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Games & Puzzles
Category Overview Tomy
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Ahead of the game As consumers continue to seek affordable ways to connect, switch off from screens and spend quality time together as families, the Games and Puzzles category is proving that there is plenty of room for both innovation and old-fashioned fun. Toy World’s Vicky Doe speaks to leading suppliers about the growing appetite for quick-play and social games, the influence of licensing and social media, and why creating a memorable experience is increasingly the name of the game.
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here are few toy categories quite as broad as Games and Puzzles. From a pocketsized card game pulled out on holiday to a 40,000-piece puzzle, a family favourite handed down between generations, or the latest social deduction experience inspired by a hit TV show, the category caters to an enormous spectrum of consumers and occasions. According to the sector’s leading suppliers, those boundaries are becoming increasingly fluid. While games have always been about bringing people together, the desire for shared experiences appears to be having a particularly strong influence on the category at present. Against a backdrop of increasingly digital lives, consumers are looking for entertainment that encourages them to put down their individual screens and engage with the people around them. At the same time, they want games that are accessible, quick to understand and easy to fit into everyday life. Steve Asbey, National Account Manager at Cheatwell Games, believes this appetite for realworld interaction is one of the most important trends shaping the market. “Everyone keeps talking about
AI, TikTok and digital gaming, yet one of the biggest trends is actually the opposite,” he says. “People are actively looking for reasons to put their phones down and spend time together.” That doesn’t necessarily mean technology has no place at the games table. Steve points out that many games can use it intelligently without allowing it to dominate the experience. He believes technology should enhance the experience rather than become the experience. “Ultimately, if a game creates laughter, arguments, stories and memories around the table, people will come back to it time and time again,” he adds. “That’s why we’re seeing such strong demand for games that deliver real interaction rather than simply rolling dice and moving counters.” It’s a sentiment echoed across the category. Ben Croucher-Phillips, Senior Brand Manager at Tomy Games, says consumers are increasingly looking for games that create memorable shared experiences, whether that means families enjoying quality time together or groups of adults gathering with friends. At the same time, Ben is seeing strong demand for products that combine straightforward rules with
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high replayability. Tomy’s Articulate! Under Pressure is one such example, taking an established brand and adding a faster and more energetic style of gameplay suited to social occasions. Phil Jones, Managing Director at VR Distribution, similarly identifies games that are quick to learn, highly social and easy to get to the table as a major trend. “Consumers want instant entertainment,” he explains. “They don’t necessarily want to spend 20 minutes reading a rulebook before they start playing.” Yet accessibility needn’t mean sacrificing depth. According to Phil, there is still a strong market for games offering longevity, with the sweet spot increasingly occupied by titles accessible enough for a casual player but substantial enough to reward repeat play. That demand is contributing to a blurring of the traditional lines within Games and Puzzles. Philip Hatch, Head of Marketing and Events at All About Games, says some of gaming’s major successes have straddled the boundary between puzzles and games, whether through deduction-themed gaming experiences or competitive puzzles. The distinction between hobby and mass-market products is becoming less clear too. Philip points
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to the expanding selection of games available at Waterstones as an example of products once considered complicated or niche entering mainstream culture. Likewise, Phil Jones says consumers now move readily between family, party and hobby games rather than necessarily viewing themselves as belonging to one particular type of gaming audience. The result is a market increasingly organised around the experience a consumer wants rather than a rigid definition of what kind of game they play. Ben believes this is one of the most interesting shifts taking place within the sector. Alongside party and social deduction games, he highlights growing interest in ‘cosy gaming’: easy-to-learn titles that encourage conversation and provide a relaxing way to spend time together rather than focusing entirely on strategy or competition. He describes the desired effect as the gaming equivalent of “a hug, or a cuppa”. When it comes to the subcategories currently gaining ground, there is considerable agreement among suppliers. Roger Martin, Marketing Director at Asmodee, identifies party, travel and quick-play games among the fastest-growing areas. “Games that can be packed easily into a bag and pulled out as instant boredom busters, a welcome alternative to screen time, are more popular than ever,” he explains. “When a game is fun and easy to play, that really is a winning combination.” This demand for compact, accessible play is also being reflected in new launches. Epoch Games kicked off the year by expanding its Super Mario range with the Super Mario Micro Game Series, a collection of handheld games designed for play on the go. Tapping into the popularity of blind boxes, the pocket-money-priced range comprises three themed series, each offering six games to collect, and is available in a CDU. The Super Mario Game World Series takes the collectible element further, with six mystery boxes featuring Super Mario scenes and collectible characters that can be used across games within the Epoch Link System.
Katy Fletcher, Head of Marketing and product development at Ravensburger, also sees strong potential in card-based games. Their compact nature makes them suitable for travel and storage while still allowing plenty of playability, and the format has advantages for retailers too. Katy points out that card games can create high-impact displays while occupying a relatively small in-store footprint. Trading Card Games are another increasingly visible part of the market. The industry is seeing more TCG launches alongside a significant focus on licensed products. Collectability can undoubtedly play a part in generating early sales, but the cumulative value of recurring purchases of relatively inexpensive card packs is also key. Price is an important consideration across the wider category. With household budgets under pressure, it is unsurprising Ravensburger that lower price-point products are performing well. Games are an attractive form known games with new ways to play, of affordable entertainment for adults and families, spanning family game nights and more social particularly when compared with the cost of a night occasions. Liar’s Uno, for example, introduces out. bluffing to the classic card game, allowing players to A £15-25 game can provide entertainment over bend the truth about the cards they put down before numerous evenings, giving the category a compelling the Truth Teller unit reveals whether a challenged value proposition. player is lying. The growing adult audience is another important Pictionary Air Takeover similarly updates a piece of the puzzle. Games have long attracted familiar format, with players using a digital pen to committed adult fans, but the wider 'kidult' trend is sketch clues in the air while their creations appear on bringing greater attention to this consumer. screen for their teammates to guess. Philip describes adults as an important and At the other end of the spectrum, Scrabble lucrative audience, particularly where products tap Wood takes a more premium approach to a longinto hobbies or brands associated with childhood established favourite. Featuring a wooden board and memories. tiles, the edition retains the classic gameplay while However, he also sounds a note of caution. Much introducing a more sophisticated design intended current kidult purchasing is rooted in nostalgia for to be displayed between games. This combination of products and experiences adults either enjoyed or familiarity and presentation gives the game appeal missed during childhood. If today’s industry focuses both as a family favourite and for dedicated wordtoo heavily on adults at the expense of younger game fans and collectors. players, it risks failing to create the memories that will For retailers, these established names offer an fuel tomorrow’s nostalgic purchases. interesting bridge between audiences. Familiarity “If the industry doesn’t cater to the under-18 market can attract consumers who already have an now, then we risk that kidult audience drying up in a emotional connection with a game, while new decade or two,” Philip says. “Focusing on building the formats, features and premium editions provide foundations of good brand and positioning today is another reason to return to brands they already know. fundamental for creating the nostalgia of tomorrow.” At the same time, those games can be introduced to That makes engaging children as they grow younger players, creating the very memories that may especially important. There is a major opportunity drive nostalgic purchases in years to come. among tweens and younger teenagers. This audience Indeed, family games remain remarkably resilient. is beginning to move beyond traditional children’s Whether the occasion is Christmas, a holiday, a games but may not yet be ready – or inclined – to dinner party or simply an evening at home, games move into heavier hobby gaming. offer consumers an accessible excuse to gather Products that feel more grown-up while remaining around the same table. funny, social and accessible could therefore occupy “When you boil it down, what we are selling is valuable middle ground. pieces of plastic and cardboard, but what people are Nostalgia can also bring generations together buying is time together,” says Ben. “Encouraging rather than simply targeting adult collectors. Ben different generations and individuals to connect and points to heritage brands such as Pop-Up Pirate to play together and create memorable moments.” and Screwball Scramble, which parents and Steve puts it rather more colourfully. grandparents may remember from their own “Nobody buys a board game because they dream of childhoods and can now introduce to a new reading the rulebook,” he says. “They buy it because generation. Such longevity demonstrates the they imagine the laughter, the arguments, the enduring appeal of strong gameplay and creates an bragging rights and, inevitably, somebody accusing emotional connection that can span the family. somebody else of cheating.” Established games are also being given fresh Those experiences can also have a direct impact on twists to encourage consumers to rediscover familiar sales. Game nights, social occasions and community favourites. events give people the opportunity both to play and Mattel continues to build on some of its best-
Asmodee
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to discover unfamiliar titles. Once somebody enjoys a game, they are more likely to purchase it themselves and recommend it to others. As players move between different friendship groups, one successful games night can potentially introduce a title to an entirely new community. Philip agrees that word of mouth remains powerful and believes in-person activations and events have an important role to play. When those experiences are combined with digital advertising and strong content generation, he says their impact can travel considerably further. And this is where the apparent contradiction between screen-free entertainment and digital media becomes especially interesting. Consumers may be buying games partly to spend less time looking at screens, but screens are increasingly where they find those games in the first place. Social media now plays a significant role at almost every stage of the discovery journey. TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and other platforms allow consumers to see gameplay, reactions and challenges within seconds, while online communities enable enthusiasts to exchange recommendations and build excitement around upcoming releases. Roger says audiences are consuming more video content than ever and increasingly turning to social media rather than traditional search engines for recommendations, reviews and explanations of how games work. For the games industry, this offers a considerable opportunity. “Video allows us to showcase games in action, bringing them to life in a way that still imagery simply can’t,” he states. “It gives us the chance to speak the language of these audiences and, ultimately, drive purchase intent in a much more compelling and engaging way.” Phil Jones agrees that games are particularly well suited to short-form video. A reaction, challenge or funny moment can demonstrate a concept almost instantly, prompting viewers to imagine playing it with their own friends. VR Distribution has seen this effect with Lucky Egg titles including Grab the Mic, Misheard Music and Sorry What?, which feature easily understood mechanics that lend themselves naturally to shareable content. Phil also highlights Magical Athlete, which he says has seen stock arrive and sell out within days this year, while Skyjo arrived in the company’s portfolio with years of social media exposure and word-of-mouth awareness behind it. Tomy is likewise leaning into the visual nature of its portfolio. Donut Dunk’s colour changes, Splatterbrain!’s gooey slime reactions and the energetic gameplay of Articulate! Under Pressure can all communicate appeal through short-form content. For licensed games, social platforms offer the additional advantage of access to established fan communities. Tomy can tap into the conversation surrounding The Traitors, for example, extending engagement beyond the television screen and building activity around key broadcast moments. Ravensburger,
meanwhile, is seeing social media bring together gaming and puzzling enthusiasts on a global scale. Katy points to the international speedpuzzling movement, which has created an engaged community crossing countries and continents. Enthusiasts are keen to purchase the competition puzzles they see online, demonstrating how a community can translate digital enthusiasm into physical product sales. The forthcoming launch of Ravensburger’s 40,000-piece Pokémon puzzle also spread rapidly through social media, generating anticipation, while the company’s Horrified franchise and Disney Lorcana TCG offering regularly create online conversation. All About Games works with a network of YouTube and Instagram creators to produce gaming content ahead of launches but also sees opportunities on platforms such as Discord and TikTok. Authenticity, however, is essential. Audiences can be wary of material that feels overtly like advertising, while organic posts and behind-the-scenes content can generate stronger engagement and help foster communities around games. Social media’s ability to make a game instantly understandable also feeds directly back into the trend towards accessible gameplay. Products that can be understood from a 10- or 20-second video enjoy a considerable advantage. For retailers, demonstrating the experience rather than simply describing the contents of the box is becoming increasingly valuable. That same principle applies in store. Tomy uses on-pack ‘Try Me’ functions to amplify its packaging in bricks-and-mortar retail, while VR Distribution is combining traditional POS with digital marketing, creator content, Meta advertising, Amazon activity, demonstrations and samples supplied to board game cafés nationally. The company is also creating more video assets for retailers to use themselves. Ravensburger is also focusing on stand-out merchandising around new launches. Its range of five 3D puzzle vases, named a Hero Toy at Toy Fair in January, combines the puzzling experience with contemporary decorative designs intended to appeal to new audiences, including both puzzle and botanical fans. The company has developed an extensive marketing toolbox around the range alongside merchandising solutions designed to make an impact in store. While digital discovery and innovative formats are changing the category, licensing remains one of its most powerful tools. Yet there is agreement among suppliers that simply putting a familiar character or logo on a box is no longer enough. “Licensing can certainly help attract attention at retail, but long-term success still depends on delivering a game that people genuinely enjoy playing and want to bring out time and again,” says Ben. Tomy’s approach with The Traitors is to ensure its
social deduction mechanics reflect the tension and deception central to the television show, while Logo Disney Edition draws on generations of Disney knowledge. In both cases, Ben says authenticity is key. Steve makes a similar distinction: “A licence might get a game picked up from the shelf, but it won’t guarantee a second sale. If the gameplay isn’t there, consumers won’t come back.” His conclusion is simple: a licence may get a game into the shopping basket, but good gameplay gets it back onto the table. At All About Games, Philip has also noticed audiences moving away from straightforward ‘label slaps’ that simply rebrand an existing product. While these can still work well as gifting propositions, he sees greater potential in experiences built from the ground up to reward the superfans. Roger, meanwhile, points out that licensing can also act as an entry point into gaming itself. A consumer who has never considered Dobble might be persuaded to pick it up after spotting a favourite such as K-Pop Demon Hunters on the box. Familiarity therefore has the potential not just to sell an individual licensed title, but to introduce entirely new consumers to an established games brand. Ravensburger is seeing this strength across its puzzle portfolio, which combines evergreen properties with current entertainment trends. The company’s Diddly Squat Farm series is now available in the UK, while Ravensburger was first to market with K-Pop Demon Hunters puzzles, which Katy says are proving to be bestsellers. Licensing, social media, nostalgia, affordability and quick-play formats may therefore appear to be separate trends, but they all point towards the same underlying development: consumers want fewer barriers between discovering a game and enjoying it. For retailers preparing for the key months ahead in the run-up to Christmas, the opportunity lies in reflecting the breadth of those occasions. There is room for accessible volume sellers alongside deeper evergreen games, pocket-sized card titles alongside statement puzzles and licensed launches alongside original concepts. Family, party and hobby gaming no longer exist in entirely separate worlds, just as children, parents, grandparents and adult friendship groups cannot always be neatly separated into different audiences. What unites the strongest products is their ability to communicate why somebody should gather others around a table and play. As Phil Jones puts it: “Consumers aren’t simply buying a box, they’re buying the experience and the moments the game creates.” That may ultimately be the most powerful message for retailers as they head towards the crucial Christmas trading period. The mechanics matter, the licence matters, the price matters and, increasingly, the TikTok-friendly reveal matters too, but what consumers take home is the promise of what will happen once the box is opened. Continue reading through the following pages to discover more about these ranges, some new launches, family favourites and innovative additions to the category and why they deserve a space on your shelves this year.
All About Games
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News Mattel Game Studios forms to accelerate digital games portfolio Mattel has announced the formation of Mattel Game Studios, a new global digital game organisation that will develop, publish and operate original interactive experiences inspired by the company’s portfolio of brands. The launch advances Mattel’s plans to extend physical play into the virtual world through digital games and experiences. Mattel Game Studios brings together nearly 300 artists, designers, engineers, live operations specialists and producers across Los Angeles and Hangzhou. The team will lead Mattel’s self-published digital games business, including its existing mobile portfolio, new free-to-play mobile titles and original experiences on creator platforms such as Roblox and Fortnite. The formation follows Mattel’s acquisition of full ownership of Mattel163 earlier this year, bringing its game development, publishing, marketing and brand capabilities together under a single global organisation. Since 2018, Mattel163’s portfolio, including Uno!, Uno Wonder, Phase 10 and Skip-Bo, has generated more than 550m downloads worldwide and reaches approximately 20m monthly active players. Following the June launch of its first self-published mobile game based on Masters of the Universe, Mattel Game Studios is developing its next wave of titles. Uno Wild, a new Uno experience, is currently in soft launch, while a new Hot Wheels title is in active development. Marcus Liassides, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Mattel Digital Studios, said: “Mattel Game Studios gives us the scale and capabilities to build and publish more original gaming experiences inspired by our iconic brands.” Amy Huang, who founded the original Mattel163 team, added: “Combining that talent with Mattel’s incredible brand portfolio gives us an exciting opportunity to create experiences players will enjoy for years to come.” Mattel Digital Studios’ wider portfolio also includes licensed games developed with partners, including Hot Wheels Unleashed and upcoming titles such as Barbie Rewind, Hot Wheels Infinite Rush and Masters of the Universe: Dragon Pearl of Destruction.
Magic: The Gathering lands at The Entertainer in-store and online Collectible trading card game Magic: The Gathering is now available to shop in-store at The Entertainer and online via thetoyshop.com for the first time. The new product drop arrives ahead of the anticipated launch of the game’s The Hobbit booster packs and bundles, which will introduce more ways to play both the tabletop game and online, bringing fans of the Tolkien story together. The Hobbit expansion features characters including Bilbo and Gandalf, as well as headline card and dragon Smaug, as players encounter trolls, elves and other elements from the story. First released in 1993, Magic: The Gathering is a trading card game where players combine strategy, luck, fantasy and combat to summon creatures, spells and weapons to defeat their opponents. Known for its strategic depth, collectible cards and expanding game world, Magic: The Gathering has developed a significant following worldwide. Magic: The Gathering products available now at The Entertainer include The Hobbit Bundle, Marvel Superheroes Beginner Box, Foundations Beginner Box and Limited Edition Hammer of Bogardan Ingot. Dan Wingrave, Buyer at The Entertainer, said: “With the ever-growing enthusiasm for collectibles and trading card games, we’re excited to share that Magic: The Gathering is available to shop now at The Entertainer. The new arrival forms part of our ongoing commitment to offering the very best range of brands for customers of all ages to discover, including the latest products from Lego, Pokémon, Pop Mart and more. “We’re delighted to offer fans the chance to shop their favourite Magic: The Gathering cards, booster packs and accessories and look forward to sharing more product news soon.”
Tomy brings The Traitors games portfolio to fans Following the announcement of Tomy’s long-term licensing agreement with The Traitors rights holder All3Media International, part of Banijay Entertainment, Tomy’s The Traitors games portfolio will roll out across multiple territories in EMEA and Australia from the first week of August, before expanding into additional international markets next year. The portfolio includes the refreshed UK edition of The Traitors Board Game, featuring six brand-new missions, alongside new title One Night of The Traitors – Castle of Lies. Tomy will also handle distribution of the existing The Traitors Card Game across multiple international markets, excluding the UK. One Night of The Traitors – Castle of Lies is a standalone, one-evening experience combining strategy, bluffing and social deduction. Players take on the roles of Faithfuls or Traitors, completing missions around the house, facing reveals and outwitting one another, leading to a final vote using the game’s convertible vote box. The UK edition of The Traitors Board Game has also been refreshed for autumn/winter 2026. Its six brand-new missions challenge players to use strategy, bluffing and deduction to uncover the hidden Traitor, complete missions and claim victory. Morgan Weyl, Managing Director, Licensing and Global Development at Tomy, said: “With the refreshed UK board game and the launch of One Night of The Traitors, we are excited to offer fans new ways to experience the strategy, bluffing and social deduction that have made the format such a global success.” Jane Sharp, VP Licensing (Operations) at All3Media International, added: “Commissioned in 40 territories, The Traitors has become a truly worldwide phenomenon, with fans around the world eager to engage with the brand beyond the screen.” The UK versions of The Traitors and The Celebrity Traitors are produced by Studio Lambert for BBC One and BBC iPlayer. For more information, contact Tomy on 01392 281 927.
