The Toy Insider has awarded “Top Summer Toy Pick” to Southwest Florida toy company Duck Duck Cat for their debut product, The Countdown Game. The Toy Insider is the go-to source for product information about children’s toys, tech and entertainment.
The Countdown Game, launched in April 2021 reimagines the game of hide-and-seek through a small toy that can be hidden anywhere. Other players have to find it and stop the clock by playing through a random selection of 12-included mini-games, like Whack-a-Mole, Red Light Green Light and Simon Says. In addition to being a Top Summer Toy Pick, The Countdown Game was previously awarded Best Outdoor Sport at the Outdoor Toy Awards in London.
In 2020, the NPD Group reported a 29% increase in the outdoor and sports toys category, with sales totaling $5.35B. The outdoor fun will continue in 2021, with families turning to their backyards and outdoor spaces once again as the pandemic continues to limit summer camp and travel options.
“Families can still keep the fun going at home and spend that summer vacation money on toys that turn their backyards into playgrounds for kids to enjoy all season long,” says Marissa DiBartolo, Editor-in-Chief of the Toy Insider. “The toys you’ll find in our guide are jam-packed with play value and will get the little ones off their screens and outside. Plus, they may even sneak in a little summer learning!”
Duck Duck Cat began development of The Countdown Game in 2018 and has worked with many local children-focused groups including the Cub Scouts, YMCA and local elementary schools, to playtest early revisions. The enhanced hide-and-seek gameflow has is patent-pending with a final approval expected later this year.
The Countdown Game is available now on Amazon for $39.95.
About Duck Duck Cat
Based in Punta Gorda, FL, the company was created after the founder’s son had the idea for a new type of active-play toy. With full-time development out of their garage, Duck Duck Cat worked through over 6 major revisions of their first toy perfecting it before the official launch in April 2021.