Skylanders SWAP Force

SWAP Force is in many ways a surprise. It remedies a raft of the series’ biggest issues whilst adding its own twists. Still, if you’re looking for a cost effective time-sink, there are dozens – if not hundreds – of alternatives. With that said, Skylanders was the first to popularise the toy/game hybrid and hopefully, with a little pressure from Disney Infinity, prices will gradually become more competitive.

Despite its push to have you run out and buy additional figures, Skylanders Swap Force remains fun and charming for kids and adults alike. The new character combinations enhance the gameplay, expanding on what can be created and adding an interesting mechanic to the game. You may wind up shopping for new figures to unlock new content, which isn't a cheap habit to build, but Swap Force taps into the sheer joy of experimenting with new character combinations and building them from there.

Skylanders Swap Force adds lots of things that are sure to please fans. The swappable Skylanders and new challenges are smart, and the story is as funny and charming as ever. I particularly like the way the writers build on the epilogue of the previous game. More than anything else, Skylanders is just fun – but to get the most out of it, you'll end up paying the price of the game a couple times over.