TDmonthly - Toy of the Year Game Finalists, Game Store Day: Board Game News 11/7

In short

The Toy Foundation named seven Game of the Year finalists for the 2027 Toy of the Year awards on Nov. 7: Rump Race, CATAN On the Road, Rubik's Rush, Tonieplay Monopoly, Sanibel, Kanoodle Party and Foosbots Rivals Cup.
Anyone can vote for the People's Choice award at ToyAwards.org until Jan. 6, 2027; winners are named Feb. 19, 2027.
It's also Game Store Day: more than 400 independent game stores signed up for demos, tournaments and promotions today.

Saturday, Nov. 7, is a big day for family games: The Toy Foundation revealed its 2027 Toy of the Year (TOTY) finalists at the Chicago Toy & Game Fair, and hundreds of local game stores are celebrating Game Store Day. Here are all seven Game of the Year finalists, from a $7.99 CATAN card game to a $49.95 soccer set, with prices checked Nov. 7, 2026.

GAMA, the tabletop game trade association, holds Game Store Day on the first Saturday in November, modeled on Record Store Day. GAMA says more than 400 stores signed up for 2026 to host free play, tournaments, pre-release demos, creator talks and special promotions, and its site has a store locator by city or ZIP code. Participating stores could also buy a Publisher's Box, which GAMA values at more than $1,000 in new games and accessories, for $179; quantities were capped at 500.

The TOTY awards cover 17 categories; finalists were chosen by a nomination committee of play experts, journalists, academics and retailers. Retailers, media, Toy Association members and consumers can now vote, and the People's Choice winner is decided by public votes at ToyAwards.org. Winners will be announced on Feb. 19, 2027, at Pier Sixty in New York City.

A two-player balloon-popping race for ages 8 and up. Each player bounces on a "Rump Pump" to fill a balloon and push the popping arrow toward the other player's balloon; first to pop the rival's balloon wins. The box includes the centerpiece, two pumps, two air hoses and 30 balloons, and PlayMonster says it works with most standard-size balloons. TOTY lists a $19.99 price.

Pros: Loud, physical and fast; great for kids who can't sit through a board game; refills with ordinary balloons.
Cons: Only two players at a time; latex balloons and broken balloon pieces are a choking hazard for kids under 8, so keep little siblings away; popping is loud.

A travel-size CATAN card game for ages 10 and up that plays in about 15 minutes. Players collect resource cards, build from a shared pool and trade with each other or the bank in a race to seven victory points, so CATAN fans will know it right away. CATAN Shop sells it for $9.99.

Pros: Under $10, so it works as a stocking stuffer; a 15-minute CATAN for car trips and restaurants; easy to teach to CATAN players.
Cons: Ages 10+, so it is not for young kids; a card game can't match the board game's map building; trading works best with three or four players.

An electronic speed game in classic Rubik's colors: players race to press the buttons that match a random light-up color sequence before time runs out. The TOTY entry lists nine levels in solo mode and head-to-head play for up to four players, ages 8 and up (the Amazon listing says 7 and up), at $21.99.

Pros: Portable and quick for road trips; solo levels for one player and battles for up to four; under $20 on Nov. 7.
Cons: It is a reflex game, not a cube to solve, so puzzle purists may be disappointed; button-mashing rounds get noisy with four players; age grades differ between the TOTY entry (8+) and Amazon (7+).

A screen-free audio version of Monopoly for Toniebox 2. Instead of a board, two to four players use bank cards and Title Deed cards while Mr. Monopoly's voice runs auctions, mini-games such as Railroad Rush and surprise events. Tonies rates it ages 7 and up, with about 40 minutes of play, and the game needs both a Toniebox 2 and a Tonieplay Controller. Tonies sells it for $24.99 and posts a flashing-light warning for people with photosensitive epilepsy.

Pros: A fast, no-screen Monopoly that ends in about 40 minutes; audio prompts help younger players follow along; a good add-on for families who already own a Toniebox 2.
Cons: Only works with a Toniebox 2 plus a controller, which adds cost; it isn't the classic board game; flashing-light warning for photosensitive epilepsy.

A relaxed tile-placement game from Wingspan designer Elizabeth Hargrave, released Jan. 16, 2026. Two to four players walk the beach collecting shell tiles and arrange them on their own mats for points; the box has more than 200 watercolor shell tiles and field guides on 25+ real Sanibel Island shells. Hasbro rates it ages 10 and up, and the Wizards Play Network page lists an MSRP of $39.99.

Price: $37.98 on Amazon from a third-party seller (TCGMonster) with low stock on Nov. 7.

Pros: Calm, beautiful family strategy game; easy to learn with depth for adults; teaches real shell facts.
Cons: Ages 10+; Amazon stock was limited and sold by a third party on Nov. 7; slower and quieter than a party game.

A party-size version of the Kanoodle brainteaser for one to four players, ages 8 and up. The 15-inch tabletop board is three times the size of the original, with 12 oversized pieces, a lid with storage, and 100 puzzles plus 40 bonus challenges. Players can race, take turns against a timer reached by QR code (5 to 30 seconds, or a custom time) or solve puzzles together. Educational Insights launched it as a Walmart exclusive at $29.97.

Where to buy: Walmart stores and Walmart.com ($29.97 at launch, per Educational Insights). We found no Amazon listing on Nov. 7.

Pros: Turns a solo puzzle into a group game; oversized pieces are easy to handle; works with puzzles from the original Kanoodle.
Cons: Walmart only, so no Amazon option; the timer needs a phone and a QR code; competitive rounds can frustrate younger kids.

A tabletop soccer game for ages 6 and up. Players squeeze a Foosbot's arms to make it spin and kick a mini ball across a 3-by-1.5-foot felt field fenced with pinch-on barriers, two of which have built-in score sliders. The set includes three international Foosbots (USA, Brazil and Mexico), 10 barriers, the field, eight stickers and two mini balls, and more countries are sold separately. Fat Brain lists it at $49.95.

Price: $49.95 on Amazon, sold by Fat Brain Toys with a future ship date (AVAILABLE_DATE) on Nov. 7.

Pros: Active, skill-based play that sets up almost anywhere; teams add collecting appeal; good for kids who like sports more than cards.
Cons: The priciest finalist at $49.95; on Amazon it showed a future ship date rather than in-stock; extra teams cost more.

How we checked: The finalist list comes from The Toy Foundation's 2027 TOTY gallery, read on Nov. 7, 2026, after the CHITAG reveal. Prices and stock were checked on Amazon and the makers' sites the same day, and we found no CPSC recalls for any of the seven games. All seven makers have active, selling websites. No company paid to be included. Looking for more? See our 7 best cooperative board games and Nov. 5 board game news.

#ad As an Amazon Associate, TDmonthly earns from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability are as of Nov. 7, 2026 and may change.

Toy of the Year Game Finalists, Game Store Day: Board Game News 11/7

Rump Race, CATAN On the Road, Sanibel, Kanoodle Party and more, with prices checked Nov. 7