Toys, toys, toys…and games! The holidays are right around corner and the toy industry is already releasing some exciting offerings just in time for Christmas!

Wonderland Fluxx—The “Fluxx” series of games is one of the most popular series in the Looney Labs universe (the same company behind “Pyramid Arcade” which is arguably the most groundbreaking and inventive game ever created). With variations ranging from “Dr. Who” to “Zombies” to “Monty Python” this game series uses a specific method of gameplay to embrace many different themes and culturally iconic entertainment. Fluxx games have one central rule: Draw one card, play one card. Each player starts with three cards and then adds each card they draw to their hand, and then choose one card to play, following the directions written on the chosen card. As cards are drawn and played from the deck, the rules of the game change from how many cards are drawn, played, or even how many cards you can hold at the end of your turn…just don’t get stuck with with “creeper” card or you cannot win! In this latest version of “Fluxx” players come across the Mad Hatter, the White Rabbit, Tweedle Dumble and Tweedle Dee, the Cheshire Cat and the dreaded Jabberwock from “Alice in Wonderland.” Intended for two to six players aged eight and older, this game retails for $16.

Placing the Past is a fun trivia game that turns players info history buffs tasked with guessing what year a certain event took place. Collecting cards and building a timeline of events is crucial in this game which crowns the player who combines knowledge, a quick hand on the challenge bell, and a bit of luck as the victor. The game is best played with three players above the age of 13. It retails for $24.95.

Pelican Pong is a fun and silly party game ideal for four to eight players ages eight and older. Players attach “pelican bills” (made out of cardboard) to their bodies and then attempt to catch ping pong balls thrown at them. The the first person to catch all the ping-pong balls in their pelican bill wins! This is a very physical game that promotes exercise and retails for $19.99.

Memory Mayhem is a quick-thinking, fast-paced, multitasking game that will put player’s recall skills to the test. A challenging game of naming and remembering, the game features several picture card and then calls on players to remember colors, numbers, and details regarding the items on the cards. The game includes 36 memory cards, 80 question cards, dice, and a sand timer. The Memory Mayhem Masters are the team that has the most points after 3 rounds have been played! Recommended for at least two players ages 12 and up, the game retails for $19.99.

Carnovsky 3D Jigsaw Puzzles truly stands apart from all the puzzles currently on the market. These beautiful jigsaw puzzles explore the interaction between colour and light through the visionary work of Carnovsky. Three different images sit on top of each other, and the resulting picture is unexpected and mesmerizing. The colors mix up and the lines and shapes entwine as your eyes try to make sense of what they see. Ocean, Animal, and Jungle are the three current designs with more coming in the future. Each puzzle comes with red, green and blue viewing glasses to isolate each layer of the image, turning one puzzle into three stunning pictures or scan the QR code to turn your device into a magical viewing lens. All illustrations have been created by the artistic duo Carnovsky, whose RGB artwork was first shown during Milan Design Week in 2010. Each of these 500-piece puzzles retail for $19.95 and are nothing short of astonishingly beautiful and captivating for all ages.

Snap Ships has crafted a FUSION DRONES line, which assembles to create the MD-SWITCH 1 and K-FormFusion Builds! Each of the below drones are perfect starter items for young builders, as well as exciting new additions to an existing collection:

The North Pole Advent Train is a new addition from The Elf on the Shelf intended to count down to Christmas! Straight from Santa’s North Pole with help from the Elves at The Lumistella Company (best known for The Elf on the Shelf, Elf Pets and Elf Mates), this train-shaped Advent calendar returns once again this holiday season with 24 NEW fun daily surprises that create a colorful, playable Christmas tree farm and railway. The perfect size for your Scout Elf to hop aboard and grab a ride throughout Christmastime, the cool new Advent Train includes:

  • 10 Scout Elf™ and Elf Pets® Minis
  • One mini plastic train engine
  • Five mini plastic train cars
  • A Christmas Tree Farm Sign
  • Five glittery Christmas trees
  • Two mini holiday gift boxes, and a
  • Themed Paper Playmat

So, as you begin to work on your holiday stories, we invite you to hop along the ride and join the magical countdown to Christmas with the North Pole Advent Train. MSRP: $38.99.

Koosh has also released many new playthings. Koosh Flingshot, a safe and reliable slingshot that can shoot a Koosh Ball over 50 feet from where they stand. Kids will be thrilled to unwrap the Koosh Sharp Shot, an interactive target game that tests your aim through 3 epic game modes with 2 Flingshots and 2 Koosh Ball Shooters. The Koosh Double Paddle PlaySet, includes 2 durable paddles and a Koosh ball so you and a friend can go head-to-head and put your hand-eye coordination to the test.

Candy Claw Machine from Thames & Kosmos allows kids to build a working model of the classic claw machine, an enticing, sometimes frustrating, and always fun arcade game in which you try to grab prizes from inside the machine with a remote-controlled claw in a limited amount of time. Cranks, gears, and belts move the claw arm left and right, and forward and back. Hydraulic levers move the arm up and down and open and close the claw. A spring-loaded trap door shoots the collected candy out at you if you manage to succeed. No batteries or electricity are required — it uses only the power of your hand and the mechanical advantage of the machines built into the device. Packed with a supply of lollipops (Saf-T-Pops) and decoys (fake candy boxes) to get you started, you can also fill it with whatever small candies, toys, or other small objects you like. The game itself is great for honing dexterity skills and hand-eye coordination. For ages 6+ | MSRP $39.95

Incredible Inflatable Aero Dancer from Thames & Kosmos let’s kids build a zany inflatable tube dancer that uses the physics of flowing air to perform its eye-catching moves. Like the air dancers and tube men you may have seen around your town, this motorized device uses a blower motor and a fabric tube to slink, shimmy, and shake around. Assemble the model to learn about its inner mechanisms, including fan and electric circuit, complete with battery, motor, and switch. Conduct four fun additional experiments that demonstrate principles in air pressure, airflow, and aerodynamics. Make a ball float on a stream of air, practice your aim in a game of air basketball, and launch balls into the air with the air cannon. This hands-on kit brings physics to life as it demonstrates the power of air pressure at work. An eight-panel, full-color manual guides your model building with step-by-step illustrated instructions. For ages 8+ | MSRP $19.95

Colorforms is celebrating 70 years in business, and it has released an absolutely beautiful commemoration set that features over 500 shapes rendered in beautiful colors with ornate patterns. PlayMonster is the publisher of this very special edition 70th Anniversary set. Colorforms was one of the first toys ever advertised on television and one of the first vinyl-based creative toys to hit the market (the original game is now on display at MoMA).

Shark House Playset/Baby Shark’s Big Show!—This “Baby Shark” themed playset by WowWee is on the Nickelodeon animated series, this playset includes 25+ pieces and features so many jaw-some ways to play with Baby Shark and his best bud, William. Discover Baby Shark’s kitchen, bedroom, and living room. Pretend to swim from room to room on swimming swings or ride down the slide. Turn on Baby Shark’s karaoke machine to sing along to the Baby Shark’s Big Show! Theme Song and have a dance party with Baby Shark’s light-up disco ball! Rock on with different musical instruments, grab a bite, or catch some zzz’s in Baby Shark’s boat bed. For a swim-sational surprise, the removable chimney becomes a whistle! Complete with glow in the dark stickers, the Shark House closes for easy storage. This playset from WowWee encourages imagination and creativity. For boys and girls ages 3 and older.

Merry Christmas!