30 Best Toys and Gifts for 8-Year-Old Boys

A new twist on the classic game Simon Says, this one is a fun memory booster that's perfect for killing time on a long road trip, where kids can play solo or turn it into a two-player game. The challenge is to memorize the light sequence and follow along for as long as possible, without breaking the pattern! Bonus: Batteries are included so you can play ASAP. Ages 7+

Kids can make good use of their creative juices with this tee, which comes with a pen-sized UV flashlight that lets them draw their own designs that really glow! After about five minutes, the drawing fades and they can make something new. And yet, you can still put it in the washing machine (just not the dryer). Sizes 3T – XL

With this set, kids can design marble runs that use curves, drops and other cool tools. They'll have to put their engineer hats on, and also experiment with concepts like gravity, velocity and cause-and-effect. It comes with more than 120 pieces, and expansion packs are also available with even more elaborate features. Ages 8+

Kids of all ages love pushing the beads around in the gel to decorate the background picture — it's a great fidget toy. This one comes with a two-sided background (but you can always print more), and it also has a case that lights up so they can use it at night. Good Housekeeping testers loved using the included stylus to move the beads, since it gave them more control over the picture. Ages 6+

This box comes with enough supplies for kids to make 20 different paper airplanes. In addition, they'll learn about different ways of folding paper airplanes (including standard style and "lion" style), and they'll also get stickers so they can decorate their fleet before it takes off. Ages 6+

Beyblade collectors have never seen a stadium like this before: The action takes place on two levels, starting on the top and then falling through the Warp Hole! The set comes with two spinning tops, two right/left-spin launchers, and two extra armor tips. Ages 8+

Your kid can help avoid a nuclear meltdown with this game meant to be played with two or more people. To play, they pack and roll goo cubes together, and use their critical-thinking skills to balance the squishy cubes on a platform that shifts unpredictably. If any cubes fall, you'll have to re-stack it. The game is over when all the cubes are stacked! Ages 7+

If your 8-year-old boy is into vehicles, Snap Ships are a building toy line that uses interchangeable pieces to make different spacecraft. Each set can build multiple ships, and also comes with a surprise piece to give it extra "power." Our toy testers loved changing up the designs, and parents found them to be sturdy. Ages 8+

If the 8-year-old in your life is a Pokéfan, they'll love getting creative and making their own Pokémon out of folded paper. The book takes them step-by-step through how to make 10 different origami Pokémon, and it comes with its own specially designed pieces of paper to use, too. Ages 7+

RELATED: The Best Pokémon Gifts for Fans of All Ages

Get them outside and get their blood pumping with this game, which is a combo of croquet and soccer. It's played with oversized, inflatable croquet balls that kids have to kick through the wickets, so they also have to work on ball control. Ages 3+

Nee Doh is the fidget toy that has taken social media by storm, and kids love to squish it like a globby stress ball. And while it comes in many colors and shapes, the "Nice Cube" keeps it cool, just like an ice cube. It's perfect when you need just a little something. Ages 3+

He's going to have to combine his STEM knowledge with his critical thinking skills to solve the 20 mysteries in this book. Each story comes with both an explanation of the mystery, and a look into the science behind it. For detectives who aren't STEM fans, there's also a historical version and a regular, non-themed version. Ages 8+

Kids can get the foundations of coding with this robot, which lets kids control it with voice commands that explore loops, commands, events and sequences. Then, use the Wonder Workshop's free apps to program Dash to sing, draw and move around. Ages 6+

No, it doesn't sing or play the piano, but this 7" tall Bowser does the next best thing: It blows real smoke from its glowing, fire-breathing mouth. One Good Housekeeping parent tester says she was impressed with how much (cool to the touch) fog it was able to produce with just a few drops of water. Ages 3+

Get their creativity flowing with this next-gen spirograph. Rotating light effects give the spirograph designs the illusion of movement (though the images still look fridge-worthy even with the lights are off). Ages 8+

STEM lovers will adore this set, which lets kids use geometry and math to create unique structures. They can play solo or in a group to flex their problem-solving muscles and work on their collaboration skills as they try to build the different shapes. Ages 4+

This kit comes with everything a budding magician could need, including a deck of cards, a fake thumb, a handkerchief, ropes, a magic wand and a hat. But the real magic is when kids don the VR goggles and learn how to do each trick in virtual and augmented reality. When they've gone through it all, they'll have a repertoire of more than 30 tricks. Ages 8+

Real science and playful fantasy come together in this wacky, activity-filled kit. The lab station is easy to assemble so your 8-year-old can conduct fun experiments while learning the basics of chemistry — all with color-changing alien slime! In the box, you'll get a full-color illustrated manual, decorative stickers, 28 science lab pieces and 10 experiments. Ages 6+

The Ninjago fan in your life will be able to keep this set on a shelf or desk when he's finished with it, since it makes a dragon with posable head, jaw, tail and wings that move forward and backward. It also comes with figures of Lloyd and Nya, plus two snake warriors. Ages 8+

Take his creative art projects to the next level with these markers, that come with a surprise twist: The set comes with two special white pens that either erase the color or change it to a lighter one. He can use it to make fun patterns or correct small mistakes. The set comes with 16 felt pens in total. No age recommendation given