Skylanders Deals & Offers

Skylanders: This Game is Bringing Toys to Life

Skylanders is what's known as a “toys-to-life” game. Basically, this means that players need a physical set of figurines and a portal upon which the figures are placed, before they can access the on-screen worlds. This adds another dimension to how kids (in particular) enjoy the game, but also pushes the price of Skylanders titles up compared to ordinary games. Because of this, finding the best Skylanders deals is vital, and this buyer's guide will explain how to do so.

Activision's Videogame Series

The roots of Skylanders go back two decades to 1998, when the first Spyro the Dragon game was released for the PlayStation. An instant classic, Spyro was joined by a couple of sequels, completing one of 1990s gaming's greatest trilogies.

After that, there was a short break, but Spyro returned in 2006 with the release of the Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning. With new characters like Cynder to control and more advanced quests, the game rebooted the franchise for a new generation and started another superb trilogy.

The modern Skylanders saga began in 2011 with the release of Spyro's Adventure. A ground-breaking 3D action/adventure title, it was the world's biggest selling console game in 2012, kickstarting a craze for Skylanders games and toys that still hasn't abated.

The first game was released for PS3, Wii, Wii U and 3DS, but subsequent games have moved onto more advanced systems (while still including versions for older machines). Since 2011, Spyro's Adventure has been joined by a succession of successful follow-ups: Giants, Swap Force, Trap Team, SuperChargers and Imaginators, with the most recent appearing in 2016.

At the same time, Activision have launched a mobile only series of titles which also takes place in the Skylanders universe, with titles including: Cloud Patrol, Battlegrounds, Lost Islands, Collection Vault, SuperChargers Racing and BattleCast – so there's no shortage of choice for fans to enjoy.

Introducing Skylanders' Gameplay

The core of Skylanders is the interaction of physical toys and on-screen action. Here's how it all works. When you buy a Skylanders product, you'll receive the game disc, a couple of figurines representing characters from the series, and something called a “portal”. The figures need to be placed on this portal, transporting them into the game and allowing you to control them. When you're done, all you need to do is remove the character from the portal and the game will save your progress, a neat, user-friendly feature.

But what actually happens when you enter the game? Well, you'll enter a world known as the Skylands, which is home to Spyro and his band of Skylanders. The Skylands are constantly under attack from dark forces who want to banish the light, They also have to work with the “Portal Masters” who run doorways into other worlds and, to top it off, each Skylander is associated with a separate element, including fire, water, earth, tech, air, magic, the undead, light, dark or life.

Basically, the gameplay involves completing quests and vanquishing enemies, although there are plenty of differences between Skylanders titles, so let's have a quick look at them in turn.45

The Various Titles in the Skylanders Series

Since 2011, there have been six core Skylanders titles:

• Spyro's Adventure – the start of the saga, Spyro's Adventure appeared in 2011 for PCs, Macs, 3DS, Xbox 360, PS3, Wii and Wii U. It told the story of Spyro's quest to meet his friends, building up his allies as he went. At the start, players began with three figurines to place on the portal: Spyro, Trigger Happy, and Gill Grunt, but had the chance to add to their collection further down the line. With 32 characters in total, that's a lot of extra gameplay.

• Skylanders Giants – Giants arrived in 2012 for 3DS, PS3, Wii, Wii U and Xbox 360. This time around, 40 new “Giants” were added to the character set, although characters from the first game could also be used with the portal. It also introduced Battle Mode, a more exciting, arcade-style arena mode.

• Skylanders Swap Force – Released in 2013 for 3DS, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, Wii U, PS4 and Xbox One, Swap Force introduced new characters who could “swap” their tops and bottoms, adding another element to the gameplay. It also introduced a new Portal of Power to allow swappable characters to function, so bear that in mind if you are purchasing a copy. There are only Swap Force starter packs – no update packs. It's worth the extra expense if you are a fan. With plenty of new capabilities (and 256 different character variations), Swap Force vastly extended the scope of Skylanders' gameplay.

