Nex Playground Review: Real Exercise, No Controllers

TL;DRThe Short Answer: Is the Nex Playground Worth It?

Most parents want screen time that does not glue the kids to the sofa, and most motion games promise that and then let a flick of the wrist do the work. Nex Playground reads the whole body through a wide-angle camera, so the moving is the game, and it suits families with a clear patch of floor in front of the TV, from five-year-olds up to grandparents. The catch is in the box: five games are included, and the full library sits behind a paid Play Pass.

NoFussDeal rates the Nex Playground 4.7 out of 5 at $287.70. Last updated September 26, 2026.

Key Facts

Memory Storage Capacity: 64 GB
Item Dimensions: 3 x 3 x 3 inches
Material Type: Plastic
Color: Multicolor
Item Weight: 13.76 ounces
Battery Description: Alkaline

What Stands Out

No controllers in play: a built-in wide-angle camera and AI tracking follow the movements of up to 4 players at once
Five games included (Fruit Ninja, Starri, Whac-a-Mole, Go Keeper and Party Fowl), with the full catalog and new monthly games on a paid Play Pass
Plugs into a TV or projector over HDMI and is small enough, Nex says, to fit in a backpack for playdates

Strengths and Drawbacks

What works

No controllers to lose, break or argue over: the camera tracks your body and that is the whole control scheme
Up to 4 players at once, with the camera tracking all four without confusion
Easy to set up with a single HDMI connection to a TV or projector
Appeals across ages, from toddlers and teenagers to parents and grandparents
Genuinely active play, with adults finding the fitness and rhythm games a real workout
No ads, no in-app purchases and no mature content, with kidSAFE+ COPPA certification
Compact enough to carry in a backpack for playdates and trips

What does not

Only five games come included; the full library and monthly new games need a paid Play Pass
Needs clear floor space in front of the screen, and players must stand back far enough for the camera to see them
Some games can lean on the upper body, and a toddler's favourite game cannot be set to repeat

Features in Depth

AI Motion Tracking: Your Body Is the Controller

Tracking AI, built-in wide-angle camera In-Game Control Body movement, no controller Included Remote Yes, runs on 2 AAA batteries

Nex uses AI and a built-in wide-angle camera to follow each player's movements, so the games are played by moving your body rather than pressing buttons. There are no controllers or trackers to hold, which is a relief: nothing to lose, break or fight over. That is also why it keeps children so active and engaged, since the only way to score is to move. A remote does come in the box, running on 2 AAA batteries, and it handles menus and settings rather than play. The tracking is quick to find each player, though you need to stand back from the camera for it to see your whole body.

$287.70 4.7/5 Check price

Five Games in the Box, the Rest on Play Pass

Games Included 5 (Fruit Ninja, Starri, Whac-a-Mole, Go Keeper, Party Fowl) Connection HDMI to TV or projector More Games Play Pass, 3-month or 12-month

Five games come included: Fruit Ninja, Starri, Whac-a-Mole, Go Keeper and Party Fowl. They make a good first week, and Starri, a rhythm game where you slash and lean to the beat, is the one adults are most likely to treat as a workout. The wider catalog needs a Play Pass, sold in 3-month and 12-month terms, which also brings new games every month, including licensed titles such as Peppa Pig, Gabby's Dollhouse, Elmo and How to Train Your Dragon. Game selection is a strength, and for young children the licensed characters are a big draw. Setup is a single HDMI connection to a TV or projector, so getting started is quick and easy.

$287.70 4.7/5 Check price

Four Players, 64GB, Ages 5 and Up

Max Players 4 Storage 64 GB Recommended Age 5 and up

Up to 4 people can play at once, and the console holds 64 GB of storage for downloaded games. Nex recommends it from age 5 and up, yet in practice it reaches a much wider spread: toddlers joining older siblings, teenagers who expected to be unimpressed, and grandparents playing alongside grandchildren. It can even serve as a first video game system for a child with Down syndrome, valued because he can play with friends and stay active at the same time. Many games offer easy through hard levels, which is what lets such different ages share the same screen.

