Nintendo Labo Toy-Con Variety Kit

If there's another product that combines complex cardboard crafting, video games, and basic programming, we haven't seen it. That alone is enough to make the Nintendo Labo Toy-Con Variety Kit interesting, but what makes it really special is the effort that's gone into creating something so sophisticated yet easy to enjoy. The ingenious model building -- which involves terrific explainer videos that take players through every crease and fold -- is the highlight of the experience. You'll hardly be able to believe just how complex and functional these working mechanical cardboard objects are. The 13-key piano, which uses cardboard springs and infrared reflective stickers, is particularly impressive, as is the retractable fishing rod, which has a working reel. And ambitious kids who really take to Labo will no doubt have a great time fiddling around in the Toy-Con Garage, using a simple and intuitive visual programming language to program their own creations to behave in fun new ways.

You should know, though, that the games and activities are pretty basic. It's fun to bang out simple songs on the piano, tinkering with sounds and pitch, and the motorcycle game is akin to a simple Mario Kart racer, but kids will remember the building long after they've forgotten what they did with the software. That's also true for the Nintendo Labo Toy-Con Robot Kit, which is sold separately from the Variety Kit and is slightly more expensive. It has kids build a working robot suit -- which is admittedly pretty fun -- but provides companion software that grows stale rather quickly. Nintendo Labo is like an expensive -- though very high-quality -- crafting project for kids that happens to come with a digital component. It probably won't keep their attention as long as other games, but the time they spend with it will be creative, educational, and memorable.