By Juli Scarr
Nex Playground has been gaining quiet momentum since arriving in Canada in October. Now, it is expanding its catalogue again. This time with a familiar fantasy world children already recognize. Unicorn Academy: Friendship Adventures just launched exclusively on Nex Playground through its Play Pass subscription, bringing full-body motion to the world of Unicorn Island.
As a parent and special education teacher, this caught my eye for a couple of reasons. First, Unicorn Academy is hugely popular among younger kids who follow the Netflix and Nickelodeon series. Second, this new game turns that universe into an active play space you move through instead of just watching. Kids gallop, jump, steer and explore using their bodies instead of holding a controller.
Developed in partnership with Spin Master, the game lets children take on quests, discover magic, and build bonds with their chosen unicorns. Four unicorn-rider pairs are available at launch: Wildstar, Glacier, River and Cinder, with new abilities to unlock over time. It joins a growing library of more than 45 games on Nex Playground, alongside brands like Bluey, Sesame Street, Barbie and Care Bears.
For families or classrooms already using motion play for focus, engagement or movement breaks, this feels like a natural extension of what Nex Playground is trying to do: make active gaming accessible through stories kids already love.
What the Unicorn Academy Game Offers on Nex Playground
Unicorn Academy: Friendship Adventures is designed as a motion powered adventure. Children control movement by using their bodies to steer, jump and gallop. The game includes activities such as hunting Grim magic, collecting Fate Fairies and discovering Sky Berries. As progress is made, new powers unlock, new unicorns become available and more of Unicorn Island opens up.
The idea is simple. Kids are invited to move around and stay engaged while achieving goals they understand through existing familiarity with the show. Nex describes this as encouraging imagination, movement and connection. The game fits neatly into how Nex Playground approaches design. It aims to support active participation at home through stories children already connect with.
From a parent and educator perspective, it feels like something that pairs movement with role play. That combination can be especially valuable for children who learn through imitation or require high engagement to stay involved. Because it is controller free, children who struggle with fine motor input or traditional buttons can still participate.
Where Unicorn Academy: Friendship Adventures Fits for Families and Learning Spaces
Part of why this release stands out is that Nex Playground is positioning itself as an active play platform rather than a traditional gaming console. Adding a recognizable franchise like Unicorn Academy suggests Nex is not only expanding its catalog, but also understanding what motivates younger audiences.
For households, this means children can bring a familiar world into their living room in a physical way. Parents who want movement without difficulty learning controls may find it appealing. For special education environments or early learning spaces, the idea of navigating quests by moving your body may be a useful bridge for engagement.
Nex Playground includes a physical camera cover, which is nice for families or school settings where privacy matters.
My Takeaway on Unicorn Academy for Nex Playground
Unicorn Academy joining Nex Playground feels like a natural fit for the audience Nex is reaching. It gives children a way to explore a fantasy world physically and share that experience with family or classmates. For parents and educators, motion powered play based on a well known brand may create easy entry points for participation.
The timing is also notable. With Nex Playground gaining visibility in Canada and appearing in U.S. hardware rankings recently, new content based on recognizable shows may help more families understand what the device is. If you are already curious about Nex Playground or looking for something active that younger children understand, Unicorn Academy: Friendship Adventures might be a useful way to try it.
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