Why it's a great gift
Nothing to charge, lose or fight over. Kids hop in front of the TV and the camera does the rest — slicing fruit, dodging, flailing happily. Five games are theirs to keep, subscription or not.
Is this the right gift?
- Great for: young kids who can't sit still.
- Great for: multi-kid households and cousin invasions.
- Great for: parents rationing couch-slump screen time.
- Skip if: the living room can't spare a clear six-foot square.
The verdict
Big fun, small cube, real floor space
Give it to the household with wiggly kids and floor to spare. Most of the catalogue rides on Play Pass, and tracking wants decent light and honest empty carpet.
Why it works
- ✓ Whole-body play with nothing to hold or charge
- ✓ Five starter games included permanently
- ✓ Downloaded games keep working offline
Tradeoffs
- × The deep catalogue needs an ongoing Play Pass
- × First-time setup and downloads can take an hour
- × Needs clear floor, good light and some camera fussing
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Before you buy
- Confirm a new, standard NPG-001 from an authorized Canadian seller — not an ambiguous bundle.
- Pace out roughly 6 × 6 ft of clear floor; players stand between about 3 and 13 feet from the camera.
- Play Pass games can't be bought one at a time — lapse the pass and the library shrinks to the starter five.
Quick answers
Which games do they keep without subscribing?
Fruit Ninja, Starri, Party Fowl, Whack-a-Mole Deluxe and Go Keeper are permanent. The rotating catalogue sits behind Play Pass.
Is the camera watching the family?
Nex says tracking is processed on-device without uploading footage, and a physical camera cover ships in the box.
Does it work without internet?
After setup, downloaded games can run offline. Activation, updates and new downloads still need Wi-Fi.
As an Amazon Associate, XmasGoat earns from qualifying purchases. Double-check the seller is authorized and the box is the standard current package. Choose Canada or the United States for local pricing.
Sources
- Nex Canada: Buy Nex Playground — Official Canadian model, package, hardware, sellers, Play Pass and privacy context; checked August 6, 2026.
- Nex Support: What games are included? — Official permanent starter games and Play Pass catalogue distinction.
- Nex Support: Play-area and device placement conditions — Official space, distance, lighting, placement and player guidance.
- WIRED: Nex Playground review — Independent family use, setup, tracking, catalogue and value observations.