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Company Profile
Mattel
Mattel’s full deck
Toy World’s Caroline Tonks catches up with Katie Buford, Vice President & Global Head of Mattel Games, to learn more about Mattel’s iconic game brands and how innovation plays a part in creating enduring game franchises. Classic games have endured for decades. What do you think allows Mattel's brands like Uno and Pictionary to remain culturally relevant throughout generations?
At the heart of it is a simple truth: play brings people together. Uno, Pictionary, Skip-Bo and Phase 10 have never really been about the cards; they are about the moments they create around a table. For example, Uno, which is currently the No.1 traditional card game in the world, is often described as a universal language. It is a game that crosses ages, generations, languages and cultures, and that is incredibly rare. What keeps these brands relevant is our commitment to meeting each new generation where they are without ever losing what made the game special in the first place. When you protect that core magic and stay genuinely curious about how people want to play today, relevance follows.
What does modernising a classic game without losing what made it iconic in the first place mean at Mattel? How do you decide where to innovate and where to preserve tradition? We think
of it as protecting the soul of the game while evolving the experience around it. There are certain things we will never touch – the core mechanics or the feeling you get when you play – because that is the equity our fans fell in love with. Everything else is an opportunity. When we launched Uno Show 'em No Mercy, we leaned into the competitive, chaotic energy fans were already bringing to the table rather than inventing something foreign to the brand. The question we always ask is whether an idea deepens the experience fans already love or distracts from it. If it makes the game more social, more shareable or more relevant to how people gather today, we lean in.
What role does consumer feedback play in developing new game formats, editions or experiences?
Our fans are remarkably vocal, and they often show us where the brand wants to go before we do. House rules are the perfect example. For years, players invented their own ways to play Uno, and rather than correct them, we listened and turned that passion into official products. That instinct now shapes everything. When we expanded Uno Social Clubs, the list of cities we went to was absolutely influenced by what fans were asking for in our socials. Social media has made that feedback loop faster and richer, and the enthusiasm from our fans continues to inspire us. The most successful things we launch are almost always rooted in something fans were already doing. Our job is to notice it, honour it and give it back to them in a way that feels authentic.
Uno has expanded into live experiences through Uno Social Clubs. What inspired that strategy and what have you learned from bringing the brand into the real world?
One of the most exciting parts of our work is finding new ways to honour the legacy of our brands while evolving alongside our fans. With Uno, we’ve always believed play has the power to bring people together, and we saw an opportunity to extend that beyond the tabletop by creating spaces where fans could connect and build community in person. That inspired Uno Social Clubs, and the response exceeded our expectations. Fans lined up, shared their excitement online and immediately asked us to bring the experience to more cities, confirming there was real
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demand for this kind of connection. This year, we expanded globally, bringing Uno Social Clubs to five US cities and nine international destinations, each with local DJs and MCs adding hometown flavour. What we've learned is that people are craving authentic, shared experiences in an increasingly digital world. When you create the right environment, the community brings the energy.
The Games category has become increasingly competitive. What differentiates Mattel's approach to building enduring game franchises?
We are fortunate to have brands that generations of families already know and trust. What sets Mattel Games apart is our ability to evolve iconic brands while staying true to what made them beloved in the first place. That means expanding Uno beyond the card deck through experiences like Social Clubs; extending our brands through hit digital game apps like Uno!, Uno Wonder, Phase 10 and Skip-Bo, which together have generated more than 550m downloads worldwide; evolving Pictionary for new audiences with Pictionary vs. AI; introducing new social games like Swing Shot Tower that tap into the growing demand for in-person, social play; and finding new ways for fans to engage with brands like Magic 8 Ball. Whether through physical products, digital games or immersive experiences, we're creating more ways for people to connect with our brands wherever and however they choose to play. That balance between heritage and innovation is what keeps our brands relevant decade after decade.
Where do you see the biggest opportunities for the Games industry over the next few years? The biggest opportunity is connection. As more of our lives move online, people are actively seeking real, in-person moments with the people they care about, and games are one of the most natural and joyful ways to create them. I see enormous room to expand where and how play happens, from live experiences and cultural collaborations to digital worlds that deepen the fan relationship rather than replace it. Bringing people together through the power of play has always been at the heart of what we do, and it's what gives me so much excitement for what's ahead.
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Talking Shop
It's all fun and games Toy World's Caroline Tonks and Anna Whyte speak to a selection of independent retailers to find out how the Games & Puzzles category is important to their business, what ranges are performing particularly well, which suppliers are most supportive and much more.
Brendan Will Will’s Toy Shop, Aberdeen
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he Games category is really important to our store. Our core customer base is generally gamers and TCG players, so we’re seeing a lot more adults coming in with disposable incomes, alongside families and kids looking for games. While we don't really do much in the realm of jigsaw puzzles, we do have a nice range of Smart Games’ puzzle games in-store.
We’ve made a lot of changes in-store recently by becoming more of a TCG space, so we’re still learning where we are going with this new momentum. We're picking up lots of new customers that weren't our typical base before. Our sales between 9am and 6pm are the same as between 6pm and 9pm; there’s much more happening in the evenings. It’s taking a little while to get this fully established, but it's working well. In-store, we’ve created a demo library for the majority of the games we have. With this, we have a copy of the game that we can take out to play with the customers before they buy, allowing them to see if they like it. Playing a game for the first time can be quite overwhelming, so taking them through it and introducing the gameplay makes it much easier. Because of this, we’ve had some customers say that they want us to start running dedicated board game nights, so at some point, we’ll get that up and running as well. Hachette is really supportive of our store. When we place an order for a new game, we’re also able to ask for a demo copy that we can use to show customers. Big Potato is also good for getting demo copies. It’s important to have these so you can interact more with the customers. Demoing a game isn't the same as selling to them, but you can use it to get them invested and try new things; it's a whole different kind of approach. Pokémon is a massive TCG for us. We’re always trying to hold back stock, especially for the playing community and the genuine collectors, rather than the scalpers who want to sell them on eBay for a profit. This can be a bit of a challenge. One Piece is seeing a bit of this interest now too, as well as Disney Lorcana. I would love to see more of a playing community develop locally for Lorcana, but sales have gone up thanks to the special Buzz Lightyear card they’re chasing. Magic: The Gathering is also fairly steady. There’s been a couple of sets that the core players haven't appreciated, but it's starting to bring some other players in. I'm a qualified Pokémon judge and our league will be two years old in October. With the judging, Pokémon provides training on how to teach the game and how to break it down for the different levels of players. We can tailor how we're teaching the game to the
different age groups. In general, the TCG is 6+, but there are many different variations to play with the cards that we can teach younger players so they can feel included. It’s simpler, but it gets them training towards playing later on. Pokémon can bring between 10 and 20 people into the shop in an evening. Our capacity is probably 30 people at the moment, so it’s getting quite full, which is a good problem to have. It is hard to get enough stock as well, but as we’ve established a league, we’re privileged in that it helps us get a slightly better allocation. We have a Discord for all the different groups within the store. Magic: The Gathering is very lively in the Discord on Fridays when the event is going on, and they're all rallying each other to come in. Officially, Magic starts at six o'clock, but players have been coming in at four to set up and get ready. The Magic community is great in our store. If a new player comes in, they all have spare decks that they want to lend out just to get more players involved.
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Talking Shop
Liz Flynn Chaos Cards, Folkestone
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haos Cards started as a place to source single trading cards and 15 years later, has grown into a successful independent retailer offering trading cards, board games, puzzles, toys and collectibles. While the business has evolved, our focus has stayed the same: bringing people together through tabletop hobbies and creating welcoming spaces where communities can thrive.
Games and puzzles sit at the heart of everything we do. Our team is genuinely passionate about tabletop gaming, particularly non-digital hobbies, and we're always looking for exciting new products and publishers to introduce to our customers. We serve a broad audience, but many of our customers are in their 20s and 30s, looking for meaningful ways to spend their free time, whether that's discovering a new strategy game, collecting a favourite trading card game or simply enjoying an evening with friends and family. One thing I love the most about this industry is how quickly it evolves. Every year brings something different, whether that's a major game release, a successful Kickstarter campaign or an unexpected breakout title. Titles such as Tenby, Magical Athlete and Hot Streak have all had moments this year where demand has exploded almost overnight. The board gaming community is incredibly engaged, so listening to players, reviewers and local groups helps us stay close to emerging trends and make informed buying decisions. Trading card games continue to perform incredibly well too: Pokémon is having another
fantastic year, but there’s also continued growth from Disney Lorcana and One Piece too. We are noticing new customers actively seeking out analogue hobbies as a way to step away from screens, spend quality time together and learn something new. Our knowledgeable team plays a big part in helping customers find the right game. They work hard to understand who someone is buying for and what they'll enjoy, by combining broad knowledge with the right teaser questions. Hands-on experiences are another great way to encourage sales from more reserved customers – we always have games available to try, our Lego Make and Take station is a favourite with younger visitors, and we regularly host demonstrations with both our own team and publishing partners. Events are another big part of who we are. Alongside weekly game nights, tournaments and free learn to play sessions, we host Pokémon celebrations, craft workshops, Breakfast Clubs for new trading card releases and of course our annual Lord of the Rings-inspired "Christmas in the Shire". Customers enjoy being part of something bigger than simply making a purchase, and for us it's a chance to celebrate the hobbies we all love. Community has always been the reason we exist. From the way our store is designed to the events we run, we're constantly thinking about how to create a welcoming environment for people of all ages and experience levels. Games naturally bring people together - our role is simply to provide the space and support that enable those communities to grow.
Mandy Harrop Gosling Toymaster, Cheshire
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he games and puzzles category is very important for our store. We generally sell more jigsaws and puzzles than games at this time of year. At Christmas our sales in games tend to increase, but we still sell a lot of puzzles. I wouldn’t say demand has changed too much over the past year - sales in the category have remained strong for us.
In store we focus heavily on Ravensburger and Orchard puzzles – both companies are very supportive and we work well with them. We also stock the Wasgij puzzles from Jumbo Galt. Puzzles are such a steady staple for us throughout the year, including many character licensed products. We find that simply talking to people is the best way to help them choose the right games and puzzles. Explaining how the games work or discussing the quality of products themselves contributes towards our customers’ decision making process. We haven’t got the space in the store for any demonstrations or events like games nights and learn-to-play sessions. We have looked into it in the past, but we’re quite an old shop and our layout is a bit awkward. We’d have to close part of the shop to cater to events like that and, at the moment, we can’t do that because the store is so busy. That said, I’m sure our customers would be very keen to take part in these kinds of events, if we had the space. There is a sense of community around our store as people know that we have all the latest Orchard and Ravensburger puzzles, so we have returning customers who enjoy those products. We stock the large piece puzzles to help us cater to a variety of different ages and skill levels. A lot of our customers are of the older generation, and they often find the 1000-piece puzzles quite finicky. Therefore, we’ve branched out into the 100-, 200-, 300- and 500-piece large puzzles to cater to them, and we’ve found they have gone down well. We’re a family-run company and have recently celebrated 55 years in business. My sister and I own the shop now, but it was run by our parents before that, so we do feel a sense of community having served customers with games and puzzles for over half a century.
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Talking Shop Mark Green The Yorkshire Jigsaw Store, York
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uzzles are the only products we sell – that’s our business model. We stock puzzles for all age ranges, which helps to give us a broad customer base. New releases always prove popular, with most of our key suppliers launching new titles multiple times a year. As we move towards September, the Christmasthemed puzzles will be arriving and despite the hot weather, they still sell well. We also run regular sales to help boost our turnover. Recently, we have seen a couple of new products related to TV shows performing well. The first is a range of puzzles from Ravensburger based on Jeremy Clarkson’s Diddly Squat Farm. There are three different piece counts in the range, which include a 1000-piece, a 500-piece circular and a 100XXL-piece, so the selection appeals to all age ranges. The demand for the 1000-piece version went well beyond expectations. It has instantly become our best-selling puzzle of the year, as we offered this on pre-order. The second is a puzzle based on the TV show Taskmaster from Puzzle Post, due to release in September, with strong pre-order sales. We have a good relationship with all the major brands such as Jumbo Galt, Ravensburger and Gibsons. It’s really helpful to create these relationships, as our partners keep us up to date with any new launches and inform us of any slower items that they need to move on, often at a discounted price, which in turn we can offer at a reduced price for our customers. Although we now sell online only, we have been operating from a custom built warehouse for nearly four years. This has helped to deliver a streamlined solution for running the business more efficiently. We activate regular email campaigns, sending out updates to our customer database highlighting new arrivals, restocks of our best-sellers and any sales or offers that we are running. We also run adverts through Google and Facebook to attract customers to our website. We are often praised for the wide range of puzzles we sell. Having such a broad selection helps cater for interest in all the different subjects, and we also stock a wide range of different piece counts to cover all abilities. For adults, we have piece counts starting at 100 XXL-piece puzzles all the way up to 13,200 pieces. Whilst there is no real community for our website as such, we are a member of a popular group of puzzle enthusiasts on Facebook which has nearly 7,000 members, in which we offer an exclusive discount for members. We also have the ability to take orders over the phone, which is an option that people seem to like. For many of our customers who use this service, we know them on a first name basis, so it is nice to connect in this way.
Anthony Lown Wargames Workshop, Milton Keynes
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ames and Puzzles are very important in our store. We hold over 1000 different board games and a large selection of puzzles – stocking such a broad selection helps bring customers into the shop. Demand for the category over the past year has been consistent. We always see new faces coming in as old customers slowly disappear, but overall demand has remained at a good level. A lot of the emerging trends for board games revolve around products with a simpler rule set. They’re designed for players from a variety of age ranges and people who want to play in bigger groups. As we stock such a wide variety of games, we work with plenty of supportive suppliers, so it’s quite difficult to pinpoint any favourites. We have new demonstrations in store every week, allowing customers to try out different games, which is a big selling point. We also have team members with expert knowledge to help people pick the products that are best for them, as we only employ people who are passionate about games and know them very well. This specialist knowledge makes it easier for us to guide customers to the right toys and games. We stock a large variety, covering card games, miniature games, board games and more, and we have employees who are specialised in each of those individual categories. Having the right people in the right place is probably the biggest factor in our customer service. We have the capacity to hold large events and, in the past, have held regional qualifiers for popular games. We also host regular meetups for Blood on the Clocktower as well as weekly boardgame meetups every Thursday, which often bring new faces. It’s the ideal time for customers to try out any new games in store and meet some new friends at the same time. Customer feedback for these events has been very positive. The fact that individuals don’t have to worry about organising a large group but can arrive themselves and take part has been helpful in bringing people together. The amount of products we hold means we can cater easily to customers with different skill levels or interests. We stock products for every age range, capability and skill set. We also carry games that have simple rules but can still be quite strategic, so the gameplay changes depending on who is playing. This means that they can be enjoyed amongst young children as well as adults. For example, Hey That’s My Fish from Asmodee is quite a basic, entry level game that is great for children because it involves counting, but when a group of competitive adults get involved, it can turn into a highly strategic game. From a selling point, games like this that are fun but can change and adapt to different age ranges are important for us. Games and Puzzles have definitely created a sense of community around the store. We wouldn’t be where we are today without them. They’ve helped us grow from a tiny shop to something that is very popular and well-known in our area.
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Retail Profile
Game on
Game Guru is a welcoming hub for board games enthusiasts and curious newcomers, offering guided sessions, tournaments, exclusive merchandise and a cosy atmosphere ideal for both casual players and seasoned gamers. Krishna Yadlapalli, the Founder, tells Toy World readers about Game Guru’s extensive games offering and how important the category is to the business. How important is the Games & Puzzles category to Game Guru? What is your core customer base?
Games are at the heart of everything we do. Game Guru was created because we believe board games are about much more than entertainment; they bring people together. Rather than creating a traditional retail store, we wanted to build a destination where retail, hospitality and community come together under one roof. Customers can discover a game; enjoy a meal or drinks in our café; learn how to play with our team; join organised play events; and then take their favourite games home. Our customer base is incredibly diverse. Families now account for well over half of our visitors across our Birmingham and Solihull venues, but we also welcome young professionals, students, hobby gamers, couples and corporate groups.
Have you seen demand change over the past year? What do you think is driving it?
We are seeing more families actively searching for experiences that don't involve screens. Parents regularly tell us they want somewhere they can spend quality time together without everyone looking at a phone or tablet. At the same time, customers are looking for somewhere they belong. Buying a game is only the first step; they want somewhere to learn it, play it and meet people who share the same interests. Since opening our first Game Guru at Utilita Arena Birmingham in October 2025, followed by our second venue at Touchwood Solihull in May 2026, we have welcomed thousands of visitors and built a growing community of more than 175 active yearly subscribers across both venues. I believe we are seeing a shift from transactional retail towards experiential retail, where people value community and memorable experiences just as much as the products themselves.
What types of games are performing particularly well?
Family games continue to perform exceptionally well, particularly games that are easy to learn but offer fantastic replay value. Trading card games (TCGs) continue to grow rapidly. Pokémon remains incredibly strong, while Disney Lorcana, One Piece, Magic: The Gathering, Star
Wars: Unlimited and Yu-Gi-Oh! all continue attracting new players every week.
Are there any games suppliers that are particularly supportive of Game Guru?
We have been fortunate to receive fantastic support from many suppliers across the industry. Asmodee has been particularly supportive, especially in helping us develop organised play and introduce more people to the hobby. We have also had fantastic support from Ravensburger with Disney Lorcana, The Pokémon Company International, Bandai for One Piece and Wizards of the Coast.
How do you help customers choose the right game? What role do demonstrations or hands-on experiences play in helping customers discover new products?
This is probably where Game Guru is different from traditional retail. Rather than simply recommending a game from a shelf, customers can choose from our library of more than 500 board games, play them and discover what they genuinely enjoy before making a purchase. Our team spends time understanding who they are buying for, before recommending games that suit their interests and experience level. We are also embracing technology to make board gaming even more accessible. We are developing an AI powered Game Guru assistant that will help customers choose games based on the number of players, age, playing time and interests. It will also explain rules, answer questions during gameplay and help players learn new games more quickly. We don't see AI as replacing human interaction; we see it as removing barriers, allowing people to spend less time reading rulebooks and more time enjoying games together.
What types of special events do you host at Game Guru? What has customer feedback been like in response to these events?
Community events are one of the biggest reasons people return to Game Guru. Across both venues, we host organised play every Monday to Friday evening. Alongside organised play, we run Learn-to-Play sessions, league
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nights, pre-release events, championships, family board game evenings and social gaming nights. Every new player who learns a game today becomes a lifelong customer for both retailers and publishers tomorrow, which is why we are investing so heavily in organised play. The response has been fantastic. One of the most rewarding things is watching complete beginners attend their first event and return week after week as part of the community.
How do you cater to customers with different skill levels or interests?
Accessibility has always been one of our biggest priorities. Whether someone has never played a board game beyond Monopoly or is an experienced hobby gamer, we help them find games that suit their interests and confidence level. The same applies to TCGs. Every organised play session is led by experienced Community Leads who help players learn the rules, build their first decks and feel comfortable joining the community. Removing that intimidation factor has been one of the biggest reasons our organised play programme has grown so successfully.
How have games helped to create a sense of community around your store?
Game Guru isn't simply a retailer or a café; it's a place where people come together. Every week, we see complete strangers become friends, families spending hours around the same table, parents introducing their children to games they enjoyed growing up and experienced players mentoring newcomers. Our approach has attracted attention from both national and trade media, which has been encouraging because it highlights the growing recognition that board gaming isn't just a product category; it's a powerful way of bringing people together. Our vision is simple: combine the warmth of traditional board gaming with the best of modern innovation. Whether that's welcoming a family for their very first board game, teaching someone how to play Pokémon or Magic, or using AI to make learning new games easier, everything we do is designed to bring people together through play. In an increasingly digital world, we believe board games have never been more relevant.
