The Best Games
Fun ways for the whole family to connect
Our winners span the following categories:
PureWow editors gathered submissions throughout the spring and summer, while researching new and best-selling products and talking to parents nationwide for their recommendations. From there, we narrowed our list to 105 finalists. We then had families across the country test the products, offering their honest feedback on what they liked—and didn’t—to arrive at the 30 best of the best. The results, broken down by age group, stand out for their value, quality, aesthetics and ability to entertain kids for hours on end.
How Our Winners Were Chosen
PureWow editors select every item that appears on this page, and the company may earn compensation through affiliate links within the story. All prices are accurate upon date of publish. You can learn more about the affiliate process here.
As the holiday season approaches, kids’ wish lists loom large. You’re dreaming of that gift that will make them squeal with delight. The one they’ll play with day in and day out, creating the sort of core memory you joke about for years to come (“Remember when you stretched Stretch Armstrong until his arms were forever misshapen?”). Yet all too often, the buzziest toys aren’t the most fun ones.
That’s why, for the past five years, our editors have scoped out the latest toys, crafts and games on the market, then had families across the country test them firsthand to find out what truly is worth the spend. Here’s to making your holidays brighter (and your shopping easier).
awards
Happy
Perplexus Beast 3-D
Gravity Maze
“A great game for kids who think they've aged out of games, this mess-free ball offers multiple levels of challenges, with the goal of getting a tiny ball through an internal maze,” our tester told us. “My kids have been mesmerized by it for hours in the car—though drive over a pothole at your own risk!” Ages 7+
buy it
Monopoly Deal:
'KPop Demon Hunters'
KPop Demon Hunters has been everywhere this fall, and now, the Netflix hit is taking over one of our readers’ favorite card games: Monopoly Deal. In this version, you’re helping the HUNTR/X stars collect items they need to pull off their biggest concert ever. The game is just as fast-paced and family-friendly as the original, and while it doesn’t ship until mid-December, it’s available for preorder now. Ages 8+
BUY IT
Foros 3D
Board Game
Foros really gets you thinking as you fight to become the first to get four of your blocks in a row in any direction (up, down, diagonal), but not so hard that younger kids get left out. “My whole family loved playing this game,” our tester told us. With multiple ways to play, it “has an added layer of complexity that really challenges your visual reasoning.” Ages 6+
buy it
Best Solo Game
Trendiest New Game
Best Strategy Game
school
the 2025
The Best Games
Random-But-Useful finds
The Best Baby Toys
The Best Toddler Toys
The Best Toys for Kids 4-7
The Best Toys for Kids 8 & Up
the 2025
buy it
Proof that there's beauty in simplicity, this nine-piece set is cleverly designed to be mold-resistant and offer several grow-with-me ways to play. (The boat's helm is a removable cup for pouring and hide-the-ball games, for example, and said ball does quadruple duty as a rattle and as the key component of spinning, tumbling and tunnel toys.) Plus, how cute are those realistic ducks?! Ages 9 months+
Best for Bathtime
Lovevery
The Bath Set
BUY IT
Baby walkers typically have a short playspan—from cruising days until first steps—and they’re often clunky. Fisher-Price’s latest bucks the trend with its four-in-one design. It’s a snack tray featuring pretend tacos, burgers and more when they’re just sitting up, before converting to a push walker, then a shopping cart or food cart when they’re ready for pretend play.
