The 8 Best Toys for 8-Year-Old Boys in 2020

Best Overall: NERF N-Strike Elite Strongarm Blaster

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For a toy that will keep young boys entertained for hours, you can’t go wrong with the Nerf N-Strike Elite Strongarm Blaster. This affordably priced nerf gun is a battery-free toy that 8-year-old boys will happily run around with for hours.

The N-Strike Elite Strongarm Blaster is much more than your standard Nerf gun. The blaster holds up to six foam darts at a time, and it can fire up to 90 feet! The cool auto-advance rotating barrel makes the toy gun seem high-tech, and it flips open for easy loading. It also holds up surprisingly well, and you’ll likely get several years of use out of it.

Users say the gun is easy to use, and the rapid-fire feature is especially handy when you’re engaged in an intense Nerf battle. This toy comes with six darts, but you can buy refills for even more fun!

Best Budget: Betheaces Flying Ball

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You don’t have to empty your wallet to get a cool toy that any 8-year-old boy will love. For instance, the Betheaces Flying Ball is an awesome helicopter-style drone that will provide hours of entertainment both indoors and out. The best part is its incredibly low price!

The Betheaces Flying Ball has an LED light inside that will shine dazzling colors as you fly it around. It has two propellers that lift it up into the air, and you can control it with the included remote. There are no batteries in this cool drone—just plug it into a USB port for 20 minutes to charge.

The Flying Ball has several built-in protections, including an automatic shut-off if it hits anything. The easy-to-learn controls make this a great toy for young boys and they’ll love learning to navigate the ball around the house and yard.

Best Splurge: Anki Overdrive Starter Kit

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If you have a larger budget, the young man in your life would absolutely love the high-tech race cars that come in the Anki Overdrive Starter Kit. This set lets kids control two robotic “supercars” from their phones, driving them around the track and battling each other with high-tech weapons.

This Overdrive kit is best for kids ages 8 to 15. It includes two supercars and 12 track pieces that can be used to create several race tracks. One unique aspect is that the cars are equipped with virtual “weapons” like plasma cannons to make races that much more intense.

Kids can play with friends, each controlling a car, or on their own battling an artificial intelligence-controlled vehicle. There are several different play settings, including Battle, Race, and Time Trial, and the maker releases regular software updates to keep gameplay new and interesting.

With so many cool features, this high-tech racing kit will provide hours of entertainment for young boys—and the whole family!

Best Game: Watch Ya' Mouth Family Edition

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Get kids to turn off their electronics for a few hours with a fun game like Watch Ya’ Mouth. This hilarious family game is perfect for players ages 8 and up, and young boys will love trying to speak phrases while wearing the game’s signature cheek retractors.

Watch Ya’ Mouth can be played with three to 10 players. Its hilarious gameplay has won several awards, including 2017 Toy of the Year in Australia.

To play, everyone takes turns putting in their mouthpiece (the game comes with 10) and try to say tongue-twisting phrases, such as “warm beef meatballs.” Your teammates simply have to guess what you’re saying, but it’s a lot harder (and funnier) than it sounds!

Since this is the family edition, all 143 phrases are kid-friendly, and players say it’s hilarious whether you are young or old.

Best Educational: Scientific Explorer My First Mind Blowing Science Kit

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Who says toys can’t be both entertaining and educational? With the My First Mind Blowing Science Kit from Scientific Explorer, young boys can learn STEM skills through exciting hands-on experiments.

This educational toy comes with 20 pieces, including test tubes, plastic cups, measuring scoops, cotton swabs, and more. You’ll also get supplies like citric acid, baking soda, vegetable oil, and red cabbage powder—everything kids need to complete 11 educational activities.

Young scientists will be able to create an underwater volcano, colorful crystals, and more, having a blast while they learn about different scientific principles. Most of the experiments can be done by kids themselves, but parental supervision is recommended.

Parents love that this science kit contains almost everything needed to complete several projects. They agree that its ideal for children ages 6 and up, so it’s a good purchase for an 8-year-old boy who’s enthusiastic about all things science.

Best Lego Set: LEGO City Police High-Speed Chase

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Lego sets are a great toy for young boys, especially if they already have a collection of these popular building blocks. If you’re looking for a specific set to keep an 8-year-old entertained, the Lego City Police High-speed Chase is perfect. It combines the fun of building Lego vehicles with the excitement of a dramatic car chase.

This set comes with nearly 300 pieces that children ages 5 to 12 can use to build a police helicopter, a police car, and a sports car. Once kids have put all the vehicles together, they’ll be able to act out car chase scenes, trying to help the robber get away as he’s pursued by the authorities. This set is a great addition to any Lego collection, and it will be especially fun for young boys who love action movies.

It is a perfect gift for young boys who enjoy police toys and that it goes well with other LEGO city sets.

Best Video Game: Nintendo Mario Kart Wii

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Grade-school boys who enjoy gaming will absolutely love Mario Kart—it’s a classic game that’s perfect for all ages. This particular version of the racing game is for the Nintendo Wii console, but it’s also available for Xbox, PlayStation, and other gaming systems.

Mario Kart is a racing game where you get behind the wheel as popular characters like Mario, Luigi, Bowser, and more. You can play with up to four people, or race against the computer on a variety of courses, all with varying difficulties.

What’s cool about Mario Kart Wii is that you can purchase “Wii Wheels” that hold the controllers. These steering wheels make it easier for young kids to get the hang of this game, and they’ll be driving like pros in no time.

Mario Kart is a classic game that is fun for the whole family, including children as young as 5 or 6. Just be warned that things will likely get competitive, and you may very well find yourself demanding rematches!