Nex Playground review: "The first games console my whole family wanted to play together"

Price on writing: £270 £215 | Buy now from Amazon

Our verdict

After three weeks of testing, parent tester Matt found the Nex Playground had quickly become the games console his children reached for first. Unlike traditional games consoles, it gets everyone up and moving, and that's ultimately what sets it apart. His two children, aged six and nine, played it almost every day, while Matt and his wife found themselves joining in too, whether for family games, geography challenges or even the occasional Zumba session.

One of the biggest strengths is how easy it is to live with. The console itself is small, discreet and simple to set up, while the controller-free gameplay makes it accessible even for younger children.

Matt was particularly impressed by how well the motion tracking worked in day-to-day use, telling us: "It's a great piece of technology that fits in with everyday life very easily. It's small and discreet, and I like that it has a camera privacy cover for when it's not in use."

The Play Pass subscription also adds a huge amount of value, unlocking a much larger library of games and ensuring new content arrives regularly. During Matt's testing period alone, several new games were added, helping the system feel fresh rather than repetitive.

The main drawback is space. While the Nex Playground can work in smaller rooms, the camera needs a clear view of players to track movements accurately. Matt found this wasn't a problem in everyday family use, but it did occasionally cause issues when other people were moving around in the background. "The kids in our house have been constantly playing for short periods of time and it's become their go-to console to play together."

Bottom line: If you're looking for a family games console that encourages children to get off the sofa and be active, the Nex Playground is one of the most enjoyable we've tested. The Play Pass subscription feels almost essential to get the most from it, but for families who'll use it regularly, it's an engaging, well-designed system that genuinely brings children and adults together through play.

Our tester Matt and his family used the Nex Playground daily to play a variety of games.

How we tested the Nex Playground Console

Matt tested the Nex Playground over a period of three weeks, using it in both his home and caravan. Most of the testing took place in the house, but having it set up in the caravan also gave him a chance to see how practical the compact console was in a smaller space.

The console was tested primarily for family gaming, with a mix of single-player and two-player games. This included playing with other family members as well as testing how the console worked when two children played together.

What’s in the box?

• Nex Playground console

• Power adapter

• HDMI cable

• Remote control

• Camera privacy cover

• 5 pre-installed/included games: Fruit Ninja, Starri, Whac-a-Mole, Go Keeper, Party Fowl

The optional travel case keeps the Nex Playground and its accessories together, making it easier to take the console away with you.

Does it come with any extras?

The Nex Playground can be used with a Play Pass subscription , which Matt's family had access to during testing. "We were lucky enough to also have the premium subscription. This allowed loads of new games to be downloaded in addition to the five that come in the box. And, since we've been using it there has been at least another 3 games added."

If you're planning to take the Nex Playground away from home, there's also a travel case available separately. It's a custom-fitted case with a shockproof EVA shell and splash-resistant exterior, with dedicated storage for the console, remote, cables and power adapter. There's also a mesh pocket for smaller accessories and a handle and crossbody strap, so it can be carried in a couple of different ways.

The case is a useful optional extra if you're planning to take the console on family trips, particularly as it keeps the console and its accessories together rather than having to pack everything separately.

What is the standout feature of the Nex Playground Console?

According to Matt, the standout feature is the motion tracking. Rather than using a traditional handheld controller, the Nex Playground uses the player's movements to control the games, which makes it particularly easy for children to pick up and play.

Matt was impressed by how well this worked compared with other motion-controlled products his family has tried: "The standout feature is how successfully it turns your body into the controller. The motion tracking works really well, and not having to hold a controller makes the games very easy and accessible for different ages."

He also found the tracking more accurate and responsive than similar products they'd used before, which makes a noticeable difference when playing games that rely on quick movements or gestures.

How suitable is it for different ages?

The Nex Playground is recommended for children aged five and over. Its curated game library covers a range of play styles and difficulty levels, so there's plenty of scope to find something that suits different ages and interests.

