Trying to find toys for 11 year old boys isn’t easy. Some are too babyish, others too advanced. That’s why here at Heavy we’ve scoured the Internet to find the very best toys for 11 year old boys out there for every kind of budget. If you’re in need of a birthday or Christmas gift, our guide is sure to have something for everyone.
I’ve been playing with the Zing Go Go Bird recently and despite all the reasons to grab this awesome toy, the biggest take away for me is it actually works!
I’ll admit, I went into the Go Go Bird not expecting it to be able to fly. I’ve been burned before with toys like this. But when I first took it outside, threw it gently into the air, then hit up on the remote, this thing took to the skies like, well, a bird.
What’s crazy is how much of a beating this thing can take. I’ve been flying it with my two kids (17 and 10) and I lost count of how many times it face-planted onto the floor (easily over 10). And yet, it didn’t break. The nose didn’t fall off, and the structural integrity remained intact.
I’m convinced it’s been designed to be weighted at the front so when it does crash, the nose takes the brunt of the force.
I’m not saying it’s indestructible by any means, but for general play over two different age groups, mine didn’t show any signs of breaking.
Just a word of warning, make sure you’ve got a large open space. Don’t play with this near buildings because it can easily get stuck on the roof if you’re not careful.
This pack also comes with two rechargeable batteries, so when you’re using one, you can have the other on charge ready to go, and features different flight modes.
Honestly, I wasn’t expecting to love the Go Go Bird as much as I did. If you’re after something that’s going to wow, and is easy to use and understand, this is one toy you don’t want to miss out on.
[Note: if they ask if it can play Fortnite, the answer is yes, but just keep in mind that game is aimed at 13 years and up]
If you’re after some games the whole family can play, you’ve also got 1, 2, Switch and Mario Party.
The beauty of Switch games is that a lot of them can be played even by people who’ve never touched a video game.
Games like 1, 2, Switch include such gems like using the controller to have a sword fight or jiggling it around like a box to guess how many balls are inside (made possible via the excellent built-in vibration function).
Although a fair amount of kids will opt for the PlayStation 4 or Xbox One, if you’re after a console with suitable games for the right age group, you can’t go wrong with the Nintendo Switch.
And finally, IGN says the best feature about the Switch is the fact it can be played anywhere.
Where it’s toys for 11 year old boys or toys for 11 year old girls, the Nintendo Switch is one gift you won’t go wrong with.
Expensive? Yes. But the UBTECH Iron Man Mk50 Robot is one of the best toys for 11 year old boys there is.
Let’s break down what this thing does.
Flip the mask open to reveal Tony Stark’s face, which also talks. Don’t want Stark on there? You can put your own face on and record your own voice lines.
Download the free app and you’ll be able to take this robot into an augmented reality environment (holding up the tablet with the app shows enemies in the real world for the robot to destroy).
You can even program Iron-Man to guard your most treasured possessions!
Honestly, check out the video to see it all in action. It’s genuinely magical and words cannot do this thing justice.
Despite being released in 2011, the 3DS family of consoles is still going strong.
If you’re looking into picking up a 3DS, however, don’t. Instead, opt for the New Nintendo 2DS XL.
Basically, the 3D function on the more expensive 3DS isn’t all that great, and chances are they’ll turn it off to save battery power.
But the New 2DS XL? This thing is amazing.
It still plays 99% of 3DS games (your Mario and Pokemon games are fine in 2D), it features all the upgrades like the right thumbstick and the larger screen, and it’s cheaper.
This version also comes with a copy of Mario Kart 7 pre-installed as well.
The level of articulation here is excellent – 22 moving parts mean kids will be able to recreate their favorite emotes from the hugely popular video game with ease.
McFarlane’s best attribute is being able to create toys that look exactly how they should.
That may sound like an obvious statement, but there are so many Fortnite toys out there and yet a lot of them bear only a passing resemblance.
This Drift figure gets the coloring right along with all the smaller nuances (like the shape of the mask or the height of the hood).
This figure also comes with a gun, backpack, and pick-ax accessories.
Although this is sold as an action figure, it’s only got five points of articulation.
So yeah, it technically is a figure, but I think it’s more of a statue, seeing as you won’t be able to pose it anywhere near as well as the other figures on this list.
That said, the trade-off means this thing has much more detail than action figures; creating a truly vivid statue.
The AR-L is based on one of the main assault rifles players use in the Fortnite video game, albeit with a color change to make it a little less like the real-life gun it’s based on.
Each clip can hold up to 10 darts, which in turn are jettisoned out of the motorized blaster fast enough to be cool, but not fast enough to do any damage.
There’s even a flip-up slight to aim down.
If your kids into NERF and/or Fortnite, this is one of the best toys for 11 year old boys there is.
Also, if you concerned about safety, on the whole, NERF toys are safe so long as your children aren’t aiming for the eyes.
That said, it’s never a bad idea to read up on NERF safety prior to picking out your first blaster.
