For information about Coder Kids classes and camps, including online coding and gaming topics, visit register.coderkids.com/onlineclasses.

If your kids like robots they can control and code, then you'll want to get them a Kamigami Robot. We got our hands on the Kamigami Scarrax Robot and we were blown away by how easy it was to build and how fun it was to code and control. For under $20, the Kamigami Robots are a no-brainer pick for kids who love robots and coding.

For kids who love Legos, then the Kamigami Robot bugs are an ideal gift. These build-it-yourself robots come with easy instructions and the robots can be controlled by any device that can download apps from the Apple or Google Play app store. The free Kamigami Robot app allows you to build, connect and control your robot. It also has a coding mode where you can program the robot's actions, sounds, and light colors. Keep reading for an in-depth review of the Kamigami Robot!

Building the Kamigami Robot

When my son and I opened the box to the Kamigami Scarrax Robot, we found a sleek design, well-designed body parts and a large robot body that resembled a large Hex Bug. To build the robot, we needed to download the free app and connect the bug. This was easy and seamless.

The instructions to build the chassie and bug body were easy to follow. The app walks through the build with step by step instructions similar to building a complex Legos set. There are even videos to help understand how to connect certain parts. I thought I would need to help my seven-year-old son, but he's a Legos pro, so this was easy to follow. The only thing he needed help with was pushing in some of the more tricky brads.

First, we built the chassie. This is the mechanism that allows the robot to move. The parts were made of a durable plastic that we punched out and attached. Everything on the robot and all the parts were well labeled, so we were never confused about what we needed to do or how to do it.

Then we built the body of the scorpion bug. While this was easy and fun, the plastic for this seemed a bit flimsy. So if you don't like the design, you could stop at this point and just have a really cool, maneuverable Hex Bug-like robot. My son loved the scorpion design, so we were all in and it was easy to put together. Note: the brads are very secure. So make sure you have everything in the right spot before securing it with a brad.

Overall, the robot took just over an hour to construct. This was a perfect amount of time because my son remained engaged and it felt like a big project once he completed it---even though the construction was fairly simple.

Controlling and Coding the Kamigami Robot

Once we were done building the robot, we were ready to play. The Kamigami robots come with five different modes of play and control.

Run Mode

In Run mode, you can move the robot with the remote controls freely. The controls are easy to use and it also has a robot battery monitor, so that you know when your robot needs to be recharged. The robot moves very fast, so you'll want to do this in a big room. The robot could easily transition from carpet to hardwood. And on the app, it says the Scarrax robot can run 115 ft in 1 minute. I believe it. We were really surprised how fast it moved.

Dance Mode

Similar to Run mode, Dance mode allows the robot to get down with its bad self. It has three preset control buttons that can move the robot in a figure-eight, a square or a full disco dance with music. The remote control panel is also visible, so you can run the robot around and then make it dance. My son thought the dancing was hilarious. The figure-eight button also moves the robot in a fairly large area so make sure your robot has room to do his thang.

Tag Mode

You will need a second robot for Tag Mode. This is where you can play against another robot in a game of Tag. Robots can chase each other around and fire laser signals at each other to signify who is it. My son was soo excited when he saw this mode and he wanted a second robot so he could play against his friends. He immediately put a Kamigami robot on is Christmas wishlist. (We got him a second robot for Christmas. We picked out the beetle).

Battle Mode

You will need a second robot for Battle mode. In Battle mode, players face off as battle bots. The battle bots shoot infrared lasers from their mouths at the other robots. The app keeps track of each robot's health and you can bolster your shield by taking an immobility penalty for a few seconds. My son began begging for a second robot when he saw this mode. Definitely cool.

Code Mode

In Code mode, you can code your robot's motion, lights, and sounds. These can be coded interchangeably so that your robot can turn, run forward, change colors and play music or fire the laser gun. This made for endless possibilities and challenges. And the coding controls are drag and drop similar to scratch but simpler. Then after you make a long chain of code commands, you press a run button to execute the code.

Motion

The robot comes with six different motion codes. Although we mostly stuck to forward, backward, turn left and turn right. The turning isn't completely accurate so sometimes the robot would turn more than 90 degrees. This made coding a bit challenging when we set up obstacles courses to program the robot through. But this also challenged my son to problem-solve based on the robot's variability.

Light

The robot comes with six different light color settings including no light. But my son never used the no light option. He loved changing the robot's light color every couple of motions.

Sound

The robot can be programmed to make 4 different sounds in conjunction with motion and light. The four sounds are dance music, laser gun, whistle, and bell. The laser gun, of course, was my son's favorite. But it was fun to run the dance music and then program a dance for the bug too.

Why We Love Kamigami Robots

Here are the main takeaways from our Kamigami Robot reivew!

The Kamigami Robot is easy to assemble and control.

My son never got confused or angry while building the robot and he’s seven—-this is huge. And controlling the robot is very easy, making it fun to play.

The game modes are super cool.

With so many different game modes, this robot offers a variety of gameplay. And my son can't wait to get another robot so he can play the battle and tag game modes.

The coding feature made for some awesome STEM challenges.

This is the coolest feature purely for all the different ways we could challenge our son to code. We set up obstacle courses he would have to code his robot through. We set up targets that the robot would have to navigate to and shoot. We set up races around the room that he would have to code the robot to run. Lots of ways to challenge your child on thinking through how to program and code their robot. Love it!

And best of all, you can't beat the price.

For under twenty dollars you get to build, control and code your own robot. Super cool. Although I would definitely recommend buying two robots just so you can enjoy the Battle and Tag modes.

This would make a great gift for any kid who loves to build with Legos, play with remote control toys and create their own code. Seriously, Kamigami robots are great toys.

You can buy Kamigami Robots on Amazon now.