The Cool Non-Gamer Games
Blast Box
A nifty little game, Blast Box is a game of luck where mini-balloons are placed inside a box, you spin the wheel, and take a number of hits on little spikes hoping not to break the balloons. The oversized version was super fun to watch, and the regular sized game fits right on a table. It’s a nifty little game.
Break Free and Other Games – Yulu
By far, some of my favorite games at Toy Fair were the new games coming out from Yulu. Break Free is a set of plastic handcuffs where kids get cuffed together and whoever works the “lockpick” puzzle maze first wins. Another game is a safe that needs to be picked. Coming out later this year, Operation: Escape is an escape room experience for kids. All three of these games are excellent in that they’re multifunctional. Kids can play them as games or incorporate them into imaginary spy play. One of the thoughts I had, however, is how cool it would be to run an Operation: Escape birthday party. Giving kids the option to work as teams and solve problems, this can be a really great way to set up a birthday party that gives kids a sense of competition and imaginative play.
Professor Puzzle
Starting out in the UK, this wood and metal puzzle company is trying to migrate into the United States. Professor Puzzle brought toys for kids and adults to Toy Fair. One of my favorites was the gigantic lawn chess board. However, they also make mini-matchbox puzzles. The best part of these puzzles is that they’re just as much art for your living room as they are puzzles with which to play.
