Toy Fair 2013 Logo

Robert and I had a blast playing with the Transformers, KRE-O, and Nerf toys in Hasbro’s showroom. There may still be some Nerf darts stuck up in the rafters!

In terms of Hasbro’s games, though…

Magic Jinn is an interactive, electronic, guessing game. The magical-cat-like device asks the questions and you answer “yes”, “no”, or “it depends.” One version will guess Animals; another Food & Drinks.

Part of the Elefun line for preschoolers, Chasin’ Cheeky is a monkey figure that scrambles around the floor while the kids try to toss rings over its tail. Or if someone is able to grab the banana from its mouth, Cheeky will shake his rear end.

For 2013, Hasbro plans a series of Twister-branded dance and activity games. One is Twister Rave Skip-It, which spins around the ankle. Another is Twister Dance Rave, which includes colored pads and a device that lights up to music, indicating where to put your left and right feet. (Thank goodness they didn’t make me try either of those!)

The Bejeweled Classic and Bejeweled Frenzy games, which we’ve mentioned before, were on display.

As were two additions to the Angry Birds Star Wars Jenga series: Angry Birds Star Wars Jenga Rise of Darth Vader and Angry Birds Star Wars Jenga Tie Fighter. The former includes Sith pigs.

Tetris Jenga adds quite a bit of challenge to the original Jenga game. Instead of straight blocks, they’re shaped like Tetris pieces.

To coincide with the release of the Despicable Me 2 movie this summer, Hasbro is planning Despicable Me 2 Monopoly and Despicable Me 2 Operation. Each comes with a set of miniature Minion figures. Additional Minions, to complete the full set of 50, can be purchased separately.

World Series of Yahtzee is a frantic game of simultaneous dice rolling. The first player to match a pattern on one of the cards takes it and presses a button. Then the rest of the players have seconds to roll better.

Scheduled for release in the fall is the Game of Life Fame Edition. In this version of Life, instead of building a family, players are gathering an entourage. Instead of a nice four-passenger sedan, players travel the board in a limousine. Also, the board is pentagonal and made of five sections, each of which can be flipped over to vary play.

Another fall board game release planned is Monopoly Empire. While no prototype was on display, Hasbro explained that the basic concept is buying and selling iconic brands instead of real-estate—a better fit, I think, for the modern business environment.

A prototype of the new Monopoly cat token, though, was on display.

And a whole range of Transformers Bot Shots Battle Game products. The Transformers Bot Shots Battle Game Dragon Track especially looked fun! Two bot shots race in from opposite sides while the center pit spins.

Beyblade had a stronger showing than expected with a new Beyblade Shogun Steel line. Shogun Steel is Hasbro’s version of the Zero-G series from Japan. These Beys come to the United States with little-to-no modification, except some really nice recolors. The new stadium, on the other hand, was a bit of a disappointment. Takara Tomy’s Zero G Beystadium features a rounder bowl and three holes for ring outs. Hasbro’s Beyblade Cyclone Stadium has a flatter bottom, so it rocks less, and has 2 pockets near the top for ring outs. This also can affect the rocking motion of the stadium if they hit the table.

Last but not least, Hasbro’s plans for 2013 include a major push for a new product line, B-DAMAN. It’s a competitive marble-shooting toy with collectible shooters and an online game tie-in.