You just woke up. Your head might hurt a little from the ball drop last night, or maybe you're just dying to spend that stack of gift cards you scored over the holidays. You want a new controller. Or maybe that one RPG you’ve been eyeing finally went on sale. Now the big question: is GameStop open on New Year's Day?
Honestly, the answer is a bit of a "yes, but..." situation.
Most GameStop locations across the country do stay open on January 1st, but they aren't running on their normal 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM grind. You’re looking at reduced hours. Think of it as a "slow start" for the retail world. If you show up at 9:00 AM hoping to grab a pre-owned copy of Resident Evil Requiem, you’re probably going to be staring at a locked glass door and a very dark store.
The Real Deal on Holiday Hours
While GameStop corporate usually keeps things vague, historical data and current 2026 store reports show a very consistent pattern. Most stores open late. Like, noon late.
Typical New Year's Day Schedule
- Opening Time: Usually 12:00 PM (Noon)
- Closing Time: Around 5:00 PM or 6:00 PM
These hours are way shorter than a standard Tuesday. Why? Foot traffic is weird on New Year's. People are sleeping in or traveling back home. Also, GameStop has been aggressively "optimizing" its store count lately. In early 2026, we’ve already seen reports of several closures in places like West Michigan and Houston. With fewer stores and leaner staffing, the ones that stay open have to be picky about their hours.
Why Your Local Mall Matters
If your GameStop is inside a mall, ignore everything I just said. Well, mostly.
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Mall-based stores are usually at the mercy of the mall's management. If the mall decides to close for the holiday, that GameStop is closed too. If the mall is open from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM, the store will match that exactly. Standalone stores—the ones in strip malls next to a Five Guys or a Starbucks—have a lot more wiggle room. Managers at standalone spots might decide to close early if the street is a ghost town.
Trade-ins and Returns: The Jan 1st Reality
Can you actually do stuff in the store today? Yes.
New Year's Day is actually one of the biggest days for returns and trade-ins. Everyone is trying to swap out the duplicate games they got for Christmas or trade in their old PS4 to help pay for a new rig.
Pro Tip: If you're planning a massive trade-in on January 1st, go as soon as they open at noon. The systems can be slow on holidays, and if there's a line of five people all trying to trade in twenty games each, you'll be waiting forever.
What Most People Get Wrong
A common myth is that GameStop closes for every major holiday. That’s just not true. They almost always close on Christmas Day. That’s the big one. But for New Year’s Day, they want those gift card dollars. They know you’re sitting at home bored and ready to game.
Another misconception? That online deals are the same as in-store. Often, GameStop runs "Clearance Events" in physical stores to get rid of leftover holiday stock that isn't reflected on the website. Walking in on New Year's Day can actually land you some weirdly good deals on apparel or "Pro" member exclusives that didn't sell out in December.
Checking for 2026 Closures
It is worth noting that GameStop is currently in a "portfolio optimization" phase. This is corporate-speak for "closing underperforming stores." Before you drive twenty minutes, check the official Store Locator on their site.
- Go to the GameStop website.
- Hit the "Stores" link.
- Type in your zip code.
- Look for the "Holiday Hours" note.
If the store locator says "Closed," believe it. It's more accurate than a Google Maps listing which might not have been updated by the local manager yet.
Actionable Next Steps
If you're ready to head out, do these three things first:
- Call the store first. Even if the website says they're open, a quick 10-second phone call saves you a wasted trip if they had a last-minute staffing issue.
- Check your Pro Member status. Many of the best "New Year, New Gear" deals are locked behind the Pro membership, so make sure your points are ready to use.
- Bring your ID for trade-ins. People always forget this on holidays. If you're trading in hardware or games for cash or credit, you need a valid government-issued ID, no exceptions.
Most stores will be back to 100% normal operating hours by January 2nd. If you can wait twenty-four hours, you’ll have a much easier time getting what you need without the "holiday lite" schedule holding you back.