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Touching Base
Getting on board Major players in Games & Puzzles tell Toy World about the leading trends that they're currently seeing within the category and share which new Q4 launch they're most excited about. Claire Ridley
Director of Marketing, Tomy One of the most exciting trends we're seeing is the continued evolution of board games as a form of entertainment rather than simply a product. Consumers are increasingly choosing games based on the experience they want to create, whether that's a competitive party game, a family challenge or a relaxed evening spent around the table. As a result, games that are easy to learn, highly replay able and create memorable moments continue to resonate with consumers. At the same time, the category is becoming more accessible. Players are looking for games that can be explained in minutes and enjoyed by everyone, regardless of age or gaming experience. That broad appeal is helping to introduce new audiences to the category while encouraging existing players to play more often. Another trend we're particularly excited about is the continued success of refreshing evergreen brands. Consumers have a real affection for heritage games, but they also expect them to evolve with changing play habits. Rather than reinventing these classics, we're seeing opportunities to refresh them through new gameplay twists, updated design, contemporary licences and enhanced play features. It's about respecting what made these brands iconic while ensuring they remain relevant for today's families. We see this as a significant opportunity for the category, as timeless games continue to find new audiences alongside nostalgic fans who are now introducing them to the next generation. Consumer purchasing habits are evolving too. More and more people want to see a game being played before they buy it, whether that's through social media, online reviews or instore demonstrations. Games are inherently visual and experiential, so bringing gameplay to life has become just as important as the product itself. Finally, we're seeing consumers embrace a wider variety of play styles. Alongside energetic party games and social deduction experiences, there's growing interest in more relaxed, 'cosy' gaming that encourages people to disconnect from screens, slow down and spend quality time together. Ultimately, the strongest products are those that create genuine shared experiences, and we believe that's what continues to make the Games & Puzzles category such an exciting and resilient part of the toy industry. One launch we're particularly excited about this Q4 is Articulate! Under Pressure. Articulate! has been bringing families and friends together for over 30 years, and this latest evolution builds on everything people already love about the brand while introducing a completely new way to play. The electronic countdown unit adds an exciting layer of unpredictability, creating moments of genuine tension, laughter and friendly competition that are perfect for today's social occasions. It's a great example of how heritage brands can continue to evolve for modern audiences. Rather than reinventing the core gameplay, we've enhanced it in a way that feels fresh while remaining instantly recognisable to existing fans. From a retail perspective, it's also a product that demonstrates exceptionally well. The gameplay is immediately understandable, visually engaging and creates authentic reactions that translate brilliantly across digital content and in-store ‘try me’ demonstrations. As consumers continue to seek games that bring people together, we believe Articulate! Under Pressure is perfectly positioned for the festive gifting season.
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Nik Nanda
Company Director, NDA Toys We're seeing strong demand for games that are quick to learn, easy to set up and suitable for a wide range of players. Families increasingly want games that fit into busy lifestyles, so titles that can be taught in a couple of minutes and completed in around 20 minutes are performing particularly well. There's also growing demand for highly replayable games that create memorable social moments, whether that's for family game nights, parties or holidays. Consumers want games that people ask to play again immediately after finishing. Without question, the Q4 launch I am most excited about is Final Flip. We've spent a long time developing a game that's genuinely different rather than another variation of an existing card game. The hiddencard mechanic, combined with powerful action cards and constant opportunities for dramatic comebacks, means every game feels fresh and unpredictable. We're excited to see retailers introduce Final Flip to customers because it's one of those games that's incredibly easy to explain but difficult to stop playing.
Roger Martin
Marketing Director, Asmodee At Asmodee, we are seeing party, travel and quick-play games as the fastest growing subcategories. Games that can be packed easily into a bag and pulled out as instant boredom busters (a welcome alternative to screen time), are more popular than ever. When a game is fun and easy to play, that really is a winning combination. For autumn/winter 2026, we are excited for the launch of AZUL kids. The game releases in September and it takes one of our most iconic, beloved family games and reimagines it perfectly for younger players. With vibrant, chunky tiles designed for smaller hands and doublesided boards that scale in complexity as kids grow, it introduces pattern-building and spatial strategy in a way that’s pure fun.
E L B A L I A V A NOW LEGO, the LEGO logo, the Minifigure, the Brick and Knob configurations and NINJAGO are Trademarks of the LEGO Group. ©2026 The LEGO Group.
Touching Base Megan Bradley-Zeng
Marketing Manager, Gibson Games Reading-core is more popular than ever in the gifting space, and that influence is increasingly being felt within the Games & Puzzles category. Consumers are looking for products that allow them to engage with beloved stories and characters in new ways, creating a strong opportunity for games and puzzles inspired by literature, both classic and contemporary. We're also seeing growing demand for products that offer a premium, giftable experience. Shoppers are seeking items that feel special, collectible and display-worthy, particularly during key gifting periods such as Christmas. These trends were a major inspiration behind our new Stories Unbound range. The collection combines the enduring appeal of much-loved stories with a luxurious puzzle format, presented in beautifully designed book-style packaging. Launching with Jane Austen, Grimms' Fairy Tales and Paddington, Stories Unbound allows consumers to immerse themselves in the worlds they love while enjoying a premium 1,000-piece puzzling experience, making it the perfect crossover between the book and puzzle categories. One launch we're particularly excited about for Q4 is the 2026 edition of the Gibsons Jigsaw Puzzle Advent Calendar, Once Upon a Christmas. Following the incredible success of last year's award-winning Gift of the Year calendar, we've built on that winning formula to create an even more magical festive experience for puzzle fans. The calendar combines the excitement of Advent with the joy of puzzling, revealing a beautifully illustrated mini puzzle behind each door throughout December. Featuring artwork from five talented artists and designs that can be transformed into festive decorations, it offers a unique blend of creativity, festive collectability and gifting appeal. What makes it especially exciting is how it taps into consumers' desire for products that deliver an experience rather than just a gift. Like our new Stories Unbound collection, the Puzzle Advent Calendar encourages people to immerse themselves in beautifully illustrated mini-puzzles and enjoy a moment of mindful escapism each day. We believe that combination of festive tradition, artistry and premium presentation makes it one of our standout launches for the festive season.
Fernanda Freitas
Marketing Manager, Educa Borràs The Games & Puzzles category continues to demonstrate remarkable resilience and remains one of the strongest performers within the toy industry. While the market continues to grow, consumer expectations are evolving beyond traditional gameplay. One of the strongest trends is the demand for experiences rather than products. Families are increasingly looking for games and puzzles that encourage meaningful time together, while adult consumers continue to embrace puzzling as a relaxing, mindful hobby. This has also driven demand for premium artwork, collector-worthy designs and products that deserve to be displayed after completion. Licensing remains another major growth driver. Strong entertainment brands continue to attract new consumers into the category, but the real opportunity lies in combining those licences with genuine product innovation rather than simply applying artwork to an existing format. We're also seeing growing interest in surprise mechanics and added-value experiences -whether through hidden reveals, collectible elements, narrative components or new ways to interact with traditional puzzles and games. Consumers increasingly expect products that deliver an engaging experience from the moment they open the box to long after the final piece is placed. Finally, although the Games & Puzzles category continues to perform strongly with around double-digit growth, competition is becoming increasingly intense. This makes differentiation through meaningful innovation, premium quality, compelling licences and distinctive gameplay more important than ever for brands looking to stand out at retail. One of the launches we're most excited about this Q4 is LaLiga Match, our new portable card game developed in partnership with LaLiga, Spain's equivalent of the Premier League. Football today extends far beyond the 90 minutes on the pitch. Fans engage with the sport every day through fantasy football, statistics, social media and friendly debates, creating a much broader entertainment experience. As one of the world's most followed football competitions, LaLiga offers the perfect opportunity to transform that passion into a fun tabletop experience. LaLiga Match is a fast-paced card game that celebrates Spanish football through a clever combination of strategy, tactical decision-making and a touch of luck. Easy to learn yet engaging to master, it's designed for families, football fans and the growing kidult audience, making it ideal for both everyday play and the Christmas gifting season. For us, it perfectly illustrates where the Games category is heading: combining powerful licences with genuinely entertaining gameplay. Rather than simply placing a brand on a product, we've created a game that captures the excitement, competitiveness and social aspect of football in a portable format that players can enjoy anywhere.
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ORDER NOW
After the worldwide success of AZUL, published by Next Move Games, the beloved mosaic-building experience is now coming... for kids!
Touching Base Simon Prest
Sales Director, Orchard Toys Licensed products remain incredibly important within the Games & Puzzles category because they create an instant connection with families through familiar and trusted characters. Bluey is a great example. It’s hugely popular with younger audiences, and we’re seeing that translate into strong sales. We're also seeing growing demand for traditional games, and puzzles such as Giant Alphabet, as families look for meaningful ways to spend quality time together. With household budgets under pressure, shoppers are choosing games that offer great value and lots of repeat play. I’m most excited about Troll in a Hole, one of the new additions to our best-selling range of fun and educational games. It’s got everything, eye catching design, brilliant gameplay, and educational value. I think it’ll be one of our top-sellers. Games that make children laugh out loud always do well, and this adventure to cook up a stinky stew delivers that. It’s the kind of game children will keep coming back to, and parents, gift buyers and retailers will all see its appeal. I’m also really excited about our Bluey licensed collection, which continues to be a fantastic opportunity for retailers. The Bluey Shopping List Game has already climbed into our Top 10 best-sellers.
Scott Garnerbundy-Higgs
UK Business Development Manager, Cartamundi As we know, the Games category is currently one of the strongest growth areas within Toys, driven by the key pillars of social play, wellness, and collectability. Our Bicycle Playing Cards perfectly align with all three of these trends. They encourage meaningful social interaction through shared gameplay, support wellbeing by providing screen-free entertainment, and appeal to collectors through their extensive range of designs and licensed editions. We're also seeing consumers gravitate towards products with strong fan communities and heritage brands, which is helping to fuel growth within the card games segment. With over 140 years of history, Bicycle is one of the most trusted and recognisable names in playing cards, making it uniquely positioned to attract both traditional card players and new generations of consumers looking for engaging, social gaming experiences. The brand's ability to connect with collectors, hobbyists, families, and casual players continues to make it highly relevant in today's market. I'm particularly excited about our new Bicycle Games range for Q4. It's a collection of three card game-inspired games designed for Gen Z and Gen Alpha, combining fun, social gameplay with trend-led design. They're packaged in reusable zip-lock bags, making them a more sustainable choice, and their accessible price point makes them ideal as impulse purchases, stocking fillers, and gifts during the festive season.
Andrew Hobbs Director, LA Brands
We are seeing continued demand for games that bring people together and create a genuinely social experience. Consumers are looking for more than a quick play format, they want products that encourage conversation, collaboration and shared problem-solving. Immersive, narrative-driven games are particularly strong because they allow players to become part of the story rather than simply playing through a set of rules. Experiences that combine physical components with storytelling, puzzles and digital content can turn an evening at home into something memorable and engaging. The cost-of-living environment is also influencing purchasing decisions. Consumers are looking more closely at the value a product offers, particularly when planning entertainment with friends or family. An "at home escape-room style experience" can deliver several hours of entertainment for a group at a fraction of the cost of visiting a physical escape room. This makes immersive games highly attractive as both a social activity and a gifting proposition. We are remaining deliberately tight-lipped about the exact details of our Q4 launches. We enjoy keeping the Cryptic Killers fanbase guessing and building anticipation around what might be coming next. What we can say is that consumers and retailers can expect further launches, new online features and additional licensed products. We are continuing to explore ways of making each investigation feel even more immersive, with digital elements that complement the physical evidence and introduce new ways for players to interact with a case. There is plenty more to come, but for now, the mystery remains unsolved.
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Touching Base Charles Spencer
Key Account Manager, Smart Toys and Games One of the steadily growing trends in the category is the emergence of gaming cafés and dedicated gaming areas within stores where friends and families can meet and enjoy playing together in a social, screen-free environment. These spaces are popping up everywhere, giving people more opportunities to enjoy games and puzzles together. Smart is ideally placed to support this trend with free demonstration games that customers can try before they buy. The Genius Square at the new Games Guru stores in Birmingham is a perfect example. It is quick to learn but endlessly replayable, with players racing to complete their grids using the same randomly generated challenge. Its fast, competitive gameplay makes it ideal for gaming cafés, encouraging rematches and attracting the attention of other customers once they see it being played. One Q4 launch we are particularly excited about is IQ Star, the latest addition to the successful IQ Deluxe range. Designed for players aged 14 and over, the game challenges players to fill a six-pointed star-shaped board using colourful hexagonal puzzle pieces. With the pieces able to be placed in only three specific orientations, the 120 challenges become progressively more difficult, ranging from easy to expert. We have already received strong pre-orders for the game, reflecting early retailer confidence ahead of its launch. Its eye-catching packaging features vibrant star imagery and bold colours, helping it stand out on shelf. This strong visual presence, combined with its broad appeal, also makes IQ Star a compelling gifting and stocking-filler option for Christmas.
Becky Matthews
Global Brand and Marketing Director, Golden Bear Toys We're seeing a real shift towards games that people can get straight into without spending ages learning the rules. Shoppers want something that's quick to pick up, easy to play, and fun from the first round. Nostalgia is still a big driver, but it's about giving familiar gameplay a fresh spin. That's exactly what we've done with Hankman. Licensed games are also performing well, but consumers expect more than just a recognisable brand name on the box. The games that really stand out are the ones where the gameplay genuinely fits the licence, creating an experience that feels authentic for fans. If it's also the kind of game people want to share on social media or create content around, even better. Selecting one new launch to be excited about is a difficult one because I'm genuinely excited about the whole range, and each game brings something different. Hankman is a great example of taking a classic everyone knows and giving it a fresh, fun twist with a satisfying reveal at the end. That said, K-Pop Demon Hunters Truth or Dare is definitely one to watch. It's built around a hugely popular licence with a really engaged fanbase, and it's the only electronic K-Pop game on the market. The light-up honesty device adds a real sense of theatre, making every round feel like an event. It's exactly the sort of game that gets people talking.
Emiel Sleegers CEO, ScansMatter
When we look at the Games & Puzzles category, we see two broad areas: on-screen and off-screen play. Both are increasingly focused on bringing people together, encouraging shared experiences and building communities. However, no matter how hard the on-screen category tries to create connection, it can still be difficult to achieve when people are physically sitting alone in a room. That is why the continued development of off-screen games designed to be enjoyed with friends and family is so important. They provide a valuable balance in a world that is becoming increasingly digital, where people’s attention is more fragmented than ever. Humans are social by nature, and physical games play an important role at every stage of life - from helping children learn and develop, to giving teenagers and adults an opportunity to spend meaningful, quality time with the people they care about. We are, of course, very excited about the launch of our own card game, Whiskers Academy, just before the start of Q4. However, we may be slightly biased in that regard. We are also looking forward to trying several other upcoming releases, including The Mandalorian: Adventures - Sworn to the Creed, The Lord of the Rings: Circle of Conflict and Hellbreak. In addition, there are a number of promising Kickstarter games currently on our radar, so it looks like Q4 will be an exciting period for the Games & Puzzles category.
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Touching Base Andrew Morris
Sales & Marketing Director, Thames & Kosmos UK The Games & Puzzles category continues to evolve, driven by changing consumer behaviours and the growing appeal of play across all age groups. One of the most influential trends is the rise of the 'kidult' market, with adults increasingly purchasing games and puzzles for themselves rather than solely for children. Nostalgia, social connection, wellness and the desire for screen-free entertainment are all contributing to sustained growth in adult-focused board games, strategy games and premium puzzles. Industry data shows that adult games and kidult purchasing have become significant growth drivers, particularly across the UK and Europe. Licensing is also playing an increasingly important role in shaping innovation within the category. Consumers are looking for products that extend the worlds of their favourite books, films, television series and gaming franchises, creating opportunities for manufacturers to blend compelling gameplay with recognisable intellectual property. Licensed products not only attract established fans but also encourage collecting and repeat purchases, making them an important growth area for both games and puzzles. One of the strongest emerging examples from Kosmos is the expansion of products inspired by Rebecca Yarros' bestselling Fourth Wing series. Following the success of the books, Kosmos have released licensed products, including Realtalk - Fourth Wing, an immersive cooperative discussion game, as well as two premium jigsaw puzzles. These launches demonstrate how popular literary properties are increasingly extending beyond the page to create engaging tabletop experiences that appeal to both dedicated fans and hobby gamers We’re really excited about the launch of Gaudi that we are distributing in the UK for Devir. The game is a heavy Euro style game that is beautifully designed and illustrated and players take on the role of the famous architect Antoni Gaudi and race to complete the Sagrada Familia, Gaudi's world-famous cathedral in Barcelona. We previewed it at the UK Games Expo and the reaction was very positive.
Federica Iezzi
International Marketing Director, Lisciani One of the strongest trends we are seeing within the Games & Puzzles category is the growing interest in adult puzzles, driven by a desire for more mindful and relaxing leisure activities. In a world increasingly dominated by digital content and fast-paced routines, puzzles represent a valuable form of digital detox: a moment to slow down, disconnect from everyday stress and dedicate time to a rewarding, screen-free experience. Adult puzzles are no longer perceived simply as a traditional pastime, but as a lifestyle product connected to personal passions, collecting and self-expression. Consumers are looking for beautifully designed products that reflect their interests, from art and culture to iconic themes and illustrations. This makes the category particularly relevant also from a gifting perspective, appealing to a wide audience of adults who appreciate meaningful and engaging experiences. For Q4, we are particularly excited about the launch of our new Adult Puzzle collection, which marks Lisciani’s entry into the adult puzzle segment with a premium and gift-oriented approach. The collection includes Puzzle & Gift Set Art, featuring some of the most iconic masterpieces from artists such as Monet, Van Gogh, Klimt and Hokusai. Each elegant box combines a 500-piece puzzle with exclusive gift items inspired by the artwork, including bookmarks, postcards and gift tags, transforming the puzzle experience into a collectible and giftable product. Alongside this, we are launching Puzzle & Tarot, a unique concept that combines the pleasure of puzzle building with the fascination of beautifully illustrated Tarot cards. Available in two versions – Japanese Tarot and Pagan Cats Tarot – these sets offer an original experience for collectors and enthusiasts of art, illustration and alternative lifestyles.
Flavien Loisier
CEO, Hachette Board Games One of the leading trends we are seeing is the popularity of licences and board game adaptations of pop culture, literature, film and video game titles. Be it Jamie Smart’s Hero Slam, the Odyssey, the Alice in Wonderland-inspired Alice: through the Looking Glass, Monster Eater: Delicious in Dungeon, Gwent from The Witcher 3 or Mechs vs Minions (League of Legends), we are excited to see how these fandoms continue to converge and hopefully result in a continuing increase in audience for tabletop games. On a personal level, I am most excited about Dwarves of Aquilon from GRRRE Games. As a comic book fan as well, I am looking forward to seeing more people introduced to and enjoy the universe of Dwarves from author Nicolas Jarry and publisher Éditions Soleil. And since Nidavellir is one of my favourite games, I know so many people will enjoy it. On a professional level, Mechs vs. Minions from Incredible Dream Studios and Riot Games is the release of the season, and I urge everyone to take a look at this fantastic cooperative, campaign-based game.
