fluffy chairs. The space is broken up into 3 sections — our favorite spots are the back for big groups and the middle for cozy date night/​game night.
— SERVICE AND PARTIES:
They were –so– accommodating for our last minute birthday party group of 10+. While I think the normal protocol is to call them in advance so they can block off the space, we were scrambling to find a suitable birthday party location for the boyfriend after finding out that Do Re Mi closed (RIP) and came early to Knights Move to see if we could grab a few tables for our friends. Devon and the team let me know a birthday party was wrapping up in the back, and we could move in for our own last-​minute party. The 28-​year-​old boyfriend waited patiently for the 8-year-old’s birthday party to end, and we were able to set up shop comfortably with our Upper Crust Pizza and beers. Devon stopped by often to make sure we were set up with cups and utensils.
Overall, the service, crowd, space, and (of course) games makes Boston’s first board game café a huge win. Can’t wait to go back again.

I was just so uncomfortable from the moment I walked through the door which was a bummer because I love board games and really wanted to like this place. When you walk in the door of any place and there’s not someone at the counter it’s confusing. The guy was not very friendly to us but seemed friendly to the young girl he was hitting on and made it clear he wanted to get back to it. He was very impatient and so I just ordered a coffee which you serve yourself and also was crappy and off he went. I was heading into work at 11 so I actually would have ordered more for my «breakfast» but he wasn’t interested. He didn’t explain anything to us so we played one game and got up and left so now as I read that you’re supposed to pay I feel guilty– but not that guilty cause like do your job a little?
On the counter as I ordered there were probably 10 empty beer bottles which isn’t that gross but seems like something he could have dealt with. Finally, this is clearly specific to my experience but the conversation the table next to me (the one the server was at) was very loud and really offensive and I’m not normally sensitive but it wasn’t a PC thing it was just snobby. Obviously people are entitled to say whatever they want but they were just assholes, it was essentially them saying that anyone who doesn’t try to go to college and is ok working a blue collar job is lazy and not trying hard enough. While I did go to school my profession is technically blue collar and my parents didn’t go to college and they tried plenty hard and many of the hardest working people I know went into trades or couldn’t go to college not everyone’s parents are floating their ride through BU or BC or whatever Boston school this crowd is lucky enough to afford and maybe they should think before they speak so loudly about most of the population. Again not a real issue with the establishment but just gave off the worst vibes and has totally put me off going back even if the coffee was good.

I have been to Knight Moves twice, both times with my boyfriend.
The first time I went, there was no one manning the front. One of the other guests actually went to grab Devon, who was in the back with a group of people. He came up front and introduced himself. He was really nice and also gave us a quick walkthrough of the space.
When we got there, pretty much all of the tables were taken, so we grabbed a small table in back. My boyfriend also decided to buy a coffee, and he paid both our entrance fees with his purchase. The woman who rang him up also brought the coffee to our table, which was really nice.
The space itself is kind of small. It’s about three small– to medium-​sized rooms with a bathroom in back and a counter with snacks/​drinks and the register up front. There is one large shelf up front that is sort of the main area where the games are kept, but there are games stacked up in shelves, cabinets, and a few other places in the café. Needless to say, I don’t think there’s a particular system that the staff use to organize the games. On another note, the furniture isn’t uniform, but I think it gives the café a lot of character. There are a variety of different tables and chairs, some of which have an antique-​y feel to them.
There were a few things from one or both experiences that bothered me, though:
1) Each time I went, there was no staff person up front. My boyfriend and I wanted to pay the entrance fee upfront on both occasions we visited, but there was no one there. The second time we went, we stood at the counter uncomfortably for a few minutes. Then we had no choice but to snag a table quickly as more people came in. I think only one person is on staff during each shift.
2) There doesn’t seem to be a system for the staff to track who pays entrance fee upon entrance and who pays upon exit. I understand that a lot of people come through the doors each day, but the space is pretty small and some people stay for a few hours at a time. The first time I went, Devon asked if we had paid as we were leaving. The second time we had the same issue. The woman who rang us up asked us if we had paid as we were leaving.
3) The noise level can be very bad depending on where you’re sitting and who’s in the café that day. The first time I went, my boyfriend and I sat next to a large group of people who were really, really enjoying their game. Lots of whoops and hollering. The second time we went, we were up front near the snacks/​drinks counter. The woman on staff that day made a few (blended?) drinks that afternoon. Whatever machine she was using was very loud.
4) Some of boxes we picked were missing a few pieces/​cards. I saw a sticker on one of the Dominion expansions that indicated the it was demo version donated by Eureka! I’m not sure if the cards/​pieces were missing because it was a demo or because they were misplaced.
Overall, both experiences I had there were pretty good. There was a large selection of games to pick from, and the tables are large enough for games that require a large set-​up. The noise level can range from distracting to irritating, but once you get into the game, you can get lost in the fun.