$287.70 4.7/5 Check price

Built for Parents: No Ads, No In-App Purchases

Ads and In-App Purchases None Certification kidSAFE+ COPPA Motion Data Never stored or processed in the cloud

Nex states that Playground content is safe and appropriate for all ages, with no ads, no in-app purchases and no mature content. It carries kidSAFE+ COPPA certification, and Nex says motion tracking data is never stored or processed in the cloud, which matters for a device with a camera pointed at your living room. The only thing to pay for beyond the console is the Play Pass, so there is no drip of small charges inside the games themselves. It is thoroughly family-friendly, and it offers good value largely because one console serves the whole household.

$287.70 4.7/5 Check price

How We Scored It

Based on: The manufacturer's published specifications and the product's live Amazon listing.
Owner rating: 4.7 out of 5 on Amazon, recorded September 26, 2026
How we score: We score each thing that comes up most in owner feedback on the Nex Playground. Eight things come up most in owner feedback: all eight draw praise. Its ratings average 4.7 stars (87% five stars, 6% four, 2% three and 5% one or two), so every score starts at 94, that average on a 100 point scale. Where opinion is split, we take off 6. Where it draws mostly complaints, we take off 12. Then we read six owner reviews in full (every one we found gave it four or five stars) and move the score up to 5 points either way depending on how the owners who mention it rated the product. Our overall score starts from the same 4.7 star average and loses 0.1 for each thing that draws mostly complaints, with 0.1 more when at least a tenth of ratings are one star, never more than 0.3 in all. Nothing comes off here, so it stays at 4.7. Read our editorial standards

Fun

Five of the six owner reviews we read mention it. All of them gave the product four or five stars. Score 98: we started at 94 and added 5 because the owner reviews that mention it are positive, capped at 98, the highest any score goes.

98Positive

Family-Friendly

98Positive

Game Selection

It's easy to set up and has a great selection of games, making it a good value for families. Five of the six owner reviews we read mention it. All of them gave the product four or five stars. Score 98: we started at 94 and added 5 because the owner reviews that mention it are positive, capped at 98, the highest any score goes.

98Positive

Easy To Set Up

98Positive

Activity

98Positive

Engaging

None of the six owner reviews we read mention it. Score 94: its 4.7 star average on a 100 point scale.

94Positive

Owner Satisfaction

87% of ratings are five stars and 6% are four. 2% are three stars and 5% are one or two. Very few ratings land that low. Score 94: its 4.7 star average on a 100 point scale.

94Positive

Value for Money

Three of the six owner reviews we read mention it. All of them gave the product four or five stars. Score 98: we started at 94 and added 5 because the owner reviews that mention it are positive, capped at 98, the highest any score goes.

98Positive

Specifications

Size and weight

Memory Storage Capacity: 64 GB
Item Dimensions: 3 x 3 x 3 inches
Item Weight: 13.76 ounces

Materials and warranty

Material Type: Plastic
Color: Multicolor

Power

Battery Description: Alkaline

What Buyers Say

Based on 5,226 Amazon customer ratings, averaging 4.7 out of 5, recorded 12 September 2026. See the reviews on Amazon

5 stars		87%
4 stars		6%
3 stars		2%
2 stars		2%
1 stars		3%

★★★★★

Great for the kids, family, and a fun workout for adults.

My 3 year old and 7 year old love it, our 18 month old wants to play too. The Peppa pig and bluey games were definitely a big selling point for us, and they are fun. However I do wish you co… Read it on Amazon

Julie · April 3, 2026 · Verified

★★★★★

Fantastic game system for all ages

We set up our Nex Playground for my son's birthday this weekend and aolutely love it. We're a family with kids from 7 to 15 years old, and we all had so much fun. I had been looking for a ga… Read it on Amazon

Maneki Neko · August 6, 2024 · Verified

★★★★★

Fitness and relaxation in one cube!!!!

This is one of the single best purchases ever!!!!! We live in Utah and the winters here can get pretty cold. We take our 3 year old out snowboarding and have tons of places to get out her en… Read it on Amazon

Joseph P · April 29, 2026 · Verified

★★★★★

First video game system for my son with Down syndrome & workout for me!

