Blast OFF to 2023!

… by looking at 2022.

It’s here, the end of the year. 2022 brought A LOT of different things to blasters and related toys, and the field is bigger than ever. I’m going to focus on the “main” blaster brands you can find in US big box retailers, but Amazon sellers and direct to consumer vendors, I see you too. 

2022 Blaster Brand Power Rankings

Top of the Power Rankings this Year is Nerf.

I’ll say it. Nerf and Hasbro can be criticized for their prices, their designs, the barrage of new ammo types introduced, etc., but the main event in blasters I still have to say is in Potato Head’s house. Nerf had A LOT of lines come out this year. Rival isn’t dead. Ultra had new models. I couldn’t even keep up with all the Nerf Elite 2.0 releases, Roblox, Minecraft, Fortnite, Dino Squad, and everything in between. Hyper got new releases, and Gelfire is new to the Nerf line but another segment for them to put a foothold in. (There’s even more on the hroizon, and the future predictions will be on another post,)

That’s a lot of blasters. Not even mentioning Nerf LMTD. And there’s the rub. Nerf LMTD opens the doors so much wider than I think anyone but the people at Nerf understand (and their lawyers). If you had told me 5 years ago I would own a Nerf Aliens Pulse Rifle, I’d have called you a liar. And… I now own a foam dart firing blaster from Aliens. With more on the way, the Halo Needler certainly is grabbing attention even now. Technically, Nerf Ball was announced as well, it’s just more Nerf to go around.

So Nerf is not only claiming a lot of real estate on toy shelves, but on literal land too. They have campaigns and marketing all over the place with deep pockets to go along with it. From potentially having limitless IPs to make legendary blasters for, to having a wide variety of blasters and lines to choose from, and experiential attractions, Nerf has the spread and the reach to easily claim being the strongest brand even now.

Fave Nerf blaster from 2022 – 

TIE: Aliens Pulse Blaster & Nerf Elite Moto Blitz 

One of the Favorites from Nerf in 2022!

Tied for 2nd – 

Dart  Zone & Buzz Bee Toys

Dart Zone – Fortifying their Position

Dart Zone had HUGE year. They’ve taken the niche of “pro” level blasters and games and really carved a piece of it for themselves. They offer a variety of darts but the darts are usable in other blasters for the most part. The Tomcat can’t use full length darts, but the 1.2 and Nexus Pro are compatible to use both half and full length ammo. The only drawback was I couldn’t use a majority of the pro blasters at some nerf wars I attended. The blasters shoot pretty strongly and a majority of the attendees were kids of other players.

However, I’d be remiss not mentioning the whole tournament Dart Zone held as well. Across multiple states, even attracting players from Singapore, it definitely made noise. The other grumblings I heard are a story time for another day, but as I wasn’t an attendee everything I heard is hearsay. All the same, well done on them for even doing it. 

Getting the license to use Jurassic World on blasters was fantastic for Dart Zone too. I know I always wanted a dino hunting blaster from watching Jurassic Park, and their Jurassic Pro fulfilled an age old want.The other non pro blasters like the Pyroraptor and Blue Blaster were fun too, but the real theme came out with the Pro. I also really liked the Vulcanator, the wacky design reminded me why silly blasters are great to own, and not to take this hobby too seriously. 

Fave Release: Dart Zone Vulcanator

BuzzBee Toys – Not Just Bolt Action

Buzz Bee Toys is never to be counted out. Typically they have a few solid performers every year, but they don’t have the production output that Nerf has. Abraham’s M4 blaster, the Thermal Hunter, and other past releases from other years were great, 

This year was no exception. the Alpha Auto 72 is one of my favorite blasters this year, no doubt about it. It has high capacity, drum fed, good range, and I definitely managed to get tags with it. And it was still a regular strength blaster, so I could use it anywhere I played. Buzz Bee also released fun looking blasters like the Pixelator and Tornado, but the Alpha Auto hits so many positive notes for me. Cost, Capacity, Functionality, and aesthetics are all there. Well done this year, Buzz Bee.

