Nex Playground review

Nex Playground is a strong choice for families who want gaming to feel more active, social, and inclusive.

Its motion tracking removes much of the learning curve associated with a conventional console, while the short, energetic games are well suited to family game nights, playdates, parties, and rainy days indoors.

The system includes five games permanently, although most families are likely to get the best long-term experience from the wider Play Pass library.

It does not offer the same depth or visual quality as Nintendo, PlayStation, or Xbox. That is not really what it is trying to do.

Nex Playground is best viewed as an easy-to-use family activity system rather than a replacement for a traditional game console.

Best for: families with younger children who want active, accessible games everyone can play together.

Price tier: mid-range.

Players: solo and local multiplayer, depending on the game.

Included games: five permanent Starter Pack games.

Additional games: available through the optional Play Pass.

Controllers: no handheld controller is needed during gameplay.

Recommended space: approximately 6 feet by 6 feet of clear floor space.

Nex Playground is a compact console that connects to a TV through HDMI. A built-in wide-angle camera tracks the players standing in front of it and translates their body movements into game controls.

Depending on the game, players might reach for objects, move from side to side, follow dance movements, defend a goal, or compete in quick party challenges.

The result feels closer to the active days of Nintendo Wii and Microsoft Kinect than to a conventional controller-led console. The difference is that there are no motion controllers to charge, pair, or pass between players.

That makes Nex Playground particularly easy to introduce during family gatherings. Someone can join a game without first needing a lesson in which buttons to press.

The standard package includes the Nex Playground console, navigation remote, HDMI cable, power supply, magnetic camera cover, and the five-game Starter Pack.

The included games are Fruit Ninja, Starri, Party Fowl, Whack-a-Mole Deluxe, and Go Keeper. They provide a good mixture of rhythm, sports, and quick party-style play.

They are enough to demonstrate how the system works and should provide plenty of fun initially, particularly for families who only expect to use it occasionally. Households planning regular gaming sessions will probably benefit from the wider Play Pass catalog.

The physical setup is straightforward. Nex Playground connects to the TV with the supplied HDMI cable, and a phone is used during the first-time account setup. The included remote handles menus and game selection, while body movement controls the actual games.

The console needs a clear view of the players, so it should sit centrally in front of or beneath the TV. Nex recommends approximately 6 feet by 6 feet of open floor space.

That is worth measuring before buying. Players need enough room to move their arms, step sideways, and occasionally jump without hitting furniture or one another. In many homes, this may simply mean moving a coffee table before playing.

Once the space is clear, getting into a game should be much quicker than setting up multiple controllers on a traditional console.

The motion tracking is the feature that gives Nex Playground its appeal. Independent testing has generally found it responsive, with movements translating naturally into the games. Reaching, stepping, and swiping feel connected to what is happening on screen rather than simply copying an exercise video.

Compatible games can track several players at once, allowing families to play together without purchasing additional controllers. This makes Nex Playground especially effective for short shared sessions.

The games are generally simple, colorful, and easy to understand. They prioritize movement and accessibility rather than advanced graphics or lengthy stories.

Younger children and occasional gamers are likely to see that as a strength. More experienced players may find the games lighter than those available on Nintendo Switch or other traditional consoles.

Nex Playground makes movement part of the game rather than an optional extra. Players are usually standing, reaching, stepping, ducking, or following a physical rhythm. Some games are energetic enough to leave both kids and adults noticeably warm.

This makes the system useful when poor weather, limited outdoor space, or dark evenings make outside play more difficult. It may also appeal to children who are reluctant to take part in anything described as exercise but will happily repeat a challenge to improve their score.

It should not replace outdoor play or organized physical activity, but it can make some indoor screen time much less sedentary.

Nex Playground works particularly well as a shared activity. Children who may struggle with a conventional controller can understand movements such as waving, jumping, and reaching. Adults and grandparents who do not usually play video games can also join without learning complicated controls.

The short games suit family game nights, birthday parties, playdates, rainy weekends, holiday gatherings, indoor activity breaks, and friendly parent-versus-child competitions.

The system is at its best when people are laughing and moving together in the same room. It is less focused on lengthy solo adventures, but that social quality is exactly what makes it different from many mainstream gaming systems.

The optional Play Pass expands Nex Playground from a five-game starter system into a much broader family gaming platform. The catalog includes more than 50 games and experiences, with a mixture of sports games, dance and rhythm activities, preschool games, party challenges, fitness-inspired sessions, and character-led experiences.

The selection may include familiar family brands and characters, depending on current availability.

At the time of writing, US Play Pass options include three months for $49 and twelve months for $89. The annual option offers better value for families expecting to play regularly, while the shorter pass provides a way to explore the wider catalog without committing for a full year.

Play Pass is optional because the five Starter Pack games remain available permanently. However, the larger library is likely to provide more variety and help maintain interest over time.

There are no ads or in-game purchases within the Play Pass games, which makes the subscription easier for parents to manage than many child-focused gaming platforms.

A camera-equipped family device naturally raises privacy questions. Nex says its motion tracking is processed on the console and that gameplay video is not uploaded or stored in the cloud.

The included magnetic camera cover provides a simple physical way to block the lens when the system is not being used.

The games are designed as a controlled family experience, without public online chat, repeated advertising, or in-game microtransactions. That gives parents fewer social and spending risks to manage than they may encounter on larger online gaming platforms.

Nex Playground and systems such as Nintendo Switch serve different needs.

A traditional console offers a much larger game library, more detailed graphics, longer stories and adventures, greater appeal for teens and experienced gamers, and the option to purchase individual titles.

Nex Playground offers controller-free play, more physical movement, easier participation for the whole family, local multiplayer without extra controllers, a child-friendly game environment, no public chat or in-game purchases, and a simpler learning curve.

For a child who mainly wants Minecraft, Fortnite, or Mario, a traditional console is likely to be the better fit. For a family that wants quick, active games everyone can join, Nex Playground may get more people off the couch and playing together.

Nex Playground is particularly well suited to families with younger children who want indoor gaming to be active and shared.

It makes the most sense for households that want kids moving while they play, enjoy family game nights, regularly host playdates or gatherings, prefer games without public chat, want to avoid in-game purchase prompts, find traditional controllers difficult, have enough clear space in front of the TV, and are happy to consider Play Pass for more variety.