Want to know what the year’s hottest holiday toys will be?Toy Insider Senior Editor Marissa DiBartolo stopped by Better Connecticut in New Haven to talk about the toys and games sure to fly off retailers’ shelves this holiday season. For more on the items featured in this segment, check out the product notes below, and for our complete rundown of the best gifts for the holidays, check out our complete holiday gift guide.
PEPPA PIG LIGHTS & SOUNDS FAMILY HOME (JAZWARES)
- Preschoolers love Peppa!
- Kids can enter this lovely 22-inch-tall, four-story home with seven rooms and be Peppa’s guest in a home filled with adventure and fun.
- The play set inspired by the Nick Jr. TV show features three figures: Peppa Pig, George Pig, and Zoe Zebra.
- There are 13 accessories that bring the house to life with lights and charming sounds.
- Ages: 3+
- MSRP: $59.99
- Available: Amazon, Target, Toys “R” Us, Walmart
POWER RANGERS NINJA STEEL LION FIRE FORTRESS ZORD (BANDAI)
- This set features three modes of play: Morph from Megazord mode to Ultra Megazord mode or Fortress mode and be ready for any battle.
- In rolling Fortress mode, it is a play set, complete with twin firing cannons, a helipad, and a jail to hold captured villains. It’s Power Rangers Ninja Steel’s biggest Megazord ever at over two feet long in Fortress mode.
- In Megazord mode, the Zord stands more than 20 inches tall and features a cockpit for a Power Rangers Action Hero figure (sold separately).
- Rotate the upper body and attach a Zord Builder compatible Ninja Steel DX Megazord (sold separately) to form the Ultra Megazord.
- Plays more than 20 authentic battle sound effects.
- Age: 4+
- MSRP: $99
- Available: Toys “R” Us Exclusive
BEN 10 RUSTBUCKET VEHICLE & PLAYSET (PLAYMATES TOYS)
- The main vehicle seen in Cartoon Network’s animated series Ben 10, the Rustbucket, is a two-in-one vehicle that transforms into a giant three-level play set standing more than 2 feet tall.
- It’s packed with action features, allowing kids to create their own adventures with all of the Ben 10 basic action figures (sold separately).
- Features include an alien transformation chamber, a plasma blaster, a “alien-vator,” a grabbing claw, an alien lab, and more.
- Age: 4+
- MSRP: $49.99
- Available: Target, Toys “R” Us, Walmart
- Fingerlings baby monkeys come to life with endless ways to play and realistic sounds to let you know how they are feeling.
- Kids will fall in love with these sweet and silly critters with their happy monkey sounds, adorable blinking eyes, head turns, plus hands that grip and a curly hanging tail. Kids can swing them, pet them, kiss them, and rock them to sleep.
- There are six different Fingerlings to play, share, and collect.
- Age: 5+
- MSRP: $14.99
- Available: Amazon, Target, Toys “R” Us, Walmart
FURREAL ROARIN’ TYLER, THE PLAYFUL TIGER (HASBRO)
- Kids can bring home an adorable baby tiger to love, play with, and care for as their own.
- Make a noise or give a loud jungle roar and Tyler will roar back in response.
- Kids can enjoy playtime with him using his play chicken.
- Tyler features more than 100 sound and motion combinations with sensors on his forehead, back, and muzzle allowing him to respond to touch in fun ways.
- Kids can pull him up close to snuggle thanks to his posable back legs, or nuzzle his cheek and he’ll respond with expressive eyes, sounds, and tail movements.
- Ages: 4+
- MSRP: $129.99
- Available: Amazon, Target, Toys “R” Us, Walmart, www.hasbrotoyshop.com
LEGO WORLDS (WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT)
- LEGO Worlds is a galaxy of imaginative worlds made entirely of digital LEGO bricks. Kids can create anything they can imagine one brick at a time, or use large-scale landscaping tools to create vast mountain ranges and dot their world with tropical islands.
- Drop in prefabricated structures to build and customize any world to your liking. Players can tunnel through terrains, discover underwater adventures, or even journey through the clouds in vibrant worlds filled with customizable characters, and a huge assortment of vehicles and creatures.
- Explore using helicopters, dragons, motorbikes, or even gorillas and unlock treasures that enhance game play.
- Play with a Friend—online multiplayer mode allows two players to explore each other’s Worlds, play competitive challenges, and show-off creations.
- Discover and Collect Rewards—players uncover hidden treasures, collecting characters, creatures, vehicles, castles, props, and weapons as they explore each new world.
- Age: 10+
- MSRP: $24.99
- Available: Amazon, GameStop, Target, Toys “R” Us, Walmart
- SoundMoovz are motion-activated electronic bands that play cool music and special effects as users move.
- Kids can experience the excitement by moving, dancing, and creating unique musical beats
- The device uses Bluetooth technology: Simply power on for pairing, download the free app, choose from more than 400 sounds, and start the fun.
- The product comes with two special bands that users wear to enable the device.
- Layer your beat onto a song. There are multiple sound modes including Robot, Karate, Instrumental, and Musical
- Ages: 8+
- MSRP: $69.99
- Available: Amazon, Target, Toys “R” Us, Walmart, Best Buy
