25 Popular Toys Every Kid Wanted in the 1990s ...Saudi Arabia

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If you grew up in the 1990s, you know it was a pretty special time. Kids who came of age in the '90s had access to some technological advances in the toy industry, sure. But they were also quite content with good old-fashioned toys that didn't require a battery. Imaginations ran wild when kids got their hands on the latest action figures or toy sets, and many of the brands that defined the toy landscape during the decade are still thriving today. As part of our ongoing Parade Rewind series, we consulted two toy experts to take a look back at the 25 popular toys every kid wanted in the 1990s.

We chatted with Bob Friedland, a toy expert who has experience running public relations for both Toys”R”Us and FAO Schwarz, and Blake Changnon, the founder, president and CEO of The Changnon Family Museum of Toys and Collectibles.

Whether you were a '90s baby and want a fun blast from the past, or your own children grew up during the decade and you remember all the hottest toy releases of the time, the list below highlights some of the most iconic 1990s toys that kids were obsessed with.

Related: 15 1980s Toys That Would Be Considered Way Too Dangerous Today

When you think of the '90s, the holiday toy craze instantly comes to mind.

"With TV commercials playing during children’s television, kids wanted what they saw on TV and parents were willing to go to great lengths to get them," Changnon says.

The decade saw the emergence of more digital toys, including Game Boy Color and Tamagotchi, alongside analog toys.

"The 90s were a time where traditional toys still took first place with parents buying American Girl, Barbie and Pokémon cards," Changnon says.

Over the course of the decade, many collectible toys caused quite a stir.

"Collectibles became a bigger industry driver with Beanie Babies, Pogs and Pokémon cards acting as toys for kids and 'investments' for adults," Friedland tells Parade.

Overall, the '90s was a time of "incredible innovation," per Friedland, with many new toys and games invented over the course of the decade, including the Super Soaker, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers action figures and Zords, Beanie Babies, Tamagotchi, Tickle Me Elmo, Bop It, Furby, Pokémon and Razor Scooters.

Related: 25 Popular Toys Every Kid Wanted in the 1960s

25 Popular Toys Every Kid Wanted in the 1980s

1. Tickle Me Elmo

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"Elmo became a top-tier Sesame Street Muppet in the '90s thanks to his high-pitched laugh and primary-colored fur," Friedland tells Parade. "Tyco Toys, the company that had the Sesame Street license in 1996, decided that the attachment kids had to Elmo would translate well to a plush toy with subtle, vibrating animatronics. But they didn’t expect the incredible demand for the first Tickle Me Elmo."

When kids hugged or squeezed Elmo, he laughed hysterically and shook, much to the delight of children.

"Appearances on Good Morning Americaand Oprahcatapulted the toy into everyone’s list. By Christmas, parents were paying multiples of the retail price to get one," he shares.

Related: Where Can You Buy NeeDohs? The CEO Shares Everything To Know About the Viral Collectibles

2. Furby

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"Introduced in the late '90s, this robotic toy with owl-like features was covered in fur and became a massive holiday fad with children wanting one to take care of," Changnon explains. "Furbies could speak their own language known as 'Furbish' and open and close their eyes and mouth."

Each Furby came complete with Furbish-to-English dictionaries to help owners communicate with their new toy.

"They also had sensors that responded to light, sound and touch, so each Furby behaved differently depending on what was happening around it," Friedland adds.

3. Tamagotchi

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This egg-shaped Japanese import arrived in the U.S. in 1997 and caused quite a stir.

"It fit in the palm of your hand and acted as a virtual pet. And much like the real thing, you had to feed it, play with it, clean up after it and make sure it stayed alive," Friedland explains. "Because you had to give Tamagotchi pretty regular attention, it became slightly addictive. While it was very hot for a brief period, kids’ attention went elsewhere, and their Tamagotchis died."

Related: 90 Questions About the '90s You HAVE To Ask Gen Z

4. Beanie Babies

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"Launched by small toy maker Ty Inc. in 1993, these small, bean bag plush toys encouraged collectability due to only being sold in small independent stores and not big retailers like Toys 'R' Us," Changnon says.

There were Beanie Babies for practically every animal imaginable, and they were affordable enough that kids could own a bunch of them.

"When Ty Inc. announced retirements of certain Beanie Babies, it encouraged kids (or more so parents) to look and call everywhere. Soon parents began to think that buying Beanie Babies and selling them later could help them put their kids through college," he shares.

5. Pokémon cards

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After launching in Japan in 1996, Pokémon cards hit the U.S. in 1998 and exploded in popularity in a matter of weeks.

"What made it all work was that there was an anime with a continuous storyline, a Game Boy game that was addicting and a trading card game that mixed collectability and playability," Friedland explains. "All of these hit the U.S. at the same time, offering multiple entry points into the brand."

