We’re now several months into the school year, and as the sun sets earlier and temperatures drop, the holidays are top of mind. Whether you’re getting a kickstart on your gift shopping or looking for some rainy day entertainment, The Toy Insider has you covered.

The Toy Insider is a one-stop-shop for the latest toys and games, and we’ve consulted their experts to recommend the top toys and games for the upcoming holiday season. No matter your age, interest, or experience level, these games and toys are likely to get the whole family playing together for hours.

K’nex Marble Coaster Run

Calling all future engineers! This STEM-infused set includes multiple template builds and more than 500 pieces that kids can use to create a functional marble coaster. Plus, once it’s built, kids can attach a working motor to see their creation come to life.

K’nex Marble Coaster Run

5 Second Rule Relay

Put your family’s mental quickness to the test with this adrenaline-pumping take on the five second rule — name an item in the stated category and then hurry to pass the baton before your five seconds is up. All sorts of hilarious answers are bound to slip out!

5 Second Rule Relay

Nerf Elite 2.0 Double Punch

This exciting twist on the classic Nerf blaster features alternating barrels that move back and forth as kids fire foam darts. The fun is practically never-ending with 50 darts included, plus the ability to launch 20 darts in a row.

Nerf Elite 2.0 Double Punch

Sky Viper Vector Performance Stunt Jet

The Sky Viper jet is truly taking the fun to new skies — kids can perform amazing loop and barrel roll stunts with a single press of a button. Intuitive controls and refined flight software make this easy enough for beginners, yet engaging enough for experienced enthusiasts.

Sky Viper Vector Performance Stunt Jet

Hydraulic Boxing Bots

Kids and kids at heart are sure to be entertained by these two boxing robots. They se hydraulic power to move with complex shoulder gestures, jabs, and uppercuts, and the fighter who knocks back the opposing robot’s head scores a point on the included scoreboard.

Hydraulic Boxing Bots

Laser X Ultra Double Blasters

Laser tag no longer has to be reserved for birthday parties and family outings. This at-home set features blaster beams that can bounce off walls to hit opponents up to 300 feet away. Plus, the receiver vests let kids know which opponent blasted them, allowing them to seek their laser-invoked revenge.

Laser X Ultra Double Blasters

X-Shot Hyper Gel Trace Fire Blaster

This fire blaster has a need for speed, and thrill-seeking teens can blast the Hyper Gel pellets up to 170 feet per second. The blaster has a 600 pellet capacity hopper, plus a mag that stores an additional 850 pellets. Most importantly, protective eyewear is included to keep your teen safe.

X-Shot Hyper Gel Trace Fire Blaster

LEGO Icons of Play

This 899-piece LEGO set just might be the best gift for soccer fans, second only to tickets to their favorite game. It boasts half a soccer field with a goal and VAR station, stands with a scoreboard, a ceremonial stage, 15 diverse Minifigures, and more.

LEGO Icons of Play

Yellowstone National Park Grizzly Bear Games Play Set

Nothing beats the intersection of fun and educational — perfectly demonstrated by this Yellowstone National Park themed game set. Your child can use their imagination as they pretend to be a hungry bear while food catching, racing, and playing other search-and-find games. Best of all, the game includes plush versions of some of grizzly bears’ favorite snacks, bear paw gloves, and a bear snout.

Yellowstone National Park Grizzly Bear Games Play Set

Penn + Teller Magic Lab VR

You can practically bring your loved ones right to a Penn & Teller magic show with this exciting VR set. In this simulation, the magical duo can perform up to 28 tricks, along with explanations behind each trick’s execution. It also includes a 50-page instruction book and a 75-piece magic kit, so kids can truly feel like they’re the magician they see on the screen.

Penn + Teller Magic Lab VR

Pokémon TCG: My First Battle

The world of Pokémon can feel daunting if you’re a first-time player, but thankfully, the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) experience is specifically designed for beginners. Kids will learn the tricks and trades of seasoned Pokémon players, such as the difference between active and benched Pokémon, how to attack and evolve, and more.

Pokémon TCG: My First Battle

Pyxel A Coder’s Best Friend

Coding is practically looked at as another language these days, and with A Coder’s Best Friend, kids can use a tablet to code Pyxel to perform tricks, make sounds, and more. Pyxel and its companion app will help kids learn the basics of two coding languages: Blockly and Python.

Pyxel A Coder’s Best Friend

Sonic 2GHz RC All Star Racing 2

The beloved Sonic the Hedgehog crew has been revamped to race to the finish line with these epic R/C cars. The 2.4GHz radio frequency allows up to 16 iconic characters — such as Amy Rose, Silver the Hedgehog, and Sonic the Hedgehog — to race all at the same time.

Sonic 2.4 GHz RC All Star Racing 2

Spidey and His Amazing Friends Metals City Track Set

Kids will feel like they jumped right into a comic book with this Spiderman-themed set, featuring a 24-inch dual racetrack and five action zones. Endless fun awaits while escaping Green Goblin’s crash walls, collapsing bridge, web swing, and more to save the city from the baddies.

Spidey and His Amazing Friends Metals City Track Set

Story Dream Machine + Story Packs

The Story Dream Machine amplifies the magic of storytelling throughout the whole room. Project three classic children’s stories with this machine, which features light and sound effects to enhance the story. Kids will love the included stories, and additional stories are available to purchase separately.

Story Dream Machine + Story Packs

Super Mario Bros Wonder

Regardless of whether they’re a kid who just met Mario, or a kid at heart that’s known him since his NES adventures, they’re sure to love this classic Mario side-scrolling gameplay. This version includes the fun new addition of Wonder Flowers, which trigger unexpected moments in a course, such as pipes coming alive, characters transforming and more!

Super Mario Bros Wonder

Anime Heroes

Bring their favorite Anime icon to life with these 6.5-inch action figures. Featuring characters from titles including Naruto and One Piece, each figure has 20 points of articulation and comes in manga-inspired packaging. The story no longer has to end once an episode is over!

Anime Heroes

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mutant Mayhem Pizza Fire Van

Fans of the TMNT franchise know that all four turtles love one thing above all: pizza. Kids can capture all the fun of the van while activating the slide-out pizza launcher, which fires up to eight mini pizza pies.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mutant Mayhem Pizza Fire Van

Beast Lab

Great for spooky season (or for kids that just love anything interactive), this experiment-based play set lets them activate sounds, lights, fizzing bubbles, and mist to unleash one of two beasts. When kids reset the beast or repeat the experiment, the beast can evolve, so the play can evolve too.

Beast Lab

WWE Wrekkin Slam Crusher Monster Truck

There’s more to this WWE-inspired monster truck than meets the eye. The truck features eight pull-apart pieces and four removable tires, so kids can transform its look as many times as they please. Plus, the truck bed’s corkscrew tornado launcher can send action figures (purchased separately) flying.

WWE Wrekkin Slam Crusher Monster Truck

For more hot toys for kids of all ages, check out The Toy Insider’s 2023 Holiday Gift Guide and follow @thetoyinsider on social media!