31 Best Gifts & Toys for 8 Year Old Boys (Review) in 2020

Fortnite is the #1 game in the world right now. If you’ve got kids, you’ve no doubt heard all about it. You probably wish they’d stop playing it, go outside, and play with their friends in real life. Well, we’ve got the perfect solution for you. The Nerf Fortnite AR-L Elite Dart Blaster is the best of both worlds. It’s a Nerf gun, which means it shoots toy darts and it’s based on one of the main guns in the Fortnite world. 

As Nerf guns go, this one is pretty impressive. It has a motor inside (powered by 4 AA batteries) that shoots the darts much further than a standard Nerf gun. It holds 10 Nerf darts in the clip (20 included) and comes with two flip-up sights to make aiming easier. In short, this is one of the best Nerf blasters in the business. Plus, it should tear them away from the screens for a few hours at least.

First up on our review of the Best Toys for 8-year-old boys we have our Best Choice selection which comes from Osmo and is their Genius Kit. Designed to be used in conjunction with an iPad the beauty of this invention is that your kids are encouraged to simultaneously both play and learn in the real and digital world. The kit encourages creativity and problem-solving skills and also teaches them reading and vocabulary along with number sense and math confidence.  With Masterpiece, they can learn to draw anything whereas playing in Tangram mode with those colorful pieces encourages sharp thinking and cognitive response matching the shape-shifting geometric patterns on screen with the physical shapes in front of them. Its multi-award winning and sure to fire up their imaginations.

As originally featured on the Shark Tank, this is a fun and active, super competitive game that ideally requires 4 people and some outdoor space. Take to the beach, play in your back garden, in your basement or wherever takes your fancy. It’s guaranteed to get you moving and probably sweating a little too. With foldable legs, it’s easy to set-up and great to pack and take on family vacations and comes in its own drawstring carry bag. The more advanced you get at Spikeball, the more you can increase the challenge by tightening the net to restrict the bounce. It’s a super gift idea for an 8-year-old boy and will really develop that competitive spirit and hand to eye coordination.

Eight-year-olds need to be creatively challenged and stimulated and encouraged to use critical skills like reasoning, logic, and planning. The objective of this Gravity Maze game is to build your own maze that will carry one single marble all the way from the starting position to the target tower provided by forming a series of towers along the grid. 3 different colored marbles are included with the set as well as full instructions and 60 challenge cards that you can put your logic and reasoning against. From beginners level suitable for that eight-year-old all the way up to advanced combinations that Dad might want to get involved with too.

A unique and imaginative gift idea that will introduce your child or grandchild to the wonderful world of astronomy but in a completely immersive and hands-on way. With this kit from 4M KidzLabs, they must assemble the Solar System themselves, even painting the planets the correct colors too. Recreate a fascinating mini-planetarium which also glows in the dark. It’s a fun science kit that delivers hours of creative and imaginative play while supporting educational development and exploration too. These make great gifts as they are very educational.

As parents, we’re constantly blown away by the technology available to kids now. Robots as advanced as the Anki Cozmo didn’t exist then, never mind as kid’s toys. So, when we get to introduce them to this fascinating, new world, it’s a special experience. The Anki Cozmo is much more than just a fun robot with a few tricks. It’s an introduction to coding and robotic engineering – two industries that will grow exponentially throughout your children’s lives. 

Cozmo can explore on his own and won’t fall off surfaces, thanks to edge detection. However, it’s much more fun when you use the beginner-friendly coding app to set him tasks and make him do tricks. This tough little robot will amaze you with the number of things he can do. Plus, he has a warm personality that your kids will fall in love with.

Snap Circuits Jr. Electronics Exploration Kit is a great present idea that is just perfect for a curious 8-year-old boy who is getting to grips with new hobbies and activities. It’s a fantastic hands-on introduction to electronics without the need for a soldering iron or any other tools. This innovative kit contains over 30 color-coded, circuit components that snap together to create working electronic circuits. There are over 101 DIY projects that should keep even the most inquisitive child quietly occupied for hours. Replicate common circuit boards that power televisions and radios, a musical doorbell and even a light police siren.

If you have a kid with a strong sense of adventure who’s developing a need for speed, then this Rimable 22” skateboard is seriously going to go down a complete storm. Available in a wide range of funky and fresh colors and designs it comes fully assembled so all your child needs to do is hit the sidewalk. At 22” long and 6” wide it’s a stable and comfortable ride but a whole lot of fun too.

For all kids aged 8 and upwards this is just the most fun fighting game around that can be played in teams of 4.  It’s quite possibly the most advanced laser tag product on the market and features high-tech target vests, a patented stealth mode as well as a gun with a 150-foot shooting range. There are four different modes to play in too from Pistol to Shotgun, Machine gun to Rocket. If you are carrying on the fighting action into the evening and the light is now a bit dim, you can switch to night vision with the powerful LED light that is built into the blaster. Hours of fun for all the family and the perfect game for an 8-year-old boys birthday party. They will just love with ArmoGear Blaster and Vest set.

