Skylanders is a toys-to-life video game series published by Activision. Games in the series are played by placing character figures called the Skylanders on the "Portal of Power", a device that reads the figures' tags through NFC and "imports" the character represented by the figure into the game as a playable character. Each Skylander has its own Element, and certain zones power up the attacks of Skylanders that belong to one of these ten Elements: Magic, Water, Tech, Life, Fire, Earth, Air, Undead were the first eight introduced, and the release of Skylanders: Trap Team would introduce the Elements of Light and Dark.
A few of the Skylanders available for play include Spyro the Dragon and Cynder, both of which were previously included in The Legend of Spyro series. Skylanders is otherwise unrelated to the series.
The game currently has six main installments:
- Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure - The first Skylanders game
- Skylanders: Giants - Introduces the Giants, incredibly large Skylanders that can perform incredible feats of strength that normal Skylanders cannot - ex. lifting and throwing boulders, pulling islands to them from out of reach with large chains.
- Skylanders: SWAP Force - The most critically acclaimed game in the series to date, this game introduces the SWAP Force, special Skylanders that can swap their top and bottom halves in game, thanks to magnetically-connected toys. When a combination is made, it utilizes two powers from the Skylander the top half belongs to, and one from the Skylander the bottom half belongs to. Also added a jumping mechanic.
- Skylanders: Trap Team - This game lets players, using Traptanium Crystals, trap a selection of specific villains that can be encountered in story mode and battled. The villains can then fight on your side. Also introduces Trap Masters, special Skylanders who wield Traptanium weapons that deal more damage against trappable villains, enter Traptanium Gates, and can shatter Traptanium obstacles. Also introduces the Light and Dark elements.
- Skylanders: SuperChargers - Introduces the SuperChargers, special Skylanders that own signature vehicles, each with a specific terrain (land, sky, and sea) If a SuperCharger is paired with their signature vehicle (although they can pilot other ones, too; any Skylander from any game can pilot a vehicle), it will get a stat boost when used in-game. Also introduces a racing sub-game.
- Skylanders: Imaginators - With the power of Imaginite Creation Crystals (each with a specific Element), players can create their own playable Imaginator character by choosing a battle class (eg. Knight, Bowslinger, Brawler, Sorcerer, Smasher; note, these classes are permanently locked, but a glitch in the first two games' different handheld versions, resets the Crystal completely), and choosing parts that can be unlocked in the game, while a select amount are available from the start. Also introduces Sensei Skylanders, who can perform powerful Sky Chi attacks, bang Battle Gongs, and will unlock a third move option for Imaginators of their respective Battle Class.