ÆRTHLINGS, a hybrid of mystery box collectibles and mobile gaming, has landed in stores nationwide following a massive debut at PAX Australia 2025, where fans lined up to hatch, trade, and collect their first figures. Developed by Modern Games in partnership with Melbourne-based Moose Toys, the launch marks the beginning of what’s being called the next big collectible universe.

The ÆRTHLINGS: Genesis Collection is now available at Big W, EB Games, Kmart, and Target stores across Australia. The free companion game is also live on the App Store and Google Play.

Collect. Trade. Play.

At its core, ÆRTHLINGS blends the tactile fun of toy collecting with the interactive excitement of digital gameplay. Each mystery-box figure, known as a FIG, contains an NFC chip that connects directly to the free ÆRTHLINGS mobile game on iOS and Android.

Once scanned, the FIG comes to life in-game, letting players explore the vibrant world of ÆRTH, battle mischievous MOONLINGS, and trade with friends to evolve their collections. Every trade unlocks new characters, rewards, and LINEAGES — a unique feature that strengthens digital collections over time.

“Most collectibles stop at ‘own it, shelve it, forget it,’” said Justin Kifer, CEO of Modern Games. “ÆRTHLINGS flips the entire collecting mentality on its head, rewarding players for sharing their collections and growing trade LINEAGES — an innovation the collecting community has never seen before. It’s about turning collections into real-life connections.”

Trading Reimagined

The heart of ÆRTHLINGS lies in its Trading Platform, a feature that turns every physical exchange into something more. When two players trade their NFC-enabled figures, both unlock new digital content — while keeping their originals.

Each scan extends a digital LINEAGE, rewarding everyone involved in the chain of trades. It’s a social economy built on curiosity, sharing, and community — a fresh take on the “toys-to-life” concept that defined an earlier generation.

Fans can get in on the action early with special ÆRTHLINGS Trading Events at ToyMate stores across Australia on Saturday, November 1st, from 11am–2pm.

From Australia to the World

The ÆRTHLINGS: Genesis Collection is now available at Big W, EB Games, Kmart, and Target stores across Australia. The free companion game is also live on the App Store and Google Play.

Following the success of its Australian launch, the brand will expand globally in 2026, with new biomes, waves, and mysteries waiting to hatch.

With its rallying cry — “Collect. Trade. Play.” — ÆRTHLINGS is already being hailed as the first truly social collectible game of its kind, bridging the gap between physical play and digital connection.