Fave Released Blaster: Alpha Auto 72

ZING

I love the Zing brand. Marshmallow Blasters is under their label now, they make a consistently good product, them being at this spot on the list isn’t a knock on them. Someone had to go here, and the other lines had so much going on in comparison.

The new Dominator bow and battle packs are great for outdoor play, and their continued efforts to capitalize on archery tag continued this year, and I’m here for it. But, that’s about all I have to say blaster/launcher wise this year. Zing makes so much more than bows, but it’s not a lot I can factor into this list. That being said, I look forward to what they have coming up and will definitely get my bows and arrows out once the weather warms up for me. 

Fave Release: Dominator Bow

XShot

I don’t have a lot to say about XShot this year. I haven’t heard from their PR team since the Faze Clan blasters dropped, and all I know is they released a new Skins line since. But like every year, XShot has multiple color refreshes (in the Skins line this time, the Faze Clan blasters were the third recolor of the Orbit and Meteor I’ve seen). One year the new model was the Crusher, this year I think there are two new models? Maybe one? Everything else I already have in last year’s color. 

Sure, everyone does it but they also have multiple new products. I haven’t seen that from XShot yet. The entire line is budget friendly and has impressive power from what I know in past experience, but this year I just don’t have much more to report on them and I don’t have the budget to buy more of the Same Thing.

Honorable Mentions

And there really is SO MUCH MORE available on the internet! Amazon, Direct to Consumer, and Amazon make all these other different toys available. Foam blasters that no one else is making, gel blasting toys that are super realistic, and so on. Buyer beware on safety, because there’s no guarantee these toys adhere to the same strict US toy safety guidelines but there is definitely some impressive product out there.

One of my favorite gel blasters. High powered, magfed, and decently priced!

To 2023! 

Nerf Review] – Nerf Hyper Evolve 100 Blaster (New 2022)

TRANSCRIPTION: (apologies in advance, I used free Notta software for this)

Welcome to a foam from above. We are looking at the Nerf Hyper evolve 100. I believe it’s around 60 or $70. But let’s go over some of the basics. Your jam door there. And here, safety. Docking bay doors.  Going to call it a docking bay because it looks like a spaceship when it does that. When I initially saw this announced, I thought it was electric. It was basically a reshell of the Mach 100. That is not the case. 

The blaster itself comes with only 70 rounds. This is kind of what I got in here. It also comes with eye protection. And that’s about it. Still feels comfortable. And then there is no slam fire.  It’s a new Ammo type. A couple of new models. This is the latest one. The loading switch for the bay doors. It’s accessible by both left and right hands. The safety is on the left and the right side. Rail system there.  Rail system there. You can mount the additional ammo containers on it along with I believe the rival accessory should work on this too. This looks like the same thing. I’d say it’s not as heavy as the Hyper Mach 100.  And I do prefer a pump action forward mech.

The new door, I love it. And if you want to get the new stuff. Your Nerf Hyper Evolve 100 is out. This really depends on the type of ammo that you like.  However, I do have this caveat. Make sure to use the blaster indoors. Your ammo retrieval rate for this is going to be you do run the risk of it being pretty low just because how small these are compared to rival rounds, but yeah, still solidly built blaster, solid ammo.  Nice looks.

Love the presentation of it. Thanks again to Hasbro for sending out a free sample. I appreciate it. Appreciate you for tuning in. If you like what you see, make sure to hit like and subscribe.  Blast that Like & Subscribe button for me!  

Manchester-based NERF Action Xperience (NAX) kick-starts UK rollout

Been sitting on this news for some time, but there’s still plenty to talk about! Nerf has a number of initiatives out there, from the mobile tour in North America, a Nerf theme park in Brazil, and a Nerf Action Xperience in Singapore, Nerf is putting another theme arena in Manchester!