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Touching Base Rob Trounce
Trade Marketing Manager, Zatu We are seeing an unprecedented influx of new consumers entering the Games and Puzzles market, driven largely by a growing desire for screen-free connection. People are actively seeking quality, focused time with family, friends, and partners, using tabletop games as the primary vehicle to achieve it. Because so many of these buyers are new to the hobby, the onus is on publishers, distributors, and retailers to meet them halfway by offering accessible, affordable, and quick-to-learn titles that build lasting gaming habits. To capture this entry-level demand, Zatu recently launched Tally Up!, a fast-paced, push-your-luck dice game for up to 10 players featuring simple risk-versus-reward mechanics, and YUBIBO, a cooperative wooden dexterity game. Both titles proved immensely popular at the UK Games Expo, generating instant engagement among attendees – 29% of whom, according to our on-site straw poll, were new to board gaming, owned three or fewer board games, and were looking to expand their collection. Alongside the family and party market, solo gaming remains a massive growth sector. In response to this continued demand, Zatu became the first UK games distributor to establish a dedicated solo gaming section, Table for One, headlined by last year’s top-selling title, A Gentle Rain. As consumers continue to reduce their screen time, tabletop experiences tailored for solo play will remain a key growth driver. For Q4, we are particularly excited to launch Final Titan, designed by industry legend Richard Garfield (Magic: The Gathering, King of Tokyo) alongside Christian Kudahl. Featuring over 100 unique character cards in the box, Final Titan is a high-energy draft battler where players select tag teams of heroes, monsters, and mechs – each with distinct powers and abilities – and throw them into an arena for a battle-royale-style deathmatch. The last player still standing is crowned the Final Titan. It’s dynamic, highly interactive, and elicits incredible table presence and spectator excitement. We will be previewing Final Titan at upcoming trade and consumer events ahead of its official retail release at the end of the year.
Amy Harbour
Head of Licensing and Commercial Partnerships, The Science Museum Looking after museum brands, we're benefiting from consumers placing increasing value on authenticity. People want products that have a genuine story behind them and offer more than just entertainment. Whether it's a puzzle, game or creative activity, they're looking for experiences that feel meaningful and rooted in something real. We're also seeing strong interest in products that support curiosity and learning. As custodians of a world-class collection of science, technology, engineering and medicine, we are well placed to tap into growing demand for science-inspired products that encourage discovery and exploration in an engaging way. At the same time, there's a continued desire for activities that provide a break from screens, bringing families and friends together through hands-on experiences that are both enjoyable and rewarding. For us, the most successful products sit at the intersection of those trends, combining authenticity, creativity and learning in a way that appeals across generations. I can’t wait to get my hands on some of the products from our new National Railway Museum jigsaw and paint-by-numbers range launching with Robert Frederick this autumn. The National Railway Museum has the world's most important collection of railway posters, and these artworks represent some of the finest examples of twentieth-century commercial art. From dramatic coastal escapes and idyllic countryside scenes to vibrant depictions of Britain's great cities, they capture the optimism, adventure and romance of the golden age of rail travel. What I love about this range is that it gives people an entirely new way to engage with these remarkable artworks. There's something incredibly satisfying about seeing a vintage railway poster emerge piece by piece through a jigsaw, or recreating every detail yourself through paint by numbers. It transforms the artwork from something you simply look at into an experience you can actively immerse yourself in. The collection taps into several trends we're seeing across the market, including nostalgia, creativity, heritage and screen-free entertainment. More importantly, it allows us to share this extraordinary collection with new audiences beyond the museum walls. Seeing these iconic posters reimagined as games and creative products while retaining all the beauty and authenticity of the original designs has been hugely rewarding, and I think they will make a fantastic addition to the category this Christmas.
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Stewart Middleton
Business Consultant, VR Distribution Trends within the Games & Puzzles category looks to be more of a continuation of what we’ve seen over the past few years, rather than a particular theme. We are seeing the trend is towards games that can be explained quickly, games that all players are involved in at all time, games that get people interacting and laughing straight away, and games with shorter gameplay while still offering enough replayability to keep people coming back. A strong social media campaign, using the right influencers and fun, engaging content, helps us get people excited about our games before they even launch. For Snort Funny, our pre-launch social activity reached 86 million views, giving us a huge amount of awareness and getting people talking about the game before it was available. One area that hasn’t dropped off since Covid is families playing games. With many games aimed at ages 6 or 8+, it means the whole family can get involved and play together. We’ve also seen growth in groups of friends playing games, even taking them on nights out with them. It’s a great way to have fun and do something a bit different. We are very excited about the launch of Skyjo. We have been trying to bring Skyjo to UK retail for a number of years. We all played the game previously and absolutely loved it -it’s even Jude Bellingham's favourite game, he took a copy with him to the England World Cup camp! It’s a simple, subtle and terribly addictive card game, for ages 8+ and up to 6 players. It has already been a huge success in various countries and online in the UK, selling over 5 million copies worldwide to date. Skyjo will be a huge hit with UK retailers and consumers.
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Touching Base Darrell Jones
Marketing Director (UK), Vivid Goliath After several years of limited innovation in the kids' games category, we're seeing renewed momentum and excitement. Leading the charge are seven new games, headed by Elefun, which has been completely reimagined for a new generation of preschoolers. We've also refreshed a family favourite with Don't Wake Dad: Bluey Edition, where players race across the board to reach the pavlova before waking Bandit. Following the success of last year's Marshmallow Madness, we're launching Breakfast Blitz, a frantic head-to-head challenge that sees players compete to catch flying cereal pieces in their mouths. The line-up is rounded out by Axe Max, Don't Flush the Fish, Cock-A-Doodle, and Rump Race. The category I'm most excited about is Romantasy (romantic fantasy), one of the fastestgrowing trends in entertainment. Just launched is Fourth Wing: Rise of the Wingleader, inspired by Rebecca Yarros's bestselling novel and set in the epic, high-stakes world of Basgiath. Coming in October is A Court of Thorns and Roses: Fate and Favour, the official board game based on Sarah J. Maas's record-breaking fantasy series. Featuring immersive gameplay and beautifully illustrated components, the game invites fans to forge alliances, navigate shifting loyalties, and compete for favour in the magical realm of Prythian. With fresh innovation across children's games and exciting opportunities in the rapidly growing Romantasy space, this Christmas is shaping up to be a standout season for the games category at Vivid Goliath.
Rachel Lowe
CEO and Founder, Rachel Lowe Games & Puzzles We’re continuing to see a strong appetite for games and puzzles that combine nostalgia, recognisable IP and shared experiences. Consumers are looking for products that feel familiar but offer something new, particularly those that bring much-loved brands, programmes and destinations to life in a different way. There is also a real opportunity for games that have a strong story behind them. Whether that comes through heritage, entertainment or nostalgia, consumers want products that create conversation around the table and give them a reason to come back and play again. I’m particularly excited about our re-launch of Destination Hogwarts game, which we’re working towards launching for Q4 through our licensing agreement with Heathside Trading. Harry Potter is such an extraordinary evergreen property, and Hogwarts lends itself perfectly to the Destination format, with players travelling around familiar locations and experiencing the wizarding world through gameplay. For me, it brings together exactly what is exciting about the category at the moment: a hugely nostalgic and multigenerational brand combined with a traditional board game experience that families can enjoy together.
Mark Jones
Sales Director, University Games Consumers continue to seek social, screen-free experiences that bring friends and family together, while the growing kidult market is driving demand for games that appeal beyond traditional family play. Portability, affordability and quick-tolearn gameplay are also key trends, with consumers looking for entertainment that can be enjoyed anywhere. Our new Pocket Dice range taps into this perfectly, combining compact, pocket-money-friendly formats with popular sports including Football, Cricket and Tennis, alongside Licensed Football Club editions. We are also seeing continued interest in games that offer repeat play and strong social interaction across a wide range of ages. We have had some fantastic launches this year, including our new Peppa Pig and That’s Not My… Learning Journey ranges, available for autumn. However, we are particularly excited to be expanding our popular Murder Mystery Party range for Q4 with two new titles, Madame Blanc Murder Mystery and Fatal FOMO. Both combine immersive storytelling, deduction and social gameplay, offering something fresh and entertaining for groups of friends and family. With the continued growth of adult and kidult gaming, we see strong potential for these highly giftable titles during the Q4 season.
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Games & Puzzles
Tomy 01392 281 927 | ukcustomerservices@tomy.com
Tomy Games is bringing a fresh line-up of licensed titles, high-energy party games and reimagined classics to autumn/winter 2026 , with a portfolio designed to deliver engaging gameplay, strong self-appeal and plenty of opportunities for repeat play. Building on its long-term licensing agreement with All3Media International, part of media and entertainment group, Banijay Entertainment, Tomy is launching two new titles for The Traitors for autumn/winter 2026. The UK 2nd Edition of The Traitors Board Game has been refreshed featuring six brand-new missions. The game challenges players to use strategy, bluffing and deduction to uncover the hidden Traitor(s), complete missions and claim victory. The action continues with One Night of The Traitors – Castle of Lies, this standalone one-evening experience is a fast-paced game of strategy, bluffing, and social deduction. Players take on the roles of Faithfuls or Traitors, completing high-energy missions, facing shocking reveals, and outwitting one another, all leading to a dramatic final vote with the game’s unique convertible vote box. One Night of The Traitors delivers an unforgettable evening of trust, betrayal, and tension, perfect for parties and game nights. Beyond the licensed titles, Tomy’s autumn/winter 2026 line-up also features tactile, high-energy games designed for instant shelf appeal. Launching in August, Splatterbrain is a game of goo and giggles, challenging players to reach inside a slimy zombie head and retrieve face and body parts across three different play modes. Donut Dunk brings a sweet twist to fast-paced card games, challenging players to toss, match and dunk their way to victory. Players race to match frosting colours before dunking their cards onto the electronic flashing donut, with quick rounds and escalating pressure making it ideal for parties, family game nights and repeat play. The much-loved Articulate! brand also gets a fresh new twist with Articulate! Under Pressure, featuring an electronic game unit packed with lights, sound effects and a voice-led personality that reacts as players compete. With three ways to play – Classic, Take a Hint and Head-to-Head – the game delivers the quick-fire wordplay and competitive fun of Articulate! with an added layer of pressure and excitement. With a diverse autumn/winter 2026 portfolio spanning licensed entertainment, tactile gameplay and reimagined family favourites, Tomy Games continues to deliver accessible, engaging games designed to bring people together and keep them coming back for more.
Winning Moves 020 7298 9515 | www.winningmoves.co.uk sales@winningmoves.co.uk Winning Moves is entering 2026/27 with one of its strongest games line-ups in recent years, backed by a significant investment in consumer marketing designed to drive awareness, footfall and sell-through for retail partners. Following the success of its collectable World Football Stars range, which has become the best-selling Top Trumps theme of 2026 and helped grow distribution to around 3,500 UK retail outlets, the company is continuing to build momentum with a combination of fresh gameplay innovation, major licences and ambitious consumer campaigns. One of the biggest priorities for the year ahead is expanding the recently launched Top Trumps Goddit! range. After receiving a positive response from consumers, the fast-paced family game is set to welcome major new licences including Harry Potter, Super Mario and Paw Patrol. Sitting comfortably below the increasingly important sub-£15 price point, Goddit! offers retailers and fans an accessible purchase backed by instantly recognisable brands and highly repeatable gameplay. Winning Moves is also introducing Top Trumps Dash an all-new frantic race-to-the-finish board game. Launching with editions including World Football Stars, Star Wars and Spider-Man, Dash has been developed to broaden the Top Trumps audience while creating new excitement around some of the world’s most recognisable licenses. Offering value for money alongside premium brands, Winning Moves is investing heavily in heightening consumer awareness. In one of the brand's most ambitious marketing initiatives to date, Top Trumps will make the leap to television with Top Trumps: The Comedy Pack, an eight-part entertainment series airing on TLC in early 2027. Hosted by Katherine Ryan alongside team captains Joel Dommett and Jon Richardson, the show will introduce the brand to millions of viewers in an entirely new format and reinforcing Top Trumps as a household name loved by multi-generational fan demographics. Pass the Pigs is also receiving its biggest marketing push in decades ahead of its landmark 50th anniversary in 2027. The classic travel game has been recognised as a lifestyle brand through a series of attention-grabbing experiential campaigns, including the launch of the first-ever Pass the Pigs Session India Pale Ale in partnership with Farmyard Brew Co. and the world's first official Pass the Pigs Flash Tattoo Day, which attracted fans from across the UK and overseas. These activations added to already significant social engagement while demonstrating the enduring passion surrounding one of the world’s most iconic games. The anniversary celebrations will continue with a programme of new product extensions throughout 2026 and 2027, including the launch of Pass the Pigs in Blankets, alongside further collaborations and events. Pigs are Flying! For retailer partners, the strategy is hopefully clear. Winning Moves is combining meaningful product innovation with sustained consumer marketing, entertainment partnerships and experiential campaigns to create brands that consumers are actively seeking out before they reach the shelf.
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Games & Puzzles
Asmodee 01420 593 593 | www.asmodee.co.uk From quick-fire tabletop fun during study breaks to rainy autumn weekends with friends and family, these games – all new for 2026 – pack strategy, banter, and rivalry into a pocket-sized package. For strategy game fans who want the classic build-and-trade buzz without needing hours to spare, new offerings from Catan Studios keep the stakes high. Released in May 2026, Catan Zip! brings the iconic island straight to your handbag or rucksack. Suitable for up to four players, the map sits on a pad at the centre of play, with varied layouts ensuring each session feels fresh and tactical. Players draw their roads, settlements and cities directly onto the map as the island develops, keeping play tactile and brains engaged. A dice shaker, Catan-themed pens, storage boxes and a reusable travel bag round out a format built for fast-paced gameplay. Also released earlier this year ( in April 2026), for pocket-sized play with plenty of decision-making, Catan On the Road distils the classic experience into a deck-driven game built around 120 cards. Ideal for three to four players, gather resources by drawing cards, building from a shared set of development options, and negotiating trades with the bank or with each other. A clever twist keeps the stakes high: trade when it’s not your turn and you’re rewarded with an extra resource card, encouraging bold deals and calculated gameplay. Even more quick-fire strategy can be discovered with DNuP from Space Cowboys, a clever card game released in May 2026 perfect for groups of up to five seeking quick mental breaks and tactical, reactive play. Players aim to empty their hand of numbered cards by playing sets of matching values, but when a set is beaten, those cards return flipped, changing their value and swinging momentum. Every turn becomes a strategic, risk-reward moment where gamers can push their luck or set up a satisfying comeback - but there’ll be plenty of laughs when plans fail too.
Cheatwell Games 023 9252 4098 | www.cheatwell.com | sales@cheatwell.com As the Games & Puzzles category continues to evolve, Cheatwell Games is enjoying one of its strongest and most diverse product line-ups to date. With established evergreen brands sitting alongside innovative new launches, the company is continuing to strengthen its presence across the hobby market, specialist retailers and major national retail chains. Leading the charge is Cat Earth, a beautifully produced family strategy game that has generated an exceptional response since its debut earlier this year. Following a successful launch at UK Games Expo, where stock sold out ahead of expectations, the game has quickly become one of Cheatwell's standout new releases. Players guide their cats around the edge of a flat earth using movement cards, carefully positioning themselves while attempting to outmanoeuvre opponents and send rival cats tumbling into space. The result is a game that's easy to learn, highly interactive and wonderfully entertaining. Cheatwell is continuing to expand its presence in the hobby games sector, supported by parent company Outset Media in Canada. Titles such as Feed the Kraken and Cadaver are helping the company build an exciting portfolio of modern strategy games that appeal to experienced gamers while remaining accessible to newcomers. Music games remain another important pillar of Cheatwell's portfolio. Spot The Intro has been completely refreshed with a more streamlined gameplay experience, allowing players to spend less time setting up and more time enjoying the music. By using players' own smartphones to access over 900 licensed music clips instantly via QR codes, the game delivers a slick, modern experience while retaining the competitive fun that has made it one of Cheatwell's most successful original concepts. Word games continue to enjoy strong demand and Buzz Word is perfectly positioned to capitalise on this trend. Fast-paced, easy to learn and packed with replay-ability, it offers retailers an ideal party game that appeals across generations and is equally at home around the family table or at games nights with friends. Beyond games, Cheatwell continues to grow the presence of sister brand Cobble Hill within the UK puzzle market. Renowned for its distinctive artwork, exceptional print quality and random-cut pieces, the premium puzzle brand has earned a loyal following, offering a refreshingly different puzzling experience. With an ever-expanding catalogue of stunning imagery and increasing recognition throughout the UK, Cobble Hill has firmly established itself as one of the country's leading premium puzzle brands. With a balanced portfolio of proven brands, exciting innovation and premium hobby titles, Cheatwell Games enters the all-important Christmas trading period with confidence. By continuing to invest across family games, hobby gaming and premium puzzles, the company offers retailers a compelling range that attracts both established enthusiasts and the next generation of players.
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Games & Puzzles
Ravensburger 01886 363 800 | sales@ravensburger.com
With Christmas fast approaching, Ravensburger launches a raft of new games and puzzles with something for all ages and interests. It’s forty years of the company’s global bestselling family game Labyrinth this year. Marking that milestone is a partnership that is already gaining great feedback from the games community. Carcassonne Labyrinth brings together two giants of the tabletop in a unique gameplay format that truly showcases the best each game brings to the table – no pun intended. Players will search for treasures in the moving labyrinth board, collecting tiles on each turn, which they will use to construct their own personal Carcassonne cities and roads on the tabletop. Other new editions available including KPop Demon Hunters Labyrinth and the deluxe Labyrinth Chronicles. The Oh My Pigeons social party game continues to fly off the shelves, and adding to the bird-brained antics, the new Party Expansion sees the pigeons head to the disco. The game can be won by either filling a bench with birds or by placing the final bird to fill the dance floor. The Last Lemming, an innovative trick-taking game, pits Roman-inspired lemming characters against each other in a battle to get as close to the cliff edge as possible without going over. Other new licensed games ready to tempt players to the tabletop include Minecraft Pig in the Field – a take on Bugs in the Kitchen, Horrified Dungeons & Dragons: Ravenloft, and celebrating the hit Prime Comedy show, Last One Laughing game. In Puzzles, a festive edition joins the bestselling line My Haven with number 14, The Christmas Shed, while the much-anticipated limited edition Christmas puzzle series marks a milestone with its 30th edition titled Santa Takes a Break, courtesy of artist Roy Trower. There’s a puzzle-a-day escapism to be had with the 2026 Christmas at Home Advent Calendar. Designed by artist Claire Wilson, this warm and cosy home can be pieced together room by room in the twenty-four 56-piece puzzles. There is much to look forward to in the Ravensburger licensed jigsaw portfolio in the final quarter. There’s farm fun with the new Diddly Squat Farm puzzles, including 1000-piece, 500-piece circular adult puzzles and 100XXL format children’s jigsaws. And for literary fans, Ravensburger launches a deluxe series of 500-piece puzzles based on author Rebecca Yarros’ global bestselling Fourth Wing book series. Packaged in book-style boxes with magnetic closure and including a themed bookmark, the puzzles are ideal for gifting and make a great addition to the bookshelf as well as the tabletop. A collection of 3D puzzle vases also turns a relaxing activity into a practical and stylish vase, complete with a waterproof liner suitable for holding freshly cut flowers. The puzzle vases were highlighted as a Hero Toy product at Toy Fair, and five designs will be available at launch. The company’s Disney Stitch 3D Puzzle Ball With Ears has been a consistent bestseller, and offering in this format grows in 2026. Among the new 3D puzzle launches is a Pikachu with Ears set to launch later this year. For the ultimate in puzzling fun, the Pokémon 40,000-piece puzzle is a popular option, and this showstopping design captures ten, exclusive, detail-packed illustrations celebrating the global character phenomenon that is Pikachu and friends. Next month, three of these exclusive capsule designs will also be released as 1000-piece puzzles.
