Games & Puzzles - a look at new products in this core sector

Fun and games

Games and puzzles consistently perform well for most retailers, so TnP found out what you can look forward to in terms of new products and innovation in this category…

The games & puzzles category saw sales increase by an impressive 23% in 2021 compared with 2019, according to NPD figures, so it’s an exciting sector for retailers. But suppliers are not sitting on their laurels and we can expect change and innovation in the future, TnP has discovered.

For a start, the age range in the category has become more flexible over the past couple of years. For example, David Allen, MD of Toynamics, says: “Our new Hape puzzles are aimed at ages sixplus, which is an older age range for us. The move was prompted by the success we had last year with our Solar System Puzzle, which became a bestseller, so it’s about meeting that consumer demand for puzzles with educational benefits for older children.’’

Orchard Toys, well known for its puzzles and games for little ones, is also targeting older kids, as sales director Simon Prest explains: “We’re launching more challenging 150-piece puzzles for older children, expanding our portfolio for the five to 10 age group, and complementing our wider children’s jigsaw puzzle collection. It’s part of our strategy to extend the learning and play value of all our jigsaws, with an offering for older children and beyond, piecing together a puzzle we’ll be phasing in posters and some form of learning guide. Our new At the Museum and Animal World jigsaws for older children, for example, come with a fun fact book.’’

There’s plenty of change over at Ravensburger, says head of marketing and product

Ask the retailer

We asked: what products do you stock and what is currently selling well for you?

Orchard Toys products are just consistent - they were always go-to party presents, then during Covid they ticked the educational games box, and now parties are back on they are going strong there again. I also have puzzles from Kidicraft and games from Cheatwell Games and University Games. Iin particular, I make sure I’m never out of stock of Charades and What’s Up?

Amanda Alexander

Giddy Goat Toys Didsbury, Manchester

Family games time has become increasingly important over the past couple of years

Mark Jones, Sales Director, University Games and The Lagoon Group

Mookie

development Katy Fletcher: “We are expanding in all areas, particularly puzzles, with a new extra-large format 750-piece puzzles offering another format for those unable to handle smaller pieces. In addition to this, there are the 200- and 300-piece puzzle moments, perfect for those needing a break from day-to-day life but who only have small amounts of time available, as well as the 99-piece puzzle moments which are suitable for a lunch break or even when travelling.

“Over the past couple of years our Challenge range has gathered pace in popularity, particularly within the audience looking for brainteaser puzzles. Six new Challenge puzzles are launching in 2022 together with an addition in our unique Escape Puzzle range.

“Among the 59 licences in our extensive puzzle portfolio, exciting new licences with favourite characters from well-known films such as Flintstones and Scooby Doo make their debut: perfect puzzles to complete together as a family.

“A raft of 36 new puzzles will join the children’s puzzles portfolio, many of which have been commissioned by our

UK-based product development team. Highlights of the children’s puzzle range include an extensive range of puzzles celebrating the much-anticipated movie Minions The Rise of Gru. In the autumn, new launches will include Minecraft, new-look Thomas & Friends, and cinematic launches for the latter part of the year include Jurassic Park Dominion and Disney Pixar Lightyear.’’

University Games and The Lagoon Group is tapping into the family market, according to sales director Mark Jones: “Family games time has become increasingly important over the past couple of years and so, joining forces with The Lagoon Group, has allowed us to significantly expand on our family games category including the everpopular Murder Mystery games and Case Files lines. Puzzles have also been a huge hit during the pandemic, and this year we have expanded our 3D puzzles and model kits range significantly with some exciting new Star Wars and The Mandalorian model kits, and Disney and Marvel join Harry Potter, Game of Thrones and our series of football stadiums in our 3D puzzle range.”

Something else we are seeing more of in the games category is combining the digital and real world. It’s an area that Exploding Kittens has already ventured into, says general manager Joeri Hoste. “In addition to making physical games,

Exploding Kittens launched a paid mobile app in 2016 that remains in the top 30 premium games across both iOS and Android. In December 2021, the expansion pack Barking Kittens was added to the Exploding Kittens app. When the first Covid lockdown started, Exploding Kittens quickly adjusted to the ‘Zoom room gaming’ trend and released Quarantined Kittens, a new way to play Exploding Kittens via video chat for virtual game night.’’ Orchard Toys is also on the case already, as Simon Prest explains: “We’re combining the digital and real world. For example, with our First Sounds Lotto Game, players listen to the sounds on the Orchard Toys app and match them to pictures on their playing boards. It’s definitely something we’ll continue to consider and roll out when it adds to the fun learning experience.’’ And Ravensburger has some exciting plans… “The digital world is becoming increasingly popular, especially with games and puzzles, with new communities cropping up regularly,’’ says Katy Fletcher. “Following the success of Ravensburger Puzzle World in Germany, there are exciting plans in the pipeline to launch Ravensburger puzzle and game communities in the UK - watch this space.’’ Of course another major trend for toys in general is sustainability. How are our games and puzzles suppliers University addressing this?