This well designed Nerf striker has a double dart drum so that you don’t have to keep reloading which can slow down the shoot and strike action. It’s the perfect toy to encourage imaginative play, concentration, and focus and teaches kids about aim and control. Easily flip from one barrel to the other and shoot up to 12 Zombie nerf dart rounds.

This is what is known as a STEM toy which means it’s not all about FUN! It’s also a toy that teaches your child core subjects they learn in school. Science. Technology. Engineering. Math. So perfect for an inquisitive and curious eight-year-old who’s already interested in robotics and computers. Multi award-winning, this Stomp Rocket can travel over 100 feet into the air to power up the night sky and is totally controlled and powered by the child. All they need to do is run, jump and stomp to catapult the foam glow in the dark rockets into the sky and see how far they can travel. A fantastic gift idea or stocking filler this Christmas time.

Presented in a beautiful wooden Deluxe box, give your child the incredible gift of magic with this wonderful classic set which features 10 illusion and magic tricks that they can easily master but which look incredibly impressive. These are all famous tricks but with instructions that your child can easily follow. The set is beautifully illustrated with high-quality accessories included that have been specially designed to withstand countless “rehearsals!”. The fabulous hinged wooden box can be used to store materials and also doubles up as a performance space. It’s a wonderful creative gift idea.

There’s nothing more satisfying than creative construction and building your own realistic and movable models, and with this K’Nex 35 kit which has over 480 parts, your eight-year-old can get to grips with creating their own helicopter or even an airplane. It’s another example of a STEM toy that will encourage and develop so many skills they will use in later life. Playing with K’Nex kids and discovering how to build and construct strengthens their hand to eye coordination, fine motor skills, spatial awareness and also their problem-solving skills. It’s also incredibly satisfying and rewarding too to see the finished fruits of their labor.

Lego is a solid choice as a gift for boys and girls of all ages and will never go out of fashion or popularity. Get your boy all revved up for the racing action with this Ferrari 488 GT3 “Scuderia Corsa” sports car that is super detailed with authentic design elements. The windshield can be removed so that the minifigure (who even comes with his own helmet) can jump into the cockpit ready to hit the track and claim the trophy. The car features race graphic stickers, rubber tires, and those classic red racing colors. With this Lego Speed set, give you boy a taste of life in the fast lane.

This is a genuinely exceptional pop-up book which is beautifully illustrated by famous artists in this category, Sabuda, and Reinart. There are over 35 mesmerizing and stunningly captivating pop-ups to explore alongside a myriad of interesting facts and information about these prehistoric creatures. Encyclopedia Prehistorica Dinosaurs makes the most wonderful gift idea and one that will be cherished for many years to come.

This is a fantastic kit that will introduce your child to the fundamentals of solar power and the importance of renewable materials but in an enjoyable, interesting and hands-on way. Explore two worlds with the one kit green science and solar energy. All the parts are included that are required to build a fully functioning Rover. All your child will need is to then power it up outdoors in the sunshine. It’s both entertaining and educational and is the perfect kit for any budding young scientist.

Two things most boys love combined in one fantastic present! Lego and Spaceships. Really you can’t go wrong. This has to be the perfect gift idea and one that will deliver hours of fun and enjoyment. There are 285 pieces in this kit and a 3-in-1 model to be built including a Space Shuttle with an opening payload bay and robotic arms, a detailed Space Rover that has a drilling arm and a separate Moon Station. A minifigure astronaut is also included. Take their imaginations to a whole new dimension with this Lego Creator Space Shuttle Explorer kit.

For the budding photographer in the family, this VTech Kidizoom is a smart choice and will get them interested in snapping pics with a reliable and robust camera that even has a voice recording feature. The Camera can easily be operated in either Camera or Movie mode and includes a convenient wrist strap so that they won’t lose it when they are out and about as well as a USB cable for downloading their photos. A great way to start capturing and recording those exciting childhood memories.

Lego. Tick! Star Wars. Tick! Alarm Clock. Tick! This is a super gift idea for the eight-year-old boy in your life. Their very own Darth Vadar light up Alarm Clock made from Lego. Measuring 9.5 inches tall and with an alarm, snooze, and light up function, it’s going to look great on their bedside table and add real character to a young boys room. The perfect extra Christmas stocking filler.

Next up in the Best Toys for 8-year-old boys review more from Lego and the Star Wars franchise that is bound to go down a storm on Christmas morning. With 262 pieces of Lego to construct, this kit is all about building Yoda’s Starfighter jet, and you even get a Yoda minifigure as well as lightsabre and extra ammo included in this fantastic construction set. It delivers hours of creative and imaginative fun and deploys all those fine motor skills that your child is quickly developing.

There’s no better feeling than dunking over your opponent. Except for dunking over them in a pool on a hot summer’s day. The GoSports Splash Hoop 360 Floating Pool Basketball Game can turn any body of water into the perfect court. You can either shoot three-pointers or play a game of water basketball. It comes with one splash hoop, two water basketballs, and a hand pump. The best thing about this hoop in particular is the quality of the inflatable material. Unlike cheaper models, this one can withstand the wear and tear of constant dunking. It’s designed to take a beating, so your money will be well spent.