An update: after being here another few times, I have to echo some previous reviewers’ comments about a lack of consistency in practices (either internally from day to day, or with common norms of most businesses).
I never know when I’m supposed to pay, or how the staff is keeping track of what I’ve ordered. I can tell they are doing this to promote a relaxed vibe and probably to make it simpler to just charge all you’ve ordered in bits and pieces over several hours at the end instead of as you go. But sometimes they do ring me up in the beginning, and I’d appreciate just paying for things as I get them. Familiarity makes the experience more accessible.
There’s also quite a bit of variability in terms of customer service. Sometimes the staff is proactive about greeting you and helping you pick out a game, set it up, explain the rules… and sometimes you have to ask. Which isn’t that bad, but depending on the person, it can feel like you are disturbing them since they are often sitting at a table playing a game themselves. So it can make people feel uncomfortable to interact with the staff and get the full enjoyment of the experience. Even just being more alert as they are playing or chatting, and asking anyone standing around the register if they need assistance would help. I don’t think anyone needs to be dedicated to walking around the tables or standing behind the counter.
I think that for a relatively new business, they are doing well, and they bring a unique way to have fun in the Brookline area. I hope they continue to grow their customer base, and hopefully these comments help streamline their practices. :)

My husband and I went here knowing that this isn’t as much of a café as it is a place to play board games. Playing and learning new games was our purpose and we were not disappointed. The game selection is insane! It’s nice to test-​play games before deciding whether or to purchase them for my own collection of games.
The staff is friendly, helpful and patient. They help you select a game to play based on your preferences and give you a quick run down of the instructions. The decorations are cool!
We went on a Saturday night so the more popular games were in play but we still had a great time. It would be a nice place to stop by and play at on a weeknight.
It’s priced right. The café items are overpriced but they need to make a profit somehow. Besides, for a small fee you can bring in your own snacks and beverages.
My only complaint is that it was very hot in there when we went. It’s on the small side but fits a lot of people so I understand that is the reason for the uncomfortable temperature but it might be a good idea to add some fans or ac.

Board game cafes are awesome, hands down. We’re glad we found Knight Moves during our week long conference here in the city. They have a decent selection of the popular games but the space is quite limited. Maybe about 1 – 2 large tables (fit 6+) and 6 – 8 small tables (fit 2 – 4) at most. So don’t plan to come with large groups w/​o a reservation. Even then, I wouldn’t recommend more tha 8 people.
We had a great time spending an evening playing board games but there are certainly room for improvement. My main complaint is that the games are poorly maintained and organized. They obvious need more shelves. The games are placed everywhere w/​o any organization, including a lot of which that are just placed randomly around the floor. Many of the boxes are ripped. The contents feel dirty, probably due to food stains and greasy hands, and sometimes missing. Oh, and they didn’t have the base set for Dominion!?!
Overall, this is definitely not the best board game café I’ve been to – not even close — but I’m certainly a fan. If you’re looking to spend an evening chilling with friends, definitely give this place a look. Make sure to call before hand to check for their availability.

I gotta say this is a pretty cool place. I don’t know if I’ll be back, since I don’t actually like playing board games/​cards or anything like that, but it’s a really unique café. You can bring in your own food and drink/​drank for a small fee and they also have some basic coffee drinks and tea they can make for you.
I’m a bit of a nerd too, and I have to say the books and odds and ends on the walls are really entertaining to check out.
May not totally be my cup of tea, but this place is definitely 5 stars.

Let me start saying that this place is awesome! I wanted to host a game night with friends outside my house and this was the best ideas. The day pass is $ 10 but we brought drinks so it’s another $ 2 for the drinks. Their game collection is huge and the staff is very friendly.
We were a group of 8 and they recommended games for big groups so we can all play. The only negative thing is that the place is below a residence so you can’t be too loud. I would definitely recommend it if you want something different.