Games Katy Fletcher says that for Ravensburger: “Sustainability has been at the heart of our corporate culture for generations - long before it became today’s much talked-about topic. Since 2019 we have complemented our sustainability approach by developing a climate strategy and defining four action pillars which represent the company’s social and ecological sustainability focus. “And as far as our products are concerned, over two-thirds are produced in our own facilities in

Ask the retailers

We asked: what products do you stock and what is currently selling well for you?

We have a long-standing partnership with Gibsons, and its puzzles have been a fantastic seller for a number of years. We now have dedicated Gibsons areas in our stores and this has pushed sales again in the right direction. To complement this, we stock a good range of Ravensburger puzzles, which also seem to work very well. As a department store, our puzzle business is very important to us and something we work hard to maintain.

Zac Chapman

Downtown Boston and Grantham We stock Djeco Silhouette Puzzles, Djeco Puzz Art Puzzles and the Observation Puzzles. Laurence King Bingo games sell well. Smart Games and The Happy Puzzle Company games are still selling well and all of the Big Potato Games range are still one of my strongest selling lines - we love P for Pizza, Muffin Time and OK Play!

Jade Oliver-Deacon

The Toy Shop Okehampton

“Our new Europe. Product development takes place in offices in Europe and the US. Hape puzzles These operations will be carbon neutral are aimed at ages six-plus, by 2023.’’ University Games and The Lagoon Group is also on the case, says Mark which is an Jones, and has “actively moved to older age significantly reduce single-use plastic throughout our product and packaging range for us… process as well as to remove shrink wrap and all other single-use plastic David Allen, from all our games and puzzles, MD, Toynamics wherever possible. We also ensure that our outer packaging and product packaging are fully recycled and fully recyclable wherever possible.” Orchard Toys, meanwhile, makes its “games and jigsaw puzzles from recycled board and paper from sustainable sources, and other than the box itself we never use any additional outer packaging,’’ says Simon Prest. “We encourage our customers to extend the life cycle of our products by passing them on, and to support this we offer a missing parts service.’’ Joeri Hoste says Exploding Kittens has “moved away from plastic in our games by swapping plastic card holders for ecofriendly, recycled

cardboard separators and removing shrink-wrapped cards in favour of paperwrapped cards.’’

Toynamics has a number of eco considerations, says David Allen: “At the design stage, we’re assessing the safe and ecological disposal of our products, keeping structures simple while maximising functionality, and streamlining packaging. We’ve introduced solar-powered and kinetic toys into our collections, and of course we have entire ranges of bamboo-made toys – which by the time the toy reaches the consumer, the bamboo used to make it has already grown back – in Hape’s own bamboo forest!’’ So what does the future hold for this category? “We foresee a very exciting and vibrant future for the puzzle category,’’ says Ravensburger’s Katy Fletcher, “especially since the wider world has become aware of what we’ve known for years: puzzles have a beneficial effect on our lives, regardless of age.

“During the past two years, jigsaw puzzles have grown in importance, with new consumers discovering the category, or others rediscovering them in adulthood. Parents have sought fun, relaxing pastimes for their children, and puzzles are ideal as they can be enjoyed alone or shared with the whole family. And while children enjoy the bright colours, familiar characters, and beautiful scenes, this may spark up conversations, fire up their curiosity and also help to teach key skills like colour and shape recognition, object identification and much more. “Adults have turned to puzzles as a way to relax and unwind. Puzzles have so many mental health benefits, as they focus your mind, and can transport you away from everyday concerns - and the simple act of assembling the pieces is almost like meditation. “Many people also find them exciting because they can inspire dreams of future holidays, remind us of happy days out, or even educate them along the way. Many of our consumers seek out the work of specific artists or collect our various series of designs, while others love to challenge themselves with one of our uniquely challenging concepts. “Our development never stands still; we constantly evaluate the market, and listen to retailers and consumers.’’ University Games and The Lagoon Group’s Mark Jones agrees that the future looks bright for the sector: “This category has gained both strength and momentum and with input of continued innovation, the games and puzzles category will continue to flourish.”

Ask the retailers

Jumbo

We asked: what products do you stock and what is currently selling well for you?

We sell a wide range of puzzles from the Djeco range and also Usborne - these are always popular. The Laurence King range of jigsaws also does well. Our bestselling games range is from Smart Games.

Peter Allinson

Whirligig Toys 4 stores in Kent & Sussex: Brighton, Canterbury, Chichester, Tunbridge Wells We stock a wide range of games for all ages, from traditional games such as Snakes and Ladders and Monopoly to more strategic games like Catan and party games such as Times Up Party. We also stock a range of one-player strategic games from Think Fun and Smart Games, which sell well all year round as they are great gifts.

