There is a particular magic in a summer dusk, when the first fireflies blink awake and children go running after them with cupped hands. The Chasing Fireflies game by Toysmith bottles that feeling — literally — and brings it indoors, any night of the year.
It is a simple idea done well. Hide a handful of softly glowing bugs in a dark room or yard, then let kids hunt them down and scoop them into jars. No screen. No app. Just flashing lights, quick feet, and the thrill of the find. It is the reason this little set won Creative Child Magazine’s 2019 Game of the Year, and why it keeps landing on “best screen-free gift” lists years later.
Here is everything a parent needs before buying.
What Is the Chasing Fireflies Game?
The Chasing Fireflies game — sold in full as Chasing Fireflies: The Game of Shine & Seek — is a glow-in-the-dark twist on classic hide-and-seek, made by the toy company Toysmith. Instead of hiding people, you hide light-up fireflies. Instead of counting to ten, the seekers grab a jar and go.
Some shoppers search for it as the chasing firefly game, the chasing fireflies hide and seek game, or simply the Toysmith chasing fireflies kids game. They are all the same product: a boxed set of blinking plastic bugs and collection jars built for play in the dark.
The pitch is squarely screen-free. In a market crowded with tablets and apps, this is a toy that pulls kids up off the couch and sends them scrambling around the living room in the half-light — coordination, energy, and imagination, all without a battery-powered babysitter. (Well, apart from the batteries in the bugs.)
What’s in the Box
Every set comes ready to play, batteries included. Here is what you get:
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Fireflies | 10 light-up bugs — five blue and five green (some editions also include purple) |
| Firefly size | About 2¾ inches long, translucent plastic with a smiling face |
| Jars | Two 5-inch twist-off jars, styled like classic mason jars |
| Lights | Each firefly gently flashes and has an on/off switch |
| Batteries | 3 AG13 batteries per firefly, included |
| Age range | Ages 3 and up (small parts — choking hazard for under 3) |
The fireflies are the star. Each one glows with a soft, steady flash rather than a harsh light, which makes them easy to spot in the dark but gentle enough not to overwhelm young eyes.
How to Play the Chasing Fireflies Hide-and-Seek Game
The rules take about thirty seconds to learn. That is the whole point.
- Turn on the fireflies. Flip the switch on each bug so it starts flashing.
- Dim the lights. Draw the curtains, wait for dusk, or head into a darker room — the game lives on contrast.
- Hide the bugs. One adult, or an older child, tucks the glowing fireflies around the space while the seekers cover their eyes.
- Let them hunt. Kids grab a jar and search out the blinking lights, twisting off the lid to drop each catch inside.
- Count the catch. The player, or team, with the most fireflies in their jar wins the round.
Because rounds are short, most families play several in a row. Reviewers describe it as a glowing version of an Easter egg hunt, only easier for little ones because the “eggs” light up and announce themselves. You can play cooperatively, split into a blue team and a green team, or simply let toddlers wander and collect at their own pace.
It works indoors on a rainy evening and outdoors on a warm one, which is a big part of the appeal.
Who the Chasing Fireflies Game Is Best For
The sweet spot is roughly ages 3 to 8, though the game is loose enough to stretch in both directions. Two-year-olds tend to “play” by stacking the jars and watching the lights, while older siblings and even grandparents get pulled in to hide the bugs and referee.
One theme comes up again and again in reviews: this toy is a quiet winner for children with sensory sensitivities or autism. The soft, predictable flashing lights are calming rather than jarring, and the catch-the-firefly loop is simple, repeatable, and rewarding. Several parents of nonverbal or newly diagnosed children single it out as a rare toy their kids return to on their own.
For any family trying to carve out screen-free time — a bedtime wind-down, a power-outage rescue, a way to burn off energy before bath — it earns its spot in the toy bin.
Chasing Fireflies Game Reviews: What Parents Actually Say
Across major retailers the set lands at roughly 3.7 out of 5 stars, and the split in those reviews is easy to read.
The praise is warm and consistent. Parents love that it is genuinely screen-free, that toddlers grasp it instantly, and that the fireflies are, in their words, adorable. It shows up repeatedly as a hit birthday and holiday gift, and as one of the few games that keeps a room full of mixed-age kids busy at once.
The criticism is narrow but real, and worth knowing before you buy. Some sets arrive with one or two fireflies that will not light up, and the batteries can be difficult — sometimes impossible — to replace. Out of ten bugs, most buyers report seven to ten working out of the box. If a dead firefly would ruin the moment for your child, buy from a retailer with an easy return or replacement policy.
Where to Buy the Toysmith Chasing Fireflies Game
The game is widely stocked, so you rarely need to hunt for it the way the kids hunt for the bugs. You will typically find it at Amazon, Walmart, Toysmith’s own site, and Fat Brain Toys, along with dozens of independent toy shops.
Price usually falls in the $15 to $20 range, which is part of why it is such a popular impulse gift and stocking stuffer. Because it is a common product, it is worth a quick price check across a couple of stores before you buy the Toysmith Chasing Fireflies game — and, given the battery complaints above, a glance at each seller’s return policy.
Alternatives Worth a Look
If you love the glow-in-the-dark idea but want something for a different age or group size, a few related games hit similar notes:
| Game | Best for | The idea |
|---|---|---|
| Foxtail LED | Ages 6+ | A light-up foam ball with a glowing tail for throw-and-catch after dark |
| Wizards & Werewolves | Ages 8+ | A glowing capture-the-flag hybrid for bigger backyards and older kids |
| Vikings of the Northern Lights | Ages 5+ | Freeze tag meets a glow-in-the-dark treasure hunt |
For the youngest players, though, the Chasing Fireflies game is hard to beat on simplicity. There is nothing to aim, throw, or strategize — just lights to find and jars to fill.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many players can play the chasing firefly game? There is no fixed limit. With two jars and ten fireflies, it works one-on-one, in two teams, or as a free-for-all with a small group taking turns.
What age is the Chasing Fireflies game for? It is recommended for ages 3 and up. Children under 3 should not play, as the small fireflies are a choking hazard.
Do you need batteries? No — each firefly comes with its 3 AG13 batteries already installed. Just switch them on and play. Replacing them later, however, can be tricky.
Can you play indoors? Yes. It is designed for both indoor and outdoor play; you only need a space you can make dark enough for the lights to stand out.
Is it really screen-free? Completely. The only electronics are the tiny lights inside the bugs. There is no app, no screen, and no setup beyond flipping a switch.
The Bottom Line
The Chasing Fireflies game takes one of childhood’s oldest, simplest joys and makes it available on any dark night, indoors or out. It is inexpensive, genuinely screen-free, and forgiving enough for the youngest players while still charming the adults hiding the bugs. Watch for the occasional dead firefly, buy from a seller who will make it right, and you have a toy that turns an ordinary evening into a glowing little hunt — the kind kids ask to play again before the first round is even over.