We absolutely love this thing! This is perfect for our son with Down syndrome, not only so he can play video games with his neurotypical friends but so he can be active at the same time!Unli… Read it on Amazon

Kindle Customer · January 6, 2025 · Verified

★★★★★

Great family time entertainment

Got this for my kids and grand kids for a together Christmas gift. They love it and we ourselves 50ish year old parents and grandparents love it. Great for older people as well, games have a… Read it on Amazon

James · August 1, 2026 · Verified

★★★★★

Fun for toddlers through adulthood.

I can't say enough about he Nex Playground. Great for for the whole family especially if you have little one who want to play video games just like older siblings (or parents.) The Play Pass… Read it on Amazon

Cherokee · September 10, 2026 · Verified

Setting It Up

Place the Console

Set the cube on a TV console or mantle facing the room, with a clear line of sight to where players will stand. Nex designs it to sit neatly on any console or mantle.
Connect to the Screen

Run the included HDMI cable from the Playground to your TV or projector, then plug in the included power supply.
Ready the Remote

Fit the 2 AAA batteries that come in the box into the remote. You will use it for menus and settings, not for playing.
Join Wi-Fi and Finish Setup

Connect the console to your Wi-Fi. Setup can then be finished on a phone or tablet by scanning a QR code shown on the TV, with no separate app to install.
Clear the Play Space

Move furniture, toys and anything breakable away from the area in front of the screen, and stand far enough back that the camera can see your whole body.
Start With the Included Games

Try the five included games first. If the family takes to it, add a Play Pass; the games then download to the console.

Common Questions

Does it connect wirelessly to my TV, or do I need a cable?

It connects with an HDMI cable, which comes in the box, to a TV or projector. It also needs Wi-Fi for setup and for downloading games, and the whole process is quick and simple.

Do I need a separate controller to play, or does it come with one?

You play with your body: the built-in camera tracks your movements, so there are no controllers or trackers. A remote is included for menus and settings, and it runs on the 2 AAA batteries that come with it.

Is it appropriate for a wide age range, or really just for young kids?

Nex recommends it from age 5 and up, but it works across a much wider range, from toddlers joining older siblings to grandparents playing with their grandchildren. Many games offer easy through hard levels, which helps different ages play together.

Are there in-app purchases or ads I should worry about?

No. Nex states there are no ads, no in-app purchases and no mature content, and Playground is kidSAFE+ COPPA certified. The only extra purchase is the optional Play Pass for the wider game library.

How many games come included, and how do I get more?

Five games are included: Fruit Ninja, Starri, Whac-a-Mole, Go Keeper and Party Fowl. A Play Pass, sold in 3-month and 12-month terms, unlocks the full catalog and adds new games every month, including licensed titles such as Peppa Pig and Gabby's Dollhouse.

Is it worth it for one family?

Value for money rests on shared use, and it is at its best with several family members of different ages playing together. For a household that will use it that way and add a Play Pass, it earns its place. For a single child who might lose interest, the included five games are a sensible trial before committing to the pass.

On Video

6 videos

Reasons Why Nex Playground is a Must Buy for Families | All the Games on Nex Playground

Epic Family Quests

All videos

Nex Playground Review: Screen Time That Gets the Whole Family Moving

TL;DRThe Short Answer: Is the Nex Playground Worth It?

Key Facts

What Stands Out

Strengths and Drawbacks

What works

What does not

Features in Depth

AI Motion Tracking: Your Body Is the Controller

Five Games in the Box, the Rest on Play Pass

Four Players, 64GB, Ages 5 and Up

Built for Parents: No Ads, No In-App Purchases

How We Scored It

Fun

Family-Friendly

Game Selection

Easy To Set Up

Activity

Engaging

Owner Satisfaction

Value for Money

Specifications

Size and weight

Materials and warranty

Power

What Buyers Say

Great for the kids, family, and a fun workout for adults.

Fantastic game system for all ages

Fitness and relaxation in one cube!!!!

First video game system for my son with Down syndrome & workout for me!

Great family time entertainment

Fun for toddlers through adulthood.

Setting It Up

Place the Console

Connect to the Screen

Ready the Remote

Join Wi-Fi and Finish Setup

Clear the Play Space

Start With the Included Games

Common Questions

On Video

Reasons Why Nex Playground is a Must Buy for Families | All the Games on Nex Playground

The Verdict

Who should buy it

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