This isn’t the first time that Nerf has had a UK based experience, there was/is a setup at Quest arena from years ago, but this is new and looks to be a more standardized setup as this would mark the second location called a “Nerf Action Xperience”. The full press release/article follows:


“Having successfully entered a licensing agreement with global branded entertainment company HASBRO, Rocafella Leisure have recently secured the investment to commence work on the first NERF Action Xperience family entertainment centre (FEC) in the UK.

Each NAX centre provides guests with a multitude of NERF fuelled indoor activities to explore, exhilarate and excite. It consists of three different zones to activate those ultimate NERF adventures in a purpose-built and immersive environment.

The competition zone allows groups to battle it out with different NERF blasters in three immersive themed arenas.

The sports zone features a huge atrium of NERF-related sports challenges including basketball and football volley. Finally, there is a dedicated training zone to hone players targeting skills, truly providing something for everyone.

The inaugural FEC will open in the recently rebranded Trafford Palazzo (Manchester) in Summer 2023, marking the start of a UK-wide rollout which will see two further locations added within the coming years.”

“The NERF Action Xperience in Manchester embodies Hasbro’s Brand Blueprint 2.0, our strategic approach to bringing Hasbro’s iconic brands to life, for fans of all ages,” said Matt Proulx, VP Location Based Entertainment at Hasbro, Inc. “As we expand the NERF franchise into new categories, we will continue to introduce innovative experiences for consumers – and we’re excited to partner with Rocafella Leisure to bring the NAX experience to fans throughout the UK.” 

Working alongside Peel L&P, who now own and successfully manage Trafford Palazzo, Rocafella Leisure shared the same vision to create a unique and rich blend of IP-led entertainment within the venue, which adjoins one of Europe’s largest retail and leisure destinations, the Trafford Centre.

The new Nerf FEC being introduced by Rocafella Leisure will join Trafford Palazzo’s growing tenant mix as it continues to elevate its offering whilst becoming a rivalled destination for retail, leisure and entertainment for families of all ages. The tenant mix currently includes Primark,

Merlin operated LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre and SEA LIFE, Silentnight, Homesense, Natuzzi, newly opened Italian restaurant, Matterello and the newly announced forthcoming addition, King Pins which is due to open in the Spring of 2023.

Work has already begun on altering the current layout and infrastructure of the ground-floor unit, located just inside the main entrance of Trafford Palazzo, installing a mezzanine floor and preparing the mechanical and electrical infrastructure in readiness for the main contractor to start the first phase of building works.

Mark Whittaker, Executive Director Property Investment & Management for Peel L&P said:

“We are really excited to welcome Nerf Action Experience to Trafford Palazzo. The brand aligns perfectly with all existing operators and will I’m sure be extremely popular with visitors, old and new.

“Over the past year, we have focused on developing an activations and events strategy within our mall space which has attracted significant interest and demonstrates the power of creating experiences for customers within a retail space. We are excited to develop our strategy and offering further to bring some spectacular collaborations to Trafford Palazzo.”

Rocafella Leisure have agreed an exclusive partnership with Archie’s, the Manchester based American-inspired diner to be the operator of the food and beverage (F&B) offer within the FEC.

The team–up with Archie’s seemed a logical fit, helping deliver a first-class F&B offering that is grounded in quality and service, and where both brands can use similar values and positioning to attract like-minded customers.

This relationship presents Rocafella Leisure with a trusted ready-made F&B proprietor with appropriate menus, that can organise and deliver children’s parties and have the added advantage of attracting passing footfall to boost their sales.  

Amer Rafiq, co-founder of Archie’s said: “We are hugely excited to be partnering with NAX on such a high-profile attraction coming to Manchester.

“The decision to work together was an easy one, as our overall brand proposition and american-inspired menu has great appeal with the intended audience coming to NAX.

“Working with NAX has enabled us to take a huge step in our growth plans, providing a route into new markets where entertainment and dining are possible under one roof. A sector that both organisations are well-equipped and eager to capitalise on through this successful partnership. 

