PlayMonster is a manufacturer and marketer of family entertainment products that specializes in games, children's puzzles, toys, activities, and teaching tools. As of February 2016, Patch changed its company name to PlayMonster.
History
Brothers Fran and Bryce Patch opened a commercial printing company in 1971, producing games and related items for other companies. They printed Trivial Pursuit game boards and Cabbage Patch Kids sticker books, among other products. In 1985, the brothers began their own toy and game company: Patch Products. The company started a line of PuzzlePatch tray puzzles for preschoolers, which are still in production; the company produced its 100 millionth puzzle in 2008. The American Toy Institute, Great American Toy Contest, National Association for Gifted Children, Nick Jr. magazine and Toy Tips have recognized the puzzles for helping educate children. In 1992, the company obtained the license for TriBond, its first board game, which was inducted into Games Magazine's Hall of Fame. Patch followed the success of TriBond with two other board games, Blurt! and MadGab. The company sold the brand rights to these games to Mattel in 2004. In 2008, Patch Products acquired Smethport Specialty Co., the maker of Lauri Toys and specialty products, adding educational items to Patch's lineup, including Tall-Stacker pegging and crepe rubber puzzles, along with the Wooly Willy magnetic personality. In 2012, Patch Products was honored with a Wisconsin Family Business of the Year Award. The Work Hard—Play Hard Award was given to Patch to recognize the company's emphasis on family fun to promote togetherness. In 2013, Patch Products, with became the distributor of the Perplexus 3D maze game to independent toy and gift stores. It also became the new manufacturer and distributor of the well-known The Game of Things... Patch debuted its new collectible soft doll line Planet Sock Monkey which adds attitude and style to the classic sock monkey: each doll features a its own name, personality, and clothing and accessories. In February 2016, Patch Products changed its name to PlayMonster. In April 2019, PlayMonster acquired Set Enterprises. In November 2019, PlayMonster acquired Kahootz Toys.
Award-winning games
PlayMonster has won awards from Oppenheim Toy Portfolio, Dr. Toy, The National Parenting Center, iParenting Media Awards, Parents' Choice, and Toy Tips. Award-winning games include: What's Yours Like?,5 Second Rule,Buzzword,Know It or Blow It,Malarky,Don't Rock the Boat,Big Little Games Flingin' Frogs,Toss Up!,Swap!,Roll-It Tic-Tac-Toe,Giant Spoons,100 Wacky Things,Word Shout,Farkle Frenzy, andTales to Play
''Million Minute Family Challenge''
From September through December every year, PlayMonster sponsors the Million Minute Family Challenge, a grass-roots effort to promote interaction and communication among family and friends through playing board games. The goal is to encourage at least one thousand families, groups, or organizations in each of the fifty states to play a board game together for twenty minutes, or a cumulative million minutes.
