Written by Jim Ziegler

Deep in the house of horror, the elder demon Valgavoth plots to expand his reach beyond the plane of Duskmourn and consume the multiverse. Meanwhile, in Valley, a small mouse named Mabel celebrates her birthday with a strawberry cake.

Bloomburrow was by far the cutest set in Magic’s history, and was praised for how welcoming it was for new players. A set based on 1980s horror tropes and packed to the brim with terrifying monsters is about as far from Bloomburrow’s cozy aesthetic as you can get. And while Duskmourn is perfect for the Halloween season, the sudden tonal shift is enough to give players whiplash.

New players who started during Bloomburrow are confronted in the very next set with clowns blowing up human heads like balloons, men being turned inside out, and monstrous eyes with teeth in their irises. Veteran Magic players are used to horror elements, from the zombies and vampires dating back to the earliest days to the vampires and werewolves of Innistrad. But Duskmourn is, somehow, a little more horrific. Maybe it’s the alien nature of the horrors that roam the halls, or maybe it;s the more modern aesthetic of 1980s suburbia that serves as the backdrop, but something about it is just SCARY.

The next set after Duskmourn will be Foundations, which is specifically targeted towards new players. This makes Duskmourn the filling of a new-player sandwich, crammed as it is between two sets designed to attract new players.

IN THE WORLD OF POKÉMON

Pokémon Day

Sunday, 3:00 PM

The ever-popular monthly Pokémon Day event is back with all of your favorite activities. See Pokémon Professor Jim to Learn To Play and for help building your new deck at 1:00, then hang around for everyone's favorite activity, Pokémon Bingo. Win packs, promos, and prizes! Remember, all players under 13 must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Entry fee: $10.

Pokémon GO Scavenger Hunt

Grab an achievement sheet in-store and GO out to collect them! Complete the scavenger sheet to earn a booster pack and a promo pack, and to be entered into a drawing for an Elite Trainer Box and other prizes. Entry: $10 

Pokemon GO League Challenge

Sunday, 12:30 PM

Join us for Gam3Escape’s Pokémon GO League Challenge! Set up your Great League team and register them with the Gam3Escape tag, and be ready with a team sheet, available online or in-store. Full rules and restrictions here. Entry fee: $7.00

Pokemon GO League Cup

Sunday, 2:30 PM

Compete in Gam3Escape’s first Pokémon GO League Cup! Set up your Great League team and register them with the Gam3Escape tag, and be ready with a team sheet, available online or in-store. Full rules and restrictions here. Entry fee: $7.00

Pokémon Scarlet & Violet VGC Casual League

Thursday, 6:00 PM

Explore the Paldea region in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. Meet new Pokémon, and battle it out with other Trainers at Gam3Escape’s VGC Casual League.

Pokémon GO Great League Blind 3 & Trade Night

Monday, 6:00 PM

Do you play Pokémon GO? Interested in meeting up with other players and playing in sanctioned Pokémon events? Gam3Escape hosts Pokémon GO League events. Stop in from 6pm to 9pm for our Great League blind 3 casual play and trade night. Entry: $5.00

Pokémon League Casual Play

Monday and Saturday at 6:30 PM, Sunday at noon

The $10 entry fee comes with a pack of your choice from any in the store, as well as a promo pack.

Pokémon Standard Constructed Tournament

Sunday, 3:00pm

Show everyone that you’re the best! Like no one ever was! Join the battle at the weekly Standard Constructed Tournament! Regulation F, no deck list required. Entry fee: $7.

GATHER FOR MAGIC

Duskmourn: House of Horrors Release Draft

Friday & Saturday, 6:00 PM 

Explore the house of horrors at the Duskmourn Release event. Draft your best deck from three packs and vie for dominance in the House of Horrors. Check out the archetype guide before playing in order to have a leg up on the competition. Entry fee: $20

Standard Showdown

Saturday, 3:00 PM

Adorable bunnies mix with nightmare monsters in the Duskmourn Standard Showdown. Standard constructed format, 

Casual Commander

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at 6:00 PM.

The most popular format in Magic, Commander, is back on the table. Bring your favorite deck, or playtest a new one against other magicians. No entry fee: These battles are for honor, not prizes!

TIME TO DUEL! Yu-Gi-Oh!

Advanced Constructed Tournament

Wednesday, 7:00 PM

Duel for supremacy in the Yu-Gi-Oh Trading Card Game. Earn booster packs and OTS Tournament Packs while demonstrating your skills as a duelist. Entry fee: $10

Advanced Constructed Tournament

Saturday, 2:00 PM

Duel for supremacy in the Yu-Gi-Oh Trading Card Game. Earn booster packs and OTS Tournament Packs while demonstrating your skills as a duelist. Entry fee: $5

A WHOLE NEW WORLD

Shimmering Skies Lorcana League

Monday, & Saturday, 6:30 PM

The adventures in the Inklands continue with Locana League. Bring your sealed deck, or join the fun! The initial entry fee includes a starter deck of your choice, a booster pack, and a 200-card deck box to keep your sealed cards from getting mixed up with your collection. Entry fee: $25 (one-time charge)

Shimmering Skies Core Constructed Tournament

Saturday, 6:30 PM

Bring your sealed deck, minimum deck size 60, maximum of any card 4.  Prizes include booster packs and other items. Entry: $11.00

THIS MEANS WAR(HAMMER)!

Casual Warhammer

Friday & Sunday, 5:00 PM

In the grim darkness of the far future, there is only war. At Gam3Escape, there is only Warhammer! Whether it’s a Tyranid terror or a Blood Angel battalion, stage your army and prepare for battle at the weekly Casual Warhammer event. 

Cardfight! Vanguard

Divinez Constructed Tournament

Monday, 5:30 PM

Bring your cards and get ready to fight! Cardfight! Vanguard is back with weekly tournaments, every Monday night. Entry fee: $6

STAR WARS: UNLIMITED

Casual Play League

Tuesdays, 6:00 PM

Whether you’re an aspiring Jedi, a sinister Sith, or a bounty hunter looking for your next score, Star Wars: Unlimited has all the excitement of your favorite space opera in cardboard form.