Family Stuck On The Couch? Try These Indoor Games

If you’re looking for a gift that actually gets the whole family off the couch — including the youngest kids — the NEX Playground console is a winner.

I’ve had two units running for a full year now, and it has become a staple in my classroom at recess.

The magic is in the motion-tracking camera — no controllers, no complicated setup.

Kids (and adults!) can just jump, dance, stretch, kick, and wave their arms, and the game responds instantly.

It turns your family room into an active playground without kids even realizing they’re exercising.

Why Parents (and Teachers) Should Care

• Instant activity — no fuss: Plug it in, calibrate once, and anyone can start playing.
• No controllers needed: Great for little ones who struggle with handheld gamepads.
• Perfect for rainy or indoor days: A guaranteed way to burn energy inside.
• Fantastic for group fun: Works for siblings, cousins, or even a full classroom of kids.

What Comes With the Console

The base NEX Playground includes several games right out of the box with a remote and the following games:

• Fruit Ninja – slice fruit with full-body motions
• Starri – a fun rhythm and dance game
• A Whack-a-Mole–style mini game
• Go Keeper – block shots as the goalkeeper
• Party Fowl – a multiplayer party game collection (my favorite!)

Even if you don’t subscribe to anything extra, you get plenty of active play built in. 

Honestly, during recess, we mostly played Party Fowl the full first year, and my students were thrilled.  It has a bunch of fun-paced competitive games for kids to try and see who wins.  

But after we got the Play Plass, the game possibilities opened up, and my students rarely play Party Fowl now. 🙁

Unlock More Games With the Play Pass

The optional Play Pass expands the game library significantly:

• 3-Month Pass: about $49
• 12-Month Pass: about $89

The Play Pass unlocks 20–30+ games (and growing), ranging from fitness and sports games to dance-offs and kid-favorite franchises. New content is added regularly.

It’s absolutely worth it if you have multiple kids or use this in a classroom setting.

In addition, NEX adds new games and content every month, including some fun holiday-themed content that pops up in games sometimes.

Our Family & Classroom Favorite Games

At Home (when I bring it home on the weekends)

• Party Fowl
• Fruit Ninja
• Connect 4 Bounce
• Basketball Knockout
• BoxFlow Fitness
• NexGym Fitness
• Zumba

In My Classroom (Recess)

• Party Fowl
• Fruit Ninja
• Hungry Hungry Hippos
• Kung Fu Panda
• Bowling Strike
• Home Run Strike
• Mirrorama
• Barbie Dance Party
• Starri

Kids literally sprint into the STEAM Lab at recess to grab a turn. It’s one of the best movement-break tools I’ve ever used.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Gets kids moving without them realizing it.
• Extremely easy setup — no controllers.
• Great for multi-age families and groups.
• Affordable compared to high-end consoles.
• Tons of fitness, dance, and sports options.

Cons

• The game library is smaller than traditional consoles.
• Requires a bit of open space for accurate motion detection.
• Simpler graphics — older gamers may lose interest.

The NEX Playground console sells for $249 on the NEX Playground console and the NEX Playground console is available for $89 per year directly from NEX Playground.

A Mom’s Perspective

From a parent and teacher perspective, the NEX Playground is one of the best “active play” tech items I have in the classroom.

I personally use NEX Playground for fun movement breaks, while my students crowd around it at recess and beg for just one more round.

It’s not meant to replace gaming consoles with deep storylines or competitive esports titles — it’s meant to get bodies moving, create laughter, and bring people together. And it does that incredibly well.

If you’re looking for a gift the whole family can enjoy — one that promotes activity, works in small spaces, and grows with the kids — the NEX Playground is a great choice.

Looking for more toys your kids will love?  Check out our 5 Must-Have STEAM Gifts to Spark Curiosity in Kids article.

*I was given NEX Playground with PlayPass in exchange for my honest opinion.