Welcome to GamerDad: Gaming with Children. My name is Andrew S. Bub - the GamerDad - and I've been writing about videogames, movies, and children for over 15 years now. After working as a magazine journalist, I switched gears to write about how media violence affects children, educating parents about them, and working closely with magazines, newspapers, major retailers and even politicians. GamerDad is an internationally recognized expert in this field. Games, movies and media are fun, kids and families love them, they aren't going away. So join me in cutting through the hype and lets have a real conversation about the things that matter: Video Games, Violent Media, and their supposed effect on children and families.
Welcome to GamerDad: Gaming with Children. My name is Andrew S. Bub - the GamerDad - and I've been writing about videogames, movies, and children for over 15 years now. After working as a magazine journalist, I switched gears to write about how media violence affects children, educating parents about them, and working closely with magazines, newspapers, major retailers and even politicians. GamerDad is an internationally recognized expert in this field. Games, movies and media are fun, kids and families love them, they aren't going away. So join me in cutting through the hype and lets have a real conversation about the things that matter: Video Games, Violent Media, and their supposed effect on children and families.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder amiibo
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Posted on May 1st, 2026 by
I recently got some amiibo based on Super Mario Bros. Wonder to coincide with the release of the Switch 2 version. So let’s take a look at them.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder Alarmo
Posted on April 29th, 2026 by
Nintendo has a new downloadable ‘skin’ for their alarm clock called the Alarmo, and this one features themes and characters from Super Mario Bros. Wonder! If you want more information about the Alarmo, I wrote an article a couple of years ago about it here. So let’s check it out!
Talking Flower
Posted on April 27th, 2026 by
It’s Wonder Week here at GamerDad, where we’ll look at three things released related to Super Mario Bros. Wonder. Nintendo made a real life toy version of one of those Talking Flowers that first appeared in Wonder and later in the newest Mario Party and Tennis entries. I got one so let’s take a look at it.
Animal Crossing + Sea Life Aquariums
Posted on April 24th, 2026 by
As you may or may not know, Animal Crossing as a series is my second favorite game of all time. It’s only beaten out by Pac-Man, so you know how much I must like it. One of my favorite parts of Animal Crossing is the museum which you can donate fossils, paintings, bugs, and fish to. The aquarium part is especially cool, because you can see the fish you’ve caught swimming around and I just like aquariums. Shortly after Animal Crossing: New Horizons was released, they starting doing real life aquarium tours featuring Animal Crossing characters and decorations. I really wanted to go to one, but there wasn’t any close in my area. Until now. Earlier this year, Animal Crossing partnered with Sea Life, a chain of aquariums you can usually find in touristy areas. Depending on when you read this and where you live, you might be able to go to one, too, as they are doing this until the end of May. Check the Sea Life website to see if there’s one near you. There’s one about 30 minutes away from where I live (Grapevine Mills Mall in Texas), so I hopped on the chance to go as soon as I could. So let’s take a tour of it!
Unplugged: 20 Strong – Tanglewoods
Posted on April 23rd, 2026 by
In 20 Strong Tanglewoods, one takes on the role of their favorite fairytale protagonist in this solo dice-rolling game of adventure. Gamers looking for a card-based, solo, medium to lightweight dungeon crawling experience should check it out. 20 Strong is a series of games from Chip Theory that use the same set of twenty dice of several different colors. These dice are then used to play any number of different games, players only have to purchase a new deck of cards to have a new game to play. At present, every game in the 20 Strong line revolves around rolling dice to damage and defeat a deck filled with antagonist cards. However, only some of the rolled dice are recovered to be used again. Thus, a primary focus in the game is managing one’s dice use. After wading through various minions, defeat the final boss to win the game. The recent Tanglewoods series (red, white, gold, rose – I leave the reader to figure out which fairy tale is which) all tend to involve a strong movement component, whereby the player moves from location to location, triggering an event (battling something or recovering) on their way to the final showdown location. While there is a strong similarity between versions, a player that enjoys one deck of cards will probably appreciate the variety offered by another. There is even a special card deck that combines three of the other Tanglewoods decks for a linked campaign. If the 20 Strong line of games sounds interesting, there is also a crowdfunding campaign going on for three new decks based on the popular boardgames: Tainted Grail, Nemesis, and Etherfields.
20 Strong – Tanglewoods
Designer: Josh J. Carlson (also Logan Giannini & Ryan Howard)
Publisher: Chip Theory Games
Players: 1 (solo only)
Ages: 14+
Time: 30-40 min
(review copy provided by publisher)
Pengilo (PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, X/S, PC)
Posted on April 22nd, 2026 by
Fling a bouncy ball shaped penguin around obstacle filled 2D stages to reach an exit in Pengilo. It’s available on all current consoles and PC, but reviewed on PS4 here.
Parasol Superstars (Switch, PS4, PS5, X/S)
Posted on April 20th, 2026 by
As the saying goes, “April showers bring May flowers.” And springtime is usually when the weather brings more rain. But Taito’s got you covered with two umbrella themed classics in Parasol Superstars. Included are two games: Parasol Stars, a classic Bubble Bobble sequel, and the never-before-released-overseas arcade game Spica Adventure. So let’s check them out! It’s available on most current consoles but reviewed on Switch here.
Super Mario Galaxy Movie Happy Meals
Posted on April 17th, 2026 by
McDonald’s is doing Super Mario Galaxy Movie toys in their Happy Meals this month I got a few of them, so let’s take a look!
Super Mario Galaxy amiibo
Posted on April 15th, 2026 by
I got some new Super Mario Galaxy amiibo, so let’s take a look at them!
Super Mario Galaxy Movie Bubly Sparkling Water
Posted on April 13th, 2026 by
I saw some Mario Galaxy Movie themed Bubly Sparkling Water at the store, so I thought I’d show you all what I found.