“We look forward to opening our doors next summer as we welcome battle-ready NERFers to experience the high-quality food and drink from our menu as they refuel after a fun and energetic time at NAX.”

As the build takes shape, investments into local services to launch the new centre, provide a positive contribution to local economic growth. Once up and running, 45 new jobs will be created, offering opportunities to kick-start a career within the leisure and hospitality sector.

A curriculum is being developed to help schools and colleges utilise the facilities for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) learning as key STEM topics can be demonstrated through the gameplay and operations within the venue.

Chris Hayes, Chief Executive of Rocafella Leisure Group said: “This is a momentous moment for Rocafella Leisure as we establish, what we believe, a world-renowned destination that personifies the brand values of NERF within an entertainment setting.

“HASBRO have been extremely supportive of the vision we have proposed and like us are extremely excited to bring this venue to life; continuing to enable and inspire the use of their IP in pioneering ways within the LBE (location based entertainment) sector.

“Not only are we creating a place for families and adults to experience NERF beyond their own homes, we will transport them to an immersive space where they can play with the freedom to challenge, compete, and take home bragging rights – if they wish!

“The industry needs new entrants, those that look to disrupt and strengthen the family entertainment offer, and through NAX we firmly believe we will do that. Creating an experience that is backed by long-standing and well regarded IP and brings together families under one roof, supported by forward-thinking landlords who share the same outlooks on the future of the sector.

“Through NAX we also blend fun-fuelled active play with learning, providing an interactive and innovative STEM focused programme that helps young people understand certain areas we offer. They may look at the trajectory of darts from a blaster; the mechanics of how the games work or the digital and technical complexities that run our venue.

“I can’t wait to finally get this open and provide a beacon destination that cements the North West as a leading light in family entertainment. I hope to see many of you there!”

Fit-out work is due to be completed in Summer 2023, with an official opening to follow soon after. To keep up to date with potential opening dates keep an eye on the NAX website www.nerfax.co.uk

Notes:

●      Rocafella Leisure Group are the official licence holders for the delivery of the NERF Action Xperience in location-based entertainment within the UK

●      NERF is a trademark of Hasbro and is used with permission. © 2022 Hasbro. All Rights Reserved. Licensed by Hasbro

NERF X LEAGUE OF LEGENDS COLLAB – JINX

League of Legends is one of the most-played competitive games in the world, played by more than 20 million people across 145 countries every day. In League of Legends, Jinx is an impulsive character, bringing her own chaotic brand of pandaemonium wherever she goes. With her iconic rocket launcher Fishbones, she unleashes the loudest blasts and brightest explosions, leaving a trail of mayhem and panic in her wake.

The NERF LMTD Jinx Fishbones features an 18-dart capacity drum with 6 clusters of 3 darts, so you can blast enemies with a 3-dart burst each time you pull the trigger!


The NERF LMTD X LEAGUE OF LEGENDS JINX FISHBONES is available for pre-order exclusively on Amazon from November 14, 2022 – January 3, 2023. See below for full details. You can download high-res images HERE.

NERF LMTD X STAR TREK STARFLEET TYPE 3 PHASER BLASTER



(HASBRO/Ages 8 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $119.99/Available for pre-order starting September 7, 2022)

Celebrate the 35TH anniversary of Star Trek: The Next Generation with the NERF LMTD Star Trek Starfleet Type 3 Phaser and Starfleet Type 2 Phaser! They capture the look of the phasers used by Jean-Luc Picard and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise. The Type 3 motorized dart blaster has light-up effects that simulate the look of being assimilated by the Borg in homage to the film, Star Trek: First Contact, light-up phaser effects, phaser sounds, authentic First Contact movie sounds, an internal 5-dart clip, and fires 1 dart at a time. The Starfleet Type 2 Phaser fires 1 dart and has a pull-back priming handle.


