How It Began...

In 2011 we opened in a small, awkwardly shaped shop in a small, awkwardly shaped shopping village. Doing our best to serve the existing clients of the business we replaced, our products included train sets, the scenery that goes with them, lots of plastic models from WWII and of course some board games.

Within 6 months, the very limited range of board games was outselling everything else in the shop. So we pivoted to focus specifically on board games. After successfully trading in our little corner for a few years, fighting UV damage on a daily basis (the African sun doesn't play well with cardboard), we moved to a multi-purpose location that catered to business clients by day, and board games by night. This worked very well, until both businesses grew to the point that they were interfering with each other.

Players gathered around a table playing board games. A countertop and banners for business services is visible in the background — Players enjoying a community game night at Fanaticus.

Then COVID Happened

We were already in the process of finding a new location when Lockdown was announced. In a rush we moved all our stock home and set up the online store to continue serving our customers. If there was anything that would help us survive the stay-at-home initiative, it was board games.

When we were allowed to begin socialising again, it made sense to keep things the way they were. Make it a destination store on private property where we have control.

Large tables with players sitting far apart, with tables spaced far apart — Remember social distancing?

Since then we've grown to carry over 400 individual titles and more than 150 games available to play. We also exhibit at local events on a regular basis, and host parties and corporate functions both at our venue at on location.