The lower price games are selling well: Dobble, Pass the Pigs, Bananagrams, Uno, and Top Trumps. For the younger ones, Orchard Toys games always sell with us.

We mainly stock Ravensburger puzzles with some Gallison 500-piece and 1,000-piece puzzles to help diversify our adult puzzles. With the children’s puzzles, we find the four in a box, 100-piece and 24-piece floor puzzles are the best sellers.

Vicky Brown

Just Williams Two stores in Dulwich and Beckenham

The benefits of games and puzzles

Dr Amanda Gummer, founder of the Good Play Guide (www.goodtoyguide.com) explains how games and puzzles can aid children’s development

Puzzles and games are both important parts of a balanced play diet because of the skills they support (www.goodplayguide. com/blog/balancing-the-playdiet). Games are a great way for children to develop social skills. Preschoolers can really benefit from learning how to wait their turn, as this encourages sharing. Older children can learn how to manage their emotions and behaviour as they experience winning and losing in a fun environment. This is really useful for learning that things don’t always go their way, but they should consider how their reactions might affect others.

There are lots of other skills that children can learn from games, too. Some are soft skills, such as thinking strategically to move around the board in order to win, or how to play a particular card at the right time. Sports games encourage children to test their physical skills, such as speed and hand-eye co-ordination.

There are also lots of educational games that are specifically designed to help children learn school subjects such as maths and English. These are great because they help children practise their knowledge without the pressure of getting the answers right or wrong, building their confidence and encouraging the repetition that helps to reinforce learning.

Puzzles are a good way for children to play alone for some quiet time. They can help develop logical thinking as children work out which pieces fit where. Puzzles also help children develop their visuospatial skills, as children mentally rotate the puzzle pieces to understand how they fit into the puzzle.

Additionally, completing puzzles can strengthen preschoolers’ fine motor control, which are important for holding a pencil to write or for self-care, such as doing up buttons or using a knife and fork.’’

A world of games

ASMODEE

info@asmodee.co.uk 01420 593 593 Asmodee.co.uk

Asmodee is the leading distributor of tabletop games and accessories in the UK and has been trading for over 40 years, so is well placed to talk all things game play!

With sales of board games and jigsaw puzzles soaring 240% during lockdown alone, when families turned to traditional pursuits to while away their time at home, this trend is set to continue,* proving once again that game playing stands the test of time, through every generation.

With the UK tabletop gaming segment now worth £350 million** Asmodee is expertly placed to keep this segment powering forward with new game development and launches aplenty.

Dobble is described by celebrity fan Holly Willoughby as the ‘best game ever!’ This popular observation sees players race to match the identical symbol between cards. Reliant on a sharp eye and quick reflexes, Dobble creates excitement for children and adults alike while keeping every player involved in the action.

BrainBox is a 10-minute brain challenge game. Study a card for 10 seconds and answer a question based on the roll of a dice. If you’re correct, you keep the card and try to win more. Choose from topics: Football, Maths,

The World, Harry Potter and more! BrainBox is also made from a minimum of 70% recycled material and designed in the UK.

Ticket to Ride sees players collect cards of various types of train. They then claim railway routes in London, New York and other locations. The longer the routes, the more points earned. Additional points come to those who fulfil Destination Tickets – goal cards that connect distant cities. So are you ready to travel?

Catan is a cultural phenomenon and open to all. It’s a classic game of

discovery, settlement and trade set on the mythical island of Catan. Players roll the dice to determine which resources are generated in each round and then strategically trade them with other players in order to expand their holdings. TV star Phillip Scofield is a fan of Bananagrams, saying

“I love Bananagrams’’. It’s the fast and frantic game where players race against each other to build crossword grids. No pencil, no paper or board required, just race to finish by using all tiles - perfect for playing on the go. Kourtney Kardashian is said to be a fan of the gorgeously illustrated game Dixit. It’s all about creative guesswork, where your imagination unlocks the tale! In this award-winning board game, players use the beautiful imagery on their cards to bluff their opponents and try to guess which image matches the story to win.

Soap actor Simon Gregson is a big fan of The Sock Game, a hilarious game for all ages. Join the race to retrieve one of 30 items from a sock - no peeking inside. The Sock Game comes with a warning though: it is insanely competitive and anyone can win.

Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza is ‘filled to the brim with hand-slapping mayhem!’. When there is a match between a card and a spoken word, the race is on to slap your hand on the central pile. The loser takes them all! To win, you have to get rid of all your cards.

* Source: market research firm

NPD Group ** Source: UK Games Expo exhibitor guide 2018

Bringing the A-Game!

CHARACTER OPTIONS

0161 633 9800 sales@charactergroup.plc.uk

Character Options has an unmissable portfolio this year!

