AI Pictionary and a ‘robo-dog’ make UK shops’ hottest Christmas toy lists

Retailers hope new version of top-selling board game plus Dog-E will help fuel festive sales recovery

A new version of Pictionary that pits artist against artificial intelligence and a pet robo-dog" with a wagging tail are among the toys destined to appear on Christmas lists this year as retailers pray for better sales during the key festive trading period.

With the cost of living crisis looming large over another year's celebrations, the Toy Retailers Association's annual DreamToys list of the 20 hottest" gifts includes a dozen that are under 50. Among them is Pictionary vs AI (24), a new version of the classic board game that pitches (terrible) human sketches against the might of AI processing power.