What Mistakes Do Parents Make When Buying Indoor Target Games for Kids?
Indoor target games for kids are low-power shooting or throwing toys — foam dart targets, suction-cup games, floating-ball targets — designed to be played safely inside the house. The biggest mistake is buying an outdoor-power blaster for indoor play — the second biggest is skipping the setup rules, which is how lamps die. Buy a low-power target set designed for indoors, clear a six-foot lane with a soft backstop, and set the "no faces, no pets" rule before the first shot.
Indoor target games are the perfect rainy-day toy on paper: active, competitive, screen-free. In practice, they're also how a foam dart ends up behind the radiator and a floor lamp ends up in two pieces. Every one of these mistakes is avoidable if you know what to look for before you buy.
Mistake #1: Buying an outdoor-power blaster for indoor play
High-velocity blasters built for backyard wars shoot 60–90 feet. Indoors, that means darts ricocheting off walls and a "target game" that becomes a "find the dart" game. For indoor play, you want a low-power foam dart blaster bundled with its own targets — the kind where the whole system is designed around a living room, not a field. Floating-ball sets like the hover target game ($29.99, ages 6+) are built exactly for this: soft foam darts, lightweight foam balls, short range.
Mistake #2: Ignoring how the targets reset
This is the mistake that kills the fun by day three. Static bullseye boards need someone to walk over and re-stick or re-hang targets after every round — that someone is you. The three reset styles, ranked by how long kids actually keep playing:
- Floating air targets (fan suspends foam balls mid-air): knock them down, put them back on the airflow, done. Continuous play.
- Digital auto-scoring targets: electronic scoring with auto-reset, fun at first, but reviews note sensors can be finicky — one popular auto-scoring target has 4,400+ reviews at 4.3 stars with durability complaints.
- Static boards: cheapest, but the reset chore falls on a parent.
If you want the game to run itself while you drink coffee, floating or auto-scoring wins.
Mistake #3: Skipping the "furniture zone" setup
The game isn't the problem — the room is. Before the first shot: clear a six-foot lane, move anything breakable off the side tables in the line of fire, and put a soft backstop (a couch cushion, a folded blanket) behind the targets. Darts will miss. Plan for it. This five-minute setup is the difference between "best rainy-day purchase ever" and "we're banned from target games."
Mistake #4: Buying darts that don't match the blaster
Foam darts are not universal. Off-brand refill darts that are a millimeter too thick jam; too thin and they tumble out of the barrel. Buy refills matched to the blaster that came in the box, and keep them in one bin — the number one cause of indoor target game abandonment is "we can't find the darts." A mesh bag by the target station solves it.
Mistake #5: Setting no house rules before the first shot
Kids don't need a lecture; they need three rules, stated once: no aiming at faces or pets, darts stay in the lane, and whoever knocks down all five targets gets to set them back up. Write them on a sticky note on the target base. The re-setup rule is the secret — it makes resetting part of the game instead of a chore.
Four verified indoor target options compared
| Option | How it works | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hover target shooting game — $29.99, ages 6+ | Electric base floats 5 foam balls; foam dart blaster included | Complete kit in one box; soft foam everything; instant visible hits keep kids engaged | Needs a flat surface for the base; USB/battery powered |
| PulseTV Hover Shot | Same floating-ball concept, 5 balls, battery unit | Adjustable airflow for difficulty; well-known version of the concept | Price varies by retailer; blaster range is modest |
| Floating Target by Driftecom | USB-powered air base, 5 adapters, airflow knobs | 4.85/5 from 232 reviews; explicit indoor-safety FAQ | Lesser-known store; shipping 4–6 business days US |
| NERF Bullseye Value Target at Target | Static bullseye board for blaster practice | Official Nerf brand; cheap entry point | Static = manual reset; mixed reviews on sturdiness |
My pick for most families: a floating-ball kit. The visible "knock the ball out of the air" moment is the whole game, the reset takes five seconds, and everything in the box is foam — which is exactly what Mistake #1 is about avoiding.
Frequently Asked Questions
What age is right for an indoor target game? Most floating and electronic targets are designed for ages 6+ (small parts; adult supervision recommended). Under 6, stick to soft toss games.
Are foam darts really safe indoors? Soft foam darts from a low-power blaster are made for indoor play — but "no faces, no pets" is still the rule, and younger kids need supervision.
How do I stop darts from disappearing? One mesh bag at the target station, and a "game's over when the darts are put away" rule. It works better than you'd think.
Do floating targets need batteries? Most use USB power or batteries — check the listing before buying so you're not hunting for a cable on Christmas morning.