New to the collection for spring is Mukbang: the Game. All in good taste, this hilarious game is inspired by the massive social eating craze, where individuals – known as Mukbangers – binge-eat copious amounts of food, while interacting with their audience. Fun for all the family, the aim of this rapid memory and reaction-based game is to match the food cards to the sounds of Mukbang! Players take turns to press the randomiser to reveal the Mukbang sound to find. Players then race to be the first to find the matching plate card. The first person to match five sounds wins the game. But beware the Belch… if a player gets a belch they miss a turn and the cards on the table get shuffled. Then there’s Projex - the projecting arcade game, where players test their speed and skill as they blast moving targets projected onto any lightcoloured wall, all from the comfort of their own home, and without the need for TV screens or sensors! And there’s a stack-load of spinning fun to be had with Totem Infernal Power, the fast-paced stacking challenge that requires players to stack the spinning tops in size order to build the Totem Tower. Players must try to stack and keep all five pieces spinning to create a multi-coloured Totem.

Other existing favourites in Character Options’ games portfolio include PenSilly – the silliest drawing game around; Tap It – the quick reaction game that challenges your brain power; and the Pokémon Trainer Trivia Game.

On Trax for success

RAVENSBURGER

01869 363 830 www.ravensburger.co.uk

Fact!

3D-shaped 54-piece puzzles of the much-loved Minions are launching ahead of the muchanticipated release of Minions 2: The Rise of Gru movie later this year

Ravensburger’s 2022 portfolio offers something from everyone, especially with exciting new launches in the first half of the year. There’s another new concept for GraviTrax. GraviTrax: The Game, brings another way to enter the GraviTrax universe. There are three games, and all are brainteasers suitable for the entire family. Solve the GraviTrax challenges with creativity and construction skills, offering a broad range of excitement. Also look out for the relaunch of the original Ravensburger memory with a generic focus and refreshed designs. There are seven new launches including Animal Babies, Junior, Nature and Classic large memory.

A new addition to the famous Labyrinth family is licence Disney Villains labyrinth, unleashing the Villains and their Henchmen.

New for Audio Mystery Game Echoes is The Microchip. Investigate mysteries using a special ability - hearing echoes from the past - and put the events in order to unravel the mystery.

Exciting additions for the 2021 leading 3D puzzle category** for Spring/Summer include a night edition Lighthouse, and shaped 54-piece puzzles of the much-loved Minions ahead of the much-anticipated release of Minions 2: The Rise of Gru movie later this year.

New for the Puzzle accessories category is My Puzzle Friends 3 in 1 Organiser for children. The clever kit combines a puzzle sorter, puzzle board and a frame.

Spring additions for the ever-popular adult puzzle category, which maintains the number one spot* include a special commission from Cornish-based artist Steve Cummins with the 1,000-piece A Fisherman’s Life based in a busy fishing village.

There are two fantastic pieces by Sven Shaw. Around the UK & Ireland, is a 1,000-piece puzzle, which shows locations encompassing 5,000 years of history, from ancient sites Stonehenge and the Rock of Cashel to architectural wonders Portmeirion’s Bell Tower and Oxford’s Radcliffe Camera, a flying pink pig and more. Plus Around the World in 80 Days – imagining acclaimed buildings sitting alongside each other in a fantasy landscape - for instance, New York’s Chrysler Building sits across from St Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow - inspired by Jules Verne’s book.

Matt Sewell’s 500-piece Garden Visitors illustration captures not only each creature’s plumage, coat or prickles, but also their different personalities with more than 25 visitors to discover. For London lovers, Vintage London is a 1,000-piece puzzle from Joanne Short. Vivid colours give this design a stylish contemporary twist taking in landmarks such as Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge, St Paul’s Cathedral and more. Finally, The Grand Library, a 1,500-piece puzzle by Aimee Stewart, provides a fantastic illustration bringing characters from fact and fiction to life in The Grand Library.

*OCT YTD 2021 **OCT YTD 2021

They’re super, Mario!

EPOCH MAKING TOYS

0208 049 1377 sales@epochmakingtoys.com

It’s Mario Time! Balance, battle and race with Epoch’s fast and fun range of Super Mario Games. First up is Hover Shell Strike, which brings air hockey to your own home. Smash the turtle puck and play on any flat surface. Test your balancing skills with Super Mario Blow Up Shaky Tower – see if you can place your Mario figure on the tower without making the ball at the top drop! Super Mario Balancing Games include all of your favourite Super Mario characters. Just throw the dice, follow the instructions and place the four Mario figures on the top of the swaying stage without them falling off. All the games are suitable for ages four and above.

Puzzles and games for all

UNIVERSITY GAMES AND THE LAGOON GROUP

020 7254 0100 www.university-games.co.uk

Games and puzzles specialist University Games and The Lagoon Group has more than 700 games, bringing fun and entertainment for the entire family, from preschool and children through to family and adult with an impressive 80 new lines launching during 2022.

