A drone that climbs walls. A gesture-controlled robot that can bring you a can of cola. A LEGO version of a video game and a foam dart gun with a built in camera.
And one old friend.
Toys are getting ever more complex and brilliant, and frankly we wish we were kids again.
Luckily the next best thing is playing with toys for a living - and since that's effectively our job, we've compiled our list of the best for 2014.
Take a look below - and read to the bottom for what is probably a surprising conclusion.
11 Coolest Toys Of 2014
A Real-Life Video Game(01 of09)
LEGO Minecraft: The Mine [£89.99]Kids love Minecraft. But that doesn't mean they have to spend all Christmas on their iPads or Xbox. LEGO has released these beautiful, Minifig-scale Minecraft sets and they're fantastic fun. They come with elements fromt he game every kid will recognise - from creepers to armour, torches and even a spider. But it features the trademark colours and style of the game and -- of course -- can be reconfigured into endless new forms and Minecraftian visions. Amazing fun and good value too.
A Self Balancing Robot(02 of09)
MIP The Self Balancing Robot [£99]This robot can hold a can of pop, is controlled by hand gestures, balances itself on two wheels and is totally adorable. Who said that robots are still the stuff of science fiction?
A Highly Technical Foam Dart Gun(03 of09)
Nerf N-Strike Elite Nerfcam ECS-12 Blaster [£84.99]As foam dart weaponry goes, this is pretty much the pinnacle. It comes with a built-in camera in the scope, to record your first-person battles with terrifying precision (up to 100 minutes on a 4GB card). It comes with twelve darts and fires 85 feet. It's also satisfyingly heavy and loud.
A Drone That Climbs Walls(04 of09)
Parrot Rolling Spider [£89.99]This drone is able to fly, roll up walls, crawl along the ceiling and more -- all controlled from your smartphone. It lacks the cameras seen on more expensive models, but it's a lot cheaper - and a lot more fun.
A Gateway To The Most Addictive Toy Ever(05 of09)
Skylanders Trap Team Tablet Edition [£49]Skylanders finally comes to tablets. With a copy of Skylanders Trap Team for iPad, plus a controller and portal for bringing your real-life toys to digital life in the game, this is everything you need to get started with Activision's billion-selling franchise. And you don't have to own a console to do it. Bargain - just say goodbye to your iPad. That's your kid's iPad now.
A Digital Fightin' Buddy(06 of09)
Nintendo Amiibo [£10] Nintendo's Super Smash Bros is one of the games of the year. And with these NFC-enabled figures even lone wolf gamers can finally play with friends. Simply tap the figure onto your gamepad, and you can play alongside a smart, evolving fighter customised to your heart's desire. Some of the figures also work with Mario Kart and Hyrule Warriors, and compatibility with future titles is promised.
A Robotic Tricks Machine(07 of09)
Sphero Ollie [£79.99]Sphero is an app-controlled wonderbot. It can travel at ridiculous speeds, do tricks in mid air, tackle most terrain types and be customised with the help of a 3D printer. It works with various education-focused apps too, and is the closest thing we've found to capturing the soul of skateboarding hero Tony Hawk in the carapace of a robot. That is except for...
Just Classic LEGO(08 of09)
LEGO Ultra Agents Mission HQ [£79.99]LEGO Ultra Agents is something of a throwback. There are no movie licenses, few 'special' (IE pre-moulded pieces) and genuine space for imaginative play. This set is one of our favourites of the year. It's essentially a giant truck, but with a highly detailed spy HQ built inside. The set comes with a boat and truck, as well as an enemy mech complete with pilot. It's not necessarily a set for AFOLs (adult fans of Lego) as it's not intrinsically beautiful - it's just a great-fun, creative toy.
An Old Friend(09 of09)
You can get one of these in mint condition, boxed, for £90, or unboxed and scratched for a fiver. It runs the best version of Tetris ever made, plus Mario Tennis and Super Mario Land, the batteries last for days, there are hundreds of available titles and it's an absolute design classic. No arguments - the 1989 Nintendo Gameboy is the toy of 2014. And that might be the best lesson to take away from this. The greatest toy of the year might be something you already own, or have in the loft, or that you would assume kids would hate - until you give them a chance and find out they love Tetris too.You don't have to spend all your money on shiny new stuff. You might just need to rediscover something old, but glorious, and give it a wipe. (credit:Artur Debat via Getty Images)