Howzit everyone! If you haven’t yet heard the satisfying clack of wooden pins tumbling over in the sunshine, let me introduce you to your next favourite outdoor obsession: Mölkky from Tactic Games. Originating in Finland but perfectly suited to our proudly South African outdoor lifestyle, Mölkky is a simple-to-learn, wildly addictive throwing game that blends skill, strategy, and just the right amount of competitive banter.

What Is Mölkky?

Mölkky is played by tossing a wooden throwing pin (the “Mölkky”) at numbered wooden skittles. Knock down one pin? You score the number printed on it. Knock down multiple pins? You score the number of pins you toppled.

The goal is to be the first player to reach 50 points. Go over 50? You drop back to 25, which usually leads to dramatic comebacks and plenty of laughs.

It’s quick to learn, easy to set up, and suitable for kids, adults, oumas, oupas, and that one overly competitive friend who insists on keeping official score (luckily, there’s a great free scorekeeping app you can run straight from your phone).

Why Mölkky Is Perfect for South Africa

We’re an outdoor nation by heart. Braais, beaches, camping trips - if the sun’s out, most South Africans would rather be outside than indoors. That’s exactly where Mölkky shines.

The Braai Essential
While the tjoppies & boerie sizzle and someone debates rugby tactics, set up Mölkky on the lawn. It keeps guests entertained without needing power, WiFi, or complicated rules. The perfect pre- or post-braai showdown.

Beach Days
From the shores of Cape Town to the warm waters of Durban, Mölkky works beautifully on sand. No batteries, no runaway balls, and no frisbees flying into unsuspecting strangers - just clean, competitive fun.

Camping
Heading to Kruger National Park or escaping for a weekend in the Cederberg? Mölkky packs easily and sets up in minutes.

Game Day Warm-Up
Before kickoff, get the competitive energy flowing. Whether you’re backing the Springboks or just there for the snacks, Mölkky gets everyone involved - no athletic ability required (even if some players start taking it very seriously).

Family Gatherings
Looking for something that pulls everyone away from their phones? Mölkky is multi-generational magic. Kids can play, parents can play, and even the neighbour who “just popped in quickly” ends up joining the next round.

Two Ways to Play

Mölkky is currently available in two different formats:

Mölkky GO - A more budget-friendly edition and a fantastic entry point for anyone keen to try the game.

The Classic Mölkky (“crate” edition) - Made from Finnish birch wood (while Mölkky GO uses pine) and packaged in a sturdy wooden crate that makes transporting your set simple and stylish.

So next time you’re planning a braai, beach day, camping trip, or relaxed Sunday afternoon with friends and family, pack the cooler, gather your people, and don’t forget the Mölkky.

— Etienne, Product Manager

Introducing Gloomhaven: The Roleplaying Game

To dust off a common trope, I’m a simple man – I like my fantasy worlds immersive, my art gritty, and my roleplaying games… well, I just like my roleplaying games. All of which makes me very excited to talk about the upcoming Gloomhaven RPG ahead of its release later this year.

Gloomhaven: The Roleplaying Game will offer fans a whole new way to explore the world; players can mix and match Classes and Ancestries from both the Gloomhaven and Frosthaven board games in order to create their own ideal mercenaries, while GMs (Gloom Masters, in this case) will find new expanded lore and history for the world and its most famous denizens, along with highly-detailed maps of Gloomhaven and the 8 surrounding regions, providing a rich backdrop for storytelling.

The core rulebook also includes a detailed bestiary and an introductory adventure which runs approximately 20 hours, making it the perfect unified resource for players and Gloom Masters alike - no additional products necessary.

And when I say “no additional products necessary,” I mean it. The RPG maintains the “no dice in Gloomhaven” design philosophy, instead relying on limited-use actions in combat and a card-driven system based on a standard deck of 52 playing cards for its version of skill checks.

In addition to keeping the game as accessible as possible, this approach to combat in particular keeps the game flowing smoothly and quickly without bogging down and taking over the whole session (something I’m sure my fellow DMs/GMs out there will appreciate).

So if all of this sounds appealing to you, then keep a close eye on our website (or your local store) for the official pre-order launch of Gloomhaven: The Roleplaying Game soon. And if you’re still on the fence, check out the gameplay video below.

— Terry, Product Manager

Pokémon Day at Toys R Us - 28 February

Pokémon Day landed at four Toys R Us stores on 28 February… and it absolutely brought the energy.

From 9am, stores filled with Pikachu and balloons, and wide-eyed Trainers ready to celebrate 30 years of Pokémon.

The first 50 Trainers at each store received themed goody bags - and judging by the reactions, those bags may as well have been treasure chests. Booster packs were examined with intense focus. Poké Passports were studied, stickers were claimed with pride and plushies were hugged immediately.

The Pokémon Selfie Competition

Families joined in-store, snapped photos with their favourite Pokémon moments, and shared them to Instagram Stories between 9am and 11:30am.

It wasn’t just a mechanic - it became a moment. Parents helping frame the shot. Kids posing with confidence. Big smiles under Pikachu ears.

What stood out most?

Discovery.

We saw new fans proudly naming their favourite Pokémon for the first time.

We heard confident shouts of “Snorlax!” and “Mudkip!” during character call-outs.