An exciting new addition to University Games’ licensed portfolio this spring are 15 new intricate Star Wars and Mandalorian Model Kits. The Millennium Falcon, the Imperial Star Destroyer, X-Wing Fighter and the Imperial AT-AT as well as superbly detailed models of the iconic R2-D2 and BB-8 characters are just some of the new Star Wars Model Kits available. For The Mandalorian, striking new models include the Imperial Light Cruiser, Sandcrawler and Boba Fett’s Helmet.

There are also some impressive new 3D Puzzles of iconic characters and buildings from the famous Disney and Marvel franchises that will be joining University Games best-selling 3D puzzle range, which features the Harry Potter, Game of Thrones and Football Stadiums collections. New Marvel and Disney 3D Puzzles include Avengers Tower, Iron Man’s Helmet and the beautiful Arendelle Castle from Frozen. One of the new brands joining the University Games’ children’s range this year is Tom Gates, based on the 18-strong, award-winning book series and The Brilliant World of Tom Gates on Sky Kids. The new games and puzzles range is aimed at children aged six to 12 and includes The Tom Gates Monster Games Board Games Compendium: three double-sided puzzles which can be coloured in on one side, and a fun-packed card game. Also new to The Lagoon Group is the STEAM brand, Purple Cow; a range of science-based kits and tricks that provide children with the opportunity to become real researchers for a few hours and to experiment with their own private laboratory. There will also be a range of Purple Cow Magnetic Travel Games all available from April.

New titles for 2022 to the Lagoon Group’s best-selling range of games in a tin are the Music Quiz, Festive Couples Quiz, and the Double 6 and Double 9 Dominoes Tins, which join favourites Celebrity Name Game, True or False and What Did You Say? 2022 will also see further growth in the successful Murder Mystery portfolio with new titles in the ever-popular Case Files range. There will also be fun additions to the puzzles category with new Scratch Off Harry Potter Puzzles, a Cluedo Mystery Puzzle and new Impossibles Puzzle titles: Mr Potato Head and Monopoly.

Fact!

One of the new brands joining University Games’ children’s range this year is Tom Gates, based on the 18-strong, awardwinning book series and The Brilliant World of Tom Gates on Sky Kids. The new games and puzzles range is aimed at children aged six to 12

Making moves on new games

WINNING MOVES

020 39208164 www.winningmoves.co.uk

Did you know?

This month, Winning Moves turns its attention to World Football Stars Guess Who, to celebrate the upcoming Qatar World Cup. Players can choose from 24 of some of the world’s best footballers in this challenging guessing game.

Next month, Winning Moves is releasing one of the showstoppers of Toy Fair: Peaky Blinders Risk, one of the lucky games to be selected as a Hero Toy by the BTHA. With season six hitting the small screen last month, this is already proving to be a popular line. The game includes bespoke tokens, complete with a bare-knuckle boxer, modelled on the show’s Bonnie

Top Trumps Battle Map has changed the familiar and traditional card game into a strategic tabletop game Gold; a fighter on horseback, based on Tommy Shelby; and the Shelby family car. April also sees the launch of a new board game, taking the Top Trumps brand to a different level. For years, Top Trumps has been a card game, where players must win their opponents’ cards. Now, Winning Moves is announcing the launch of Battle Mat: a strategic, tabletop version of the card game. Players must place five cards face down on the Battle Mat, reveal each pair of cards and see who is the champion of each category. But it’s not that easy – five gamechanging spell tokens have been added to differentiate and excite gameplay. First to seven wins!

Classic fun with a twist

SPIN MASTER TOYS UK

01628 535000 www.spinmaster.com/en-GB

Spin Master Toys has a great selection of top board games for the whole family to enjoy. From reimagined family classics like Giant Clue and Giant Sorry, to new exciting adult only games such as the new Netflix board game, there is something to suit all ages.

This year, Spin Master gives classic games Clue and Sorry a giant twist. For problem solvers, the ever-popular game of Clue gets supersized. With nine mysterious rooms laid out in a circle, each holds dark secrets inside to discover. Clue players need to move from room to room, collecting matching coloured Suspect, Room, and Tool cards to solve the case. Similarly, the classic game of Sorry gets a makeover as players race to move the pawns around the board, sliding forward on Slider spaces until they are knocked back and returned to the start. Giant Sorry is a big, unforgettable game of fun for get-togethers with friends and family. Another great option for family games night is Hedbandz Blastoff. It’s everyone’s favourite game of What Am I? but with allnew cards, headbands, and graphics. Players insert a picture card into the headband, turn the timer knob and start asking questions. The big twist is that the rest of the team can only give one-word answers or make sounds. If players guess the card on their head before time expires then they can insert a new card and reset the timer. But if they are too slow, the card will blast off and it’s game over.

