20 terrific toys from the ‘90s that will make you feel nostalgic

The Bop was one of those rare toys whose marketing lived up to the hype of the game. The commercials were excellent, and the toy was a total blast to play with, and that was for all ages.

Polly Pockets first came out in the ‘80s, but when their maker was acquired by Hasbro, they got a rerelease and eventually a bigger size. Polly could still fit inside a pocket, but she was much easier to keep track of. It’s much easier to play with a toy if you know where it’s at. 

Just before the millennium, Groovy Girls debuted on the toy scene. These dolls were indeed groovy, and they were plush as opposed to their mostly plastic counterparts. They were darling and fun to play with. 

Beanie Babies have had such a large cultural impact that it’s hard to believe they didn’t exist before the 1990s. And just heard into their existence, they released one of the most iconic pieces of memorabilia of all time: the Princess Diana Beanie Baby. If you had a dollar for everyone who thought they’d retire from selling that toy, you might actually be able to retire. 

A lesson to all business owners: If you have a successful product, release the exact same thing, but only smaller. Teenie Beanies have never been quite as popular as Beanie Babies, but they made a splash in the ‘90s toy scene. 

Was Tickle Me Elmo a creepy idea for a toy from the jump, or are those who were young enough to play with it when it was released just now realizing that it was weird? Either way, bizarre concept. But kudos to all those who profited. Every kid wanted one, and almost all of them had one.

The digital era has brought so many wonderful items onto the market, but we needed toys like Tamagotchis to get us there. These funny little virtual pets were all the rage in the ‘90s, teaching kids everywhere that you can’t neglect your pet just because it lives inside a computer. 

If you weren’t caring for a Tamagotchi in the ‘90s, you were probably caring for a Furby. These funny little creatures talked, slept, and even had babies. Kids with good parents who grew up in the ‘90s owe the start of their parental instincts to this super-popular toy. 

It would’ve been a major misstep if Pixar had neglected to turn its animated toys into real toys. Buzz Lightyear was just about as successful in real life as he was in Toy Story, further proving how brilliant that film still is. 

Not all toys were meant to be played with inside. The Super Soaker was an outside toy, and anyone who used it indoors was almost certainly punished. The invention of this toy transformed water fights. 

Betty Spaghetty deserved to last longer than she did. This trendy doll was made out of “spaghetti” and came in an assortment of colors. She had cute clothes and looked like the coolest girl you knew in the ‘90s. An iconic toy. 

Toys made for little boys are often dangerous. In the ‘90s, toy makers decided to flip the narrative and give girls something that could take an eye out. That invention was Sky Dancers, a doll that spun out of its base at ridiculous speeds to, well, dance? The purpose of this toy is unclear. 

The Easy-Bake Oven is another toy that existed before the ‘90s, but thanks to a rerelease, it resurged in popularity. Everyone who used this toy can remember exactly what their favorite Easy-Bake delicacy tasted like. What a fabulous invention. 

Another toy that became synonymous with ‘90s toys thanks to a rerelease, Baby Alive was the baby doll to snag. Since that doll hit the shelves, baby dolls who don’t eat and use the bathroom haven’t been as exciting. 

We need more toys that are surprise desserts. No, Cupcake Surprise dolls weren’t edible, but they were scented and did resemble cupcakes, which is enough to warrant their name. 

The Hoberman sphere might be the only piece of art ever to be adapted into a toy. After making a massive sculpture, Chuck Hoberman’s work became best associated with the plastic collapsing ball toys that kids everywhere loved to step inside of. 

In retrospect, adults should’ve known that a toy made of magnets with swallow-sized pieces was a bad idea. But alas, everyone had to learn the hard way the danger of Magnetix.

If toymakers want to market a product that doesn’t yet exist, they need to include it in a highly anticipated sequel. That tactic worked for Talkboy. After being featured in Home Alone 2, the toy hit the shelves, and kids everywhere were able to more accurately act out the plot of the film. 

Toys with a surprise element are almost always a hit. That’s almost entirely why Puppy Surprise was such a successful toy. How many puppies were you getting with your purchase? You didn’t know. It was a surprise. 

Game Boy Color was popular upon its release, but ultimately, the game community rejected it. The concept was fine, but gamers thought a color screen needed to be part of every Game Boy, not just one. They were correct.