We watched youngsters open their very first Pokémon packs - some quietly focused, others bursting with excitement.

For many, it wasn’t just Pokémon Day. It was the start of their Pokémon journey.

Behind the Scenes

Behind the scenes, Toys R Us teams and our activation crew worked seamlessly to blend retail with real engagement. From guiding parents through starter products to creating photo moments that travelled onto social feeds, the day wasn’t just busy - it was meaningful.

This is what Pokémon does best.

It creates community.
It sparks confidence.
It turns curiosity into collecting.
And it reminds us why we do what we do.

A huge thank you to Toys R Us, our promoters, and every Trainer who showed up ready to celebrate.

If this is how we kick off Pokémon’s 30th year…
The adventure is only just beginning.

— Solarpop Marketing Team

Luckshack Milnerton Planetary Qualifier Delivers Another Fantastic Showing

The Planetary Qualifier at Luckshack Milnerton proved to be another huge success, drawing 23 players for a day of competitive Star Wars: Unlimited action.

The event saw strong competition across the field, but in the end it was Cape Town’s own Zeyaad Pandey who emerged victorious, piloting Han Solo (SHD) – Energy Conversion Lab (ECL) to claim the top spot.

Once again the Top 8 showcased a wide variety of leaders and bases, highlighting the creativity and healthy state of the local meta. It’s always encouraging to see strong deckbuilding diversity rather than a single dominant archetype taking over the field.

Top 8 Standings

1. Zeyaad Pandey — Han Solo (SHD) – ECL
2. Zanre — Cad Bane (SHD) – Tarkintown
3. luka8luka — Yoda (TWI) – Data Vault
4. SWCC_SCaRPOD — Han Solo (SOR) – Tarkintown
5. john196 — Cad Bane (SHD) – Tarkintown
6. SWCC_Zerion13 — Emperor Palpatine (SOR) – Colossus
7. TonyFBaby — Padmé Amidala (SEC) – Tarkintown
8. prettyflyforajedi — Boba Fett (JTL) – Data Vault

A big kudos to the deckbuilders, this was another diverse Top 8 that reflects the strength and experimentation within the local player community.

For those who want to dive deeper into the results and matchups, you can explore the full event details here:
View Event Details

Star Wars Unlimited Action Continues This Weekend

The next round of Planetary Qualifier-level competition is fast approaching, with events taking place across the country this coming weekend.

Cape Town

• Luckshack Milnerton
• Joker's House
• Imperium Games
• Stag Gaming

Gauteng

• Jix Hobbies
• Wizard's Collection
• Wizard's Collection
• D20 Battleground
• Geek Home

Please contact your local game store directly for exact dates and event times.

Good luck to all players competing this weekend and may the Force be with you.

— Kendra, Hobby Account Manager

Community play continues to be a powerful driver of engagement, and Unplug Yourself is expanding how players, stores, and organisers connect through its Play Portal.

The Unplug Yourself Play Portal is designed to empower local game communities by giving organisers the tools to create, manage, and grow organised play experiences. From casual social evenings to structured leagues and competitive play, the platform supports a wide range of formats that bring players together around the table.

Through the Play Portal, organisers can:

• Create and manage leagues, tournaments, and social play events
• Track wins, rankings, and player progress
• Support player growth from casual to competitive
• Build consistent, community-led play within local stores and regions

What’s Available:

• Star Wars Unlimited
• One Piece
• Catan
• King of Tokyo
• Ticket to Ride
• Dune Imperium
• Magic: The Gathering

These leagues and events are designed to run at store level while feeding into broader regional and national play, helping hobby stores and community hubs deepen engagement and repeat foot traffic.

Recent Organised Play Highlights

Yu-Gi-Oh! South Africa Open
Duelists gathered for a high-level competitive event, showcasing the depth and strength of the local Yu-Gi-Oh! community and reinforcing the pathway from store-level play to national competition.
View Event

Pokémon Special Event
Trainers stepped into structured competitive formats, building rankings, confidence, and stronger community connections through organised play.
View Event

Demo Team Drive
The Unplug Yourself Demo Team continues to activate stores and community hubs nationwide, introducing new players to key titles and converting curiosity into active participation.
View Event

Retailers and players interested in hosting or participating can sign up via the Unplug Yourself Play Portal and become part of a growing national network focused on organised play, community building, and shared experiences.

Upcoming Organised Play Events:

• Star Wars Unlimited PQ’s
• Yu-Gi-Oh! South Africa Open

Price Reductions on Family Favourites

We’re excited to share some good news!

The recent rally of the Rand against the USD has allowed us to reduce pricing on several of our key titles. Our goal is to make great games more accessible to South African families without compromising quality or experience.

Most of the reductions focus on our core Family Games range, including Catan, Qwirkle, Dixit, and King of Tokyo – beloved bestsellers that continue to bring players together around the table.

We’ve also reduced pricing across our compact games range, which includes favourites like Spot It!, Trio, Fast Blast, Flip 7, and the ever-popular 5 Second Rule Travel editions. These games are easy to learn, quick to play, and perfect for encouraging more people to experience the joy of tabletop gaming.

In staying true to our belief, “Bring Happiness Home,” we want to help grow a new generation of tabletop gamers by ensuring our games remain affordable, high-quality, and fun for everyone.

— Angelique, Commercial Development Manager