For those who love to be challenged, the fun-filled family trivia game for all ages, Beat the Parents, will have adults and kids battling it out for bragging rights.

New for S/S is the Netflix Board Game, a great option for games night and those obsessed with popular Netflix shows like Nailed It, Sex Education and Emily in Paris. In this outrageous party game, players are challenged to create the next Netflix Original hit show. Every round starts with a unique situation announced by a judge, then players try to pitch the winning show to the judge by matching the situation to a combination of ‘Netflix Original Content’ cards.

Guess what…

New for Spring/Summer is the Netflix Board Game, a great option for anyone obsessed with popular Netflix shows like Nailed It, Sex Education and Emily in Paris. In this outrageous party game, players are challenged to create the next Netflix Original hit show

Game for anything

VIVID GOLIATH

01483 449944 vividtoysandgames.co.uk

Vivid Goliath’s Games portfolio offers everything from party, family games and escape room titles to an exciting new True Crime category developed together with world-leading podcasts of the same genre. The new titles will further bolster its games range after a bumper 2021 performance that showed year-onyear growth of +20%. Visitors to the stand at Toy Fair will have been able to appreciate how many great games there are on offer; there is something for everyone.

The Party category has welcomed a raft of new games including Slap the Deck, You Had One Job, Don’t Draw the Short Straw, Dice Dice Baby, Rainbow Pirates and Say Less, giving party-goers plenty of ‘shout out’ competitive play to enjoy.

Families will enjoy The Floor is Lava Family Edition, which builds on the huge success of the best-selling The Floor is Lava. This joins established titles including Sequence Wordsearch, Escape Room (Family edition)

and Skid Markz. The exciting new True Crime range, named after the popular podcast, includes Casefile. These games see players gather and trade evidence as they try to be the first to uncover the grisly details of the crime. Casefile offers hundreds of different ways to play, so no two games are ever likely to be the same, offering a new experience every time. Other titles in the range include The Real Truth and The Night Hunter, as well as the innovative Scene of the Crime Puzzle – the two puzzles must be solved together to reveal evidence and help puzzlers catch the perpetrator. A number of new Kids Action Games also join the line-up, including One Trick Pony and Chompin’ Charlie as well as Trash Stash, Dumpster Diver and Chicken Poo Bingo, a game developed through Goliath’s young inventor programme.

Peaks and poops!

FLAIR GP

0208 643 0320 sales@flairplc.co.uk

Flair’s on to a winner with its family-friendly games, from an exciting game of strategy and action to a hilarious talking toilet.

Get to the Peak is the new game where players must help their climbers scale a mountain to reach the peak before their opponent. Each player is responsible for two climbers of the same colour. The risk a player takes while climbing is up to them; the more secure the climb, the safer they are - but it will be slower. Determining the moves that a player can make is a spinning wheel. Players must spin the roulette and follow the direction that the pointer lands on, by inserting one of their climber’s feet or hands into one of the holes on the mountainside. Players must be careful where they put their axe – the other player might make his/her climber fall!

Meanwhile, for hours of rib-tickling entertainment, there’s Shoot the Poop. In this hilarious game, players must shoot their toy poops into a talking toilet bowl. To play, simply place the poop on the launcher, aim, and shoot! The first player to shoot all their poops into the loo is the winner. Families can continue the fun with Pick-Up Pete. Perfect for preschoolers, this stacking game with a difference requires players to pile up their chairs on Pete the Pick-Up truck, while he drives around. The winner is the first person to stack all their chairs on the truck as Pete passes by! These games will all benefit from TV support in Autumn/Winter.

Eco puzzles

LISCIANA (VIA TWO IN 1 DIRECT)

Paul@allin1products.com www.liscianigiochi.com

Lisciani is a global educational company that has been designing, developing and manufacturing educational toys and games for the past 30 years.

The new Eco Puzzles form part of the firm’s new Green collection and are produced in Italy, with a minimum impact on the environment.

This magical range of licensed puzzles is aimed at children aged three-plus, and features all the favourite Disney characters from Cars, Finding Nemo, Frozen, and more. Designed to not only look great and be of a beautiful quality, these eco-conscious puzzles have also been crafted with future generations in mind.

The items in this range are made from completely eco-sustainable materials that have not been subjected to any aggressive chemical treatment. They are 100% recyclable and are also plastic free. What’s more, the paper used is untreated and the inks are cobalt-free.

The Disney Eco Puzzle collection launches with eight puzzles for families to enjoy, with the promise of more to come. The race is on to collect and build them all!