Matt says the recommended age feels about right based on his family's experience: "The recommended age is 5+, which feels about right. Our six-year-old has been able to play independently and has probably enjoyed it the most, but our nine-year-old has also remained interested throughout the testing."

Matt particularly noted that the geography game had been popular with his nine-year-old, while the family-friendly nature of the content meant he was comfortable letting his children browse and choose games themselves. He adds: "The content all feels family-friendly and because it’s curated, I’ve been happy for the children to browse and choose games independently."

How easy is the set up?

Getting the Nex Playground up and running is pretty painless. Once it's connected to the TV, the on-screen instructions take you through the setup, so there's not much for parents to figure out themselves. The main thing to bear in mind is that the games need some time to download before they're ready to play.

Matt found the process straightforward, although the wait for the games was less popular with his son. He explains: "It was extremely easy to set the Playground up. Once it had been connected to the TV the screens guided you through the setup really easily. It took about 20 minutes to set up and then around another 20 minutes for all of the games to download.

The initial download of the games was a little frustrating for my son who just wanted to play. Typically, the games he wanted to play were the ones that took the longest to download. It would be great if it only showed the games that were already installed initially."

The compact Nex Playground sits neatly on a TV stand, blending into the living room without taking up much space.

How does it look and feel?

The console is a small, cube-shaped unit with a built-in camera on the front. It's compact enough to sit neatly alongside a TV without taking over the room, and the simple design means it doesn't look out of place in a family living space.

It's also an interesting mix of grown-up tech and something that feels approachable for children. Matt was impressed by the size and build quality, while also liking the slightly toy-like look: "The design is pretty modern. It looks nice and fits in with both of the rooms that we’ve used it in.

It’s smaller than I expected and the build quality feels very very good. It doesn’t feel like there would be a problem if it was dropped. It feels modern and premium but also has a bit of a toy-like quality which makes it appeal to the kids."

How durable and sturdy is it?

For a family games console, the Nex Playground feels reassuringly solid. Matt hasn't deliberately put it through any drop tests, so there's no way of knowing how it would fare after a serious accident, but after three weeks of regular use, he was happy with how well everything had held up.

"The console feels really well made. The main unit feels solid, and the build quality feels much better than I expected. Although it has a slightly toy-like appearance that appeals to children, it still feels like a premium piece of technology.

We haven’t deliberately dropped it, but it feels sturdy enough to cope with the occasional knock or bump. The remote, cables and accessories have all worked without any problems.

Because players don’t need to hold the console or use controllers during games, there are also fewer opportunities for anything to be dropped. Based on our experience so far, it feels capable of withstanding regular family use and lasting for several years if looked after properly."

How does the Nex Playground Console actually work?

The small cube is essentially a mini-computer that connects to your TV and turns the space in front of it into the playing area. You connect it to the TV using HDMI and to Wi-Fi, then the built-in wide-angle camera watches the player rather than relying on handheld controllers. Its AI-powered motion system tracks 18 points on the body in real time, allowing movements such as jumping, dancing and swinging your arms to control what's happening on screen. It can track up to four players at once, depending on the game.

The camera processing happens on the console itself rather than in the cloud, and Nex says video isn't stored or uploaded. There's also a magnetic cover for the camera when the Playground isn't being used.

One thing that could be confusing is the remote. It's not a games controller and children don't need to hold it while they're playing. It's mainly there for navigating menus, choosing games and starting or stopping them. The remote also has a built-in microphone for voice features in supported games.

In practice, the biggest consideration is the amount of clear floor space you have in front of the TV. Matt found the console easy to move between rooms, but the camera needs a reasonably unobstructed view of the player. He says, "The console itself is extremely small and easy to move or store. We used it both in our caravan and also in our house. The main limitation is the amount of space needed in front of the camera. You need enough space for the camera to see the whole body of the player, and a bit more space is needed when two people are playing.

