Family board games set for Christmas comeback

Family board games are making a return for Christmas as parents fed up of antisocial smart-phones and "tech" toys will buy them as gifts they can join in with.

According to the Toy Retailers Association (TRA) annual Dream Toys list of predicted top sellers, board games are set for a major comeback as sales have risen by 30 per cent this year.

The new "must have" board game is expected to be a creation by Hasbro called "Toilet Trouble" which sees players spinning a toilet roll on a plastic toilet which squirts them with water. 

The game is expected to be one of the top 12 toys sold this Christmas, alongside favourites such as L.O.L Suprise and Hatchimals Surprise. 

Lindsey Walker, head toy buyer at Argos, said: "Board games have seen a big increase in popularity this year and are expected to be popular this Christmas because they are a great way of bringing families together.

Traditional games like Cluedo and Monopoly are selling well, as well as the social focused games like Pie Face Showdown. The new games on the market like Toilet Trouble, which has great toilet humour and Fantastic Gymnastics are also set to be big."

The latest Nerf blaster, the original Stretch Armstrong action figure and the sequel to last year's Hatchimals also feature on the must-have toys list this Christmas, as British parents prepare to spend an average of £121 on each child.

The list is decided by a panel of leading toy retailers in the UK including Argos, Boots, Selfridges, Smyths Toys, The Entertainer, TK Maxx and Toys R US. Low cost collectible toys are expected to remain popular after taking off last Christmas.

The relatively inexpensive £9.99 collectible LOL Surprise dolls are predicted top stocking fillers, while the most expensive toy on the list is Hasbro's £134.99 FurReal Roarin' Tyler tiger featuring 100 sound and movement combinations.

Frederique Tutt, global industry analyst for the NPD Group's toy division said: "The £3.5 billion-strong British toy market is holding on to its position as the largest market in Europe and the fourth biggest worldwide.

"All year, affordable collectibles have topped the best-seller lists, with seven out of the top 10 best-selling toys since the beginning of 2017 retailing for under £10."