Drawing on kids’ imagination

MOOKIE TOYS

help@mookie.co.uk www.mookie.co.uk Pixicade lets kids draw their own video games. Draw a game with the Pixicade pens, snap a picture of the drawing on the Pixicade app and in 30 seconds the game comes to life

Games is a big category for Mookie Toys, and with so much newness every year it’s always exciting to see what distributors and inventors release. Mookie is looking forward to another successful year with new product developments across many brands. Currently sitting in the top 100 total toys on Amazon.com is Pixicade. From paper to screen, Pixicade allows children to create video games like they have never played before. Just draw a game with Pixicade pens, snap a picture of the drawing on the Pixicade app and in 30 seconds the game comes to life. Pixicade lets the user edit and animate games, and then share and play games on the Pixciade Arcade.

Suitable for various ages, this product can be enjoyed as a family project with younger children, while older children can design and play on their own. Pixicade is already well-loved in the US, and has won multiple awards across different categories including STEM, innovation and creativity. Mookie Toys is looking forward to winning more awards in the UK market. The company says that at London Toy Fair 2022 industry professionals were impressed by this advanced product that is both engaging and educational. Pixicade will be supported with a digital campaign and influencer activity.

Mookie Toys will continue to support Break the Board from Yulu Toys with a TV-led campaign after two successful years. This year there will be a refresh of the colourway. Alongside Break the Board, Mookie Toys will continue to push Buzzer Beater, launched in 2021 and inspired by the popular TikTok Challenge. The pressure begins when the clock starts clicking. To play the game, look at the category on your card, the spinner will decide the category letter and how many you have to name. It sounds easy until the five-second buzzer starts ticking.

A new launch from Yulu Toys is Taco Smash, a fun game that involves quick reactions to make sure no one spoils your taco. Pick your card and fill your taco in the correct colour order; if you are the first to finish, hit the sombrero and watch as everyone’s tacos go flying!

Taco Smash will be on TV screens and will also be supported across digital and with influencer activity.

Purr-fect product launch

EXPLODING KITTENS

Joeri@explodingkittens.com www.explodingkittens.com

Exploding Kittens, the tabletop game creator, has announced the launch of Exploding Kittens:

Cat Burglar Edition, the brand’s first-ever UK-only product launch. Cat Burglar is the latest extension of the Exploding Kittens core range, the brand’s biggest IP franchise, which is being developed further in 2022 to cater specifically for the UK market.

The original Exploding Kittens card game, a Russian-roulette-style party game for ages sevenplus, broke crowdfunding records as the most-backed project in Kickstarter history.

The rules are simple. If you draw an Exploding Kitten card, you explode. All the other cards in the deck help you avoid or mitigate your risk of drawing an Exploding Kitten. If you don’t explode, you win! This new edition of Exploding Kittens is a card game for people who are into kittens and explosions and laser beams - and sometimes goats. Only this time it comes with Did you know? an adorably sinister (and exceedingly squishy) Cat Burglar figure, which adds a whole other level of Exploding Kittens: thievery, strategy and hilarity. In this edition, when the squishy foam cat burglar figure is played, it Cat Burglar Edition allows a player to steal valuable cards from their opponents, to better their chances of winning. But is the brand’s first- be careful, because being a great burglar also makes you a great target!

ever UK-only product launch

Puzzle it out

JUMBO

0161 428 9111 mail@jamesgalt.com galttoys.com/jumbo Jumbo is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the brainteasing jigsaw brand Wasgij. Keep an eye out for an incredibly special release later this year to mark the occasion

The days are getting longer, and spring is very much in the air, so how better to welcome in the new season than with a host of exciting games and puzzles to blow away those winter cobwebs and keep those self-care resolutions alive and kicking. For those that fancy themselves as amateur treasure hunters, Jumbo is releasing a new series of mysterious board games sure to test the wits of even the most daring players. Jonathan Eaton’s Houses of Treasure is a series of Escape Quests that challenge players to solve tricky riddles, assemble puzzles, and overcome head-scratching tasks usually associated with escape rooms in this compelling tabletop game. Start the quest to discover Jonathan Eaton’s business empire’s inheritance with The Beginning: Ascalon’s Fury and then embark on the next stage of the journey with the thrilling Itzamna’s Eye.

Stratego is the legendary strategy game where stealth and secrecy are critical. In the special edition Stratego Assassin’s Creed, players are transported back in time to 12th-century Jerusalem to commence battle between the legendary Assassins and their nemesis, the Templars.

2022 promises to be a sensational year for fans of Wasgij, as Jumbo is celebrating the 25th anniversary of this, the original brainteasing jigsaw brand. Keep an eye out for a special release later this year to mark the occasion. 2022 has already brought plenty for puzzle fans to enjoy, with the release of three new 1,000-piece Wasgij puzzles, including Wasgij Original 39 – Chinese New Year!, Wasgij Mystery 22 – Wasgij Winter Games!, and Wasgij Destiny 24 – Business as Usual!. What’s more, Wasgij is also adding three 1000-piece puzzles to its Retro range, releasing Original 6 – Blooming Marvellous!, Destiny 6 – Child’s Play! and Mystery 6 – Camping Commotion!.

