Dora Star Explorer Launches on Nex Playground, Bringing the First Microphone-Enabled Adventure to the Active Play System

Young Explorers Move, Speak and Adventure Alongside Dora to Restore Fallen Stars to the Sky

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nex, maker of Nex Playground, the active play system that gets families moving together, today launched Dora Star Explorer, an immersive motion and voice-based adventure that brings the world of everyone’s favorite explorer, Dora, to life for families with young kids. Built exclusively for Nex Playground, the game invites young players to move, speak and explore alongside Dora, across vibrant, story-driven environments inspired by the beloved characters and adventures from Nickelodeon’s iconic animated franchise.

In Dora Star Explorer, the stars have fallen from the night sky and players are invited to embark on a journey to help restore them. Guided by Map, players set off on a cooperative adventure across five colorful destinations, collecting fallen star pieces along the way. Once every star has been recovered, players return them to the sky to rebuild the constellations and complete their quest with Dora. Along the way, players will encounter more of their favorite characters, like Backpack, Isa, Tickle Fish, Boots and even Swiper!

"With Dora Star Explorer, we're expanding our interactive elements beyond body movement to now include voice as well," said David Lee, CEO and Co-Founder of Nex. "Preschoolers are natural explorers. They want to move, talk, shout and join in. Bringing voice into the experience, alongside motion, lets us create the kind of cooperative, story-driven play that feels engaging and fun at this age, and there's no better partner than Dora to lead the way."

Gameplay unfolds through a series of fast-paced, replayable mini games designed to keep every adventure feeling fresh. Key gameplay elements include:

• Motion + Voice Adventures: Chomp, shout, call, wiggle, clap and flap your arms to trigger fun on-screen actions across each environment.
• Five Vibrant Destinations: Explore Guava Geyser, Rainbow Reef, Windy Woods, and Isa's Garden and Caves, each with unique mini games featuring familiar friends like Chompy, Rosettes, and more.
• Cooperative Family Play: Choose between a single-player adventure or a two-player cooperative mode, perfect for siblings and parents to join in.
• Built-In Replayability: Replay adventures across different levels with randomized mini games at every location, so no two journeys feel the same.

Privacy and safety remain at the heart of the experience. Parents can disable microphone functionality at any time from the mode selection screen. When the microphone is turned off, players can simply use the remote to navigate between locations in story mode. The microphone activates only when needed, with clear on-screen indicators letting players know when it's their turn to speak.

Players can join the adventure exclusively on Nex Playground through Play Pass, Nex Playground’s content subscription. Play Pass is sold separately and can be added at any time. To learn more, visit nexplayground.com.

About Nex

Nex is on a mission to connect families and friends through active play. Created by parents for parents, Nex combines technology and play to deliver fun, social, and interactive experiences powered by natural body motion. Its award-winning active play system, Nex Playground, is the only controller-free console built specifically for kids and families with safety and privacy at the core of its design. Nex Playground is kidSAFE+ COPPA compliant and a member of the Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) in the U.S. In the U.K., Nex Playground aligns with GDPR requirements, earning PEGI 3 age ratings on the included starter bundle. Motion-tracking data and processing stay local to the device, and every system includes a built-in camera cover.

Nex Playground with Play Pass features a growing library of 60+ active games, from sports to dance, fitness and educational experiences, including Nex Originals and collaborations with partners such as Paramount, Hasbro, Sesame Workshop, and NBCUniversal. Nex has been recognized by Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies, TIME’s Best Inventions, and Parents’ Best Entertainment System for Families, and has earned Red Dot, IDEA, and Core77 international design awards.

Nex Playground is available at Amazon, Best Buy®, Target®, Walmart®, and Sam’s Club® online and select retail stores in the U.S. and Canada, and will be available in the U.K. and Republic of Ireland later this summer. To learn more, visit nex.inc or follow the company on Instagram and Facebook.