(PCM+) Leveling Up in Ponca City The Game Corner Brings Nostalgia, Community, and a Fresh Take on Fun

Story by Charles Gerian | Staff Writer

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With brick-and-mortar video game stores becoming a thing of the past, maybe the past is exactly what gamers and hobbyists in Kay County need to thrive.

The Game Corner at 1800 N. 5th Street in Ponca City,

When you walk into The Game Corner at 1800 N. 5th Street in Ponca City, it feels less like stepping into a store and more like stepping into a time machine — evoking the warm, nostalgic energy of the local “nerd havens” of years gone by: GameStop, Hastings, and Game X Change, for those who remember that deep cut.

Coming down 5th Street, you might spot Mario himself — Nintendo’s iconic plumber — waving down traffic with a sign out front. Inside, the familiar scent of plastic and cardboard hangs in the air, nostalgic even before your eyes land on rows of game cases and boxes spanning nearly half a century of gaming history.