With their premium design details, the blasters honor the iconic Star Trek, the universe that has sparked imaginations and engaged fans for more than 50 years. The blasters come in premium packaging that’s perfect for display. Eyewear recommended (not included). Includes 7 foam Nerf Elite darts. Type 3 phaser requires 4x 1.5v AA alkaline batteries (not included). The new NERF LMTD Star Trek Starfleet Type 3 Phaser is available now for pre-order on Hasbro Pulse and Amazon.

NERF LMTD SHARP92 BLASTER

(HASBRO/Ages 8 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $29.99/Available for pre-order starting September 9, 2022 at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET) The NERF Retro line celebrates 30 years of dart blasting, paying tribute to iconic blasters from the past! The Sharp92 blaster brings back the NERF Sharp Shooter, which was released in 1992 and was the first Nerf blaster to fire the now iconic NERF foam darts, launching a whole new way to blast into adrenaline-pumping outdoor play. The blaster is a reproduction of the original Sharp Shooter dart blaster, so you can relive those first NERF battles and create new memories as you blast into new NERF games. The nostalgic blast from the past continues with the package itself, which captures the look of the original package. And like the Sharp Shooter blaster from 1992, the Nerf LMTD Sharp92 blaster includes suction-tip darts. Fire into fun in 3 easy steps. Pull back the handle, load a dart into the barrel, and squeeze the trigger. Includes blaster, 3 suction-tip NERF darts, and sticker sheet. Eyewear recommended (not included). Available for pre-order exclusively at Hasbro Pulse and Amazon on September 9, 2022 at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET.

NERF MASCOT INBOUND

Nerf is FINALLY rolling out a mascot. Meet Murph!     Unleash the Play in You.

Made completely out of official NERF dart “materials, Murph is the personification of the playful spirit – the one that can only be unleashed with NERF.  They’re a natural athlete, great at NERFoop and an expert at surprise NERF Super Soaker ambushes. They can also toss a NERF Vortex Football like no other and, of course, are a fantastic trick shooter with any NERF blaster.”

I’m curious to see where this goes, the brand has needed a character to rally kids around, and something like Murph could easily travel the multiverse of Nerf brands. With Nerf making theme parks, mobile tours, virtual reality, and social media, it’s only natural to have a mascot that can appear at those places too.

And, it’s a camouflage suit. I’d wear this just cause it’s the silliest thing ever and I am all for that! #nerfnation

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTdECQMDw/?k=1

Nerf Sneaks new Fortnite, D&D (maybe) and Minecraft blasters to YouTube!

NERF ULTRA SPEED Blaster  

(HASBRO/Ages 8 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $71.99/Available: 8/1/2022) 

Bring superior speed to the battle! The NERF ULTRA SPEED BLASTER is the fastest-firing NERF ULTRA BLASTER, unleashing 7 darts per second with fully-motorized dart blasting (requires 6x 1.5v C alkaline batteries not included). The blaster includes two 12-dart clips — launch a dozen darts in a row from 1 clip, then load the second clip to pour on a dozen more. The blaster also comes with 24 NERF ACCUSTRIKE ULTRA foam darts, the most accurate NERF ULTRA darts. With speed and accuracy at your fingertips, you’re ready to take the lead in NERF games. Eyewear recommended (not included). Available at most major toy retailers. 

NERF FORTNITE COMPACT SMG MOTORIZED DART BLASTER  

(HASBRO/Ages 8 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $38.99 /Available: 8/1/2022)  

Inspired by the equipment used in Fortnite, the NERF FORTNITE COMPACT SMG MOTORIZED DART BLASTER comes in the Ultra Red Wrap from the popular video game! Power up lots of fast-blasting fun with this motorized dart blaster that unleashes 8 darts in a row. Hold down the acceleration button to activate the motor then pull the trigger to blast 1 dart. The COMPACT SMG MOTORIZED DART BLASTER includes 8 Official NERF ELITE foam darts that load into the blaster’s internal 8-dart clip. Official NERF darts are great for indoor and outdoor battles and are tested and approved for performance and quality. A rubberized grip helps you keep a firm hold on the blaster as you take aim at your targets. Eyewear recommended (not included). Requires 4x 1.5v AA alkaline batteries (not included). 

