Companies . . .

Still not comfortable shopping in stores for games? No problem. Brian is at Board Game Barrister getting a look at how to explore and shop this local game store from your browser window with their Virtual Barrister.

The 10 Coolest Reveals from Funko Fair. Now that Funko’s 9-day virtual event has come to a close, the Pop Insider revisited some favorite new product reveals from the past two weeks. From Comic Book Pop! displays to art-inspired Mickey Mouse designs, these products are sure to be on collectors’ wish lists.

Stencil and Doodle Away with Buffalo Games’ Chuckle & Roar Line. Buffalo Games is launching four new crafts toys for the Chuckle & Roar line, including a stencil set, a stamp set, dot art, and a doodle map, all launching exclusively at Target on March 14. The  combination of the chilly winter and the continuing pandemic has us all cooped up at home looking for ways to pass the time. 

Hasbro, Epic Games Debut Fortnite x G.I. Joe Collaboration. Hasbro unleashed a collaboration with Epic Games that brings an iconic ninja commando to Fortnite as the latest hunter to pass through the Zero Point. Fortnite x G.I. Joe kicks off with a new Snake Eyes skin available in the Fortnite Item Shop. The collaboration also includes a limited edition action figure that will ship next year. Read more…

Can You Resist the Cuteness of My Squishy Little Dumplings? WowWee is launching My Squishy Little Dumplings this summer and these collectible, food-themed characters are just as cute as they sound. The little interactive characters have BIG flavor and stylish accessories to match. Kids ages 5 and up can hold the dumplings in the palm of their hand and squeeze the dumplings’ squishy cheeks to pop out their...

Two in 1 Direct to bring Cats vs. Pickles to UK Paul Fogarty’s latest venture, Two in 1 Direct, is set to bring Cats vs. Pickles plush to the UK market following a strong launch in the US. Two in 1 Direct has been created to offer an alternative supply model for UK retailers. The company’s direct supply model is based upon a domestic stock proposition, in order to remove risk for retailers and offer a straightforward option for...

Mattel’s Whac-A-Mole to get own TV game show as toy firm prepares for tabletop re-release Whac-A-Mole has become the latest Mattel toy property to receive the TV treatment as the television production outfit, Fremantle, prepares to develop a new game show based on the title. The move comes amid a slate of TV licensing announcements from Mattel, including the most recent partnership with Propagate to develop a game...

Asmodee launches Asmodee Korea as it eyes region for next stage of growth. Asmodee has officially detailed the opening of a new branch to serve the South Korean market, with the launch of Asmodee Korea Limited. The new branch will be led by industry veteran Kevin Kichan Kim. The move is the latest in Amsodee’s ongoing international growth plans and has been opened with the aim of reinforcing the board game giant’s leading position in the Korean market.

Toyi gets kids upcycling through play with a range of innovative construction kits containing a variety of pieces used to turn everyday objects into toys. Ögeday Uçurum and Elif Atmaca launched Toyi in 2018 with the aim of providing a new play system that incorporates everyday objects. The products have been well received within the toy industry, winning several awards and are already distributed across 12 countries. 

Toikido – doing things differently.  Toy World finds out more about master toy partner for hit game Among Us, Toikido, and how the start-up will be ripping up the rule book. Darran Garnham, formerly CEO at MTW and VP EMEA NBCUniversal, is off to a strong start with his new venture, Toikido, landing a master toy deal with the studio behind the lockdown smash-hit game AmongUs, Innersloth Games.“We want to do things...

The former industry titan recently closed its only two U.S. stores, including a location in New Jersey this week, according to a spokeswoman. The outlets were opened in late 2019 by Tru Kids Inc., an entity that acquired the brand’s intellectual property during the retail giant’s 2018 liquidation. The new entity said it may get back into brick and mortar at some point. “As a result of Covid, we made the strategic...

Hot Wheels is ready to blast off as they announce their newest team-up vehicle with NASA. On February 18, 2021, the Mars Perseverance Rover is expected to land, and no better way to show off the moment than with a new collectible. Mattel has captured the Perseverance Rover in an amazing 1:64 scale replica. This is one of the first of Hot Wheel Space related collectibles, and it is an excellent vehicle to kick off the series. 

Playmobil opens the gates to new Adventure Zoo. With realistic designs, a modular concept and many popular animals, Playmobil says this play theme will guarantee hours of fun for young animal lovers. The new Adventure Zoo brings animals from all over the world into children’s playrooms. With a wide variety of exotic animals and numerous expansion sets, the play theme invites budding zoo directors to create...

Turn up the nostalgic flame with new Retro Marvel Legends: Human Torch, Hulk, and more. Hasbro has once again used the Time Stone to take us back to our childhood. The Marvel Legends Retro series is about to smash its way into your collection yet again, with a colorful new line of fan-favorites. Inspired by the heroes’ original comic-book renditions, this new wave is full of style and strength.

LEGO curates mindfulness soundscape of 10,000 bricks with LEGO White Noise. The LEGO Group is treading (softly) new ground for toys in the mindfulness space with the launch of a new LEGO White Noise playlist, designed to help listeners find a moment of relaxation – by listening the noises made by LEGO bricks. But there’s no soundtracks of fully-grown adults yelping as they step on LEGO bricks left across the floor, but

Z-Man Games unveils a new edition of 'Carcassonne: Hunters And Gatherers'. Z-Man Games unveiled a new edition of Carcassonne: Hunters and Gatherers which is now on preorder. This new edition of Hunters and Gatherers includes similar components to the original published in 2002 through Rio Grande Games. It also comes with updated art and extra menhir tiles, which are bonus tiles that allow players extra turns. 

Let out some rage at the office in 'Aggretsuko Work/Rage Balance'. Renegade Game Studios will release Aggretsuko Work/Rage Balance, a non-collectible card game, for release on March 3. Renegade continues their line of games based on Sanrio Co.'s IPs with Aggretsuko Work/Rage Balance. Aggretsuko Work/Rage Balance is a fast-paced card game where players assume the roles of mild-mannered office workers with hidden

Stronghold Games announces 'Not Alone: Sanctuary'.  Stronghold Games announced Not Alone: Sanctuary, an expansion for the Not Alone card game by Ghislain Masson, for release on February 24. The bluffing game Not Alone gets another expansion that adds a new path to victory via a Sanctuary board and token. In Sanctuary, the Creature stalks players as they try to rescue survivors that can give them single-use...

Luma Imports will release 'Rush Out!' into the U.S. hobby channel. Luma Imports will release Rush Out!, a fantasy survival game by Sit Down!, into the U.S. Hobby Channel in Q2. Rush Out! is a game where players take on the roles of adventurers that are trying to escape an underground maze. The adventurers had entered the maze looking for treasure, but are now on the run because a powerful sorcerer has awakened...

Thunderworks Games unveils 'Cartographers Heroes'. Thunderworks Games unveiled Cartographers Heroes, a map drawing game, for release in July. Cartographers Heroes is the sequel to Cartographers, designed by John Brieger and Jordy Adan, where players assume the roles of royal cartographers sent off to map the war-ravaged Western Lands of Nalos. 

Capstone makes inkblots a game In 'Rorschach'. Capstone Games is bringing a staple of psychoanalysis to the game table in its new party game Rorschach, releasing this June. Inspired by the famous test devised by pioneering Swiss psychiatrist Hermann Rorschach, this party game challenges two teams of players to try to guess which random words their teammates have connected to Rorschach’s inkblot images.