Hasbro this week introduced a high-tech version of party game Twister—replacing the spotted mat and colorful spinner with wearables and an augmented reality app.
The basics still apply: Right hand yellow, left leg blue. But instead of being forced to make awkward physical contact and ending up in a heap of drunken adults on the floor, players move to music and earn points by matching wrist and ankle bands to on-screen colored spots.
Available now for pre-order, Twister Air comes with a device stand and eight one-size-fits-most bands for movement detection. Users must download a free Android or iOS companion app and calibrate the bracelets with a phone or tablet camera. Then, when the music starts, players—solo, versus, or in teams—wave their hands in the air like they really care about scoring points.
"For over 55 years, Twister has been a household name thanks to the iconic polka-dotted mat that puts you, family, and friends in unusual positions and hysterical situations," Adam Biehl, SVP and general manager of Hasbro Gaming, said in a statement.
Unlike "the game that ties you up in knots," Twister Air combines limb-tracking and color-recognition technology and a library of more than 16 songs with "the magic of AR."
"This new version of Twister will implement augmented reality technology to bring classic Twister gameplay that originated in the 1960s to modern-day," according to Biehl, "and will surely give players of all ages an exciting new, music-inspired experience to make memories from."
To celebrate the game's launch, Hasbro also released the original song "Twist in the Air," a pop-dance track available to play in-game or stream on Apple Music, Spotify, and TikTok.
Twister Air will hit most retail stores on Aug. 1 with a $20 price tag.
