The winners of the 2021 Toy of the Year have been revealed by The Toy Association. The virtual event is the 21st year for the awards. Awards were handed out in 16 categories, including “Game of the Year.” Pokémon Trading Card Game Battle Academy won the category beating the competition in battle.

Other nominees in the category included Drone Home (PlayMonster)

• Fish Club (Blue Orange Games)
• Genius Square (MUKIKIM LLC)
• Poetry for Neanderthals (Exploding Kittens)
• Story Time Chess (Story Time Chess)
• The #UpsideDownChallenge Game (Vango Toys)

Designed for Trainers of all types, including parents and children who may be new to the Pokémon TCG, Battle Academy reimagines strategic Pokémon TCG gameplay as an easy-to-learn and fun-to-play experience for the whole family that comes in a classic board-game format.

Pokémon Trading Card Game Battle Academy wasn’t the only game to go home a winner though. In a surprise announcement, two winners were chosen for the “People’s Choice” Award – both Story Time Chess (Story Time Chess), a classic game reimagined for the youngest of players, and The Original Spawn Action Figure and Comic Remastered (2020) (McFarlane Toys), which had its roots on Kickstarter, took home the honor.