LA Brands 0118 242 9872 | www.cryptickillers.com | sales@cryptickillers.com Cryptic Killers is continuing to strengthen its position within the Games & Puzzles category, offering consumers immersive, narrative-driven murder mystery experiences that combine the best elements of a book, a puzzle and a game. Each case places players at the centre of an unsolved investigation, challenging them to work through a detailed collection of realistic evidence. Police reports, witness statements, photographs, maps, newspaper articles, correspondence and forensic documents must all be examined as players identify suspects, follow leads and piece together what really happened. This combination of storytelling, problem-solving and physical evidence gives Cryptic Killers a distinctive position within the category. Rather than following a traditional board game structure, each title delivers a complete shared experience, allowing players to become the detectives and progress through the story at their own pace. There are currently 14 Cryptic Killers titles available, spanning a wide variety of settings, characters and storylines. The cases also offer varying difficulty levels, allowing customers to select an investigation that suits their experience and giving established fans the opportunity to progress to more challenging mysteries. Each case is a standalone experience, meaning consumers can enter the range at any point and play the titles in any order. Earlier in 2026, LA Brands also launched its first licensed Cryptic Killers product in collaboration with Peaky Blinders. Combining the investigative format of Cryptic Killers with the distinctive criminal world and atmosphere of the hit television series, the product is now available to the wider retail market ahead of its first peak Christmas trading period. Retailers can be supported with a range of merchandising and marketing solutions. LA Brands can assist with the design of bespoke point-of-sale materials to complement individual displays and retail environments. Dedicated countertop display units and free-standing display units are also available, helping partners create impactful, easy-to-shop merchandising solutions in store. The company will continue to invest in the range throughout the year, with three additional Cryptic Killers titles planned for launch. These new investigations will introduce fresh narratives, evidence and gameplay challenges, alongside new and unique online content. Digital elements are an increasingly important part of the experience, allowing players to access additional evidence such as video, audio and interactive material as they investigate. These features enhance the physical case files while helping each mystery feel even more immersive, realistic and memorable.
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Games & Puzzles Epoch Games 0843 557 4062 | customerservices@epochmakingtoys.com Epoch Games kicked off the year with the launch of several new games in its popular Super Mario range including the Super Mario Micro Game Series. Tapping in to demand for blind boxes, the handheld games are perfect for play on the go. Available at pocket money prices and in a CDU, they offer a variety of play patterns with six different games to collect in each of the three themed series. In addition, the Super Mario Game World Series includes six mystery boxes each featuring a Super Mario scene and a collectible character which can be used in any game within the Epoch Link System. Launched to coincide with The Super Mario Galaxy Movie are three new Super Mario Galaxy Movie Games. The Balancing Galaxy Stage which requires nerve and a steady hand; the Spin 'n' Match Game in which players must stop Mario on the right target in order to collect four cards and win; and the Battle Pinball Galaxy. A game of precision and accuracy, players must use the controllers to move the flippers and hit the balls, defeating the enemies by sending them flying! Spring also saw Epoch welcome a new license, Kirby, to its portfolio. Kirby Ice Cream Tower is a fun balancing game, where players must stack the ice cream scoops without the tower toppling over; and Kirby Hover Strike is a tabletop air hockey style game. Epoch has also recently debuted its first collection of premium puzzles featuring iconic scenes and characters from a selection of popular licenses including Naruto Shippuden, Demon Slayer, One Piece, Stranger Things and Sylvanian Families. The puzzles feature a range of unique elements, from super-small pieces that provide an extra challenge for older audiences, to decorative accessories which allow a 3D puzzle to be created. Plus, every puzzle includes a special sealant enabling the finished artwork to be preserved and displayed once complete.
Character Options 0161 633 9800 | sales@charactergroup.plc.uk Character Options has something for all in its games offering, with family games, party games and electronic action games all on offer. From the team that brought you the social media inspired viral party game What Do You Meme? comes a stack of new games from Relatable. And where better to start than the brand-new addition, Starts With - Ends With. This is a game of quick wit, wordplay and even quicker reflexes. The fun begins with a turn of the spinner, which will give players two letters. The aim of the game is to be the first to shout a word that starts and ends with the specified letters. Adult games are a growing proposition with get togethers often having a fun game to get the party started. With this in mind, Character’s Relatable games portfolio is also home to the number one murder mystery games series, Hunt-A-Killer. In this immersive collection of murder mystery games participants must play the detective. The narrative is told through realistic clues, intricate puzzles and complex ciphers. The objective is to unravel each web of lies and clues to solve the mystery. Pick from a host of themes, including Lakeside Slaughter – where a dream vacation turns deadly – Body on the Boardwalk, The Salem Slicer and more. In the family games arena Character Options also has a wide choice including Hot Dog Drop the silly slippery sausage catch game, Colour Stack emulating the online favourite and Kollide the game that is full of magnetic attraction.
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Games & Puzzles Vivid Goliath 01483 449 944 | www.vividtoysandgames.co.uk Vivid Goliath heads into the season with a compelling preschool games line-up, combining trusted bestsellers with exciting new additions. Household favourites including Shark Bite, Floor is Lava, Pop the Pig, Don’t Wake Dad and Gooey Louie continue to delight families, delivering consistent sell-through and repeat purchases. Making a welcome return is Elefun, refreshed for a new generation of preschoolers. The much-loved classic has been reimagined with a modern twist as Elefun takes a deep breath before launching a metre-high shower of colourful butterflies into the air, encouraging children to get moving as they race to catch them in their nets. Joining the range is Cock-aDoodle, a brand-new game full of anticipation, surprises and giggles. Bluey fans can also look forward to Don’t Wake Dad Bluey, where players race across the board to reach the pavlova before waking Bandit, creating laughter-filled family game time. Alongside its preschool successes, Vivid Goliath expands its classics collection with Sequence, Triominos and the new Mastermind Travel. With more than 55 million units sold worldwide, the iconic strategy game returns in a compact, take-anywhere format, introducing the timeless codemaker-versus-codebreaker challenge to a new generation. Ideal for holidays and family trips, the Murdle Alibi Card Game packs plenty of gameplay into a pocket-sized box. In this rummy-style mystery, players collect and discard evidence cards to match Locations, Suspects and Weapons, solving Case cards to become the first detective to crack three cases. In the fast-growing Romantasy category, Rebecca Yarros’ bestselling novel, Fourth Wing, Rise of the Wingleader is set to take the brand to new heights with an upcoming tabletop game inspired by the epic adventures and high-stakes world of Basgiath. Also launching in Q4 is A Court of Thorns and Roses: Fate and Favour, the official board game inspired by Sarah J Mass’ record-breaking A Court of Thorns and Roses series. PlayMonster’s award-winning range continues to be a key performer, led by the enduring appeal of Five Crowns and the ever-popular 5 Second Rule. Bestselling travel editions keep the fun going wherever families are, helping drive incremental sales during peak holiday and seasonal periods. Adding fresh energy to the range, new launch Axe Man tests players’ precision as they wind up the thrower’s arm and release at exactly the right moment to hit the target. Following the breakout success of Marshmallow Madness, Vivid Goliath is introducing Breakfast Blitz, a frantic head-to-head challenge where players compete to catch flying cereal pieces in their mouths. Also joining the line-up is Don’t Flush the Fish, a suspense-filled game that keeps everyone guessing as players try to stop the fish from tumbling into the toilet. Under the Goliath Lucky Duck portfolio, Purramid is the ideal family game where players need to put all the kittens to bed but they only like to sleep stacked in a particular way. The first player to tuck all their kittens in wins. Across every category, Vivid Goliath continues to blend iconic brands, innovative gameplay and standout new launches to deliver a games portfolio that excites consumers, supports retailers and keeps the aisle fresh season after season.
Science Museum www.robert-frederick-trade.co.uk The enduring appeal of Britain’s vintage railway posters has inspired a brand-new collection of jigsaws and paint-by-numbers sets from the National Railway Museum. Just launched and developed by Robert Frederick under licence, the range taps into growing consumer demand for nostalgia, heritage-inspired gifting and mindful, screen-free activities. Drawing on the National Railway Museum’s internationally significant collection, the products feature authentic railway poster artwork from the golden age of British travel advertising. Created by renowned artists including Frank Mason and Jack Merriott, the artworks showcase dramatic coastlines, picturesque countryside, iconic landmarks and timeless holiday destinations. Rich colours, bold typography and striking compositions continue to resonate with modern audiences, giving the range a distinctive visual appeal that stands out on shelf. The collection includes 500-piece and 1,000-piece jigsaws, featuring some of the most celebrated images from the archive. Designs include London Pride beer and St Andrews, with its iconic golfing scene. Once completed, each puzzle becomes a beautiful display piece, giving consumers a product that combines challenge, relaxation and wall-worthy artwork. Complementing the jigsaw range are two paint-by-numbers formats. The A3 envelope edition includes a 30 x 40cm canvas, 16 paints and two brushes, while the premium tube version features a larger 40 x 50cm canvas wall hanging, 18 paints and gift-ready packaging. For retailers, the range offers several compelling USPs: official National Railway Museum licensing, authentic heritage artwork, strong gifting credentials and appeal across multiple consumer groups, including puzzle enthusiasts, railway fans, art lovers and heritage consumers. More than simply travel posters, these artworks are cultural treasures preserved within the world’s most significant railway collection. By bringing them to life as jigsaws and paint by numbers sets, Robert Frederick and the National Railway Museum have created a distinctive range that combines British heritage, creativity and collectability, offering retailers something genuinely different in the games and puzzles category.
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Games & Puzzles Clementoni 020 3206 1397 | www.clementoni.com | paul.fogarty@clementoni.com Clementoni has redefined the puzzle experience with its Metamorphic Art Collection, combining innovative design, immersive LED effects, and beloved licenced franchises to captivate fans of all ages. The range expands for the second half of 2026 with Star Wars. Each set includes a 520-piece jigsaw, a buildable frame and a multi-coloured adhesive LEDlight strip. Using a special heptachrome print and RGB Art technology, the completed jigsaw transforms to reveal three different images, depending on whether the light projects red, blue or green light. New for 2026, the Star Wars collection brings some of the saga's most iconic cinematic moments to life through visually striking designs. With seamless image transformation, lighting effects that reveal hidden details and a unique display piece to build and showcase, the range delivers an immersive experience that goes far beyond traditional product design. Inspired by the Star Wars prequel trilogy from Tatooine to the rise of the Empire, Metamorphic Episodes 1-2-3 traces Anakin Skywalker's journey to the dark side of the Force: the chosen child, the young Jedi and, finally, the legendary Darth Vader emerge through the three layers of colour. The Rebellion, the Empire and the Jedi alternate in Metamorphic Episodes 4-5-6 based on the original trilogy. The Death Star always remains at the centre of the scene, transforming with the light. The new generation of the galaxy comes to life with Metamorphic Episodes 7-8-9, centered on the final Skywalker trilogy. Three different themes alternate with the RGB LEDs: Luke with Rey and Ben Solo, the Resistance led by Rey, Finn, Poe, Han and Leia, and the dark side of Kylo Ren, Snoke and the Knights of Ren. While intended to appeal to fans of all ages, the range is particularly positioned to resonate with the growing kidult audience, combining nostalgia with innovative design.
Just Play uksales@justplayproducts.com 2026 sees Just Play enter the puzzles market with a partnership with The Lego Group to distribute the burgeoning collection of Lego-themed puzzles that promise to build a whole new category in the Games & Puzzles aisle. From summer, puzzle fans can spend mindful moments piecing together an array of beautiful new Lego Puzzles. A fantastic entry point into the range are the 100-piece Minifigures Blind Bag Puzzles – each builds a Lego minifigure character. Based on the traditional jigsaw, these collectable blind bags will be the perfect pick me up treat, stocking fillers or party bag favourites. With Lego fandom spanning the generations, there’s a wide selection of other puzzles for Lego fans and avid puzzlers to add to their collections too. The 300-piece Oversized Piece Puzzles have larger pieces to handle and four assorted titles to collect, while the 500-piece Minifigures Collage Puzzles have intricate images of crowds of minifigures to master. For bigger builds, the 1000-piece puzzles will set a challenge with titles such as Lego Icons Puzzles with images of favourite Lego builds, as well as four 1000-piece Botanicals Shaped Puzzles that create fantastic, impressive Lego floral displays. Built to last, each puzzle pieces together with the satisfying Lego brick “click” and comes with a poster to display. Families who loved Simon Jump Game Mat will be excited to hear of Just Play’s extended partnership with Hasbro to put a new spin on favourite games. Bop It! Jump Game Mat reimagines the classic 1990s game, with a modern, active play twist. Players must follow commands, using their feet to Bop It, Slide It, Split It on the interactive floor mat. This fun new way to play will improve memory, promote physical fitness and support hand-eye-foot coordination.
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Games & Puzzles
Plus-Plus 03330 500 144 | www.plus-plus.co.uk | info.uk@plus-plus.com
Plus-Plus is the ideal toy for open ended play offering the natural stepping stone for kids to move on from simple designs to more intricate ones by repeatedly building with the one shaped piece. With over fifty-five different colours across the range, the tubes and playsets contain basic instructions to get started for open ended play; or detailed step-by-step build instructions with specific themed tubes or sets. New tubes for the winter season – adding to the Christmas and Halloween range of fun characters – are the Snowman and Monster Mash 100pc tubes, and the Winter Foil Packs which are great pocket money character puzzles to keep kids entertained. They are also ideal for hanging on the Christmas tree once complete. Puzzle by Number Activity Pads contain 125 pieces, kept safely in a secure box, and contain twelve step-by-step activities to follow. The pads are perfect for on-the-go and have proved to be a big hit with families wanting to entertain their children whilst out and about. The themes of Space, Ocean, Fairytale and Transport were bolstered with the addition of Dinosaurs and Enchanted Forest in Spring and the Christmas pad celebrating the festive season is available to order now. The Plus-Plus Space Superset will be on general release from October. This bumper set from the Learn to Build range, contains one thousand pieces across a variety of sixteen colours, along with baseplates and wheels. Kids can discover simple and complex 3D inter-locking builds to replicate planets and other out-of-this-world objects such as aliens, rockets and spacemen to create their own cosmic environment. Plus-Plus Big is the perfect toy for little ones to start the journey into the world of construction. Suitable for children from the age of 1, they are large enough for small hands to hold, and kids can work with a parent or sibling to get started with their first builds. Plus-Plus Big Picture Puzzle Set is a great way for younger children to build a character, object or animal in 2D, using one of the eight double-sided cards as a guide, the finished build being the centrepiece of their artwork. The set contains ten different colours and offers sixteen different builds activities to choose from, giving kids a great range of builds to discover before they develop their own.
One For Fun www.oneforfun.com | sales@oneforfun.com One For Fun are constantly adding line extensions to the highly popular Muddle Puzzle range. The Metallic Muddle Puzzle Triple Pack is ideal for puzzle lovers who like a challenge. The set includes three metallic pieces, each with its own unique design and difficulty level. The first puzzle is a 3x3 cube, which requires careful planning and strategy to solve. The second puzzle is a star infinity puzzle, which is more complex and requires a bit more patience to complete. Finally, the third puzzle is a hexagon puzzle, which is perhaps the most challenging of them all. The Metallic Muddle Puzzle is also offered as a single item, the classic 3 x 3 cube with metallic colours on each side. For on-the-go play choose the Metallic Muddle Puzzle keyring. These newer items complement the existing range which includes the Muddle Puzzle Space Polygon, these infinite puzzles can be opened up, turned and twisted to various shapes showing off different space scenes as you move around the puzzle. The Muddle Puzzle Star starts as a star shape and features different colour patterns on each side, again made mostly from paper and card. Try the Double Muddle Puzzle or buy a mini muddle puzzle for when you are out and about. There are lots of great fidget toys to complement our existing Muddle Puzzle range. An updated version of our classic puzzle fiddle square, nine squares with different colours and designs to be shuffled and sorted quickly so they all show the same matching colours on each side. Re-imagined to offer a new challenge but still with that addictive play value, it is available in Rainbow and solid bright colours, along with mini and double versions. The award-winning Time Shock continues to be a best seller. A 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. For those Pushpopper lovers try and beat your best time with the Time Pop Light up Pushpopper game with five different game plays! In addition, Tic Tac Toe has been updated to Tic Tac Toast by incorporating our Scrunchem taba squishies, to form the ultimate tactile Tic Tac Toe game.
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Games & Puzzles Mattel 01628 500 000 www.mattel.com Mattel continues to strengthen its games portfolio with new ways to play, bringing fresh experiences to some of the world's most-loved games. From family game nights to social gatherings, this latest line-up offers something for every generation. Liar's Uno adds a surprising new twist to the classic card game everyone knows and loves. Players can bend the truth about the cards they play, but if another player calls their bluff, the Truth Teller unit reveals whether they're telling the truth or lying. With unexpected twists, strategic bluffing and plenty of laughter, Liar's Uno delivers an exciting new way to play one of the world's favourite card games. Pictionary Air Takeover brings an exciting new twist to the award-winning drawing game. Players sketch clues in the air using the digital pen while their creations appear on screen, creating hilarious moments as teams race against the clock to guess what's being drawn. Packed with interactive gameplay and larger-than-life fun, it's the ideal choice for family game nights and parties. Bring timeless style to the table with Scrabble Wood, a premium edition of the world's favourite word game. Featuring a beautifully crafted wooden board and elegant wooden tiles, this elevated version combines classic gameplay with sophisticated design, making it as much a statement piece as it is a family favourite. Perfect for display between games, Scrabble Wood offers a premium experience for dedicated word lovers and collectors alike. Fast-paced favourite Skip-Bo continues to bring friends and families together with easy-to-learn gameplay that's fun for all ages. Players use skill and strategy to create sequential stacks of cards while blocking their opponents from clearing their own stockpiles first.
Gibsons Games 020 8661 8866 | www.gibsonsgames.co.uk Gibsons Games is set to make autumn/winter 2026 bigger than ever with a collection of new games, puzzles and gifting ranges designed to delight families, puzzle enthusiasts and gift buyers alike. From addictive tabletop gameplay to premium puzzle experiences, the latest launches offer something for every customer this festive season. Leading the new games line-up is Not Mushroom, a highly addictive dexterity game that combines skill, strategy and plenty of suspense. Players carefully stack colourful wooden pieces to grow mushrooms on a fiendishly small playing board, competing to create the tallest fungi while avoiding disastrous tumbles. Once complete, players must harvest their mushrooms from the board to score points, adding an extra layer of challenge and excitement. Expanding the award-winning Art File Classic Games Collection, Gibsons is also introducing two beautiful new titles: Cribbage and Mahjong. Featuring the distinctive and muchloved artwork of The Art File, these premium editions combine classic gameplay with stunning design. Crafted using FSC-certified paper and responsibly sourced wood, both titles offer exceptional shelf appeal and make perfect gifts for games enthusiasts. Returning for another festive season is the Gibsons Jigsaw Puzzle Advent Calendar, available to order from September. The 2026 edition, Once Upon a Christmas, follows the hugely successful format of last year's Gift of the Year award-winning calendar. Behind each door awaits a beautifully illustrated mini jigsaw puzzle, creating a magical Advent experience that customers can enjoy throughout December. Featuring artwork from five exceptionally talented artists, the collection includes festive designs such as greeting cards, baubles, snowflakes, stars and gifts. Once completed, the mini puzzles can be assembled into decorations using the included puzzle adhesive, allowing puzzlers to create handcrafted festive decorations for their homes. Also launching this September is Stories Unbound, an entirely new premium puzzle range that transforms beloved literary classics into luxurious puzzle experiences. Designed to resemble elegant hardback books, each box opens to reveal a beautifully illustrated 1,000-piece puzzle enhanced with gold foil detailing and produced using Gibsons' high-quality recycled board. The inaugural collection launches with three titles: Jane Austen, Grimms' Fairy Tales and Paddington. Combining striking presentation with premium quality, Stories Unbound offers strong gifting appeal and is perfectly positioned for the Christmas market.
