Snowed in this weekend? If you reside in certain parts of Canada, you’re probably holed up at home this weekend thanks to the pending snowstorm. With some locations getting up to 40cm of snow (that’s almost 16 inches for our U.S. readers!), chances are you’ll be alternating binge-watching TV with shoveling the driveway and walkways. While it’ll be a cold and challenging weekend, there are a few activities worth considering to enjoy with the fam-jam.
Meta Quest 3S VR Headset with Games & Activities
My 13-year-old saved up his chore money and second-hand sale for the last year and finally selected what he wanted to buy: a Meta Quest 3S VR headset. He opted for the 256GB version so he wouldn’t have to worry about storage, and as a bonus, it comes with the game Batman Arkham Shadow. While VR is typically a solitary activity, he loves playing alongside a friend when he visits, and can play remotely as well as they both engage in their own virtual worlds, but together. Grab a few headsets for the family and share in the experience, or take turns trying to beat one another’s scores in games or exploring different worlds. It’s easy to set up and while younger kids need a Meta account, you can sign up via e-mail so there’s no need to get them a Facebook or Instagram account before they’re the age of requirement. While you might think VR is just about sitting back and being sedentary, there are plenty of active games that get you moving as well, from sports to even fitness. There’s a spacer included for those who need glasses and it comes with two controllers. It starts at $400 for the 128GB edition, $550 for the 256GB.
Hasbro Risk Board Game
The Risk board game was a favourite when I was a kid and even a teen. My friends and I would have weekly Sunday night board game nights where we gathered to enjoy some fun. It’s great to bring to the cottage and if you play the long game, it can literally last for days. The goal is to either take over the entire world with your army of men or grab a card and complete a secret mission, like to take over a specific content or two regions. No one knows your ultimate goal and it’s all about the rolls of the dice. Play with up to four people and bring out your negotiation skills and ruthless tactics. It’s about $45 but with the ability to play again and again, and with secret missions or world domination, you’ll be playing it for years to come.
Spin Master Love is Blind: Find Your Match
If you’re one of millions who have gotten caught up in the addictive Netflix reality dating show Love is Blind, you might love this new party game that was just released and lets you play along. After you binge watch the first six episodes of season eight that were just released, or maybe start from season one as you catch up to see what all the fuss is about (don’t forget the U.K. version which is even better!), sit down with the family and/or friends or roommates and enjoy this game. It contains all the same elements of the show, including secret identities, compatibility questions, and dramatic reveals. Answer questions to find your soulmate, get on your knee to propose without knowing what your match looks like, then see if this is for real. Get to the wedding day and, well, you could either end up with a heartwarming love story like Lauren and Cameron or a scathing rejection speech like with Cole and Zanab. It’s a great way to enjoy your love for the show while taking a break from the screen.
Lego Fortnite Battle Bus
Why not sit together as a family and put together a cool Lego set? If you and/or your kids love Lego and Fortnite, the Lego Fortnite Battle Bus will have them smiling from ear-to-ear. One of four new sets in the line, this one is a brick replica of the hot-air balloon from the popular game. It features rolling wheels, a removable roof, and the iconic blue and yellow balloon. Suitable for builders aged 10+, it includes Slurp Juice, Grappler, Pickaxes, and Slap Juice. Also included are nine Lego Minifigures: Battalion Brawler, Adventure Peely, Brite Bomber, Cuddle Team Leader, Cube Assassin, Trespasser Elite, Drift, Meowscles, and Raven, which can all be seated in the bus for creative role play. The sets are the perfect companion to the LEGO Fortnite game, which is available for free for PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One, Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PC, Android, and other cloud-based streaming services. It sells for $130.
AtGames Legends Ultimate HD Mini Arcade Machine
If you can get this beauty delivered in time, or pick it up at your local shop, the AtGames Legends Ultimate HD Mini Arcade Machine is a great way to enjoy gaming with the family without sitting in front of the TV. Instead, get up and harken back to the old days of sliding a quarter into the slot to try and beat your high score. Except this machine is high-tech in that it connects via Wi-Fi or Ethernet and there are no quarters required. It affords access to 150 classic arcade and even console games, like Space Invaders, The Lion King, and Tron, so you can play something different every day, or everyone can take turns with their favourite games. There are even pro-grade pinball buttons for digital pinball games. There’s also multiplayer gaming, leaderboards, and a rotatable display so you can play in both portrait or landscape mode. It’s about $700, on sale right now at Best Buy for $600, and will provide hours of fun, both this weekend and long after.
Apple One Subscription
If you don’t want to have to head out in the snowstorm to buy something or wait for delivery, there’s a simple way to get plenty of activities at your fingertips: upgrade to an Apple One subscription. At $45/mo. for the Premier subscription or $29/mo. for the Family subscription, you’ll get additional iCloud storage (2TB with the Premier) and access to tons of Apple services to keep everyone in the family entertained while you’re holed up inside. This includes Apple TV+ so you can watch hot TV shows like Silo, Severance, Shrinking, Ted Lasso, and hidden gems like Surface, which will release its second season next week. You’ll also get access to Apple Music+ if you want to have a dance party at home, and Apple Arcade for tons of fun video games the family can enjoy together. With Apple Fitness+, you can also partake in various workouts, from kickboxing to dance and yoga. You can cancel any time and the subscriptions you don’t already have are free for your first month of Apple One, so you have nothing to lose.