The Disney Pix Collection is spreading magic throughout the adult puzzling world with a charming 1,000-piece jigsaw featuring Winnie the Pooh.

The Falcon de Luxe range has new releases including the 500-piece Moving Day and The Wedding. In addition, in celebration of the Queen’s 70year reign, Falcon de Luxe is launching The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee release.

Uno goes wild!

MATTEL

01628 500000 www.mattel.com

Following a strong 2021, Mattel Games continues to leverage the success of Uno, expanding the range in 2022 with new Uno All Wild. In this version, every single card is wild for a fast-paced, even more unpredictable game. There’s no matching of number or colour as there is in regular Uno. There are also new Special Action Cards to further mix up the game, including Wild Skip Two, Wild Forced Swap and more!

There’s also some new Uno licenses coming in 2022, with properties including Lightyear and Jurassic World: Dominion, both tied to the exciting movie launches coming this year. Each licensed Uno will feature a special move that is unique to the licence.

A perfect match

REX LONDON

020 8746 1700 info@rexlondon.com rexlondontrade.com

Rex London has continued to expand its range of games and puzzles for kids and adults of all ages. The company is wellknown for its classic toys - those that have a retro feel with a modern twist (which can be quite nostalgic for older family members!). New to the range are a classic jacks game, hopscotch, a wooden skipping rope and dominoes.

There are also two new additions to the kids’ memory games range. Pair up colourful matching animals or dinosaurs - a fun way to improve children’s cognitive development.

Laughs on the loose

ORCHARD TOYS

Tel: 01953 859539 Email: sales@orchardtoys.com

Orchard Toys has launched Goose on the Loose!, a fun family board game with lots of laughs. In this fun colour matching game, there’s a goose on the loose and players must help the farmers round up the escaped geese.

Players shout ‘Honk’ when collecting their 3D geese as they make their way around the board, but if they lose a goose they must shout ‘goose on the loose!’. Learning made fun is at the heart of the game, and teacher-tested Goose on the Loose! aims to strike the perfect balance between education and fun.

Little ones from four-plus will be having so much fun they won’t realise they’re learning, while the fun gameplay helps younger players develop their personal and social skills, reinforces their colour recognition skills and enhances their counting skills.

Family fun for all

ONE FOR FUN

Email: sales@oneforfun.com Web: www.oneforfun.com

One For Fun has a wide variety of games and puzzles from its Tobar brand - from the traditional Draughts, Marbles, Snakes and Ladders and Ludo to bright and bold, full-of-fun family game play.

New for this year are Muddle Puzzles. An updated version of the classic puzzle fiddle toy, there are nine squares with different colours and designs to be shuffled and sorted quickly so they all show the same matching colours on each side. Reimagined to offer a new challenge but still with that addictive play value, these puzzles are available in Rainbow and solid bright colours.

The award-winning Time Shock continues to be a bestseller. In this frantic wind-up beat-the-clock game, all the shaped plastic pieces must be inserted into the correct slots before the timer expires and throws them all into the air. A tray in the side houses the pieces and scoring pegs, making it an ideal travel game.

Wanting to add a bit more bite to long-awaited family gettogethers? Then try the Snappy Shark Game. This fun family game has a chomping shark at its centre. Fill the shark’s mouth with the colourful fish and then take turns to draw cards. Every time the shark is touched there is a risk that its jaw will slam shut and it will charge at the player!

Want even more squeals of delight? Then try Chairstack Challenge, where you precariously stack the chairs on top of each other. Experts at this can move onto speed stacking in the Cupstack Challenge, and if more construction is needed then Marble Run mixes construction with a race to the finish as you build your own marble run to create the fastest route down!

Let’s glow!

TOYNAMICS

Tel: 0116 4785230 Email: sales@toynamics.co.uk

New for 2022, Hape has launched three Glow in the Dark 1.5 metre long puzzles aimed at children aged six-plus.

The puzzles have different themes: Dinosaurs, Magic Forest and Under the Sea. In daylight the puzzles are full of colour, and in the dark, each turns into a new image. The dinosaurs turn into the skeletons of extinct creatures, the Magic Forest turns into a beautiful night full of fireflies dancing in the moonlight, and Under the Sea shows how the sea creatures glow in the dark depths of the water.

Each puzzle extends the play into learning with supporting fun fact cards for the child to read about the different creatures featured. The puzzles are 150cm x 30cm.

Hape is just one of many brands that Toynamics UK & Ireland offers. All brands are backed with full marketing support including shop-in shop solutions. Fact!

Each puzzle extends the play into learning with supporting fun fact cards for the child to read about the different creatures featured