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Games & Puzzles Trends UK 01295 768 078 | info@trendsuk.co.uk Puzzles for the little ones are key to Trends UK’s licensed portfolio, with fun titles from Alphablocks to add to their play diet. The Alphablocks Jigword makes learning letters and early literacy skills exciting. Designed for children aged 3 and over, this colourful alphabet puzzle helps build confidence in letter recognition, letter sounds and early word building, all through playful, handson learning. The set includes 26 vibrant puzzle pieces, each featuring a familiar Alphablocks character. Children can match letters, practise their sounds and complete the alphabet puzzle. Once the alphabet is mastered, the pieces can be used to create simple words, encouraging phonetic blending and early spelling skills. Alphablocks Matchums also presents a fun way to learn the alphabet and is an interactive engaging matching game that brings early literacy to life. Enhancing picturematching skills. Players choose which side of a board to use and race to find all the cards that match the letters or pictures shown. With four different ways to play, children can progress from simple picture matching to more advanced pictureandletter matching, supporting a wide range of early learning stages. Finally, kids can build early reading confidence with the Alphablocks Word Builder, an engaging activity set designed to support phonics, letter recognition and early spelling skills. The set includes two levels of play to suit growing learners. Start with the yellow 3-letter boards, matching letters to pictures to build simple words and when ready for a challenge, progress to the blue 4-letter word boards. The entire range of puzzles and activities are designed to support key literacy skills including letter sounds, phonetic word building, picturetoword matching and sequencing adding a whole new dimension to early puzzle play.
Disney Lorcana 01869 363 830 | www.ravensburger.com | sales@ravensburger.com Due for pre-release on 16th October and available everywhere from 23rd October, Disney Lorcana TCG Set 14: Hyperia City is a magical, bustling metropolis which introduces fans and players across the world to a town where metro meets fantasy. Here you can join the likes of heroes, princesses, and a magical wizard or two. This set marks the debut of glimmers from Pixar’s Coco. In Hyperia City, exciting music-inspired themes unlock fresh ways to play. Players can explore a vibrant new environment filled with immersive experiences inspired by a diverse range of properties, characters, and stories within the realm of Lorcana. Pre-release boxes make their return in local game stores giving regular players a hold of on booster packs early, before the product becomes more widely available. This upcoming set release introduces an exciting collection of themed products such as booster packs or troves. From collectible cards to accessories, each item showcases stunning artwork and beloved Disney characters, making it a must-have release for players and collectors alike. Venture into the vine with the Illumineer’s Quest: The Great Hunny Rescue launching on 2nd October and embark on a quest to save Piglet from the vicious vine! ‘Pig-napped’ by some prickly tendrils. You'll navigate a "mulchtitude" of perils to rescue him but you’ll have some good friends by your side to help with the challenges along the way. But your mission doesn't end there. You must delve further into the roots and uncover the heart of this thorny problem. For 1-2 players with included decks, this popular cooperative game format also contains a game board, storage boxes to keep your cards safe, tokens and prize packs.
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Games & Puzzles All About Games www.aagc.games All About Games’ latest partnership is with The Space Collective, a UK specialist in authentic spaceflight artifacts. Together, they’re turning founder Richard Garner’s passion for trading card games and his love of space into an exciting new product: Star Heroes TCG. Star Heroes TCG follows the familiar format of starter decks and booster packs, but the similarities to other games end there. Some packs will contain special rare cards that have embedded pieces of actual material from real world space missions. Star Heroes won’t just be giving collectors chance to own pieces of spaceflight history, though. It also offers innovative gameplay as players command Star Heroes to explore the galaxy and race to secure territories before their opponents. The collectable cards represent warships, space stations and new technologies, all illustrated in a 3D hard-surface art style that is more reminiscent of videogame graphics than simple card illustrations. The All About Games team have been working hard alongside The Space Collective team to bring Star Heroes TCG to the masses. Thanks to their combined efforts, they recently announced that TCG experts, Zvezdar will be the exclusive distributor for European and UK distribution of Star Heroes TCG. The launch is planned for 2027. This first wave of product will feature four Starter Decks, one for each faction in the game and each with their own play style. Booster boxes containing 24 Booster Packs of 12 cards will allow players to expand their collections and chase the rare cards that contain spaceflight materials.
Golden Bear Toys www.goldenbeartoys.com customerservices@goldenbeartoys.co.uk Golden Bear Toys is expanding its Bear Faced Games range this autumn/winter with three standout launches designed to capture key consumer trends and drive seasonal sales. Combining nostalgia, social play, Cup Challenge and K-Pop Demon Hunters: Truth or Dare Game; and Hankman, one of the year's hottest entertainment licences, all offer retailers fresh opportunities to attract shoppers looking for accessible, giftable games in the run-up to Christmas. Leading the line-up is K-Pop Demon Hunters: Truth or Dare Game, a party game inspired by the hit Netflix film. Designed for ages 8+ and the film's growing fanbase, it blends entertaining questions with K-Pop-inspired dares, while an electronic Honesty Device lights up to reveal whether players are telling the truth, adding drama, anticipation and plenty of laughs. Perfect for sleepovers and family game nights, it taps into one of the year's biggest licences while delivering a genuinely engaging and authentic gameplay experience. With a hugely recognisable brand and an already engaged global fandom behind it, K-Pop Demon Hunters: Truth or Dare Game brings fresh excitement to the party games category and offers retailers a timely opportunity to capitalise on strong consumer demand. Also joining the range is Cup Challenge, a fast-paced party game inspired by the viral TikTok trend. Complete with everything needed to play straight out of the box, it transforms a social media craze into a structured, reusable and gift-ready experience. With two gameplay options included and rules that can easily be adapted for different ages and occasions, it's designed to keep families and friends coming back for more. Completing the line-up is Hankman, a fresh take on the classic word-guessing game. Players race to solve the mystery word before Hank falls, with every incorrect guess adding another magnetic piece to the character. Blending instant familiarity with a modern twist, Hankman delivers quick, screen-free gameplay while subtly encouraging spelling skills, making it a strong choice for family games nights. The new range will be supported by a fully integrated PR, influencer and digital marketing campaign, complemented by retailer support materials designed to maximise visibility both in-store and online. Retailers will also have access to demonstration stock to help drive shopper engagement, supported by premium content and strategic marketing activity that builds awareness, encourages trial and converts interest into sales during the peak gifting season.
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The Christmas day board game is as part of the big day as the fortune telling cracker fish and pretending we all like sprouts. So make sure you’re stocked up with some Big Potato favourites!
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Stock-up or find out more by chatting to our very own Big Potato elves at trade@bigpotato.co.uk
Games & Puzzles NDA Toys 01708 898 038 | www.nda-toys.com | sales@nda-toys.com Final Flip is a brand-new fast-paced card game designed to deliver big moments, constant surprises and outstanding re-playability. Suitable for 2–8 players aged 8+, each game lasts around 20 minutes, making it ideal for family game nights, parties, holidays and travel. Unlike traditional card games where players can often predict the outcome, Final Flip introduces a hidden-card mechanic that keeps everyone guessing until the very last turn. Players race to get rid of their hand cards and face-up cards before relying on three hidden facedown cards that can completely change the result of the game. Combined with powerful action cards including Burn, Rewind, Swap and Invisible, every round creates new twists, dramatic comebacks and memorable moments. One of Final Flip's biggest strengths is its accessibility. The rules can be learned in just a couple of minutes, allowing families and mixed-age groups to start playing almost immediately, while the hidden information and strategic decision-making keep experienced players coming back for more. With 110 high-quality cards included, Final Flip offers excellent value and exceptional replayability. No two games ever play the same, making it a title players want to bring out again and again. From a retailer's perspective, Final Flip has been designed to be an easy product to merchandise and sell. The compact box makes it ideal for shelves, gift displays and counter promotions while its striking blue packaging creates excellent stand-out in-store. The sub-£10 price point also makes it an attractive impulse purchase and gift option throughout the year. To support retailers, NDA Toys has developed a comprehensive marketing package including premium Amazon A+ content, professional lifestyle photography, social media assets and point-of-sale imagery. Extensive digital advertising and promotional activity will accompany the launch to help build consumer awareness and drive demand. Final Flip represents the first title in what we hope will become an expanding family of games under the Final Flip brand.
Lisciani +39 0861 2311 | www.liscianigiochi.com | jeremyrobinson@liscianigiochi.it Lisciani is proud to introduce its new Adult Puzzle collection, a new segment that expands the company’s offering beyond children’s educational games, bringing its expertise in design and engaging experiences to a wider audience. Designed for adults, collectors and art enthusiasts, this new range responds to an emerging trend in the Games & Puzzles category: the desire for relaxing, screen-free activities that offer a moment of concentration, creativity and personal enjoyment. The new Lisciani Adult Puzzle collection combines high-quality materials, carefully selected images and innovative formats, transforming puzzle building into a complete experience that goes beyond the traditional game. These products are designed not only as leisure activities, but also as collectible items and meaningful gift ideas for consumers who look for products connected to their passions and interests. A highlight of the collection is Puzzle & Gift Set Art, an elegant line celebrating some of the most iconic masterpieces in art history. Featuring works by renowned artists such as Monet, Van Gogh, Klimt and Hokusai, each set includes a 500-piece puzzle together with exclusive gift items inspired by the artwork, including bookmarks, postcards and gift tags. This unique combination transforms each puzzle into a refined gift collection, perfect for art lovers and anyone looking for a creative and inspiring experience. Another innovative proposal is Puzzle & Tarot, a concept that combines the pleasure of puzzle building with the fascinating world of Tarot. Available in two versions, Japanese Tarot and Pagan Cats Tarot, these collections include a 500-piece puzzle and a beautifully illustrated deck of 78 Tarot cards. Enriched by an instructional booklet, the sets offer a unique experience that combines illustration, symbolism and collecting, appealing to enthusiasts of art, alternative lifestyles and creative hobbies. With this new Adult Puzzle collection, Lisciani enters a growing segment by bringing its distinctive approach to play: creating products that are engaging, beautifully designed and capable of offering meaningful experiences. From educational games for children to experiences that promote relaxation and personal well-being for adults, Lisciani continues to explore new ways to inspire curiosity, imagination and enjoyment across generations.
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Games & Puzzles
Spin Master 01628 535 000 | www.spinmaster.com Get ready for a new kind of challenge with Rubik’s Rush, an electronic game designed to test your speed and sequencing skills in a thrilling, fast-paced challenge where players race to press the buttons that match the random light-up colour sequence. The goal is to find and complete the line the fastest. Play solo or with up to four players for a multiplayer match. As you advance, the sequences get faster and more complex, keeping the challenge fresh. It’s a stimulating brain teaser that offers a different way to enjoy Rubik’s. Jumanji The Game is the latest edition of the legendary board game which brings the exciting jungle adventure movie to life. Your goal is to reach Jumanji (the centre) and call out its name. On each turn, roll dice and move along the path, using the centre decoder to reveal a riddle that you must solve with your dice to move on. Jumanji The Game is the exciting adventure game suitable for 2 to 4 players, ages 8 and up. In Jumanji The Ultimate Level, Jumanji has escaped into the real world and brought the jungle with it. To stop its takeover and save the city, your group must race to the temple and close Jumanji’s doors. On your journey, you’ll follow Nigel’s commands on when to take, trade, and use the survival tools. The further you drive, the faster his commands get. Keep up the pace or else Jumanji won’t return to its rightful place. Players must press the right button on the Electronic City centre in time to avoid danger. If they hit the wrong button, they lose a life. For 2-4 players, ages 6 and up.
Konami Digital Entertainment BV 01753 271 737 | www.yugioh-card.com/uk Magnificent Monsters celebrates the legacy of the first six Yu-Gi-Oh! series’ heroes and features 18 of their iconic cards reimagined with new abilities. Duelists will find new versions of inspired cards from Yugi, Jaden and other heroes from the Yu-Gi-Oh! series, including Dark Magician, the Pharaoh’s Servant, Kuriboh – Multiply!, Dark Magical Curtain, Stardust Dragon – Victim Sanctuary, Favourite Hero Flame Wingman and Winged Kuriboh Sabatiel LV10. As well as standard, fully playable Ultra Rare copies of these 18 cards, Duelists can also expect extended art versions available as Ultra Rare and Starlight Rare, the latter utilising new rainbow card borders. Also being introduced in this set are Grand Master Rares, a brand-new rarity with hieroglyphic borders. Only the 18 reimagined cards receive Grand Master Rare versions and are serial numbered from 001 to 100. There will be 100 per card for the Americas (North, Central and South America combined), and another 100 per card for all markets distributed from Europe (Europe, Oceania, Africa and the Middle East). The latter will have an "E" at the end of the serial number. All Grand Master Rares will be in English, but can be found in French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish packs, as well as English packs. On top of this, Magnificent Monsters also features 20 new or variant art cards seen in the anime, including Orichalcos Sword of Sealing and Rainbow Bridge Bifrost, and adds 10 chibi-style variant art versions of cards from A Bao A Qu, the Lightless Shadow and Divine Arsenal AA–Zeus – Sky Thunder to Dark Ruler No More and Sky Striker Mobilize – Engage!. Six brand-new boss monsters are also making their debut, one for each Special Summoning type. Each of these is a new version of a popular existing monster from that Summon type, from the Nightmare-Eyes Restrict Fusion Monster to Galaxy-Eyes Antimatter Dragon for Xyz Monsters and Crystron Halqifibrax Prism for Link Monsters. Rounding out Magnificent Monsters are 40 cards receiving foil upgrades for the first time, including recent favourites and cards from the past. Along with that, Duelists get another chance at sought-after cards as the 40 reprinted cards are split into two pools. To help ensure Duelists can acquire these cards, a "slots" system is being used where certain cards have been carefully assigned to each position in the pack. Each box of Magnificent Monsters has three packs, with five Ultra Rare cards per pack and three extra cards as Secret Rare, with a chance to upgrade to Starlight Rare.
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Games & Puzzles Hachette Boardgames 07424 900 264 | www.hachetteboardgames.co.uk floisier@hachetteboardgames.co.uk Hachette’s card game line-up continues to expand with a diverse selection of new releases spanning family games, strategy titles and modern tabletop experiences. The latest additions include four small-box games designed to offer strong shelf appeal while bringing accessible gameplay to both families and dedicated gamers. Snake Charmers, from Edition Spielwiese, combines bluffing and deduction in a game from the famous Brand family, while Omens from Spiral Editions introduces a limited-communication, trick-taking card-shedding team game featuring gold-detailed tarot-style cards. Kodama Games, recently rebranded from Lumberjack Studios, brings Moustache to the range, a fast and colourful trick-taking game where teams change and rules evolve with each round. Gigamic’s latest addition to its popular bevel box line, Ipso, challenges players to swap cards and build pyramids in a game that is easy to teach and plays in 15 minutes. The line-up also includes larger-box releases for players looking for deeper experiences. Mythologies from Super Meeple is a richly illustrated and thoroughly researched tableau-builder in which players develop mythologies through a distinctive drafting mechanism. With a playtime of only 10 minutes per player, the game is designed to deliver high engagement while keeping downtime to a minimum. From Sorry We Are French and William Attia, the renowned designer behind Caylus, comes Greylune, a worker placement game set in a medieval fantasy world. Hachette is also welcoming two big-box titles from GRRRE Games, the studio behind the quirky tableau-builder Strange Worlds Above the Clouds. Dwarves of Aquilon combines coin management and bidding mechanics with the comic book universe of Dwarves from author Nicolas Jarry and publisher Éditions Soleil, challenging players to discover new strategies and scoring opportunities. Salamandra adds another worker-placement experience to the range, with the brand-new engine-building game co-designed by Johannes Goupy, known for Faraway and Space Lab. Gigamic’s Akropolis line also welcomes its newest title, Odysseus. This family-friendly drafting and tile-laying game invites players to face myths, outwit the gods and shape their destiny. It is ideal for fans of this summer’s epic fantasy blockbuster, The Odyssey. Scorpion Masqué’s 2025 hit, Tag Team, returns with Tag Team: Arthur’s Legacy, a standalone game compatible with the original and featuring six new fighters inspired by the legends of King Arthur. The next release in the series has already been announced for 2027: Tag Team: SNK Arcade Legends. Further additions to the Hachette line-up include the Zenith: Secret Agents booster pack, which adds further replayability to Zenith from PlayPunk, winner of the As d’Or Best Intermediate Game award. Hachette UK has also recently announced that it is now the exclusive distributor for Mechs vs. Minions, published by Incredible Dream in partnership with Riot Games. Retailers interested in stocking the cooperative programming game, set in the League of Legends universe, can contact the Hachette UK sales team.
Zatu www.distribution.zatu.com | trade@zatu.com Zatu Distribution enters the autumn season with a high-impact lineup tailored for every UK retailer. By organising its catalogue into targeted categories, Zatu makes it simple for stockists to match the right games to their customer demographic, supported by comprehensive marketing support and PR activities. The Licensed Hits collection brings together games inspired by established entertainment properties. PAC-MAN Craze Maze is a fast-paced card game aimed at fans of titles such as Skyjo, with players building iconic mazes card-by-card in a lightweight strategy experience. Cyberpunk: Edgerunners – Hunted brings the award-winning anime series to the tabletop as a real-time cooperative game, with players carrying out high-stakes raids across Night City. Tomb Raider: The Crypt of Chronos marks Lara Croft’s first sprawling tabletop adventure game, offering thematic gameplay for fans of narrative-led experiences. Zatu’s “Triple A” range (Anytime, Anywhere, Anyone) focuses on accessible games with broad appeal and quick-to-understand gameplay. Yubibo, which has received coverage from the BBC and which performed strongly at London Toy Fair and UK Games Expo, is a cooperative dexterity game where players balance floating wooden structures directly between their fingers. Tally Up!, created by the designer behind Flip 7, is a press-your-luck dice game presented in a compact metal travel tin, making it suited to smaller displays and impulse purchases. You Know It!, created by Jon Gracey of No Rolls Barred, combines trivia with social deduction and bluffing mechanics, challenging players to consider not only what they know, but what others might know. The game is supported by an established online fanbase. Rebirth, winner of the Kennerspiel des Jahres award, is a tile-placement game in which players rebuild future Scotland and Ireland. Designed for those moving beyond entry-level hobby titles such as Catan and Ticket to Ride, it offers a next step for consumers looking to explore more strategic gameplay. For younger players, the First Turns range includes games designed to be enjoyed with or without adult support. The Smart Books series combines physical branching-narrative books with interactive augmented-reality (AR) tablet and smartphone apps, bringing stories to life through digital puzzles and changing story paths. The system has also been licensed to adapt Sir Ian Livingstone’s Fighting Fantasy universe. All key lines are supported by dedicated digital assets, marketing campaigns and PR activity.
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Light & Sound Effects and Electronic Scoring!
Talking + Realistic Light & Sound Effects!
Interactive Electronic Chess Game www.lexibook.com For sales, please contact David Pannett. Email: davidpannett@lexibook.com / Phone: 07501770855 ©Lexibook®
Games & Puzzles Rachel Lowe Games & Puzzles www.rachellowe.co.uk | rachel@rachellowe.co.uk Rachel Lowe Games & Puzzles is inviting retailers to bring the warmth, nostalgia and family appeal of the BBC’s The Repair Shop to their shelves with two complementary products: Destination The Repair Shop Board Game and a colourful 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle. Created by renowned game designer Rachel Lowe MBE, Destination The Repair Shop captures the wholesome spirit of the much-loved programme while giving fans a new way to enjoy it together. Rachel went behind the scenes to reveal the finished game to members of the show’s cast, including woodwork expert Will Kirk, who gave it an enthusiastic reception. In the board game, players become “Guardians of Heirlooms”, travelling between Destinations in their own Repair Shop vans. Their mission is to collect treasured objects – from antique clocks to old train sets – and return them safely to The Repair Shop Barn, earning Repair Shop Stars along the way. The journey combines accessible family play with light strategy. Players must manage fuel, negotiate traffic lights and avoid the cost of landing on a rival’s Destination, while heirlooms revealed at The Barn can unlock valuable bonus stars. The player with the most stars at the end wins. Suitable for age 8+, the game offers retailers a strong proposition for family gaming, gifting and fans of the television series. The Destination The Repair Shop 1,000-piece Jigsaw Puzzle extends the range into the enduring adult and family puzzling category. Its detailed, vibrant artwork offers hours of absorbing entertainment, whether enjoyed alone or together, and makes a natural companion purchase to the board game. It is also suitable for age 8+. Both products are manufactured in FSC-accredited factories using responsibly sourced materials. Together, they offer stockists recognisable licensed appeal, attractive gifting price points and an easy opportunity for cross-merchandising across games, puzzles and television-inspired products.
