# Phygital Kids Board Games Playshifu's New 'Tacto' Board Game Combines AR with Physical Figurines By Niko Pajkovic | Published 2022-10-31 | Life-Stages Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tacto References: [toybook](https://toybook.com/playshifu-tacto-virtual-platform/) & [playshifu](https://www.playshifu.com/)  PlayShifu, a tech startup specializing in [interactive kid's games](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/educational-toy-line), has launched Tacto, the world's first 'phygital' board game. This one-of-a-kind game combines [augmented reality technology](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tootsie-augmented-reality) with physical figurines and pieces to create a highly immersive game experience. Six brand-new game kits, including Tacto Classics, Tacto Laser, Tacto Coding, Tacto Chess, Tacto Electronics, and Tacto Dino, are included in this initial collection and are aimed towards children aged four and above. In addition, kids can choose from a variety of game styles that range from classics like Snakes & Ladders to educational-focused offerings on coding. Overall, the [phygital board game](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sportrack) should appeal to the tech-first expectations of Gen Alpha while easing the minds of their parents, who may be concerned about their children's screen time use. “With screen time for children ages four to nine averaging as high as five hours every day, PlayShifu is on a mission to help parents convert their children’s screen time into hands-on educational playtime,” said PlayShifu co-founder and CEO Vivek Goyal. Image Credit: PlayShifu ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.2/10 - Popularity: 38% | Activity: 76% | Freshness: 13% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Gen Alpha, Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Life-Stages](https://www.trendhunter.com/life-stages) > [Youth](https://www.trendhunter.com/youth) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Phygital Board Games:** Combining augmented reality technology with physical elements to create an immersive gaming experience. - **Educational-focused Board Games:** Developing board games that offer educational value with fun gameplay, targeting parents who want to maximize their child's playtime for skill development. - **Screen Time Conversion Tools:** Creating products that aim to convert children's screen time into fun and educational hands-on playtime for their benefit. ### Where This Applies - **Toy Industry:** Development and production of new board game products that offer an augmented reality experience to cater to Gen Alpha's screen-first expectations. - **Edtech Industry:** Partnering with toy companies to create educational-focused board games that offer skill development opportunities and incentivize hands-on, interactive playtime. - **Digital Wellness Industry:** Creating tools and products that help parents monitor and limit their children's screen time use, while converting it to educational and engaging activities. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Face-to-Face Game Consoles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/board.md) - [Phygital Fairy Toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/holobrite-pixie-lantern.md) - [Digital Board Game Devices](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/infinity-game-board.md) - [Connected Digital Game Boards](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-last-gameboard.md) - [Innovative Game Collections](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/innovative-game-collection.md) - [Phygital Baseball Board Games](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/base-on-board-20.md) - [Intelligent Portable Board Games](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/eifplay.md) - [Tactile Game Sets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bionic.md) - [Multifunctional Game Sets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-lego-group.md)