Life’s a Playground

Kidsters, Kidults or even Afols. Playing adults have many names. But they all have one thing in common – the fun to play.

Adults like to play and collect. Today more than ever. They used to be mocked for being nerds. Nowadays, many people are proud of the label which has long since ceased to have a negative connotation. Now, you are just one fan among many. There is almost no adult left who does not own numerous board games, has a special model car on his desk, collects comics or at least owns a sweatshirt with a print of his favourite character. No matter the passion, there is something for every one of these fans, who have a lot of purchasing power. Retro products, fantasy, science fiction, action, strategy – there is no area of interest for which there aren’t any relevant toys.

Spielwarenmesse 2024 has picked up on this trend with the new special "Life's a Playground - Toys for Kidsters, Kidults & Co." in Hall 3A. The interactive special area of around 400 m² was one of the highlights of the fair and provides inspiration which products from the four categories Collectibles, Premium Collectibles, Creative Fantasy and Tabletop Games should not be missing in any toy store.

Collectibles

Long ago, collecting was the most important tool for people to ensure their survival. With the passing of time, however, the focus of collecting has changed. Instead of looking for food and resources, people discovered joy in collecting unique and beautiful things and displaying them as status objects. Toys can also be such collectibles that not only indicate one’s membership of a social community, but also demonstrate the depth of their owner’s enthusiasm for a certain topic. The reasons to collect things are numerous. It is not just a passion, but also a way of expressing one’s own personality.

“The real collector is not recognised by what he has, but by what he would be happy to have,” said the painter Marc Chagall. And he was right. The collector is always on the lookout for new specimens to enrich and complete his collection.

Premium Collectibles

“Diamonds are a girl’s best friend!” – this is what Marilyn Monroe sang.

No matter whether it’s diamonds, works of art or coins – collecting can be a quite profitable investment. And this also includes limited and special toys. These objects are, of course, not to play with. They are put in the limelight in display cases in the living room or otherwise stored safely to preserve their best possible condition for future times as they have the potential to significantly increase in value.

Premium collectibles are collectible toys that are exclusive and rare. They enable collectors to express their passion for unique and sought-after objects and at the same time own a potentially valuable investment.

Creative Fantasy

Diving into worlds of fantasy! Role playing games, miniatures games and trading card games transport players into an exciting and interactive game world. Here, you can dive into epic adventures, put your strategic skills to the test and compete in tournaments.

Role playing games are games in which the players take on a certain role. A game master leads the characters through a story in the game world. Each participant plays a specific character with unique characteristics, which he or she can configure and even develop in the course of the game.

With miniature games, breathtaking battles can be fought and tactical decisions brought to life. While these games are tabletop games as well, the focus here is on the use of miniature figures which often have been crafted and painted with great love to detail.

Trading card games offer the possibility to assemble individual card decks in order to compete with others in thrilling duels. Here, rarity is paramount. Rare cards are usually more powerful and often lead their owner to victory. However, some people simply collect the cards and trade them with other players.

Tabletop Games

Just a child’s game? Nothing of the sort! One likes to slip into the role of a detective at a mystery dinner. The other prefers the classic monopoly. No matter whether you enjoy stepping into other roles, want to prove your strategic skills or creativity, want to solve tricky cases or simply have fun playing games – the lively world of tabletop games provides an endless variety of play on the table.

From short and sweet in the lunch break to well into the night, from a game of two to large rounds with friends, from well-known games and classics in revised version to the latest new releases: tabletop games also bring adults together, create unforgettable moments and quickly make you forget your everyday working life.

This is what to expected at Spielwarenmesse 2024

In addition, at the special "Life's a Playground - Toys for Kidsters, Kidults & Co." area in Hall 3A, experts from Ultra Comix - one of Europe's biggest comic and game stores - presented old classics as well as new games and gave valuable tips.

Presentations on the subject of kidults in the nearby Toy Business Forum rounded off the full program.

Further exciting information on Spielwarenmesse Digital

You will find the exhibitor overview and many products of the Special Toys do Green 2024 on Spielwarenmesse Digital.

Simply register with your e-mail address and find out more about the range of toys for Kidults in Nuremberg.