What a treat and breath of fresh air! I have never heard of or been to a place like this before. It was like walking into a friend’s quirky home complete with games, funky décor, and kind strangers. The staff are attentive, helpful, insightful, and genuinely passionate about board games! The BYOB policy is clutch. So I the BYOD (dinner)! While they no longer serve free pizzas on Wednesdays, it is only $ 5 and easy to bring outside food in — we ordered Dante’s and it was delicious. I will definitely be back to this unique find and atypical but awesome way to spend a weekday night!

I can’t think of a single negative thing to say about Knight Moves.
Let me just start out with a little background on me. I’m not exactly young. I’m proud to be a child of the 80’s. However, a place like this could be perceived as somewhere not fitting for anyone over 30. Let me dispel that right now. Among the multitudes of games, they have a bunch of old school ones that we grew up with!
Out for the evening with my husband, we decided to meander into Knight Moves because we were in the area and didn’t feel like going to a bar. Greeted by friendly faces, we were directed to an open table, advised to do our gaming thing, and pay as we leave. It’s $ 10 per person for unlimited games and they have a coffee/​tea bar.
We ended up sitting and playing games for hours. Not that marriage isn’t fun, but this is such a great, creative way to get out of the house, away from the TV and just laugh and have fun for the night. Perfect date idea.
I had no idea it was BYOB until we got there, but next time for sure. Most everyone there brought some sort of ‘bevvie’. Absolutely we will be back.

Came here with family friends mostly to play games. Also got a macchiato that seemed more like a cappuccino, meaning generous portion of steamed foam. Played two rounds each of Settlers and Splendor for about 6 hours. Had a great time. Would like to try it again for their food and other games!

I really enjoy this café, they have a FANTASTIC game selection and great vibe. I love that there is a gaming café in Brookline — I really love tabletop gaming and this is a great way to try out new games without committing to buying them.
I really want to like Knight Moves more and I would love to be a more frequent customer, but I have a few issues:
— The price to play is a kind of steep unless you are going to really settle in for an afternoon or evening of gaming. But I usually do plan to come in for a longer stretch of time, so it really isn’t that big of a deal. Plus, weekdays are cheaper, if you have the time for gaming on a weekday.
— The food is subpar and overpriced. The coffee is not great, and there are no free refills. Actually, sometimes there are free refills, and sometimes you can bring in outside food and drink. But sometimes you can’t. Which brings me to my biggest issue…
— The management policies are very inconsistent and not well articulated. Rules seem to vary depending on who is working, and signage is poor. I am uncomfortable when I don’t know how an establishment works and I don’t always want to have to ask, to risk breaking the rules, or to miss out on something because I didn’t know how it worked.
A clear example of this is that I showed up today at noon to settle in for an afternoon of board games on my day off. I got all the way to the café only to find out that they changed their hours. Despite what it says here on Unilocal,the café now opens at 3pm on certain weekdays. I wish they had updated their Unilocal page and website to reflect that, I would have made other plans, and I wouldn’t have wasted my midday going all the way over there…
So I guess what I am saying is: Knight Moves makes for a fun afternoon, most of the time. But proceed with caution.

A great place to play board games and have a coffee. The only qualm I have is that, when I visited, a kid accidentally turned the water knob and spilled a lot of water (which isn’t their fault, but we were offered no help cleaning it up). So, we asked for a rag to clean up the spill so that nobody would slip and fall. He didn’t even attempt to help clean the mess, he just gave us another rag to clean the rest up and watched as my boyfriend cleaned the kid’s spill. Not the greatest first impression.

To call this the best tabletop game café in Brookline is a bit of an understatement. After all, it is the only tabletop gaming café in Brookline. But let’s not allow semantics to overshadow the sheer breadth of board games, fireside warmth and incredible baked goods found within its Beacon Street nook.
To say Knight Moves has more games than your entire collective nerd clan who just raided their extended nerd clan’s garages and attics is an understatement. We played Ticket To Ride and Beardos and our neighbors played Star Trek: Catan, which left approximately 276 other options for you to peruse. Or I could just share their list:
To say the cocoa is rich and creamy, and a full tray of assorted (and reasonably priced) cookies, jam bars, chocolate covered pretzels, cakey brownies and anise-​flavored gems disappeared within moments would be, in fact, two independent understatements.
To say the entry fee ($ 10; Mon-​Tues has a $ 5 special running!) is high for a fly-​by, but a steal for a long night of intense board gaming with friends, is a collective understatement.
To say the staff makes you feel like family, only more welcomed, is… well, you get it.
For so many understatements, I can’t say enough. Free pizza on Wednesdays!

