This best-selling gaming device isn’t the Switch or the PS5 — and it’s on sale on Prime Day

As a parent, I’m always looking for ways to keep my little ones happy and energized. I Nex Playground is a small gaming device that does both very well, using your body movements to play games and turning your living room into a gaming space — with no controls required.

I’ve watched Nex Playground entertain groups of children from one to eight, and the adults in the room, too. It is currently on sale and at its lowest price of the year $239 at Amazon20% off regular price of $299, on Big Day. You can also find 20% off the lot for Nex Playground, a travel case, and a 12-month Play Pass subscription for $330, down from $412.

Also: The best early Amazon Prime Day deals: I found editor-approved tech on sale already

I’m the opposite of a gamer — I’m someone who tried Animal Crossing on my husband’s Switch in the early days of the pandemic, was immediately stung by virtual bees, and never picked it up again. So you can trust me when I say that Nex Playground is very easy to set up and run, even for me.

The device itself connects to your TV via an HDMI cable and uses a built-in camera to detect body movements. (There’s a sense of privacy: No video is saved or saved, according to the company, and there’s a magnetic camera cover you have to wear when not in use. All gameplay happens offline.)

Also: Best Buy has better gaming deals right now than Amazon’s Prime Day sale

Nex Playground comes with five games (Fruit Ninja, Starri, Whac-a-Mole, Go Keeper, and Party Fowl). To unlock the extra bundle, you need to sign up for Play Pass, which costs $49 for three months or $89 for 12 months. This will give you access to a full catalog of games and new games each month, including popular characters like Barbie, Bluey, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, How to Train Your Dragon, Peppa Pig, Elmo, Gabby’s Dollhouse, Kung Fu Panda, and more. (In my experience, paying for Play Pass is totally worth it.) Games can range from one to four players.

What I love about this compared to other types of screen time is how effective it is — kids are up and moving all the time. If you’re looking for something as close to family fun as possible, I’d jump on this one Nex Playground deal while it is at its lowest price of the year, before it expires.

How did I rate this deal?

With a 20% discount and the lowest price of the year, I rate this deal 3.5 out of 5, partly because you still have to pay a subscription to unlock all the games. But in my experience, it’s worth it.