It can work in a smaller area - it was fine in our caravan - but the room needs to be relatively clear. People in the background can occasionally be picked up by the camera."

The built-in camera tracks players’ body movements, letting the whole family jump, dodge and move their way through games without handheld controllers.

What’s it like to use day to day?

Once it's set up, there's very little to think about. The children can turn it on, choose a game and get started without needing much help, which makes it easy to fit into everyday family life.

Matt says: "It’s very quick to jump into a game. It boots up very very quickly and navigating the menus is easy with the included remote. The kids can use it independently and, because it has a curated set of games, I’m not worried about them accessing anything that they shouldn’t."

Switching between games is straightforward, and Matt didn't encounter any issues with the console slowing down during normal use. The one thing he'd change is how often the remote needs to be picked up during play.

"The only criticism I would have is that you have to keep picking up and putting down the remote."

How engaging are the games?

The games were a big hit with Matt’s family, with plenty of variety in both the types of games available and how active they are. Some are more relaxed, while others get children moving much more, so there’s something to suit different moods and interests.

Matt says: "My children really enjoyed the majority of the games. There is a large variety available (because of the Play Pass). The games don’t feel repetitive and there is a large mix of different styles of games to play."

That variety also extends to how much movement each game involves. The geography game, for example, is fairly low-key, while tennis requires more movement and the workout games are the most active. Matt found that the children remained engaged across the different types of games. He explains, "Some games (like the Geography one) don’t require much movement at all. But others, like tennis, require much more movement. Others still are focussing on working out so they require the most active movement. The kids were genuinely active for the most part and they were engaged throughout all of their sessions."

The Play Pass is also worth considering if you're buying the console. Matt felt the five games included with the console could become repetitive fairly quickly on their own, whereas the larger library and regular new content gave the children more to come back to.

The on-screen instructions make the Nex Playground straightforward to set up, guiding you through each step before you start playing.

How well does the Nex Playground Console work for groups?

Great! The Nex Playground works well as a shared family activity, whether everyone is playing together or taking turns. Some games are better suited to one player at a time, even if they offer a multiplayer option, but this doesn't have to spoil the fun. Matt found taking turns worked just as well for games such as Fruit Ninja.

Matt says: "My children have loved playing two player games. Some games work better as single player even when they have multi player options (Fruit Ninja for example). Taking turns in that way is very easy."

It's not just for children, either. Matt and his wife also found games they enjoyed, from Zumba workouts to geography challenges played together with their son. And when another child came over for a playdate, they were able to get involved without much explanation. "We had one playdate during our testing, and the other child picked it up very quickly."

The main thing to bear in mind is that the camera needs a clear view of the players, so having enough room for everyone to move is important. While the console can support up to four players in compatible games, the experience will depend on the game and the space available. It's best suited to families who want to play together at home, rather than expecting every game to work like a traditional multiplayer console.

How accurate is the motion tracking?

The motion tracking is generally very accurate, with gestures recognised consistently and no noticeable lag or delay during Matt's testing. The main issue was occasional interference when someone else was in the room, although this was usually easy to resolve.

Matt explains: "Movements are generally very well detected. Gestures are usually recognised consistently without any lag or delay.

Very occasionally the camera will pick up someone else in the room. If the person playing moves again then the tracking goes back to them. Everything felt smooth and responsive and much better than similar devices we’ve tried before."

How reliable is the performance?

For a family console that's used regularly, it's reassuring not to have to deal with crashes or technical hiccups. Matt's experience over three weeks was largely trouble-free.

Matt says: "Performance has been very reliable throughout our testing. The console starts quickly, games load quickly, and we haven’t experienced any crashes or glitches.

Updates have downloaded automatically. Considering it has been used pretty much every day, we’re impressed with the reliability."