The main character of the anime series, Ash Ketchum, was also quite popular.

"In a way, children could collect cards from a blind bag, similar to how Pokémon trainer Ash would collect them on the TV show. The Pokémon slogan 'Gotta Catch ‘Em All' encouraged kids to collect and complete their collection," Changnon says.

Related: 25 Popular Toys Every Kid Wanted in the 1970s

6. 'Mighty Morphin Power Rangers' action figures

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Mighty Morphin Power Rangers action figures were another example of a toy that was connected to a popular TV series.

"The brand and toys became a pop culture phenomenon with kids wanting the toys for the holidays. The toys were simple figures with a button on the back that flipped the Ranger’s helmet to its human face," Changnon says.

The Power Rangers TV series, which premiered in 1993, featured five teenagers with the ability to turn into Power Rangers and fly giant "Zords."

"While it felt similar to the '80s approach of a show as a commercial for toys, the show itself was focused more on martial arts, continuous storylines and combining Zords into a Megazord to fight giant monsters," Friedland shares. "The show was an immense hit when it first aired, and the toys were impossible to find because kids wanted to get all five rangers and all five Zords plus the Megazords."

7. 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' toys

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Cue the catchy song in your head.

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon may have premiered in the late '80s, but the characters and their pint-sized Playmates action figures exploded in popularity in the '90s after the first live-action film was released, per Friedland.

"What made the Playmates line work was that they did a great job of creating versions of each turtle that expanded on the base version every year," Friedland states. "Throughout the '90s, they also added new characters and variants tied to the sequels and the animated series, which gave kids constant reasons to buy new turtles, evil mutants, Foot Clan soldiers and my favorite, Baxter Stockman and his 'fly' version."

8. Barbie

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By the time the '90s rolled around, Barbie had already been delighting children for three decades. But the doll's following only continued to grow during the decade.

"Barbie turned 30 in 1989 and spent the '90s evolving in a way that mirrored culture," Friedland shares. "Mattel leaned further into aspiration, introducing lines like Astronaut Barbie, Presidential Candidate Barbie and careers that reflected a changing cultural moment for girls."

Changnon notes that Totally Hair Barbie, which debuted in 1992, went on to become the bestselling Barbie of all time.

"Her hair reached her feet and came with a variety of accessories that children could use to style her," he says.

Related: 15 Vintage Barbies That Are Worth a Fortune Today, According to Doll Collectors

9. Barney

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"I love you. You love me. We're a happy family." We dare you to get this song out of your head now. Kids of the '90s certainly couldn't, and the Barney & Friends TV series won Barney a place in their hearts.

"The purple dinosaur that sang about loving each other was all over the airwaves, and when toys based on the character were released in 1993, they were literally everywhere," Friedland shares. "The toys themselves were relatively unremarkable—they were just plush as far as I remember—but preschoolers couldn’t get enough of them."

10. American Girl of Today

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Every little girl wanted one of the core American Girl dolls in the '90s. Personally, I was a Samantha girl. But the brand also created a cool line of dolls that were originally called American Girl of Today in the '90s. Now, they're sold under the Truly Me line.

"Instead of focusing on history, the line focused on personal identity, allowing children to pick a doll that looked like them," Changnon tells Parade. "The dolls came with blank journals for children to write their own stories. Children could put on outfits resembling those they wore."

Related: We Ranked the 66 Best Movies of the 1990s, From 'Fargo' to 'Forrest Gump'

11. Game Boy Color

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Many classic gamers still have one of these iconic gaming devices in their collection.

"Released in 1998, the Game Boy Color was all that kids wanted because, for the first time, they could play these digital games in color. The Game Boy Color could also play black and white games from its predecessor," Changnon says.

12. Buzz Lightyear

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When the first Toy Storymovie hit theaters in 1995, kids fell for the main characters, Woody and Buzz Lightyear. Naturally, a talking Buzz Lightyear figurine with pop-out wings and a retractable helmet was an instant hit and was hard to find anywhere.

"What's interesting about this is that the major toy manufacturers passed on the Toy Story license because they weren't sure the movie would be a hit, so a smaller company called Thinkway Toys produced the first line in limited quantities," Friedland explains. "Retailers were cautious in their orders and were completely caught off guard by the demand, which meant there was no way to restock in time for Christmas since the movie opened so late in the year. Toy Story 2 actually referenced the shortage directly."

13. Sky Dancers

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For kids who loved dolls but wanted a little extra pizzazz, Sky Dancers were a great option.

"This toy, a static or non-movable doll, was designed to shoot into the air when pulled by a string, and the dancers' foam wings would spin like helicopters. Though a beloved toy, they were recalled due to injuries inflicted on their users," Changnon states.