The figure itself is based on the comic-book version rather than the movie, although the differences aren’t enough to really matter to younger children.
And despite being based on an outfit from the 90s, it’s still got all the modern Marvel Legends articulation and coloring tricks.
It’s got the likeness, the coloring, and it’s even got that gormless expression, making this one of the best Deadpool figures out there.
As with any major Marvel movie character, there are always millions of different figures available, but if you’re after the best Thor figure, then that’s the Marvel Thor Legends Series Thor.
This figure is based on his outfit from Thor: Ragnarok and easily has the best Chris Hemsworth likeness.
Not only that, it’s also got some of the best detail out there. Just look at that tunic!
Although the Infinity War Thor comes with the better weapon choice in Stormbreaker, the face on that one is kinda weird.
If your child isn’t too fussed about it being 100 percent movie-accurate, feel free to opt for that one instead.
See what they did there? It’s jiu-jitsu mixed with goo. You honestly couldn’t ask for a better explanation of what this range is all about.
You see, in the last few years slime became even more popular than ever. Seriously, you can’t go into a toyshop without seeing an array of slime pots everywhere. Go Jit Zu, however, takes this idea one step further by turning slime into actual toys you can play with.
Each Goo Jit Zu toy is filled with a slime-like substance. This makes each toy squishy and gives them a certain amount of pull. If you’re old enough to remember Stretch Armstrong, they’re kind of like that, only less prone to breaking.
What’s cool about this range is some figures have extra bits on the inside. In Spider-Man’s cases, he has little plastic webs to break up the slime feel, because while these things are toys, they’re also really great stress relievers, seeing as they are, essentially, a high-quality stress ball.
There’s potential for the Goo Jit Zu toys to be useful for children with autism or anger issues, too.
It’s worth ending by pointing out there are a few different types of toys in this range. You’ve got the core series, the extra-large toys, and there’s even a selection of Marvel Goo Jit Zu toys. In short, there’s something for every kind of budget, which is great!
With the use of a tablet and a kind of modernized peg-board, kids can create their own games that work on the tablet.
How does it work? That’s easy.
Each colored peg translates to a different piece of scenery (green for terrain, blue for water or red for a hazard).
Place the pieces down on the board then the tablet will transport the pieces into their respective sections of the game.
When it comes to building the character, just grab a pixel art character from online then recreate it with pieces and again, the tablet will transport it into the game.
It’s a clever idea that’s designed in a way that kids will be able to understand (and it’s deceptively cheap!).
This is a Kart racer. So instead of realistic racecars, you’ve got an easy to control gocart to race around the tracks with.
But being good at the game isn’t all there is to it.
To even the odds, there are item pickups. Sometimes they’ll be a banana to trip your opponent’s cart up, other times it’ll be a heat-seeking shell which causes them to crash.
Mario Kart 8 is colorful, filled with loads of Nintendo characters kids know and love, and more importantly, is good, wholesome fun for all.
Note: You’ll need a Nintendo Switch console to play this game.
Me and my family have had so much fun with 1-2 Switch.
It’s essentially a party game, which is a load of different mini-games that all combine to make one big offering of fun.
They all play out using the Switch’s Joy-Con controller to perform different actions.
One minute you might be seeing who can milk a cow the fastest, the next your having an imaginary sword fight (with actual sounds and feedback coming from the Joy-Cons).
1-2 Switch is not only a great game, it’s a great family game that even people of any age can pick up and play.
Note: You’ll need a Switch console to play this game.
Now this is a video game you absolutely do not want to sleep on.
For those who don’t know, Watch Dogs Legion follows the exploits of hacker group Dedsec as they attempt to overthrow the powers that be in a post-Brexit England. And yes, that was a wild sentence to type out.
The hook this time around is you can play as anyone. See that granny pushing a shopping cart? You can recruit and play as her. The options for pure chaos are nearly endless.
I’m yet to play it (blame my backlog!) but IGN was a huge fan of the game.
Availability: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X (PS4 and Xbox One discs will work on PS5/Xbox Series S/X)
Some quick mentions, it’s got all the Street Fighters, Donkey Kong, King of Fighters, Marvel vs Capcom, WWF Wrestlefest – if you can think of it, it’s probably there.
In terms of the build quality, the tempered glass top isn’t going to break easily.
You also get two chrome stools included and there’s lifetime tech support alongside a five-year warranty should anything go awry.
Yeah, pricey. But this thing somehow manages to justify the price. Mad, isn’t it?
The spikes in the head and jaw, the angled wings, everything that goes into the tail – this thing has detail for days.
And as they say, the more detail something has, the longer it’ll take to build, meaning this won’t be finished then thrown in a corner within five minutes.
On the mini-figure front, you also get Zane, Jay, Daddy No Legs and Muzzle, which is a solid line-up.
If it’s value for money you’re after, this is arguably one of the best sets out there.
Pokemon Cards never go out of fashion if you’ve got a child who’s into all things Pokemon.
This box set is also exceptional value when compared with buying the packs of trading cards individually.