Unlike the Nintendo Switch OLED, which can be used in handheld, tabletop or TV mode, the Nex Playground is designed specifically for TV-based play. It's less versatile for gaming on the go, but for families looking for a console to use at home, it performed consistently during testing.

Does the Nex Playground Console offer any special features?

One useful feature is the magnetic camera cover, which lets you physically cover the lens when the console isn't in use. It's a welcome addition for a device that sits in the family living room.

Matt also liked how little he needed to manage once the console was set up. Game and software updates downloaded automatically, and at least three new games appeared during his three weeks of testing.

Matt notes: "We didn’t set up separate profiles or explore the parental controls, content recommendations or progress-tracking features in much detail. However, the games are curated and age-appropriate, so I didn’t feel concerned about letting the children navigate the system by themselves."

It's worth noting that Matt didn't test the parental controls or profile features in depth, so he couldn't comment on how useful these would be for families wanting more control over individual children's play.

The Nex Playground turns gaming into an active experience, with colourful games that keep children entertained and engaged.

How easy is it to maintain?

The Nex Playground requires very little ongoing attention, and Matt's family didn't run into any problems that needed troubleshooting or support.

Matt explains: "We haven’t had to do any ongoing maintenance. The unit is small and easy to keep clean, although the camera lens needs to remain clear so that the motion tracking works properly.

Updates and new content are managed automatically once the system is connected to Wi-Fi. Apart from the initial setup and game downloads, we haven’t needed to spend any time managing the account or troubleshooting the system.

We haven’t experienced any technical problems that required support, so day-to-day maintenance has been minimal."

The Nintendo Switch offers handheld and TV gaming, while the Nex Playground focuses on active, controller-free play in front of the TV.

Does the Nex Playground Console offer good value for money?

The Nex Playground is a bigger investment than some families may expect for a console designed primarily for active play at home. Whether it's worth the money depends largely on how much use your family will get out of it.

Matt says: "At £269 (often priced at £215 on sale), the Nex Playground is a fairly significant purchase. It includes five games, which are enough to get started, but I think they could become repetitive fairly quickly on their own.

The Play Pass makes a huge difference because it unlocks the full game library and adds new content regularly. However, it currently costs £90 for 12 months or £45 for three months, so this ongoing cost needs to be considered as part of the overall price. In my opinion, the subscription feels necessary to get the most from the console.

Despite that, it offers good value for a family that will use it regularly. Both of my children have played it almost every day, the adults have enjoyed it too, and it encourages everyone to move rather than sit still. You also don’t need to buy additional controllers or accessories for multiplayer games.

The regular addition of new games should give it good longevity and replay value. I would consider it good value for an active family or one with several children, but it would be harder to justify for occasional use or without the Play Pass."

Compared with the Nintendo Switch OLED, the Nex Playground is more specialised. The Switch offers a broader range of traditional games and can be used in handheld, tabletop or TV mode, making it a more versatile option for gaming at home and on the go. The Nex is better suited to families looking for active, shared play in the living room.

Ultimately, the Nex Playground makes the most sense for families who expect to use it regularly and are happy to pay for the Play Pass. If you only plan to play occasionally, the extra subscription cost makes it harder to justify.

About the author

Tammy Jacks has over 20 years of experience in the publishing industry, holding key roles such as Managing Editor and Health & Beauty Editor for Woman & Home magazine in South Africa, and Assistant Editor for Living and Loving, a parenting title focused on children’s health and development.

She has contributed to a wide range of lifestyle publications, including magazines, journals and newspapers, and has edited books for fitness influencers and health professionals. As a researcher and writer, Tammy specialises in children’s development, wellbeing and safety. Over the years, she has reviewed countless toys and developmental aids, as well as essential baby products for everyday family life, from baby monitors and sleep aids to feeding equipment and nursery must-haves. She also covers baby travel gear, including baby carriers, child bike seats and lightweight strollers, alongside technology reviews and buyer’s guides covering the best tablets, best iPads and best games consoles for families.