• Skylanders: Trap Team – Trap Team arrived in 2014 for 3Ds, PS3, PS4, Wii, Wii U, Xbox 360 and Xbox One, as well as various mobile operating systems (including Amazon Fire OS). This time, a group of characters known as “Trap Masters” was introduced, with the goal of trapping characters released by Spyro's nemesis, Kaos, before returning them to Cloudcracker Prison. With 18 new Trap Masters and 18 new core characters as well as 40 charismatic villains to catch, Trap Team was another worthy installment in the Skylanders saga.

• Skylanders: Superchargers – Released in 2015 for PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Wii U, Wii, 3DS and iOS added vehicles to the mix. Partly because of this, the developers also added a new title for Wii and 3DS users called Superchargers: Racing. This time, a new portal was required owing to the size of the vehicle toys, and most of the gameplay involved various driving tasks, resulting in a completely new Skylanders experience.

• Skylanders: Imaginators – The 2016 instalment in the Skylanders series was released for PS3, PS4, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One and, for the first time, Nintendo Switch (but no mobile versions were planned). As usual, Imaginators took the Skylanders universe one step forward. For the first time ever, players could create their own characters (called “Imaginators”). The storyline sees players putting their Imaginators into battle against Kaos' Doomlanders, but the nuts and bolts of the gameplay are familiar: platforming, fighting and puzzle solving. Extra features allow players to share their Imaginators with friends, use old characters in the Skylanders saga and play as Senseis – a collection of 31 new figurines.

Skylanders Imaginators Official Trailer

What About Skylanders Mobile Spin-Offs?

Alongside these core games, Skylanders has also appeared in a number of other versions that fans will want to get hold of.

• Skylanders: Cloud Patrol – Released as an iOS and Android app in 2012, Cloud Patrol sees players taking control of a “gunship” in the skies above the Skylanders, seeking to zap trolls. It's a fun arcade shoot 'em up that is great fun for a few minutes on the bus.

• Skylanders: Battlegrounds - Another app for iOS and Android devices, Battlegrounds arrived in October 2012. Instead of coming as a download only, Battlegrounds was sold as a starter pack with stickers and figurines as well as its own iOS compatible Portal of Power. A battle oriented title, the game saw players seeking to destroy four of Kaos' most formidable warlords: Arbor Eater, Mega Chompulon, Chompy Mage, and King Brock.

• Skylanders: Lost Islands – Released for iOS and Android devices in 2012 and 2013, Lost Islands is a free download and requires no starter pack. It's a quirky town building title where players seek to create a new home for the Mabu people, who had been evicted from their homeland by Kaos.

• Skylanders: Collection Vault – Not exactly an extra Skylanders game, the Collection Vault was an app that was released for iOS and Android devices in 2013 and enabled gamers to send their collection of Skylanders into battle against their friends. Unfortunately, it's no longer supported by Activision though.

• Skylanders: Superchargers Racing – As mentioned above, Superchargers Racing arrived at the same time as Superchargers. Released in 2015, it allows 3DS owners to compete with their friends and even to race as Bowser in his Clown Cruiser vehicle.

• Skylanders: Battlecast – Battlecast is something very different. This time, Activision released what they called a “cards to game” title. Players need to collect battle cards and then use their mobile phones to scan them into the game, while there are also cards relating to extra spells, weapons, and health. It's an innovative blend of card collecting games and on-screen action. However, act fast if you want to try it, as Activision say that they are discontinuing Battlecast in September 2017 (although it might return in some form at a later date).

Ways to Buy the Most Recent Versions of Skylanders

If you want to buy Skylanders: Imaginators or Trap Team, what is the best way to go about doing so?

If you haven't got one already, you're going to need to purchase a Starter Pack. This provides you with the Portal of Power, a set of figurines and the game itself. For Imaginators, expect to spend from £40 to £60 – and be sure to hunt through the HotUKDeals listings for reductions.

If you already have a portal, you could go for the Portal Owners Pack. This includes the game and little else. It allows you to play on new titles with older characters and costs significantly less than buying a completely new portal pack. However, there's a trade off. Imaginators requires a new portal to accommodate newer characters, and these won't be available if you buy the Portal Owners Pack.

