Breaking news: Kids love video games. And so do I! I’ve had a ton of fun playing the Nintendo Switch with my two children (8 and 10), zooming through Mario Kart or battling across endless stages of Super Smash Bros. The downside, of course, is that it involves a lot of sedentary screen time, which isn’t good for any of us.
When I heard about the Nex Playground, then, it seemed like an interesting solution. A sort of modern descendant of the Xbox Kinect, the Playground plugs straight into your TV and allows you to motion control your way through a wide range of fun games, encouraging dancing, jumping, swatting, and generally flailing about at speed. It’s the dream combo of screentime and a ton of exercise, in a compact, attractive package. But does it actually work? I tried it to find out.
Nex Playground
Specifications
- Dimensions: 3 inches deep x 3 inches wide x 3 inches high.
- Weight: 13.7 ounces.
- Games included: 5 (without subscription); 40+ (with subscription).
- Number of players: 1-4.
- Memory storage capacity: 64 GB.
- Power source: Corded electric (console), two AAA batteries (remote).
- Console price: $249.
- Subscription cost: $49 (3-month); $89 (12-month).
Pros
- Great at getting families up and moving around together.
- Works well, right out of the box.
- Compact and nicely designed.
- Wide selection of fun games.
- Suitable for even very young kids.
Cons
- Limited game selection without the subscription.
- Pricey.
- Not a lot of long-term appeal for older kids.
- Requires a fair bit of space to use effectively.
The Unboxing
My press sample of the Nex Playground arrived in great condition. Inside the box, I found:
- The Playground console.
- A power cord.
- An HDMI cable.
- A remote.
- An instruction booklet.
I was also sent the Nex Playground Travel Case, a handy, lightweight case in a matching color scheme, but this review will focus on the Playground itself.
The Design
The Nex Playground is a neat, compact, and well-designed console. With everything housed in a 3-inch cube, it takes up very little space, and its cheerful but unobtrusive colors mean it will fit in with just about anyone’s entertainment center. I particularly like that the power cord also holds a magnetic, clip-on camera cover, so anyone uncomfortable with the device’s watchful eye can close it in two seconds flat.
The Set-Up
Setting up the Nex Playground is as simple as plugging in the power cord, connecting the HDMI cable to your TV, and turning it on. It’s best if it’s placed directly over or under the TV, with at least a six-foot square space in front for the players. Once the device is turned on, you’ll need to do the usual stuff: Connect it to your wifi, update software if required, etc. Beyond that, you can just get going, using the included remote to navigate the menus, and motion controls for the games themselves.
The Experience
The Nex Playground is a ton of fun to play, especially with your kids. Of the five games you get without the subscription — Fruit Ninja, Whac-a-Mole, Party Fowl, Starri, and Goal Keeper — the biggest hit for my kids was Starri, a dancing game that encourages you to slash your arms around in time with a modest collection of recognizable songs. They also loved getting to play mobile classics like Fruit Ninja on a big screen, wildly chopping and slicing at the air with their hands (also: Shrieking. Lots and lots of shrieking.)
Sadly, these are the only games you get with the console, as all the others — 40+ and counting — are locked behind the subscription pay wall. This is where the total price starts to seem a little steep: At $249 for the console itself, and either $49 (three months) or $89 (12 months) for the subscription, you’re looking at $300+ to get the full experience. Frankly, you’re not going to want to get this thing without the subscription, as $249 for a device that only plays five arcade-style games is unlikely to feel like value for money, especially when even the “free” games are limited (Starri, for example, only lets you play a handful of songs with the free version, while the music library in the full version is extensive).
While I think you should get a lot more than five games included, the experience really does open up in a big way when you get the subscription. My kids have played it a lot, both as a pair and with their friends, but it was when they played it alongside their younger cousins (5 and 2) that the broad appeal really became apparent. While unlikely to hold the interest of a teenager, there’s a little something for everyone in the under-12 crowd, from straightforward motion-control games to appearance-changing filters that had the little ones screeching with laughter. It really is a great way to tucker out your kids with vigorous exercise, while seemingly giving them the screen time they’re endlessly begging for.
It’s a pretty good way to tucker yourself out, too. Whether it’s the dance games (Barbie Dance Party does a good job of teaching you some moves), the fitness games (like Zumba Fitness Party), or the action games (like Sword Slash Adventure), there are plenty that’ll have you feeling like maybe it’s time for a nap afterwards (looking at you, Ninja Turtles game that left me absolutely wiped after just a few tries).
The Games
Although the actual mechanics of the games don’t vary too much — most being variations of jumping, squatting, flailing, etc. — the range of styles and presentations makes it feel diverse enough to keep the interest going.
First off, it’s worth noting how many games here are based on properties your kids will almost certainly be familiar with. Alongside games based on Peppa Pig, Bluey, Barbie, and Sesame Street, you’ll find titles for fans of How to Train Your Dragon, Miraculous, Care Bears, Gabby’s Doll House, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Kung Fu Panda, and The Tiny Chef Show.
Sporty kids will get a kick (sorry, not sorry) out of the multiple sports games on offer, including NHL Puck Rush, Homerun Heroes, Bowling Strike, Box Flow Fitness, Basketball Knockout, NexGym Fitness, Tennis Smash, and more. Throw in some puzzle games, racing games, and adventure games, and it’s a really solid package, especially with the aforementioned filters, which let you do everything from turn yourself into a living neon doodle, to hurling lightning bolts and breathing fire.
Again, there’s nothing here that you’re going to sink a lot of time into — these are all quick, arcade-style games — but for a sort of, “We have Dave & Buster’s at home!” experience, it works really well.
Nex Playground
The End Result
The Nex Playground offers a lot of ways for kids to blow off steam, providing a fun, colorful, and most importantly, energetic alternative to traditional gaming. The wide range of licensed games goes a long way toward making the experience feel more “legit,” and it’s the perfect device to turn on during a holiday afternoon with the family, or the point in a playdate where the kids are starting to run out of ideas and asking to watch TV.
My major sticking point is the lack of games that actually come with the console. Five games — some of which, as mentioned, still need the subscription to be fully “unlocked” — seems meager for a device costing $249. That said, if you can stomach the extra (and ongoing) cost, it’s a blast to play. While none of the individual games offer much in the way of longevity, there’s enough variety on offer to keep kids occupied for a good long while. For a lot of them, they’ll be exhausted before they get bored, and that’s definitely a win.