Ages 6 months+
Most Versatile Walker
Laugh & Learn 4‑in‑1
Snack Cart Walker
buy it
Ms. Rachel is the voice of calm that soothes a meltdown, inspires your little bunny to “hop, hop, hop” and brings you three minutes of peace when you just need a moment. Her toy line is every bit as encouraging and educational, especially this vocabulary builder. Toddlers can insert one of 50 cards to hear Ms. Rachel say the word as they learn to associate it with the picture and say it themselves. Ages 1+
Best Vocabulary Builder
Ms. Rachel First Words
Talking Flash Cards
buy iT
A bicycle built for babies?! Stay with us here: While the woom WOW is a splurge, it earned high praise from testers raving about how it encouraged balance and offered a fun way for parents and babies to play—and that the beginner balance bike is suitable for toddlers up to 3 years old. Made of 98 percent recycled material and clocking in at 6 pounds, it’s sleek and easy to tote, too. Ages 9 months+
Best Baby Bike
woom WOW
BUY IT
Gund is known for its ridiculously soft stuffed animals, but this one takes things to the next level, playing peekaboo as it covers its eyes with its ears. (Fair warning: This pup is known to peel back one ear and take a peek, which pretty much guarantees peals of laughter from little ones.) It also features adjustable volume controls and goes to sleep after 30 seconds of downtime to conserve battery. Ages 6 months+
Cuddliest Interactive Plush
Peeki the Puppy
Animated Plush
buy it
Your friend’s so into pickleball you’re starting to seriously wonder if she’ll name her firstborn “Dink.” (Please, Margot, don’t.) She’ll get a kick out of this baby gift, which features three game-themed toys, including a chewy paddle teether and a pickleball rattle. Ages 3 months+
Trendiest Teether
Mini Me Moments
Let's Play Pickleball Set
Fun finds for those under one
The Best Baby Toys
buy iT
Stitch has been everywhere this year, but no little blue monster comes close to this one. With its high-pile plush body and shockingly realistic motions, this feisty, chatty toy feels like it was ripped right off a ride at Disney World. Our toddler testers especially loved that you could touch his nose or belly to see him switch between his sweet, Ohana-loving side and his mischievous alien persona. Ages 3+
Best Interactive Toy
Disney Stitch Ultimate Interactive Plush
BUY IT
Crayola’s ink-revealing, mess-free markers have been parents’ secret weapon for years, but this latest iteration is even more satisfying. Beyond featuring the Taylor Swift of toddlerdom, Bluey, the kit comes with a light-up stamper, which testers deemed “so satisfying” to use, with “crisp, impressive” results. Ages 3+
Best for Mess-Free Play
Color Wonder Bluey
Light-up Stamper
buy it
To grandmother’s house you go—and crayons and snacks can only entertain for so long. That’s what makes this sensory board a dream—it features removable panels full of knobs to twist, switches to flip, buttons to press and other “busy activities” designed to encourage fine motor skills. Customizable, screen-free fun that’s not too noisy? We’re all about it. Ages 12 months+
Best Travel Toy for Toddlers
Playskool Flip & Fun
Sensory Board
buy it
While Toniebox is designed for ages one and up, we’ve found toddlers tend to really get a kick out of this audio box. Place a figurine on top—ranging from Disney characters to Blippi to farm animals—to hear stories and songs. Its latest iteration features a sunrise alarm, sleep timer and Tonieplay, which incorporates interactive games and challenges, so they’ll be able to enjoy this gift for years to come. Ages 1+
Best Storytelling Toy
Toniebox 2
BUY IT
What could make the classic Cozy Coupe even cooler? Turn it into an ice cream truck. Parents can push the truck via a handle on the back, or you can remove the floorboard and let kids Flintstone-it, like you did. It comes with play ice cream cones and a pretend credit-card reader for bustling entrepreneurs, and the truck plays a modern version of the ice cream truck song, courtesy of Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA. Ages 18 months+
Best Riff on a Nostalgic Toy
Little Tikes Cozy
Ice Cream Truck
buy it
Just yesterday he was saying “dada”—now he’s asking if you have any games on your phone and when he can get a pet. Kidding—mostly. But if your toddler’s an animal lover, this wooden pull toy introduces the concept of responsibility, from taking it on walks to feeding it to, yes, cleaning up its messes. Thankfully these don’t stink.
Ages 18 months+
Best New Wooden Toy
Feed, Walk & Poo Pup
Play Set
Dream gifts for the daycare crowd
The Best Toddler Toys
buy it
Rainy days are no match for this shadow play machine, which comes pre-built. Kids can use the projector to cast different colors on the screen, and use clear dry-erase panels to design their own creations to project and put on shows. Parents marveled at how this entertained their kids for more than an hour at a time (high praise amid today’s 7-second attention spans).
