So I’ve been reorganizing my house while I am stuck at home, and I have come across a ton of our retro toys and old pictures from my childhood. It’s made me pretty nostalgic. It also got me thinking about how I would’ve handled being a kid during a pandemic. Back then, we didn’t have the internet or expensive video equipment with thousands of games at our fingertips. We relied on more simple games and electronics to entertain us.

Coincidentally, a package showed up on my doorstep from my friend Debbie at Element Associates. Inside was a projecting gaming arcade called ProjeX™ from New York City-based NSI International, Inc. My first thought was that this was the perfect game for my family and I to try out while cooped up at home. Gone is the need for a TV, computer, smartphone or any other equipment, because ProjeX™ let’s you turn any room in your house into an incredible gaming arcade! Just point ProjeX™ at a blank wall, grab a blaster and aim! Enjoy real-life gaming, without the limitations of a screen!

ProjeX™ lets you blast moving targets, ducks and UFOs that are projected right onto your wall. You change slides to change your level of difficulty: Blue (targets) = easy, Red (UFOs) = medium, and White (ducks) = difficult. Each one has their own unique sound effects. My son is the only one who figured out how to shoot the ducks, while I am a master at shooting the targets. My kids looked on in amazement as I hit every target except 1 the last time we played. (That may be all that practice with similar games as a kid.)

ProjeX™ works best in a dark room and projecting on a light-colored wall with no artwork, wallpaper or painted patterns. The portable, battery-operated projector includes two blasters, which are stored right on the unit, a built-in LED scoreboard, and a place to keep image slides. It is battery-powered (requires 3 “AA” batteries not included), so it can go wherever you go – inside or out. You can even play it on your garage door or side of the house, so it’s a fun way to get outside without straying too far from home. (Note: When you are first setting it up, you have to make sure both controllers are plugged in before switching it on, or you will hear a buzzer sound. That sound indicates you need to take out the batteries to reset it, and then start over.)

ProjeX™ features five games, such as zig zag and random. (Note: There is a guide to explain each of the games, and the LED indicates the game number using numbers like 91, 92, etc, rather than 1,2,3. Once you figure which number corresponds to which game, you are good to go.)

There are three skill levels to keep players engaged: beginner, advanced and expert. The “beginner” setting accommodates even the youngest players in the room, making this a fun, interactive game for the whole family. The blasters point a target on the wall, so it helps you aim. I could imagine even your cats might want to join in by chasing them. While recommended for children 6+, ProjeX™ is great for any age child, as well as adults.

Experience the excitement of a tournament as you play head-to-head, or team up in “Co-Op” mode, which lets two players combine scores. Best of all, an unlimited number of players can join the fun. Even if no one else is around, you can play in solo mode and still have fun trying to “up” your own score! My kids have had lots of fun going head to head against each other. I prefer solo mode myself. Overall, we’ve had a blast checking this out and look forward to continue playing with it in the future to combat boredom.