Has your kid shown an interest in science? If so, it’s important to fuel that fire early and let them get to grips with the basics. Who knows? They could invent a world-saving vaccine or send a man to Mars. This Kids Beginner Microscope STEM Kit is the perfect way for them to experiment and expand their curious mind. It includes a real, working microscope capable of 1200X magnification. Complete with a 49-piece accessory kit, they will have everything needed to perform real-world experiments. It even comes with a bottle of brine shrimp eggs, so they can complete their first experiment. Talk to any successful scientist and we’ve no doubt that they had a similar kit when they were young.

Not all kids will get along with the Sillbird STEM 12-in-1 Solar Robot. It requires a level of concentration, engineering ability, and creativity that only some kids have. However, if your son loves building stuff and problem-solving, this will quickly become their favorite toy. It’s a toy robot kit that can make 12 different designs. There are two difficulty levels, allowing them to work on their STEM skills methodically. One of our favorite features is the solar panel, which runs the robot without the need for batteries. This teaches them about environmentally-friendly methods of power (an important topic in today’s world). There’s some confusion about the recommended age for this toy but we can confirm that it’s for kids aged eight and above. However, it might require some parental guidance to help them get started.

Everything loves the fun and freedom of scootering around, and this Razor A3 will reinforce a child’s sense of balance and coordination and makes a fabulous Christmas present. It has an exceptional deck design for convenient transportation and is based from aerospace grade aluminum which has incredible durability. There’s a rear fender brake that delivers astonishing stopping power and 98mm quality urethane wheels. It even folds too, and with that smooth glide action, your child will just love taking this Scooter with them everywhere they go.

With a similar look and feel to the official game backboards seen in the NBA league, this Slam Jam style over the door hoop from NBA will deliver hours of indoor fun. It’s a ¼ replica scale of the actual NBA backboard and has been designed to keep the same professional proportions albeit scaled down. It even comes with a 4” rubber basketball that features the NBA Logoman graphics. The system itself comes with padded door hooks so that once assembled it won’t cause any damage to the door frame. We think they make really neat and fun, budget-friendly gifts. You might even say that it’s a Slam Dunk!

The perfect electronic pitching machine and sure to be a big hit with any lover of baseball. Get them practicing at an early age with this fun Franklin Sports pitching machine that delivers balls at intervals of 10 seconds. Certainly saves on Dad or Grandad having to do all that pitching! It can hold up to 9 balls at once, and 6 are included with your purchase. A convenient red light flashes to indicate that the ball is coming so your young developing player can get himself fully prepared to strike. It can also be adjusted to three different height angles too. You are surely going to have hours of fun and excitement pitting your wits and pitching your baseball bat against this machine!

You seriously can’t ever go wrong with a book and giving the present of knowledge is priceless. This 5000 Awesome Facts About Everything book filled with awesome facts will have an 8-year-old boy no doubt happily enthralled for hours. Improving their reading skills while at the same time learning so much about their favorite subjects. It’s accompanied by plenty of illustrations and covers off all kinds of genres from history and animals, food and the human body to robots and even survival skills. It will arm them with plenty of conversation topics to have with peers and adults alike.

It’s a simple enough concept but a genius one at the same time! Got a question? Well, this book should have the answer, quite literally 1,111 answers to 1,111 common WHY’s! Let’s face it, the “WHY” questioning never really stops even though it might well start with a vengeance aged 3! Boys still continue to wonder why and this book deliver all the answers so that you don’t have to! It covers off hundreds of different topics from the silly to the serious and provides it all in a fun and entertaining hard backed National Geographic Kids Why book that your child can treasure and refer back to for many years to come.

We may well be in the digital age, but there is still very much a place for knowing and learning the essential skills that a boy should take with him through life. From knot tieing to skimming stones, building go-carts to being able to identify deadly spiders and snakes. This fabulous The Dangerous Book of Boys collectible book even has a section on girls. It makes the perfect stocking filler for Christmas and will give the eight-year-old in your life a crucial head start.

Who doesn’t love the idea of discovering buried treasure at the bottom of the garden! With this Junior Metal Detector which has been designed to look exactly like a professional metal detector just in a smaller size, your child might just do that. It features an easy to use full-color interface with easy knob controls, and ergonomic design means that it is easy to handle and comfortable to use, even for an eight-year-old. With its adjustable length, it’s the perfect size for all budding bounty hunters from 6-12-year-olds.

A fabulous if a little “gross” game that all the family can enjoy. With a game board. 140 question cards, 50 specifically “Gross-Out” cards and a large jar of slime you are in for endless laughs and hours of fun. You cover off all kinds of topics from anatomy and physics to astronomy and geology in this fun, silly and frequently gross game of science. It’s what family Christmas get-togethers were made for!