Ages 4+
Best STEM Toy
KiwiCo Shine & Shadow
Light Play Lab
BUY IT
Designed for smaller hands, this
off-shoot of the Gravitrax system features interlocking tiles that allow kids to create their own marble-run-esque courses. But the fun doesn’t stop there—the 71-piece set includes Frozen characters and backdrops, so they can create their own Arendelle at home. Our tester liked the storytelling element, and his parents appreciated its subtle STEM lessons in gravity and cause-and-effect. Ages 5+
Best Modern Marble Run
Gravitrax Junior Starter Set, Disney’s 'Frozen'
buy iT
If your kid’s into LEGO, Blockeroos and Magna-Tiles, they’ll go wild for Clixo. Upon unboxing, you’ll see 36 flexible, flat designs in all kinds of wonky shapes. And that’s where your creativity comes in: The pieces snap together magnetically, forming dinosaurs (and anything else your kid dreams up). Also, since it’s a compact and quiet toy, it’s pretty fantastic for travel too. Ages 6+
Best Building Toy
Clixo Dinosaur
Set
buy it
Remember how satisfying it was to squish Play-Doh through the Fun Factory, producing faux spaghetti and other shapes? Imagine a similar device, only it can be used to design ruffled skirts, patterned off-the-shoulder tops and even wigs for Barbie. Your kid’s fashion shows will be taken to creative new heights—and best of all, it’s easy enough to use that they can do it all themselves. Ages 5+
Coolest Collaboration
Play-Doh Barbie Designer Fashion Show
BUY IT
“This is a hoot!” our tester told us, sharing that her son got a kick out of “earning” Toothless the dragon’s trust. To do so, you must react to his eye colors and give him what he needs. (Feed him if his eyes are red, for example, or pet him if they’re yellow—he’s annoyed and needs a little TLC). Ages 4+
Best for Imaginary Play
'How to Train Your Dragon' Tame and Train Interactive Toothless
buy it
Take it straight from our tester:
“I cannot stress enough how much I love a craft my daughter can do on her own with zero parental involvement. She opened this, read the directions and created a lovely bouquet on her own, and reports having lots of fun doing it.” Fair warning: You may want to buy it in pairs, given how quickly kids go through bouquets—and want to make more. Ages 6+
Best Craft for Independent Play
Skillmatics Poke-In
Flower Bouquet
Gifts that spark their creativity (and burn energy)
The Best Toys for Kids Ages 4 to 7
buy it
The Rubik’s Cube got a literal glow-up this year. When you press the logo, the cube lights up, and you have one minute to solve the puzzle before it goes dark. It provides an extra challenge for kids and looks cool in the process. The only con? At some point, you’ll need to replace the batteries.
Ages 5+
Best On-the-Go Toy
Rubik’s Pulse
Cube
BUY IT
If 2024 was all about friendship bracelets, 2025 has been adding charms to anything and everything. And in tween world, that extends to your tresses. Each Loveté kit comes with everything you need for four kids to create their own clip-in hair charms. Your next sleepunder will never be the same. Ages 6+
Best Craft for Tweens
Loveté Hair
Charms Kit
buy it
Behold, a gadget that lets kids create their own toys. Our testers have made more than 400 prints using the Toybox 3-D printer. Tweens and teens can easily bring their own creations to life, or you can spring for a Toybox Plus membership ($10/month), getting access to predesigned toys, ranging from Spongebob Squarepants to DC superheroes. Ages 8+
Best for Budding Inventors
Toybox 3-D
Printer
Fresh finds that are cool, not cringe
The Best Toys for Kids Ages 8 and Up
Submissions
for the 2026 Happy Kid Awards — Best Toys and Games:
To submit a product for next year’s awards, email happykidawards@purewow.com and include the following information:
Name & short description of the product (2-3 sentences)
Link (if available)
Photos
Pricing/availability
Launch date (While we focus on products launched after August 1, 2025, we accept submissions of brands’ tried-and-true bestsellers as well.)
Our submission period runs from May 1, 2026 to August 1, 2026. There is no cost to enter a product for awards consideration, though we may ask to receive up to three samples to have families test and provide feedback on. If you have any questions about the process, please feel free to email our team.
credits
Writers/Editors: Rachel Bowie, Jillian Quint,
Alexia Dellner, Candace Davison
Managing Editor: Catrina Yohay
Designer: Dasha Burobina
Check out our previous award winners and our awards guidelines here.
