This gadget is like a Wii without the controllers — and my kid loves it

Although my life revolves around tech, I try to limit my kid’s screen time as much as I can. She only gets to watch TV on the weekends or when she’s sick, and we keep phones and tablets out of her hands.

The NEX Playground could be an exception to that rule. This small gadget, which connects to your TV, uses a camera and motion detection to create an interactive environment for your child to play games. I set it up in my house for about a month to see what my six-year-old and her friends thought — and if we’d be giving her more time in front of the TV. And while it wasn’t a runaway success, it made me feel a lot more comfortable with it in front of the screen.

NEX Playground: Pricing and subscription

The NEX Playground costs $249, but to get full access to all the games and apps (there’s about 45 in total), you need to sign up for a Play Pass subscription, which costs $89 per year or $49 for three months. There's also a

Nex Playground with 12-Month Play Pass Bundle: was $338 now $288 at Amazon

This bundle gets you a Nex Playground game console and a 12-month subscription to the company's Play Pass with 50 games, including titles like Bluey Bust-A-Move, Peppa Pig Jump & Giggle, Kung Fu Panda Train Like a Master and more. Plus, you get new games every month too.

View Deal

NEX Playground: Design and setup

The device is about the size of a Rubik’s Cube, and has a small camera in the upper left corner of the front. On the back is a USB-C port for power, and an HDMI port. The device comes with both an HDMI cable and power, as well as a small remote (AAA batteries included). I also like that there’s a small magnetic cap attached to a lanyard that you can place over the camera’s lens.

To set up the device, you simply plug it into your TV, and, using the remote, connect to your Wi-Fi. Then, using your phone, you scan the QR code that appears on screen to set up an account. Though you’ll need a smartphone to set it up, there’s no app, which I like as that keeps things simple.

After that, it’s a matter of waiting for the device to download all the various games, which takes a few minutes depending on your Wi-Fi connection.

The remote is small and slim - perfect for a child's hands — and has a small circular D-pad at the top, and two other miniscule buttons to go back and Home.

The interface is pretty simple too. Apps are organized in groups, and you just scroll down the screen to find the one you want. I wish there were a way to favorite particular apps, so you don’t have to scroll as much. My kid was able to navigate things pretty easily on her own though.

NEX Playground: Playtime

Most games can be played either individually or with up to four players; after you select a game and the number of players, a small box (or boxes) will appear on your TV, showing an image of each player. You then simply raise your hands to calibrate the motion tracking, and you’re off.

Unlike the Nintendo Wii, there’s no controllers to hold; all interactions are based on your body movements.

My six-year-old and her friends took to the device pretty quickly, though they tended to stick to branded games they knew. A Bluey-themed app has several games based on Bluey episodes, such as “Keepy-uppy,” where you run around to try and keep balloons aloft, and another where you have to assemble a pastry.

Also popular was Barbie Dance Party, where you have to copy dance moves to popular songs; there were tracks from Dua Lipa, Katy Perry, and others from the Barbie movie, and the more you played the game, the more songs you unlocked. It was a real treat to watch my kid dance along to the songs, and my wife even got in on the action. My daughter and her friends liked it so much that they begged to keep playing.

I met with less success when trying to get her to play other games. I loaded up the classic Fruit Ninja — and had a blast slicing fruits with my hands — but she lost interest right from the start.

There are a few games aimed at adults, too, such as “Zumba Fitness Party” and “Box Flow Fitness.” Are they going to get you into beach body shape? Probably not, but they’re fun and got me moving, at least a little bit.

NEX Playground: Verdict

Is the NEX Playground going to keep my kid from wanting to veg out in front of the TV? Of course not. In the month we’ve had it, there’s been more than one Saturday morning where she watches episode after episode of “My Little Pony” or some other show. But, when she used the NEX Playground, it was an enjoyable experience for her — and for me, too.