Smart Toys & Games 01903 885 669 | uk@smart.be As consumer demand for engaging, screen-free entertainment continues to grow, Smart Toys & Games is entering the autumn season with a strong portfolio of new games and puzzles designed to deliver innovation, longevity and standout shelf appeal. Combining award-winning design with fresh concepts and licensed collections, the latest launches offer retailers multiple opportunities to drive incremental sales across preschool, family games, brainteasers and gifting. Leading the new autumn introductions is Tiptoe Dino, an engaging preschool game that blends imaginative play with skill-based fun. Young players must carefully guide their dinosaurs across the game board without stepping on the eggs, encouraging problem solving, fine motor skills and concentration. With vibrant components, intuitive gameplay and broad family appeal, Tiptoe Dino is perfectly positioned for retailers looking to strengthen their preschool games offering. Joining the award-winning SmartGames preschool range is Logic Lane, a single-player puzzle game that challenges young players to find the correct spots for the colourful wooden blocks whilst navigating the increasingly complex logic challenges using deduction and problem-solving skills. Tactile pieces that are easy to grab, replayable and suitable for gifting, it continues the SmartGames formula that has made the brand a destination for premium brainteasers and educational play. Also arriving for autumn is Express Courier, a clever logistics-themed puzzle that sees players planning delivery routes to complete progressively more challenging missions. Combining strategic thinking with satisfying gameplay, it offers the depth puzzle fans have come to expect from SmartGames while introducing an accessible new theme and game mechanic that broadens the range's appeal. The ever-popular IQ collection also receives a premium upgrade with two new deluxe editions this autumn. IQ Deluxe – IQ Star reimagines one of the brand's bestselling concepts with a new constellation, challenging players to fit colourful star-shaped pieces into increasingly difficult puzzles. Alongside it, IQ Deluxe – IQ Puzzler combines multiple puzzle formats within one sophisticated package, delivering exceptional replay value and an ideal premium gifting proposition. With the popularity of the IQ range continuing to grow, the deluxe editions provide retailers with an excellent gift offering for teens and adults this festive season. Completing the autumn launches is Croco Tiles, a colourful compact puzzle game that develops logical thinking and spatial reasoning through a series of engaging tile-placement challenges. Suitable for a wide age range, it reinforces Smart Toys & Games' reputation for creating games that combine educational benefits with genuine play value. Beyond its latest SmartGames introductions, the company is continuing to expand its licenced puzzle offering. The stunning Disney Crystal Gallery collection transforms favourite Disney characters into striking crystal-effect 3D display puzzles, tapping into the growing demand for collectible build-and-display products while appealing to Disney fans and gift buyers alike. Meanwhile, the Huzzle Zelda puzzle collection brings together premium metal brainteasers inspired by the iconic video game franchise, offering retailers an opportunity to capitalise on the continued popularity of gaming licences with older children, teens and adult collectors. With innovation, quality and proven consumer appeal at the heart of every launch, Smart Toys & Games continues to strengthen its position within the games and puzzles category. Backed by strong brand recognition, award-winning product development and a diverse portfolio spanning preschool, family games, brainteasers and licensed collectibles, the autumn range gives retailers every reason to make Smart Toys & Games a key feature of their seasonal games offering.
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Durable decks for messy adventures
The return of everyone’s favourite Heeler family in playing cards!
OUT NOW Frantic Stitch flavoured card gameplay for the whole family
©Disney
Want to learn more about our products? scott.garnerbundy-higgs@cartamundi.com +44 791 817 8116 Cartamundi UK Ltd. - Admirals Park, Victory Way, Dartford, DA2 6QD
Games & Puzzles
Skillmatics 01244 940 200 david.kelly@skillmaticsworld.com
Skillmatics is expanding its best-selling games and puzzles portfolio in 2026, introducing exciting new gameplay and extending its on-the-go range with new formats. Popular favourites Guess in 10 and Rapid Rumble continue to deliver fast-paced, easy-to-learn family fun, while new launch Sync or Sink introduces a lively party-game format filled with hilarious challenges centred on teamwork, quick thinking and staying perfectly in sync. Skillmatics is supporting the best-selling games portfolio with comprehensive marketing and a strong programme of instore activity. Branded display areas, counter display units and free-standing display units will help maximise visibility and engagement at retail throughout 2026. Family influencer campaigns have generated earned social reach of nearly five million in the UK, bringing the Skillmatics brand to life through authentic content. New party game Sync or Sink sees pairs attempt to think, shout or act in harmony. Players must match their partner's response or risk spelling S-I-N-K and being eliminated, with six varied categories keeping every round fresh and hilariously unpredictable. The award-winning Guess in 10 games range is more popular than ever, with editions spanning a wide variety of interests. Guess in 10 Animals challenges players to identify the animal on the card by asking up to 10 clever yes-or-no questions. Clue Cards and Bonus Questions add an extra layer of strategy to the easy-to-learn game, which is suitable for ages six and over. The successful format is also expanding through new Guess in 10 On the Go and Guess in 10 Minis ranges. Each compact edition brings the same smart questioning and fast-paced fun to a portable and pocket-money formats designed for quick play at home or on the move. A firm family favourite, Rapid Rumble challenges players to solve category clues and race to discard their letter cards. Featuring 120 categories spanning animals, culture, science and nature, it combines quick thinking, learning and lively family competition.
VR Distribution 0330 088 0941 | www.vrdist.co.uk VR Distribution approaches the important autumn trading season with one of its strongest games portfolios to date, featuring both established international successes and some of the most exciting new party and family games entering UK retail. Leading the way is Skyjo, the immensely popular family card game from Magilano. Established as one of Europe’s leading games brands, Skyjo has built a huge international following. After being primarily available online in the UK for several years, VR Distribution is now bringing Skyjo fully into bricks-and-mortar retail. Skyjo is easy to learn, highly addictive and suitable for a wide age range. Players compete to achieve the lowest score by swapping, revealing and removing cards from their grid. Its accessibility, replay value and instantly recognisable packaging make it an excellent choice for toy, gift, hobby and general retailers. Skyjo is available now, with significant marketing support planned throughout Q4. Another major focus is Taco vs Burrito, the fast-paced card game that has sold over one million copies in the US. Famously created by a seven-year-old, the game combines simple rules with strategy, interaction, and plenty of unpredictable moments as players compete to build the most valuable meal. Following its success across major US retailers, VR Distribution is now backing its UK launch with a significant stock commitment and marketing campaign. VR is also seeing continued strong growth from Lucky Egg, which is rapidly establishing itself as one of the leading names in the UK party-game market. Grab the Mic has become a major retail success and is now a regular fixture across many UK retailers. Misheard Music has also performed strongly since its launch last year, further strengthening Lucky Egg’s position in the category. For 2026, Lucky Egg is expanding the range again with Snort Funny, Poppin’ Panic and Stack It, giving retailers further opportunities to build on that momentum. Snort Funny is a fast, laugh-out-loud challenge game, while Poppin’ Panic and Stack It continue Lucky Egg’s focus on accessible, visual and highly social gameplay. Lucky Egg continues to be strong with social media influence, making their games popular all year round. VR is also continuing to build momentum behind Magical Athlete and Hot Streak from CMYK. Magical Athlete combines racing with an ever-changing cast of unusual characters, each with their own special abilities, while Hot Streak is a fast and entertaining betting game centred around a brilliantly ridiculous line-up of racing competitors. Across the portfolio, VR Distribution will be supporting its key games throughout the Christmas period with digital advertising, social media, PR, retailer activity and demonstration content. The clear trend remains towards games that can be explained quickly, generate immediate interaction and laughter, but still offer enough replayability to keep consumers coming back.
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Games & Puzzles University Games 0207 254 0100 | www.university-games.co.uk From family favourites and licenced titles to immersive experiences, educational play and creative gifting, University Games’ and Lagoon’s Games and Puzzles ranges offer retailers exciting opportunities throughout the autumn and festive selling season. New for autumn are two exciting additions to University Games’ ever-popular Murder Mystery Party range. Joining the collection is The Madame Blanc Mysteries: Lights, Camera, Murder, an officially licensed murder mystery dinner party game inspired by the hit television series. Written exclusively by series creator and star Sally Lindsay, players step into the glamorous world of Sainte Victoire to solve a brand-new mystery packed with intrigue, hidden motives and unexpected twists. Alongside this arrives Fatal FOMO, a fast-paced social deduction game where players interrogate the killer, uncover clues and race to solve a series of twelve compelling murder cases. Building on the success of Lagoon’s bestselling Botanicals 3D Puzzle Collection come two stunning new larger floral additions. An elegant Tulips & Lilies arrangement and an eye-catching Orchid bouquet join the successful Carnations, Roses and Sunflower designs, expanding the range of forever flower puzzles that offer consumers a mindful build before becoming an attractive decorative display piece. Three new Dyce Games family titles also join the range this autumn. First To Worst challenges players to rank how friends and family think about a huge variety of topics, while First To Worst Kids brings the same entertaining gameplay to younger players aged five and over. Completing the trio, This or That uses fun either-or questions to reveal just how well players know one another. Quick to learn and packed with laugh-out-loud moments, they are ideal for family game nights, parties, holidays, and get-togethers with friends. Expect plenty of friendly competition, surprising opinions, and unforgettable debates as every round sparks new conversations and lots of laughter. Licenced products remain central to University Games’ portfolio, with an ever-growing collection of games and puzzles featuring many of today’s best-loved brands. Children's favourites including Dog Man, Paddington, Roald Dahl and Horrible Histories feature across board games, card games and puzzles designed to encourage family play while capitalising on the enduring popularity of these trusted licences. Educational play continues to thrive with The Learning Journey introducing exciting new Peppa Pig and That's Not My… collections. The Peppa Pig range features My First Match It! tins, a Magnetic Sort and Learn Colours game and a Lift and Learn Puzzle, combining favourite characters with proven educational play. Inspired by Usborne's bestselling books, the That's Not My… collection includes tactile touch-and-feel Floor Puzzles, 4-in-1 Puzzle Sets and My First Match It! games, encouraging sensory discovery, early learning and fine motor skill development. The bestselling National Geographic How Things Work 3D Puzzle range combines STEAM learning with imaginative construction play. Featuring builds including a Blast Off Rocket, Racing Car, Vacuum Cleaner, Hydraulic Lift, Periscope and Parachute Launcher, each set includes an illustrated guide explaining the science and engineering behind the model, making every build both educational and entertaining For families who love a sporting challenge, the fun, fast-paced Pocket Dice range is perfect for all ages and occasions. Featuring Football, Cricket and Tennis editions, alongside licensed football club versions including Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City, Newcastle, Tottenham Hotspur and England, these compact games are ideal for holidays, days out and quick-fire competitive fun.
ScansMatter www.thewhiskersacademy.com emiel@thewhiskersacademy.com ScansMatter is introducing Whiskers Academy to the Games & Puzzles market, with an official release scheduled for September 2026. In this competitive card game, cats in blazers scheme, study and steal their way to the top. At Whiskers Academy, players take on the role of one of six unique cat characters competing to build their future. Players collect Education Cards faster than their rivals to unlock their dream career and claim victory. Along the way, they can block, sabotage and outsmart other players using a variety of playful tactics. Designed for players who enjoy light strategy, playful sabotage and high replayability, the game has a competitive and light-hearted tone rather than being rules-heavy. Players race to collect Education Cards, unlock a dream career and finish ahead of their rivals. The game is easy to learn while offering enough interaction and disruption to remain engaging over repeated sessions. Players can block, sabotage and outsmart each other using tactical effects. Whiskers Academy is positioned as a family-friendly and teen-friendly title with a premium presentation and a unique art style and visual identity. Key selling points include a premium-feel box and card material, strong replayability for casual and mixed-experience groups and accessibility for younger players, with enough depth for teens and adults.
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Games & Puzzles Thames & Kosmos 01580 212 000 | www.thamesandkosmos.co.uk Fresh from the Gen-Con launches, Thames & Kosmos has two highly anticipated games that are now available in the UK as well two new licensed jigsaw puzzles based on the popular Fourth Wing series of books. The Crew: Journey to the Ends of the Earth is the long awaited third instalment of the Crew trick taking series. It’s an exciting adventure for long-time fans of The Crew and first-time players alike where players travel around the world in a race against time on the hunt for Charlemagne’s secret treasure. Players have to follow clues that will lead them up Mount Everest, through the Amazon Rainforest, and beyond. New mission mechanics introduced in this edition of the Crew series take players through 25 stages of their journey, each with their own challenging mission. The ever-popular The Gang game gets a serious upgrade with the new Deluxe Edition which contains all the fun and challenge of the original Gang, now with deluxe game materials and bonus expansions. The Gang is an innovative, cooperative version of a poker game in which players bet on how good they think their hand of cards will be relative to the other players, and then try to make their predictions a reality. The Gang: Deluxe comes with all the supplies and rules for the base game with upgrades and additions including casino quality playing cards, ceramic poker chips with a metal-core, 3D gold bars and alarms, a playmat, all the mini expansions (Jokers & more, Tools of the Trade) as well as ‘The Dealer’ which is a Deluxe edition exclusive. It also comes with the recently launched more players expansion that enables up to 10 players instead of the standard six. Thames & Kosmos has recently launched two beautifully illustrated jigsaw puzzles based on hugely popular Fourth Wing series of books. These licenced 500-piece jigsaw puzzles are ideal for fans of the successful book series about Violet Sorrengail and make an ideal gift or addition to fans of romantic fantasy and the successful Empyrean series.
John Adams Leisure 01480 414 361 | sales@johnadams.co.uk John Adams Leisure is gearing up for the autumn season with a portfolio of family games, combining licensed favourites, established bestsellers and new launches. With products for pre-schoolers, families and adult gamers, the range offers retailers opportunities across the Christmas trading period. Young Bluey fans will find the new Bluey Splash Time Game, launching in October. Featuring water-filled surprises and the much-loved Bluey character in her bath, this preschool game brings a water-based element to family play. John Adams has also welcomed the Billionaire Board Games range to its distribution portfolio, developed by young entrepreneur Shaye Sharma, who pitched his games on TV's Dragons’ Den programme at the age of just 15. Football Billionaire, Football Billionaire Match Attax Edition, Billionaire and Chase the Base are all in stock and available now, giving retailers access to a range of family titles. Returning favourite Silly Sausage is back with refreshed packaging while retaining the fast-paced gameplay that has helped it sell more than one million units worldwide. Players race to twist, shake and stretch the sausage as quickly as they can, making it suited to impulse purchases within the family games category. Fans of cosy crime can explore the world of Midsomer Murders with the new official board game. Players investigate cases by uncovering clues, interviewing suspects and piecing together evidence using the game’s clue revealer. The game is aimed at fans of the TV series as well as players who enjoy accessible deduction games. Inspired by the BBC series, the Race Across the World board game lets players recreate the adventure at home. Updated for 2026, the game features brand-new maps and a large doublesided game board, adding a new format to the licensed family games range. Meanwhile, the premium Aura Editions of Monopoly and Scrabble bring a new look to the two board games. Featuring glass-effect boards, iridescent finishes and translucent playing pieces, the Aura range gives the games a different presentation while retaining their established gameplay. Supporting the range, John Adams will deliver a marketing campaign spanning digital advertising, PR, influencer partnerships and social media, with activity planned throughout the peak selling season.
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NEW FROM THE NATIONAL RAILWAY MUSEUM Inspired by the National Railway Museum’s iconic railway poster collection, this new range from Robert Frederick transforms vintage travel artwork into jigsaws and paint by numbers. Combining authentic heritage, creativity and collectability, the collection offers retailers a distinctive new proposition for the gifting category. More information on the range can be found at robert-frederick-trade.co.uk
©SCMG Enterprises LTD
Games & Puzzles
Lexibook 07501 770 855 | www.lexibook.com | davidpannett@lexibook.com
In a market where retailers are constantly looking for products that combine strong consumer appeal and genuine play value, Lexibook continues to deliver. With decades of experience and an established position in electronic games, Lexibook has built its reputation on getting the balance right: innovation, impressive specifications and value for money. The result is a portfolio of products designed not simply to sit on the shelf, but to attract attention, encourage play and deliver repeat sales. Three products in particular demonstrate why the electronic games category remains an important part of the Lexibook offering. Electronic Multi-Language Talking Battleships brings a hightech twist to a timeless game, bringing naval combat to life with realistic sound and light effects. Designed for one or two players, children can battle against the computer or challenge a friend, with the winner being the first to sink their opponent’s five ships. Two difficulty levels add longevity, while four language options broaden its international appeal. From the sounds of firing and missed shots to the audio confirmation of a hit or sunken ship, every game is designed to create an immersive experience. Flashing lights add further excitement whenever a vessel is hit or sunk. The game offers retailers a combination of features and gameplay appeal. Arcade nostalgia meets electronic play value with the Electronic Retro Pinball. With its striking retro design, digital scoring and authentic sound and light effects, the game delivers the excitement of pinball in a compact and accessible format. Players can compete against friends or aim to beat their own high score, encouraging repeat play. Four flippers and five bumpers create plenty of action, while two stands allow players to find their ideal playing angle. The reset function and option to switch off the music add practical touches that make this an easy-to-enjoy addition to the games category. For retailers looking to offer a more sophisticated electronic gaming proposition, Chessman Elite Electronic Chess combines classic strategy with advanced technology. Featuring 64 difficulty levels, four game modes and a powerful chess computer rated at Elo 1800, it offers a progressive experience for players of different abilities. Training mode provides guidance, while 16 LEDs display moves played on the board. Advanced functions including hint, take back, verify, move and set up give players the tools to develop their skills, while player-versus-player and player-versus-computer modes ensure flexibility and longevity. These three products encapsulate the Lexibook philosophy: games, technology, impressive specifications and value for money.
Cartamundi 01268 511 522 | www.cartamundi.com scott.garnerbundy-higgs@cartamundi.com Bicycle Games continues to expand its collection with three new additions designed to bring people together through fun, accessible gameplay. Hogwash, Trash and Cats in the Corner each offer a different play experience while delivering the quality and entertainment value consumers have come to expect from the Bicycle brand. Hogwash is a fast-paced bluffing game where imagination and persuasion are the keys to victory. Players are challenged to spot the real answer among a collection of clever fabrications, while also creating convincing responses of their own. The result is a highly interactive game packed with laughter, surprises and memorable moments. Every round encourages creativity and quick thinking, making Hogwash a strong choice for parties, family gatherings and social occasions. With gameplay that changes every time it is played, it delivers strong replay value and keeps players coming back for more. For those looking for a simple yet engaging card game, Trash offers an easy-to-learn experience that appeals to a wide range of ages. Players race to complete their card sequence before their opponents, creating a mix of luck, timing and decision-making. Suitable for both children and adults, Trash is ideal for family game nights, travel, holidays and everyday entertainment. Its accessibility makes it a useful introduction to card gaming, while its competitive gameplay ensures lasting appeal for repeat play. Adding a playful twist to the range, Cats in the Corner combines engaging gameplay with a cat-themed design. Players strategically place and organise cards while navigating an everchanging playing area, balancing tactical thinking with light-hearted fun. Easy to learn yet rewarding to master, the game provides broad appeal across age groups and experience levels. Featuring colourful artwork and an engaging theme, Cats in the Corner appeals to both cat lovers and game enthusiasts alike. Together, these three titles showcase the versatility of the Bicycle Games portfolio. Whether players enjoy bluffing and storytelling, classic card-based competition or light strategic gameplay, there is a game to suit different preferences and occasions. Designed to be quick to learn and enjoyable to replay, each title encourages players to return to the table again and again. Adding to their appeal, Hogwash, Trash and Cats in the Corner are packaged in durable, reusable zip bags, offering a practical alternative to traditional game packaging. The compact format makes the games easy to store, transport and take on the go, while the reusable packaging helps reduce waste and extends the life of the product. Combining portability, convenience and sustainability, the games are designed to deliver lasting value beyond game night. With distinctive gameplay, eye-catching presentation, reusable packaging and established Bicycle branding, Hogwash, Trash and Cats in the Corner offer retailers a range of products that appeal to families, casual gamers and card game fans alike.