The Best Toys & Games — 2025
Happy
kid
awards
buy it
We’ve never seen kids so excited to play bingo. Super Smalls’s take on the game features nickel-sized plastic gems instead of bingo chips or stamps, and instead of numbers or letters, the spaces are rubies, diamonds, opals and other sparkly stones. It’s a glam twist, and testers found it just as fun to play as it was to learn random facts about each gem as it was called out, courtesy of the included fact book. Ages 4+
Best Cross-Generational Game
Super Gem Bingo
BUY IT
If your kids' interests are so wildly different that agreeing on the same game feels impossible, check out Disney Lorcana ASAP. This starter set comes with two prebuilt card decks, featuring “glimmers,” aka characters who help you on your quest to collect “lore” and earn a storytelling star. “Lorcana is so much fun,” our tester shared. “It’s the only thing I have found—besides the beach—that brings us all together.”
Ages 8+
Best for Family Game Night
Disney Lorcana Trading Card Game: Gateway Board Game
buy it
Consider this the ultimate while-you’re-waiting game: at the doctor’s office, during big brother’s baseball practice…maybe not the dentist. Snack Monster is easy to master: Flick the spinner, and you’ll get one of three results (get a snack, give a snack or eat a snack). You’ll need to provide your own treats, and the first to snag eight wins. A zero-stress game that keeps hanger at bay? We’re all for it. Ages 4+
Best Game for Foodies
Snack Monster
buy it
We weren’t planning on a slime award this year…and then Gui Gui came along. The satisfyingly squishy, stretchy formula isn’t super sticky, and the sleek packaging satisfies the tween urge to get into “beauty” products (without being a beauty product). Each semi-blind package provides some clues as to which type of slime you’ll get, and there are fun mix-ins, creating even more of a surprise-and-delight moment. Ages 5+
Best Slime
Gui Gui Slime
BUY IT
Don’t call it a comeback. This twist on an old-school landline allows kids to call other friends with a Tin Can for free, or you can pay $10/month to let them call any numbers you pre-approve for access. As the name suggests, it’s like a modern-day tin-can line…only long-distance and 100 times cooler. Ages 8+
Best Conversation Starter
Tin Can Landline
buy it
For the kid who got into Stomp Rockets, consider this the next frontier. They’ll be creating their own, fully functioning rocket. This kit strikes the delicate balance between being challenging without overwhelming. “It’s a solid one-night project, so kids can finish it without losing interest,” our tester said. Ages 6+
Best STEM Toy
Smartivity Rocket
Launcher
buy it
Foros really gets you thinking as you fight to become the first to get four of your blocks in a row in any direction (up, down, diagonal), but not so hard that younger kids get left out. “My whole family loved playing this game,” our tester told us. With multiple ways to play, it “has an added layer of complexity that really challenges your visual reasoning.” Ages 6+
Best Strategy Game
Foros 3D
Board Game
BUY IT
KPop Demon Hunters has been everywhere this fall, and now, the Netflix hit is taking over one of our readers’ favorite card games: Monopoly Deal. In this version, you’re helping the HUNTR/X stars collect items they need to pull off their biggest concert ever. The game is just as fast-paced and family-friendly as the original, and while it doesn’t ship until mid-December, it’s available for preorder now. Ages 8+
Trendiest New Game
Monopoly Deal:
'KPop Demon Hunters'
buy it
“A great game for kids who think they've aged out of games, this mess-free ball offers multiple levels of challenges, with the goal of getting a tiny ball through an internal maze,” our tester told us. “My kids have been mesmerized by it for hours in the car—though drive over a pothole at your own risk!” Ages 7+
Best Solo Game
Perplexus Beast 3-D
Gravity Maze
buy it
The Rubik’s Cube got a literal glow-up this year. When you press the logo, the cube lights up, and you have one minute to solve the puzzle before it goes dark. It provides an extra challenge for kids and looks cool in the process. The only con? At some point, you’ll need to replace the batteries.
Ages 5+
Best On-the-Go Toy
Rubik’s Pulse
Cube
BUY IT
If 2024 was all about friendship bracelets, 2025 has been adding charms to anything and everything. And in tween world, that extends to your tresses. Each Loveté kit comes with everything you need for four kids to create their own clip-in hair charms. Your next sleepunder will never be the same. Ages 6+
Best Craft for Tweens
Loveté Hair
Charms Kit
buy it
Behold, a gadget that lets kids create their own toys. Our testers have made more than 400 prints using the Toybox 3-D printer. Tweens and teens can easily bring their own creations to life, or you can spring for a Toybox Plus membership ($10/month), getting access to predesigned toys, ranging from Spongebob Squarepants to DC superheroes. Ages 8+
Best for Budding Inventors
Toybox 3-D
Printer