NERF ROBLOX ZOMBIE ATTACK: VIPER STRIKE DART BLASTER  

(HASBRO/Ages 8 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $44.99 /Available: 8/1/2022)  

Launch into dart-blasting zombie battles with the NERF ROBLOX ZOMBIE ATTACK: VIPER STRIKE DART BLASTER! Inspired by the Roblox experience Zombie Attack by wenlocktoad vs indra, the blaster includes a special code that allows you to redeem an exclusive virtual item on Roblox!* Sink your fangs into dart-blasting fun with this blaster that features a cool snake design and includes a removable 6-dart clip and 6 NERF ELITE foam darts and has bolt-action priming. Load the clip, slide the priming bolt, and pull the trigger to blast 1 dart. Use the attached bipod to help steady your aim and fold it up when not in use. The nonremovable scope helps with targeting. Official NERF darts are tested and approved for performance and quality and are great for indoor and outdoor games. Eyewear recommended (not included). 

NERF MINECRAFT SABREWING MOTORIZED BOW 

(HASBRO/Ages 8 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $44.99 /Available: 8/1/2022) 

NERF and Minecraft come together to bring you the NERF MINECRAFT SABREWING MOTORIZED BOW that takes its inspiration from the popular game, Minecraft Dungeons! Experience real bow action and motorized dart blasting. Pull back the string with the priming handle to power up the motor, and press the blast button to fire 1 dart. The bow includes an 8-dart clip, so go ahead and unleash 8 darts in a row before it’s time to reload. The NERF MINECRAFT SABREWING MOTORIZED BOW includes 8 official NERF ELITE foam darts that are tested and approved for performance and quality and are great for indoor and outdoor NERF battles. Eyewear recommended (not included). Requires 4x 1.5v AA alkaline batteries (not included). 

2021, Blasters, Nerf, Unprecedented Times

What a year. The world is a crazy place right now, but the blasters keep coming. Let’s take a look at some of what 2021 brought out from Nerf, Dart Zone, XShot, Buzz Bee, and the rest.

NERF

Img from https://www.volpinprops.com/

Other folks can say what they want, Nerf is steering the ship of blasters still. Nerf still has HUGE distribution across the world, and a wide variety of licenses and lines to bolster their lineup. They have to make sure their toys fit safety standards across different countries, even leading to instances where they “nerf” themselves in one country but the US gets something else. Most famously probably, this happens to blasters in Australia. Rival isn’t sold there (as far as I know) because of strict laws on toy blasters.

Even with the restrictions though, Nerf counteracts the lack of brute power in their products by leveraging aesthetics. Driven by the model of turning Nerf into an entertainment/lifestyle brand, Nerf grabbing up pop culture licenses is something I noticed even myself this year. Nerf recently announced collaborations/blaster lines for Halo, Dungeons & Dragons, Roblox, and Minecraft to add onto their past work with Fortnite and Overwatch (though I believe Overwatch is no longer with Hasbro as of now). The Nerf LMTD line announced the Aliens Pulse Rifle will be out in 2022, as well as a Gjallarhorn from Destiny 2. 

Hasbro (Nerf’s parent company) carries GI Joe, Transformers, and Star Wars, which had or have Nerf-style blasters. Star Wars is pretty much always a guarantee, but the other two are always a possibility. 

And while Nerf’s licensed property game is strong, they also have lots of Nerf standalone lines going as well. Nerf Hyper and Nerf Mega XL just came out, the Nerf Ultra line had new blasters, Nerf released frickin’ DINOSAURS, Nerf Rival Curve was earlier this year, and Nerf Mega, Nerf Elite 2.0 are still filling shelves. And while not every line has hit high notes with everyone, during Christmas not much was left in the Nerf section no matter what line it was from. 

Nerf announced new licenses, introduced new ammo types and continues to cater to ages 8-999. As another year closes out the only thing I am sure of is the drawing board a Nerf is still full of ideas. To bring in new fans and catch some of the older ones.

