MAGNA-TILES

Magna-Tiles Rail Racers Deluxe 90-Piece Set: Honest Review and Best Deal

The Magna-Tiles Rail Racers Deluxe is the first set from Magna-Tiles that adds actual tracks to the magnetic building system. 90 pieces total, including 6 patent-pending track rails that let kids build ramps, bridges, and racetracks. Ages 3 and up, though kids closer to 4 or 5 will get more out of it. You get 90 magnetic pieces: the standard colorful squares and triangles you would expect from Magna-Tiles, plus the new track rails that snap onto the tiles magnetically. There are also 2 balls included for rolling down the tracks. The rails are clear plastic with a slight curve channel so the ball actually stays on track most of the time. The piece count breaks down to 48 standard square tiles, 4 large triangles, 4 small triangles, 6 yellow triangles, 10 micro MAGS (the smaller connector tiles), 6 track rail pieces, 2 ramp pieces, and 2 balls. Enough to build a decent sized track setup without buying add-ons right away. The idea is pretty simple. Kids build towers and structures with the magnetic tiles like they normally would, then connect the track rails between them so balls can roll from one structure to another. It is basically a marble run that you design yourself, but with magnets instead of fixed connectors. The good part is that it forces kids to think about height, angles, and gravity without anyone teaching them. The less good part is that some parents mention the tracks can be tricky to position right. The magnetic connection is strong, but the rails need to sit at the right angle or the ball either will not roll or flies off. Younger kids will need help with that. By age 5 or 6, most kids figure it out. This is the original Magna-Tiles brand, not one of the cheaper knockoffs. The tiles use modified ABS plastic, free of BPA and phthalates. The company has used the same reinforced lattice design since 1997 and has never had a product recall in over 25 years. The V-Lock edge design keeps tiles from chipping or splitting open, and the nickel-plated rivets hold the magnets in place securely. It isn't cheap, but Magna-Tiles holds its resale value better than almost any other toy brand, and most families use them for years across multiple kids. Officially it is 3 and up. Realistically, a 3-year-old will play with the tiles and mostly ignore the track rails. By 4, they will start attempting tracks with help. By 5-6, they are building on their own. It is one of those toys where the play changes as the kid grows instead of getting boring.