Active Video Game Platforms
Nex Playground Game System ($199.00) One way to think of the Nex Playground video game console is as the spiritual successor to the Nintendo Wii, the platform that got kids using their whole bodies instead of just their thumbs. But the philosophy behind the systems is markedly different, and the technology has advanced considerably since 2006 when the Wii first went on sale.
The Wii relied on a handheld controller to locate you in space. The Nex can see you, and figure out your movement based on its camera. This allows it to take your entire body into the action; the games can respond to your feet as well as your hands. Most impressive, an upcoming basketball game could even follow a real ball I was dribbling. Plus, there is no controller to accidentally get thrown at the tv screen in the height of gaming.
The content is family friendly; the same could not always be said for the Wii. Further, the company's willingness to include edutainment titles as well as action games in future releases is a refreshing change from Nintendo's explicit hostility to games that are designed to help children learn as well as play.
Parents will appreciate the annual subscription for software. For $89 per year you get access over 20 games, with new content being continuously cycled through the library.
I still think arcade play is less important than its analog equivalent. I'd rather see a child playing soccer on a field than in the living room. Nevertheless, there is a place for digital play in limited doses, particularly when it incorporates active play.
See also, our review of the LeapFrog Leam Move ($69.97) for a less expensive take on a similar idea.
Traditional Games
Bluey Hide & Seek Game ($14.95) Tech adds function here that delights and adds value. One person presses Bluey's nose and hides it. Once hidden everyone tries to find it, guided by the talking figurine's spoken clues. Once found, press the button and everyone can dance to the Bluey theme song. 3 & up.
eeBoo Giant Shiny Shark Dominoes and eeBoo Giant Shiny Forest Dominoes ($17.99 each) eeBoo makes several animal themed domino sets that can be used by 2 to 4 players in a modern take on a classic matching game. The game features handsomely illustrated oversized tiles (4.5 inches x 2.25 inches). My grandson loved learning the names of each shark and being able to identify them as he played. This sort of toy pairs well with a good book for additional information. (4&up)
Koosh Kornhole Game ($18.99) This indoor/outdoor game has a simple set of rules. Can you throw one of the six included Koosh into the hole?
Tumball ($24.99) Think of this as the Jenga tower game, but in reverse, and with marbles instead of blocks of wood. Players take turns adding balls on top of the suspended marbles. Too many and they fall through! Over Christmas vacation it is good to have a few games to bring the family together. This one is a lot of fun for everyone (parents and older siblings, too) - and no batteries required!
Skippity ($22.99) Throw checkers, the game of Othello, and a dash of color, and you end up with skippity. Jump colored pieces to capture. It sounds simple as checkers until you realize that you win by collecting the most of a set of colors, not just number of pieces.
SLAPZI The Fast-Matching, Card-Slapping Game ($14.01) This simplicity of this fast paced game makes it a hit. Each player is dealt five picture cards, and the object is to get rid of all of them. Take turns reading a clue card - if you have a picture that matches, slap it down and you win the round. This game is up by nearly a third since we recommended it last year.
Foros ($35.99). This new mash-up of tic-tac-toe and Connect Four is a handsome set of natural wood playing pieces.
Simon Jump Game Mat ($20.99) There have been countless versions of the Simon musical memory game over the years, but this one gets kids up and moving, as they control the game with their feel.
One Two Many Rabbits ($16.99) This pun filled card game is a great way to keep arithmatic skills sharp over holiday vacations. The object: get rid of your rabbit cards before your opponent by rolling the dice and discarding the cards that match the outcome. The game can be played by one to four players.
Go Nuts, Chipmunks ($29.99) This is a table top action game. The object is to capture as many of the "nuts" (colored balls) that fall from the tree launcher each turn by using a chipmunk on a stick. It is fast paced, easy to play fun for up to four players.
Dinosaur Bingo (23.99). Bingo is a bit of a misnomer since the object here is to completely fill your card (the set comes with six). Rather than matching numbers you identify dinosaurs.