Dart Zone/Prime Time Toys

HOLY COW what a year for Dart Zone. While Nerf excels at volume and licensed products, while also delivering decent performance but sometimes at a premium price. Dart Zone, I’d say carved a niche for themselves nicely with their Pro line, but they also deliver on price and out-of-the-box performance.

The Pro blasters offer 150 FPS out of the box (my MK II hits lower, but that might be because of some manufacturing error. Everyone I fire my MK II on is surprised how low it hits). They sell this at anywhere from $50 to $160+, depending on the model you buy. THIS IS HUGE. For years people would build their own hard firing foam blasters at home, and while that is still an option, the Pro line makes higher FPS blasting accessible for a lot more people. The Nexus Pro got a couple of new skins, the Conquest is a different offering, and the Max Stryker is the Target exclusive. All powerful blasters, and good options. 

Dart Zone expanded to be the only big-box manufacturer using half darts as ammo, too. While Nerf made different ammo types for new segments, Dart Zone explored ammo that was already in use in the fan community. I’d say it paid off, solidifying their position in a niche market within an already tough space that Nerf has a lot of market share in.

Dart Zone didn’t ignore regular blasters, though. They brought out the Monolith, the Tomahawk 60, the Matrixfire, and a remake on their super-popular Magnum Superdrum among some of the more notable non-Pro releases they had this year. And their prices remained under $50 mostly, except for Pro blasters. Dart Zone made a very good show this year giving out value and blasting power with their releases. If you needed a lot of compatible ammo too, Dart Zone’s darts and ball ammo were reliable and easy on the pocketbook in comparison to other popular brands.

Buzz Bee – 2021 and Beyond

Buzz Bee is another budget-friendly brand, and their main notable release for me was the Triggerfire. In the same class of blasters as the Snapfire, Voidcaster, DartFire, and Nailbiter, the two-stage trigger on the blaster provides a true semiauto experience. One trigger pull, one shot. It was good power, and if you fire it right the blaster can fire reliably whether you’re on the move or holding position. A favorite for me. The Tetra Shot was honestly kinda weird, and I hoped it had a multishot function, not just a single shot out of a weird chain. There was some drama with their Thundershot, but mistakes happen, and honestly, the blaster had bigger issues than its internals.

All that being said though, Buzz Bee still provided flashes of brilliance in 2021, and I always look forward to what they have next. They still only seem to do dart firing blasters, staying in their lane, and providing a decent product at another great price. The Triggerfire is on my list of blasters you can get the most value from out of 2021, for sure.

Zing

Zing continues to be solid for 2021. The main release blaster-wise (cause they make other products) was the Wrist Bow, and I think COVID times interfered with some of the other releases they had planned. BUT, they make some of the best bows in their Hyperstrike line, and while they’re not “real” bows, the Hyperstrike bows are plenty of fun all the same. One of their new bow entries I did see, the Wrist Bow is a lot of fun and a bow of theirs I feel confident saying you can use inside.

Marshmallow Blaster is a part of Zing’s lineup now as well, and while I wait to see new blasters from them I can’t imagine a better partnership out of all the years I’ve interacted with these two companies. I see a lot of innovation and improved performance in the future!

They did make some new Go Go flying creatures (I have the Butterfly they sent me), and while not a blaster toy it’s a fun toy all the same. See more of you in 2022, Zing.

Hog Wild (Power Poppers and Squeeze Poppers)

Hog Wild celebrated their 10th year, and that’s a timeframe including Stikballs and a variety of squeeze/power poppers. The line is overshadowed a lot by bigger brands but there is a lot of people who miss out on it. Yes, the popper toys don’t have a ton of range and are all functionally the same. But Hog Wild also keeps their popper designs so incredibly fun and non-aggressive, even the most powerful popper toy looks more sci-fi than COD. 

