Some things never go out of style — and that’s so true for the games category.
We’ve rounded up 29 games that you’ll want to stock your shelves with this summer to make sure that your customers are getting guaranteed fun. These screen-free games are perfect for summertime rainy days, some added summer learning, and all the MESH benefits this play pattern tends to provide: turn taking, social interaction, teamwork, and more.
So don’t wait! Check out some of our top picks that are sure to be hot in the specialty market below, and stock those shelves!
TOWER STACK
Players will go head-to-head in a battle to balance as many blocks on the base without tipping it over. On their turn, each player must draw a card to find out which type of block they’ll have to place to add to the stack.
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RIVER VALLEY GLASSWORKS
Players inhabit the role of a woodland creature pioneer as they take glass from the market of river tiles and strategically place it on their player board to score the most points and win.
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KANOODLE ULTIMATE CHAMPION
Kids can become the ultimate Kanoodle champion with this newest addition to the viral line of puzzle games. It features 500 new puzzle challenges in both 2D and 3D modes, as well as a built-in, battery-powered timer. The game includes 12 metallic-finish Kanoodle pieces and a challenge guide.
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MONOPOLY: FAMILY GUY EDITION
Seize the opportunity to amass a fortune in Quahog! In Monopoly: Family Guy Edition, players engage in high-stakes transactions as they buy, sell, and trade Quahog’s prime real estate. Fans of the show will love seeing all of the iconic locations, from McBurgertown to Wild West Ranch.
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MONOPOLY: ONE PIECE
This version of the classic board game groups players into three teams — the Factory Destruction & Samurai Rescue Team, the Caesar Delivery Team, and the Thousand Sunny Guard Team — and features characters from One Piece as properties.
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SNAP 2 IT
Snap 2 It combines traditional board game play with STEM principles. Each player has their own light and races to be the first one to snap a path between their light and the communal battery. Kids can build the path solo or play competitively with up to four players as they learn the basics of…
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DREAMWORKS GABBY’S DOLLHOUSE: FIRST LOOK AND FIND BOOK & GIANT PUZZLE
Kids can go on cat-tastic adventures with Gabby Girl and Pandy Paws with this book and puzzle set. They can build the 40-piece puzzle into an extra Look and Find scene with more “find ‘ems” to spot.
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YAHTZEE WORDS
Players roll seven dice and spell words with the letters they’ve rolled. Follow the score sheet and fill in the scoring blocks, just like in regular Yahtzee. Create words of different lengths, multiple words, a seven-letter Yahtzee word, and more.
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TABLE TOP PINBALL
This game features all of the fast-paced action of pinball in a tabletop form. The game requires no batteries and comes with five balls, a scoreboard, and bumpers for two-player gameplay.
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POP UP BLUEY
This action game is easy to set up and learn, but will always keep the family guessing. Slide the crocodile sticks into the barrel and watch to see when Bluey will pop up.
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GIVE ‘EM THE FINGER
In this action trivia game for families, one player reads the question, and then all players use their Finger Pointers to try to find the answer on the boards in front of them. The first person to point to the answer wins the round.
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GO-GO GHOST
This family-friendly game challenges players to enter the manor and become ghost hunters. They will compete to be the first one to take a photo of the ghost and escape the manor before the light-up, motorized ghost finds them.
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RUN BEAVER RUN
Players race to be the first beaver to dodge the rolling log and reach the dam first. On each turn, players will roll the die to determine how many spaces they’ll move their beaver. If the die lands on a dark wood side, they must turn the lever to release the log; if it lands…
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IT FLIES, IT SPIES
In this game, the pigeons compete to break the next big story. The players’ mission is to steer their savvy Spy Pigeon past the watchful drones and be the first to shout their headline from the rooftop of News Coop.
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SMART DOG
Teach your dog some new tricks! Kids can create an obstacle path for their fluffy friend to trot around. The game comes with 60 challenges for kids to set up, then they try to solve their puzzle to figure out how to send their dog figure through all of the obstacles.
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PINBALL MACHINE MAKER: GUMBALL RALLY
With this buildable pinball machine, kids can explore lessons in physics and mechanical engineering by customizing their own course that uses edible gumballs as pinballs.
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DODO
Players will work together to roll the die, collect materials, and build new bridges to help guide the Dodo’s wibbly-wobbly egg safely into the boat at the foot of the mountain.
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WORLD’S SMALLEST GAMES
Kids and collectors can enjoy tiny versions of popular board games such as Sorry!, Mousetrap, Battleship, Beer Pong, Trouble, Trivial Pursuit, Playing Cards, and Pickleball. Each game plays just like the original version.
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BLAST TRACK
Experience the thrills and chills of amusement parks in Blast Track. Players create a roller coaster with gravity-defying loops, steep slopes, and dark tunnels that will have the fair’s visitors wanting more than one ride.
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LUCKY JACK
In this game of suspense, change, and risk-taking, players will use strategy to attempt to guess the other players’ intentions. They must try to collect a jackpot of three or four cards with the same symbol in their hand, while keeping track of what the other players are collecting in their own.
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BANANAGRAMS HALLOWEEN PARTY
This wicked-fun word game features mayhem-inducing Trick-or-Treat action tiles that add a spooky and energetic twist to this party edition of the classic game. Racing to complete their word grids, players will face tricky challenges and sweet treats — from flapping around the table like a bat to stealing tiles and swapping places.
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ANYWHERE SPORTS YOUTH PICKLEBALL SET
Introduce kids to pickleball with this complete set, featuring an 8-inch half-court net, four wooden pickleball paddles, two pickleballs, and a storage bag. Each colorful paddle features a padded handle for easy grip. The included pickleballs are suitable for indoor and outdoor play.
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BATTLE BOX
After getting the blockers into place, players take turns launching marbles to try and knock down their opponent’s targets. This skill and strategy game requires players to plan their attacks to be the first player to knock down all of the obstacles.
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PUZZLE BY NUMBER — 500-PIECE PUPPY
Each piece in this set is the same shape, allowing young builders to unlock endless creativity. Using the enclosed pattern, kids can fill in the design by matching each number with the corresponding color to complete the puppy puzzle. Or, they can use the pieces to create their own flat mosaics and 3D builds. Once…
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SIXEM SOUR PATCH KIDS
Play sweet to give Xs to others, or sour to take them away. In this mischievous game, players work to be the first to build a pattern with six Xs in a row.
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CORNHOLE SHOOTOUT
Cornhole Shootout combines two outdoor favorites: cornhole and basketball. Take a bean bag and make your shot through a mini-basketball hoop that sits on top of the cornhole board.
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13 BEAVERS
Embark on the daring challenge of 13 Beavers, in which players must guess whether a number will be higher or lower to navigate the gameboard and reach Beaver Paradise first.
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NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC VOLCANO BEAN BAG TOSS
Play five different games — Classic Volcano, Split Volcano, Trick Shot Volcano, Relay Race, and Long Toss — with the included volcano tower and eight bean bags. This outdoor, portable game features easy setup and 360-degree play.
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PICKLE EVERYTHING GAME
Pickle Everything is a new card game where words meet fun and pickles rule! Players ages 10 and up can enjoy this unique, fast-paced, and hilarious game as they race to beat other players and answer the clue. With 52 cards, this game is perfect for families, parties, and more — and no, you don’t…
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A version of this feature was originally published in The Toy Book’s 2024 Specialty Toys & Gifts Issue. Click here to read the full issue! Want to receive The Toy Book in print? Click here for subscription options!
