Skip to main content

Hasbro has resurrected the classic memory game ‘Simon’ with 21st century tech

Your childhood is coming back for you, but it may look a different from what you remember. The toy industry has done a bit of a refresh on some of its most iconic items, giving them all a 21st-century spin. From the new Cabbage Patch Kid to the Mattel ThingMaker, these aren’t the toys you played with as a tot — not completely at least. And now, Hasbro has unveiled yet another updated version of one of its most popular games — Simon. Meet the Simon Air, the touch-free version of the classic game that is now selling for just $20.

The memory game that doubled as an “instrument” (fine, that’s a bit of a stretch), the original version of Simon was released in 1978, and instantly reached classic status. As such, it remained untouched for over three decades, entertaining generations of kids with its simple challenge — remembering the pattern.

Recommended Videos

But then, Simon Swipe was released, trading the button pushing for swiping (a là smartphone usage). And now, you don’t even have to touch Simon anymore to play — you just pass your hands over the colored arches.

For more complex gameplay, you can “swoop” across arches, activating many lights at once in order to keep up with the fast-paced tempo of the game. And now, Simon accommodates teamwork and collaborative play, which represents a distinct departure from its previous solo design.

While the game doesn’t look like it did in the 70’s and 80’s, it still features the same familiar colors. The vertical design (yes, it stands up and does require a stable surface for best game-play) still sports red, green, and yellow sensors on the top, right, and left sides, respectively, and the blue sensor is placed at the bottom.

You can play in three game modes — classic, for the most nostalgic of Simon players; solo, which includes some swoops and other fancy moves; and finally, two-player, where you can challenge a friend or family member to a memory match.

It’s not available quite yet, but when Simon Air hits stores in the fall, this may be $20 you’ll want to spend.

Lulu Chang
Fascinated by the effects of technology on human interaction, Lulu believes that if her parents can use your new app…
Mecha Break is the closest I’ve felt to piloting a real Gundam outside Japan
Key art for Mecha Break.

In 2015, in a mostly-empty arcade in Fukuoka, I slid into the pilot seat of a Gundam.

I pulled the door down, watching as it seamlessly merged with the rest of the wall and turned into a display of my surroundings. As I pulled the earpiece down, the radio crackled to life as other pilots greeted me through comms.

Read more
Still shopping? Amazon Prime Day deals going strong into day 4
We're bringing you the best Prime Day deals throughout the sales period
Best Prime Day Gift Card Deals

It’s the fourth and final day of the longest ever Amazon Prime Day event, and if you thought the best deals were behind us, think again. Amazon’s stretching this year’s event across four full days (July 8 -11 ) which means price drops are still rolling in hot, with fresh discounts landing on everything from big-name tech to everyday essentials.

There have been stellar savings so far, with the AirPods Pro 2 heading down to $149 as the best saving we've seen.

Read more
Is NBA 2K26 cross-platform?
A basketball character with a sweatband.

Football fans have the Madden games, baseball fans have MLB The Show, and basketball fans wait every year for the new NBA 2K entry. This year, we have NBA 2K26 with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Angel Reese, and Carmelo Anthony each appearing as the cover athlete on the various editions of the game. All the classic modes are back, including MyCAREER, MyTeam, MyNBA, The W, and more, but the big question is if you can play online with friends on other platforms like you can with Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4, or is it limited like Madden NFL 26? Before you rush the hoop and grab NBA 2K26, I'm calling a timeout to fill you in on all the cross-platform details.

Is NBA 2K26 cross-platform?

Read more