Inside this box are 65 Pokemon-themed card sleeves, eight packs of cards, 45 energy cards, six damage-counter dice, a coin-flip die, and two acrylic markers and one acrylic GX marker.
There’s even a rule book to get kids up to speed on the latest changes.
Basically, this box has everything they need to start playing the trading card game.
And even if they’re not into the competitive battling side of the card game, collecting the cards is fun in itself.
I should point out as well, having a box of this size, complete with dividers to store them in is a godsend if you want to avoid finding cards down the back of the couch (yes, I’m speaking from experience here).
This set comes with eight different slime and putty combos, including magnetic putty, fluffy slime (gross), glow in the dark putty, color changing putty, snotty slime (also gross), bouncing putty, and one build it yourself glow in the dark slime.
It’s incredibly gross, but is also jam-packed with education.
Who knew putty could be magnetic or slime could be fluffy?
This set comes with 60 different cards, each of which pose a challenge ranging from beginner to advanced.
Look at the card, then set up the pieces as shown and select two course pieces.
The course pieces have different ramps built into them, so getting the marble through them and the ones you’ve previously set up will require some thought.
It’s a fun game that challenges kids in the right way, so if you’re after a game that will “stretch and sharpen your mind,” this is it.
It’s a simple set with one of the lower LEGO price-tags.
Although there is a guide to build what you see in the picture, as this is Minecraft-themed, the real goal here is for kids to be imaginative and build whatever they want.
Sure, they can build what’s on the box, but chances are, they’ll be creating their own masterpiece in no time.
Creating your own rollercoaster is always fun, but that’s not the main hook here.
It’s a 3-in-1 set, meaning when you’re done with the rollercoaster, you can deconstruct it and build it as either a merry go round or an even bigger rollercoaster.
Any LEGO set that has multiple uses are always going to be a winner.
Great mini-figure selection? Check. Fun to build? Check. Leaves you with a fun playset at the end? Double check.
Plus if they’ve got other LEGO Minecraft sets, a few straight pieces should be able to connect the sets, resulting in a potentially massive Minecraft landscape.
Despite the video game Minecraft being a decade old, it’s still massively popular with young kids, meaning the Minecraft Steve Action Figure is sure to go down a treat.
This figure stands at five-inches tall and comes complete with a diamond pickaxe.
Something I need to quickly point out, there are cheaper Minecraft figures available but I wouldn’t recommend them.
My kids found the cheaper figures to break much more easily, and getting them to hold their tools isn’t as simple as it is with the five-inch figures.
For a start, this is two builds. When you’re done with the Corvette, you can rebuild it into a Hotrod.
There’s a lot that goes into making this set so realistic. Large rear wing, four tailpipes, black spoked rims with low-profile tires, working steering, and visible moving V8 pistons are but a few of the extra details that make this set so epic.
This thing isn’t no Hot Wheels car either, and stands at around three-inches in height and 11-inches in length.
In other words, it’s a beast.
If you’re after something to keep them occupied for some time, this is it.
Get them a camera and they’ll snap everything from their adventures in the garden to their favorite toys.
Plus for the price, this camera is a steal.
1080p HD recording means the video and images will be clear.
The rechargeable Li-ion battery means you can record for 1.5 hours straight (which is a lot).
Furthermore, the case is almost kid-proof and should protect against accidental drops, and the fact it’s designed for underwater (up to 100 feet!) means you don’t need to worry about them spilling drinks on it or dropping in down the toilet.
Getting kids active is good for their development. Mix it with something fun, like this Kids Hover Soccer Ball Set with 2 Goals, and they won’t even realize they’re exercising.
The benefits of active play include a healthier heart, clearer veins, stronger lungs, and reduces weight gain.
Start them off early and exercise won’t ever feel like work.
This set comes with two goals, one soccer balls, and an air soccer disc that’s powered by 4 AA batteries (not included, boo).
Let’s start with a mind-blowing fact: This set doesn’t need batteries or electricity.
Right? Mental…
How it works is through the use of water hydraulics.
There’s six axes of movement and the gripper opens to 1.89 inches, which isn’t large enough to grab everything nearby, but grabbing a toy by the leg and throwing it around is totally possible.
If you’re after something to impress, this is one of the best toys for 11 year old boys there is.
This beast has all the power, and is capable of firing foam arrows over distances of up to 100 feet.
While that’s a pretty lofty claim, the thickness of the bowstring combined with the easy-to-use pull-back mechanic leads me to believe with the right conditions, that claim is fairly accurate.
It also comes with extra foam arrows, and in a neat little twist, you can store the arrows in the upper section of the bow for easy access.
The ropes in this set are extra springy, which sounds pointless until you get a toy superstar bouncing off them. Then it’s well worth the price of admission.
The whole thing has some really cool design choices, too.
The turnbuckles, the ring apron – it all looks like how it should.
The ring also comes with Triple H and The Rock spring-action figures, so kids can play from the moment the box is off.