Imaginators also comes in the following box sets:

• Standard Edition – Includes the game, the portal, one creation crystal, two sensei characters, a poster of the characters on offer and a sticker sheet.

• Dark Edition – Includes three dark sensei characters, as well as the game, portal, a Dark Edition poster and three crystals.

• Crash Edition – A special edition which features Crash Bandicoot as a bonus character.

The Standard Edition will be ideal for most players, although the Dark Edition adds extra flexibility and features thanks to the inclusion of an extra character and two extra crystals.

Should I Buy Figures Separately?

What about buying figurines separately? Every time a new Skylanders title is released, Activision make sure that a few core characters or vehicles are included in the Starter Pack, but that plenty of others have to be purchased separately. At around £15 for packs like the Champions Combo pack, you can end up spending quite a lot to top up your collection.

Importantly, you don't need extra characters to enjoy the game. Sure, they're nice for completists and passionate fans, but Imaginators is still great fun if you stick to the character creator tool.

If you are totally new to the Skylanders franchise, it might also be a good idea to look back to earlier titles first. Not only will you get a good idea of the storyline and some of the major characters, you can also pick up complete Trap Team character sets for very little from eBay or Amazon sellers. It's much cheaper than buying the latest title and all of its add-ons.

What's the Deal with Creation Crystals?

It's not all about starter packs and figurines either. Activision also offer what are called Creation Crystals for players to use. These look a little like egg timers and plug into the Portal of Power. Only available for use with the Imaginators title, Creation Crystals allow you to enhance the abilities of certain characters and to save your characters so that they can be played any time, any place (as long as a suitable console is around).

Something to remember about Creation Crystals is that they are intended to be permanent. When you've installed a character on them, you aren't supposed to be able to remove them and start again. So, while they add handy features and allow you to take your Imaginators on the road, they aren't necessarily great value for money. By all means get hold of a few, but don't go overboard.

Skylanders Academy: Skylanders now on Netflix!

Skylanders is now on screen! Two seasons of Skylander Academy produced by Activision Blizzard Studio are now available to stream on Netflix. This action comedy follows the adventures of Skylanders characters Spyro, Eruptor, Stealth Elf, Jet-Vac, and Pop Fizz as they protect the Skylanders universe from villains and keep peace in their homeland. Season one unfolds around the Skylanders Academy as Master Eon recruits new warriors and train them to protect Skylands from Kaos and Doom Raiders. Season two continues with the characters' quests for their identities and pasts while the re-rise of Kaos makes them reunite against the evil power once again. If you are already a fan of the Skylanders video game, this animated series will get you hooked instantly.

Tips on Making a Skylanders Purchase at the Best Price

Buying Skylanders products can become an expensive exercise. With various games available, along with cards, characters and crystals, it's easy to find yourself spending more than you bargained for. So before you start shopping, work out a budget and decide which products to prioritise. It may be that you'll have to leave a few characters (or even the whole Imaginators title) for another day.

The best way to do so is to visit the Skylanders website, where you'll find full details about all of the products on offer. You should also be able to find details about where to buy the game in your area, which may well come in handy.

At the HotUKDeals listing you'll find the latest Skylanders instalment available at huge discounts from retailers like Smyths, Tesco, Argos and Currys – as well as plenty of lesser known online sellers. Shop around. You may find bundle deals featuring characters and the Starter Pack.

If you are intending to give Battlecast a try, hurry as the game is scheduled to end in September 2017. As the date arrives, expect battle cards to plummet in price, making it cheaper than ever to lock your Skylanders characters in combat.

In general, pick a good time to shop as well. Skylanders Starter Packs (and games consoles to play them on) are almost always heavily discounted on Black Friday in November. If you can, delay your purchase until then and you're sure to get a better deal.

Enter the Skylanders Universe for Less With HotUKDeals

With a huge cast of characters and an endless series of quests and puzzles to complete, Skylanders is one of the most enjoyable gaming experiences out there. Whether you want to start from the beginning with Spyro's Adventure or go all-in with an Imaginators purchase, you'll find every Skylanders product available for less at HotUKDeals.