Found this place on Unilocal searching for coffee in the BU area. This is more of a place for board games than coffee, but they have a good selection of food/​baked goods/​coffee. Most of the people there were playing games, but a few were drinking tea/​coffee and reading books.
To play games, it’s $ 5 per person on most weekdays (I forget the weekend price), but they pretty much have any game you can think of. Tables and chairs are super accomodating and can seat 2 – 8 people. Awesome surprise!

Pros:
— Lose track of time playing hundreds of games
— Cackle like a mad genius because you scored free pizza on Wednesday nights
— Pick owner Devon’s brain about puzzles, cards, strategy and more
— BYOB ($ 5 corking fee)
— Trash talk your nearest and dearest
— Attend science lectures, murder mystery parties, tea parties and live music shows
— Play Bob Seger’s «Night Moves» and smile knowingly
Cons:
— Not enough hours in the day
— Too many choices for how to pay admission
— Can’t get Devon’s Nutella milkshakes delivered (or out of my mind)
This place is an absolute gem. Don’t pass Go, don’t collect $ 200 — just get your butt over there now.

Oh man this place is fantasticular.
Finally got to come here since my school club was interested in playing some board games. The 8 of us played for hours and it only cost us $ 20? Are you out of your mind?
It was so great to have a plethora amount of games to choose from, picking a game to play was the hard part. Actually learning how to play some of the game was also hard but the owner kindly walked us through. I totally won most of the games, go me.
A cozy place with a really really cool clock. I want that clock. The front is kind of small if you have a huge line waiting at the cash reg it might be hard to move around but there is a much bigger space in the back for large group.
We only had time to play through 4 different games, but will definitely come back to try others!
BONUS: they sell gift certificate! BRING ALL THE FRIENDS!

Nrrrt Mrrrrrvs!
Everything about this place is fantastic.
It was like hanging out in a Clue living room, if the cast was self-​aware and really, really loved board games.
I came on a Wednesday with Juliana C and our two beaus for a double-​date game night. Devon, the owner, played game concierge, explaining the games to us, and even gave us a little bell to ding if we needed help with explanations. He provided comfort, humor, and clarification, bringing us games as requested suggestions of ones to play (we liked Coup and Love Letter best), and trading out ones we weren’t that into. With hundreds of games to choose from, there was no shortage of opportunity, with good fits for the most die-​hard of gamers to the much more casual player.
Awesome exchanges over the course of the evening:
«When do you close?»
«When everybody leaves!»
«Do you guys serve food here?»
«Tonight is free pizza night!» (That’s Wednesdays, kids — free pizza night rules)
«What’s that?»
«Oh, I just happened to make an extra nutella milkshake and bring over four straws — I’m sure you’ll figure out something to do with this.»
Entrance is $ 10/​person which covers you for a full day of games, but because Devon used to work over at Eureka down the street and the two cater to the same game-​loving crowd, they offer deals where for you can get money off of your entrance at Knight Moves with Eureka purchases, and you can get Eureka discounts with Knight Moves entry. Also, paninis are on their way to the space, so you won’t just need to wait for free pizza and an «accidental» milkshake.
We had such a great experience we bought a casual membership, and got to use 4 of our entrances on the spot. Win.
Knight Moves — awesome date spot, especially mid week, awesome place to bring pals, and awesome place to playtest games. Recommend!

This place is pretty legit. They introduced me to Ticket to Ride and now I’m addicted. Food is good, when they have it.
I think the atmosphere is almost a little too lax. There’s not a lot of consistency in terms of when you pay, how coffee refills work, etc. It makes me uncomfortable to not know what the expectations are of the customer.
The game selection is insane!!! So many games!!! And the best part is they will teach you how to play– no more reading rule cards!
Have literally spent hours upon hours here.