The Best Toys of the 80s and 90s: A Trip Down Memory Lane

Most 80s and 90s kids will agree—toys were just better when we were kids! With technology still in its infancy, we didn’t have as many digital distractions, which meant we actually got to play with the toys we had. Nowadays, kids often opt for digital and technological toys such as tablets, drones, and hoverboards, which has led to the decline of toy retailers like Toys-R-Us. Rest in peace.

From Lite-Brite to Care Bears, these toys remain iconic symbols of our childhood. This list will focus on some of the most quintessential “Millennial” toys around.

Note: Although some of the toys on this list existed before or after the 80s/90s, they were most popular during that time and are strong reminders of that era.

Pogo Balls

Pogo Balls were invented in the 1960s but gained popularity when Hasbro began manufacturing them in the 80s and throughout the 90s. Pogo Balls consisted of two large bouncy balls connected by a plastic disc, just wide enough for your feet. If you were like many of us, these toys were a recipe for disaster and resulted in broken ankles, wrists, and other injuries.

However, if you were more coordinated, you probably had a blast bouncing all over the place and maybe even learned a few tricks! Some daring P.E. teachers would even bring Pogo Balls into the classroom, which is still a mystery to us. Did they enjoy watching their young students fall and get injured? Let us know in the comments if you’ve ever gotten hurt on a Pogo Ball!

Speak-and-Spell

The Speak-and-Spell is a timeless classic that will forever hold a special place in our hearts. It was the first electronic device to perfectly mimic the human voice, and it was a tech-savvy gadget at a time when most of us didn’t have many technological toys. With its ability to teach us how to spell, and the fun we had while using it, it’s easy to see why we hold it so dear.

Even today, its technology remains relevant in music production, with many artists using it through a technique known as “circuit bending.” The Speak-and-Spell also made appearances in two of the most iconic movies for Millennials – Toy Story and E.T. Despite its discontinuation in 1992 due to research showing little impact on students’ spelling abilities, this toy will always be remembered as a fun and innovative way to learn.

Teddy Ruxpin

The best-selling toy in 1985 and 1986, Teddy Ruxpin took the country by storm. The animatronic storytime bear even had his own cartoon, The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin. Teddy would play various story cassettes, which quickly made him a top cuddly companion.

The cassettes consisted of several different styles, models, and themes, and his stories often helped many of us fall asleep at night. Yay for parental substitutes! In recent years, Teddy has begun to resurface, finding his place once more in the arms of young children. In fact, my child received his own bedtime song Teddy Ruxpin for his birthday this year!

If you were a Teddy Ruxpin fan, you may be happy to hear the rumor that a new Teddy Ruxpin TV show will be produced in the next few years by the Jim Henson Company.

G.I. Joe

G.I. Joe was one of the most successful toys of its time, and it had the added bonus of its own cartoon show. Created by Sam Weston and first manufactured by Hasbro in the 1960s, G.I. Joe has a long history. Although it wasn’t invented in the 80s or 90s, it still holds a special place in the hearts of many Millennials.

With its diverse range of action figures, the accompanying TV series, and various video game adaptations, G.I. Joe became a leading toy in the 80s. In 2003, it was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame, solidifying its place as a classic toy of our childhood.

POGs

Relive the nostalgia with POGs! This classic game dates back to the “Milk Caps” game of the 1930s, which was based on the Japanese game Menko. The history of POGs is tied to a brand of juice made from passionfruit, orange, and guava in Maui, Hawaii, which created collectible bottle caps used to play the game.

In the 1990s, a math teacher used POGs to teach, sparking its popularity across California and the rest of America. Banks and McDonald’s even got in on the action, handing out POGs to fans. The game is simple: stack the POGs in a tower and throw a “slammer” at the stack. Any POG that lands face up goes to the player who threw the turn.

Some people played for keeps, risking losing all their POGs, but many people simply collected POGs without playing the game, similar to Pokémon cards. If you’re a fan of POGs, don’t miss out on the Indiegogo campaign to create a mobile game version of this classic hit!

Easy-Bake Oven

The Easy-Bake Oven, introduced in 1963 by Kenner Products, is designed to resemble a real oven. Initially, the oven was heated by two incandescent light bulbs, but later models used traditional heating methods.

In 1993, Kenner Products became a part of Hasbro, and with Hasbro’s popularity and advertising, the Easy-Bake Oven became a household staple in the 1990s. Although it was predominantly favored by girls, everyone loved the end results. Using the Easy-Bake Oven was a breeze—simply add water and wait for your perfectly edible cookies, cakes, and brownies.

Cabbage Patch Kids

Cabbage Patch Kids were a line of dolls created by Xavier Roberts. The dolls varied in style, from soft and poseable to porcelain. Over the years, the rights to these dolls have changed hands multiple times, but they are currently under the ownership of Wicked Cool Toys.

One of the most memorable versions was the Snack Time Kid, which could be fed different “foods” and then “eat” them. Unfortunately, this version was recalled in 1997 because it had a tendency to eat girls’ hair. You can now order Cabbage Patch Kids (ones that won’t pose a threat to your hair) along with different outfits from the website.

Tamagotchi

Get ready to take a trip down memory lane with the oh-so-cool Tamagotchi! This virtual pet sensation, invented by Aki Maita and dropped by Bandai in 1996, was the ultimate accessory to keep on your keychain or bookbag.

With this little guy, you could feed, walk, and play games with your virtual pet, but don’t forget to clean up after it and scold it when it misbehaves. To celebrate its 20th anniversary, Bandai has brought back the Tamagotchi in new and improved styles that are available for purchase today.

What Were Your Favorite Toys?

That concludes our list of iconic Millennial toys. If you still don’t see your favorite 90’s toy, leave a comment below!