The basic poppers are elves, pugs, avocados, and so much more that they’re just outright fun to use and collect. You can test what technique fires best for you, and kids may have some challenges getting the right pressure to fire the ball, but it’s easy enough to figure out. You can figure out how hard or fast you want to shoot the popper so for me it’s one of the perfect lines to introduce to someone who doesn’t know anything about toy blasters and think Nerf is just a little too much. 

Squeeze Poppers are seasonal!

Hog Wild doesn’t do triggers, magazines, tactical rails, or scopes, but you can get a rear-loading Unicorn. A dark horse in the category to me, and one that will consistently put out fun products. You may not see these at your next internet meetup nerf war, but this just might fit perfectly in your office drawer (assuming you aren’t working from home at this point).

Little Tikes Mighty Blasters

I said Hog Wild is perfect for a kid’s intro to blasters, the Mighty Blasters are maybe another step up from that. The ammo isn’t foam, but a soft pillow/cloth type and blasters don’t have triggers as far as I can tell. They favor pullback/bow and arrow style firing, and that makes the power a little more controllable than a regular blaster. These are still a relatively new line, but for kids, just past being a toddler, this is a good line for them and again for anyone who thinks the major brands are just too aggressive or realistic looking.

XShot

This list is by no means an indicator of power rankings for each company. But someone had to be at the end of the article, and it’s XShot this time. 

XShot stepped up its community outreach game in 2020. They ran a few contests, started a TikTok, and sent over some amazing PR packs (at least, I received some of them. They forgot about me on a couple). 

But…. that’s it. The last new XShot blaster I think I saw was the Crusher, and that received a new paint job. The other blasters like the Regenerator, the Reflex, the Micro, and others were released as a “Royale Edition” with gold trim but no other new models were released. I think the Dino Attack line was this year, but those blasters also seemed pretty familiar to previous releases. XShot stuck with what works, and they’ll keep at it like that for a little longer I guess. I think I know why their designs get used so consistently for years, but that’s another blog post.

All that being said, XShot JUST might have some of the best values out there. You can find a pack of four XShot blasters for $20 or a little more than that, and for gifts and parties that kinda pricing is amazing. It’ll be interesting to see what new paint jobs/products XShot will have coming out.

GEL BLASTING TOYS

A segment that seems to have taken off in the last couple of years is gel blasters. They’re all newish as brands but the technology has been around for a while. A long time ago I worked on a gel shooter toy for the U.S., but it never took off, unfortunately. The blaster was primed manually, but these newer ones are all-electric. I’ve heard about the ones that hit 300 FPS+ and are comparable to airsoft, but that’s not the case with these new gel blasters.

The first brand I connected with is called Gel Blaster, but you also have brands such as Gellyball, UnlocX, Gelstrike, the list goes on. Some use a gravity-fed hopper, others use a magazine, all battery-powered, and rely on growable, disposable ammo. 

The ammo is a polymer that absorbs water and grows larger, but then shrinks again when it dries out. The ammo breaks apart on impact, and the pieces then dry out and “disappear’. This makes packing A LOT easier and bringing large quantities A LOT easier. The environmental impact is worth noting though, and the internet has plenty of references for you to find more on the subject. 

Overall, gel shooters/blasters are making waves, and I wonder how designs will branch out and grow in the future, and which brands will survive. I have thoughts, but that’s for another day. I will say that gel blasters have higher capacity and higher ranges than most foam blasters stock, so depending on the kind of game you’re looking for and the kind of investment you’re looking to make, this might be an interesting alternative for you from foam blasters.

Shelby Destroyer

There’s a new disc shooter (not Vortex) out there called the Shelby Destroyer, and it LOOKS interesting. I haven’t been able to look at the blaster itself though, so I can make a mention of it and that’s about it. However, they have been getting noticed by many outlets, so you can search Google for more info on them.

Whew! 2021 was a big, weird year for blasters, and if there’s anything you want me to go more in-depth about, let me know! This piece is meant as a big overview, going into massive detail would have easily been another thousand words.

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