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Q3 RELEASES
Snake Charmers Edition Spielwiese
Omens Spiral Éditions
Salamandra
Dwarves of Aquilon
GRRRE Games
GRRRE Games
Mythologies
Odysseus
Moustache
Ipso
Super Meeple
Gigamic
Kodama Games
Gigamic
WINNER
AS D’OR TE INTERMEDIA E GAME OF TH YEAR
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Greylune
Tag Team / Tag Team: Arthur’s Legacy
Zenith / Zenith: Secret Agents
Sorry We Are French
Scorpion Masque
Play Punk
Contact us: salesteam@hachetteboardgames.co.uk
HachetteBGUK
hachetteboardgamesuk
Games & Puzzles
Big Potato Games 020 3620 9495 | www.bigpotato.co.uk trade@bigpotato.co.uk
After Christmas lunch, families looking to spend some quality time together can turn to Big Potato’s range of easy-to-follow, quick-to-play games. Designed to suit different ages and energy levels, the portfolio includes options for everything from relaxed play around the table to more active family competition. There are three games suited to Christmas Day and the wider festive period. First, Herd Mentality is a party game designed for larger groups. Players answer simple questions, such as “What’s the best sandwich filling?”, but instead of trying to find the correct answer, they have to guess what everyone else has written. If an answer is the odd one out, that player ends up with the pink cow. With straightforward gameplay and broad appeal, it's suited to both relaxed, post-lunch play or family games evenings. The Fridge Game, meanwhile, offers a different style of play with a word game that can be played directly on the fridge. The first player writes a five-letter word and, in their own time, their opponent adds theirs. The longer the word, the more squares they colour in and, at the end of seven turns each, the player with the most coloured squares wins. Games can take minutes, hours or days, making it a flexible choice for word-game fans and those who prefer games that can be played at their own pace. Finally, for something more active, Chicken vs Hotdog is an action-packed party game inspired by the viral bottle-flipping challenge. Players compete to flip and land their Sling’Em faster than the other team, combining dexterity with head-to-head competition. Its accessible format makes it suitable for family play as well as teens, students and adult players. Big Potato’s range offers options for families of different sizes and playing styles, from competitive groups to those looking for something more relaxed. As well as providing entertainment over the festive period, the games offer retailers gifting opportunities for families, friends and colleagues. A number of titles are also available in small, tinned versions, making them ideal for stocking fillers and Secret Santa gifts.
Leftfield Toys www.leftfieldtoys.com | hello@leftfieldtoys.com Following a sell-out performance last year, Clutching at Straws is back for 2026 and Leftfield Toys is preparing for the game’s biggest year yet. The fast-paced family game became one of last year’s standout successes, capturing the attention of children, families, content creators and celebrity players alike. It’s simple, instantly understandable gameplay proved well suited to both the toy aisle and the screen, generating strong consumer demand and selling out at retail. A major factor behind the game’s success was its visibility across multiple platforms. Clutching at Straws featured on television, was played and shared by celebrities, gained extensive exposure across social media and became a TikTok hit, with gameplay videos introducing the product to a new audience. The game’s unpredictable, highly visual action made it particularly shareable. Whether played by celebrities, content creators, friends, siblings or the whole family, every round produced funny reactions, dramatic near misses and competitive moments for audiences to watch and experience for themselves. That combination of simple gameplay, broad age appeal and engaging content helped turn online awareness into retail demand. As momentum continued to build across TV, TikTok and other social platforms, stock sold out, establishing Clutching at Straws as one of Leftfield Toys’ key games. For 2026, the company is building on that success with significantly increased stock availability and its largest marketing programme for the game to date. Clutching at Straws will once again be supported across television, digital advertising, celebrity and influencer content and social media, ensuring the brand remains visible wherever families discover new games. To support the game in-store, Leftfield Toys will also be providing retailers with a free Clutching at Straws gameplay FSDU, while stocks last. Designed to showcase the product and communicate the fun, fast-paced gameplay at the point of purchase, the display will help retailers bring the game directly to shoppers.
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Available Now!
New for 2026
Also available... Discover the best-selling Bluey games from Orchard Toys, perfect for your customers’ little adventures.
best seller! BLUEY TM and BLUEY character logos TM & © Ludo Studio Pty Ltd 2018. Licensed by BBC Studios. BBC logo TM & © BBC 1996.
Contact your Account Manager or our Sales Admin team: sales@orchardtoys.com
Games & Puzzles
Orchard Toys 01953 859 539 | www.orchardtoys.com | sales@orchardtoys.com In 2026 Orchard Toys launched two exciting new Bluey games in its character license collection, all based on some of the most popular Bluey episodes of the phenomenally successful animated TV series. The easy to play family board games take players on fun adventures with the loveable and inexhaustible Bluey and her family, and combine the educational value and fun gameplay of Orchard Toys. New for 2026 is Bluey Dance Mode for children aged 3yrs+ and Bluey Let’s Go Shopping for 4yrs+. Bluey Dance Mode is the lively, fun-filled card-collecting game inspired by the hit “Dance Mode” episode. Designed to be easy to learn and quick to play, children flip cards, act out silly actions and bust the moves - wiggle, spin, march and dance with Bluey, Bingo, Mum and Dad. In Bluey Let’s Go Shopping, children play shops with Bluey and her family. It’s an early introduction to learning skills, and money handling with a Bluey twist. The two new games join the best-selling Bluey Grannies Game, Bluey Shopping List Game and Bluey Fancy Restaurant Game, all for preschoolers from 3yrs+. In Bluey Grannies Game players race to collect granny gear, call Nana and kick off a flossing party. With colourful, easy-to-handle pieces, this game offers a great mix of laughter, learning and play! Bluey Shopping List Game is Orchard Toys’ best-selling game with a fun Bluey twist. Children join Bluey, Bingo, Bandit, and Chilli on a fun filled race to find items on their shopping lists to fill their trollies. This fun-filled memory game develops children’s memory and matching skills. Bluey Fancy Restaurant Game brings the popular ‘Fancy Restaurant’ episode to life. The game features 3D character pieces and a table, adding a fun and tactile element to the play experience. The game is designed to develop matching and memory skills and encourage imaginative role play. To help increase brand presence in store, Orchard Toys offers high-impact POS, including hanging banners, shelf strips and floor stickers. To strengthen online offerings, Orchard Toys also provides a wide range of high-quality product photography and video assets.
Educa Borràs www.educaborras.com | international@educaborras.com Educa Borràs is entering the autumn/winter 2026 season with one of its strongest Games & Puzzles collections to date, combining globally recognised licences, innovative gameplay and premium-quality puzzles designed to drive excitement throughout the Christmas season. This year, Educa is introducing a brand-new collection of portable card games created for families, football fans and the growing kidult audience. The range includes LaLiga Match, Hot Pot, El The Outsider – Discover the Impostor, Jurassic Park Digger and MotoGP – The Card Game. Designed with accessible gameplay and compact formats, these titles combine strategy, deduction, luck and fast-paced fun, making them perfect for playing anywhere, from family gatherings to holidays and travel. The board games line also expands with exciting, licensed experiences, including Jurassic Park Spy Game, Back to the Future Escape Game and Drácula Board Game. These titles offer immersive gameplay inspired by iconic entertainment properties, appealing to the growing community of 'kidult' players. Alongside its games portfolio, Educa continues to strengthen its leadership in puzzles with a Christmas collection featuring some of the world's most beloved licences. This season introduces new Disney puzzles starring Stitch, Disney Princess and Mickey Mouse, together with a brand-new partnership with Elf on the Shelf, creating an exciting festive range for children, families and collectors. Responding to the continued growth of adult puzzling, Educa is also expanding its premium adult collection with a greater focus on larger piece counts and exclusive artwork. New releases feature collaborations with acclaimed illustrators, including renowned Spanish artist Ana Jarén, whose colourful, detail-rich illustrations have become favourites among puzzle enthusiasts. Together with a carefully curated portfolio of international artists, these collections reinforce Educa's commitment to premium design and collectible-quality puzzles. The complete autumn/winter 2026 range will be available for Q4 2026 and supported by an integrated marketing programme including paid digital campaigns, influencer collaborations, social media activation, PR, dedicated retail materials and point-of-sale support, helping retailers maximise visibility during the key Christmas selling season. With a balanced portfolio spanning preschool, family, kidult and adult consumers, Educa Borrás continues to invest in world-class licences, premium artwork and innovative gameplay, delivering products that inspire consumers and drive growth across the Games & Puzzles category.
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The Art of slowing down Puzzle + 4 bookmarks 2 postcards 2 gift tags
Puzzle + 78 tarot cards 1 tarot manual
Discover Lisciani Adult Puzzle Collection
Lisciani is a Worldwide Educational Company with deep educational roots, originally founded by pedagogist Giuseppe Lisciani as a publishing house dedicated to child development and well-being. For over 30 years, it has created award-winning educational toys designed to nurture learning through play. Today, Lisciani is expanding its mission, bringing its unique approach to fun and wellness beyond childhood, with new experiences for the whole family and meaningful products for all ages.
For further information, please contact Mr. JEREMY ROBINSON — Country Manager UK Ph: +44 (0) 7772 482255 email: jeremyrobinson@liscianigiochi.it
liscianigiochi.com
Games & Puzzles Eolo Games +34 985 090 130 | www.eolo.com | sales@eolohk.com Eolo is taking party games in a new direction with Fliparty, an Augmented Reality Card Game that combines physical gameplay with a digital experience. Designed for kids, families and friends, Fliparty transforms the living room into a competitive playground where teams play, move, laugh and battle it out to complete a series of AR challenges. As technology becomes an increasingly important part of everyday entertainment, it can sometimes create distance between people, with everyone absorbed in their own screens. Fliparty takes a different approach, using technology to bring people together. Instead of sitting separately behind a screen, players share one experience, compete as teams, move together and create memorable moments with family and friends. Fliparty is all about competition, teamwork and fun. Players split into teams and face fast-paced challenges that are as entertaining to watch as they are to play. From jumping and dodging to balancing and reacting, every challenge creates unexpected moments as players race to complete their objectives. Getting started is simple. Players open the box, download the Fliparty app, connect their phone to the TV and place it on the included stand. From there, players scan the QR codes on the Game Cards to bring the AR challenges to life and transform their living room into an interactive game arena. The technology behind Fliparty has been developed in-house by Eolo’s video game studio, Cuicui Studios, creating a connection between the physical cards and digital gameplay. The game includes eight AR Games, 15 Sabotage Cards and a Penalty Card, creating plenty of opportunities to compete and turn the game around. Game Cards activate the different AR challenges, while Sabotage Cards allow teams to make things harder for their opponents. Some sabotages are visual, obstructing the player’s view on screen, while others are physical, adding extra conditions such as having to play with both feet together. When a player fails to follow a sabotage, opponents can use the Penalty Card to stop the game and decide whether a penalty should be applied. With teamwork, strategy and room for playful competition, every round can unfold differently. Supporting up to 10 players, Fliparty is designed to bring families and friends together, encouraging active play and shared entertainment at home. Launching in autumn 2026, Fliparty brings together the familiarity of a card game with augmented reality, offering a new and social take on game night. Whether players are competing on screen or watching from the sidelines, Fliparty is designed to make everyone part of the action.
Fratelli Games 07517 610 209 | www.fratelligames.com jonathan@fratelligames.com Fratelli Games’ flagship title, Racing Line, has emerged as one of the standout newcomers in the UK games market. An F1-inspired board game that’s the closest thing to playing Formula 1 without a screen, it’s built for accessibility rather than simulation and distils the drama of an entire Grand Prix Championship into a format the whole family can play together. That authenticity comes without the complexity of a typical motorsport title, with no rulebook-heavy simulation or hour-long setup. Racing Line is playable by 3-8 people ages 8+ in a session that fits comfortably into a family games night, which has helped drive its consumer reception. The range now spans four products. The Standard Edition remains the core offering, built around real race-craft and incident-carddriven racing mechanics that reward tactical thinking over rules-heavy simulation. This is complemented by two expansion tracks to mix up the action, both inspired by fan-favourite racing circuits on the F1 calendar. Lastly, a Junior Edition offers a simplified ruleset for younger players, widening the game’s appeal to an all-ages audience and providing a strong hook for retailers looking to diversify their motorsport gaming offer ahead of Christmas. Racing Line is distributed across the UK and Ireland through Zatu Trade, ensuring stock availability and retail support for both independent and chain buyers. The brand is also expanding internationally, with distribution now live in North America and further territories in development. Q4 will see a significant push behind the range, anchored by a creator campaign, in partnership with drivers and motorsport content creators, designed to drive authentic reach among motorsport and family-gaming audiences alike. This sits alongside an active social media presence on @racing_line_game, ongoing PR outreach and retail sell-through collateral to support buyers in-store and online. With multiple product lines, awards recognition and a Q4 marketing campaign already in motion, Racing Line is looking to build on its position within the family gaming category this Christmas.
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Uphold sticks with your fingers and defeat gravity together!
Over 450 exclusive titles, curated for UK retailers. Contact trade@zatu.co.uk to open an account. SCAN HERE!
or That’s the question in this fast-paced, push-your-luck dice game by Eric Olsen.
psst... is an Eric Olsen game, just like Flip7
Games & Puzzles
Hasbro 0208 569 1234 www.hasbro.co.uk
Hasbro is refreshing its games portfolio this season, giving retailers new ranging opportunities across several of its strongest-performing franchises. Leading the charge is Monopoly Cheaters Edition, which makes official what many players have always done unofficially. Players are encouraged to fake a die roll, swipe cash from the bank and dodge rent, completing sneaky cheats for rewards or facing the consequences if they’re caught. Hotels replace houses altogether and a pretend handcuff unit adds a new layer of chaos. It’s Monopoly as many families already play it, now built into the rules. For trivia lovers, the reimagined Trivial Pursuit has been updated for the modern player. New spaces let competitors steal questions from rivals or land on rainbow spaces to grab any wedge they need, with players aiming to collect all the wedges to win. New 1-Player and Co-Op modes broaden the appeal beyond the classic head-to-head format and, with 1,200 fresh questions across lighter and harder difficulty levels, there’s something for casual players and trivia enthusiasts alike. Motorsport fans get their own spin on the classics with Monopoly F1 Edition. Players pick a favourite Formula 1 team, race around the board and defend their lead against rival challenges to collect fees. Every trip past GO triggers the Monopoly Grand Prix, sending driver helmets around a track built into the centre of the board as players chase both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships. Supporting 2-6 players, it is suited to family game nights, gifting and households with an F1 fan. Card game fans looking for something with more bite can turn to Monopoly Deal: No Mercy. This evolution of the Monopoly Deal formula lets players steal completed property sets outright, charge double rent or force opponents to hand over cards when they can’t pay. It’s faster and more merciless than the original, making it a strong choice for strategy fans and an addition to game nights or on-the-go collections. Rounding out the line-up is Priorities, the party game built on difficult choices. Players rank five everyday items from love to loathe while the rest of the group tries to guess the order, with everyone racing against the game itself to spell the word priorities first using earned letter cards. Taking just two minutes to learn and around 30 minutes to play, its compact, portable format makes it suited to a night with friends as well as holidays, camping trips or nights out. The game is aimed at teens ages 14+ and adults. From reinvented classics to brand-new party formats, this season’s games and puzzles line-up gives retailers a broad range across age groups and price points.
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Get involved in the October issue of
The Racing Game For Everyone
features include:
BLE Preview Character Merchandise Mark Austin mark@toyworldmag.co.uk
As seen on
Freddie Nicholas freddie@toyworldmag.co.uk
AGE 1+
Includes 60 pieces, 10 colours and 16 activities
Fratelli Games Ltd | general@fratelligames.com | +44 7517 610209 | 23 Hardcastle Drive, Abingdon, OX13 5GS Distributed by Zatu Trade. Enquiries: trade@zatu.co.uk
Screen-free play, perfect for developing fine motor skills
Creative fun for little ones, to build in 2D and 3D
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Made with 100% Wind Energy
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07-08-2026 11:30:23
w
Insight
It’s a numbers game Circana takes a look at how the Games supercategory has been performing so far in 2026.
T
he Games and Puzzles supercategory has maintained its position as the fourth largest in the UK toy market in 2026. However, it does have a negative trend of -7% so far this year, which is well behind the overall market growth of +12%. The key reason for this decline is that Strategic Trading Cards is -28% this year, which accounts for around 45% of all Games and Puzzles value. The rest of the Games category is enjoying a strong year with a +18% trend in 2026, and it is a similar story for Puzzles with +16% growth over the same period. Strategic Trading Cards remains the largest subclass, even allowing for the current decline. The top performing subclasses in Games this year are Card Games, Family Strategy Games and Family Board/Action Games: these three subclasses combined have added nearly £9m in value to the supercategory this year. The four Family Games subclasses account for around 17% of all Games
and Puzzles value and have grown +22% year-on-year. This growth has been driven by strong performances from brands like Monopoly, Connect-4 and Cluedo, but also from licences, with FIFA, Stranger Things and Star Wars all seeing strong growth trends. There have been some excellent brand performances in Card Games that have led to the subclass growing +34% this year and being the top performing Games and Puzzles subclass. The Top 5 properties in Card Games are all showing at least doubledigit growth with the No.1 property, Uno, having a trend of +35% vs. last year. Top Trumps, Dobble, Monopoly and World Soccer are the other leading properties, with the Top 5 combined adding over £3m to the subclass. In addition, Pre-school Games, Children’s Games, Adult Games and Travel Games have all grown so far in 2026. In Puzzles the overall category is +16% this year, which is slightly ahead of the overall trend for total toys. There is a positive trend across all the subclasses with Adult Puzzles
at +10%, Children’s Puzzles at +28% and 3D Puzzles at +8%. Children’s Puzzles has the strongest value percent growth, driven by licences with Marvel Universe, Bluey, Paw Patrol and Peppa Pig all performing well. Licensing is also helping growth in Adult Puzzles, where the No.1 licence is Stranger Things. In 3D Puzzles, the Ravensburger 3D Puzzle is the top property and 4D Build from Spin Master is at No.3, with the Pokémon licence nestling between them at No.2 and seeing extremely strong growth at +121%. The overall Games and Puzzles trend may currently be negative for 2026, but there have been some very strong performances from subclasses across both segments. Strategic Trading Cards is down so far, but we should see a strong finish in the subclass with exciting things to come. The positive trends across some of those other categories shows the attraction of Games and Puzzles, with parents wanting to find toys to get kids away from screens and also seeing the attraction for themselves.
The Gang: Deluxe Edition The Gang is back with the ultiamte edition of the hugely popular poker mechanic based heist game. Comes with upgraded components, casino grade cards, ceramic chips, playmat and all the expansions for up to 10 heist loving players!
The Crew: Journey To The Ends Of The Earth The highly anticipated new crew game takes trick taking games to a whole new level of fun and excitement! Featuring a 25 stage journey and a race against time across the world to find the secret lost treasure of Charlemagne!
Visit Us Stand 7C63
Trade Enquiries: sales@thamesandkosmos.co.uk
Tel: 01580 713000
Toy World 82
Visit: thamesandkosmos.co.uk
Discover award-winning gifts and more from Gibsons!
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