14. Littlest Pet Shop

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Kids who dreamed of getting a pet of their own had endless hours of fun playing make-believe with Littlest Pet Shop toys.

"Introduced in the market in the early '90s, these particular toys were not cartoonish bobbleheads like their counterparts of the early 2000s," Changnon says. "The '90s toys were more realistic with wagging tails and blinking eyes. The brand encouraged collecting and allowed kids to care for a toy, rather than a real pet."

15. Polly Pocket

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"Though launched in 1989, Polly Pocket exploded in popularity in the '90s because the tiny compact cases allowed for many hours of imaginative play, either by yourself or with a friend," Changnon says. "Because of Polly’s small stature, you could take her and her compact with you anywhere your heart desired."

Over time, the Polly Pocket line expanded to include larger dolls. To this day, the brand is still thriving and includes many fun themed sets based off popular TV series and movies like Clueless, Friends and Bridgerton.

Related: 15 Popular 1970s Toys That Would Be Considered Way Too Dangerous Today

16. Super Soakers

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Friedland says Super Soakers are the perfect example of a toy that came out of science and engineering.

"Similar to how Silly Putty and Slinky weren’t originally designed as toys, the Super Soaker came out of the design for an environmentally friendly heat pump system," he explains. "When NASA engineer Lonnie Johnson combined a high-pressure water gun using a nozzle, PVC pipe and a two-liter bottle, he accidentally created a new type of high-capacity squirt gun. When Super Soakers hit the market, they made every other water gun look sad in comparison."

17. WWF Wrestling Figures

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Many kids were enamored with wrestling in the '90s and eagerly tuned into the sport on TV.

"Larger-than-life figures like Hulk Hogan, Randy 'The Macho Man' Savage and 'The Million Dollar Man,' Ted DiBiase, had rivalries and storylines that extended beyond the ring, offering kids drama that was familiar from morning cartoons," Friedland shares. "Combined with a slightly rubbery and posable action figure line that was different than other toys, Hasbro’s WWF figures became an iconic part of wrestling."

Since there was an ever-changing WWF roster, there were always fresh faces and personalities to transform into action figures.

18. Pogs

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Kids in the '90s were incredibly proud of their Pogs collections.

"Pogs started as a Hawaiian playground game in the 1920s using cardboard milk caps," Friedland states. "In the '90s, Pogs came back with licensed and branded versions that drove scarcity and collectability. The game itself is simple: each player stacks their Pogs face down, takes turns slamming the stack with a heavier disc called a slammer, and keeps any Pogs that land face up."

19. 'Jurassic Park' toys

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Jurassic Park was a box office hit, so an accompanying collection of toys was a natural fit.

"Kenner Toys capitalized on the movie’s magic with the Electronic Command Dinosaur, the vehicles and a line of action figures," Friedland explains. "What made this line stand out is that Kenner took the dinosaur designs seriously, which meant the toys looked as good as the film, rather than being a brand-licensed cash grab. Kids who had never seen the movie wanted the T-Rex because it was a great-looking dinosaur toy."

20. Hot Wheels

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To this day, Hot Wheels are still a mainstay in kids' toy collections, and they're also popular with collectors.

"In the '90s, Mattel kept Hot Wheels fresh with new track sets and crash-and-stunt systems like Criss Cross Crash, but the core product never really changed. It always was, and likely always will be, a well-made, detailed die-cast car that is affordable for kids," Friedland shares.

Related: 25 Popular Toys Every Kid Wanted in the 1980s

21. Bop It

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"Bop It made its market debut in 1996 and challenged players to a rapid-fire game of commands. The game would speed up as you played it, and the different modes allowed you to play with others," Changnon says.

The small device instructs players to pull it, twist it, flick it, spin it or bop it, and the speed of the commands increases over time.

"If you do the wrong thing or hesitate, then the game is over. The interesting thing is that there is an endpoint to the game, meaning you can go through an entire sequence and beat it," Friedland says.

22. Mighty Max

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"Often called the 'boys’ version of Polly Pocket,' these compact cases featured monsters, aliens and other themes that toy makers thought boys would love," Changnon says.

Similar to Polly Pocket, the pint-sized toys and cases made them quite portable and let boys get in on the fun.

23. LEGO

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By the '90s, LEGO had already been popular for decades. However, several sets from the 1990s were a big hit.

"Pirates, Space, Castle, Technic and Mindstorms gave kids challenging builds that could be played with after construction," Friedland says.

Additionally, Star WarsLEGO sets were also a strong seller.

24. Bitty Baby

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"Launched by Pleasant Company in 1990 as Our New Baby, this 15-inch baby doll was designed to help young children prepare for the new arrival of a sibling to their family," Changnon says.

Bitty Baby was a durable doll that came with high-quality outfits and accessories.

"The dolls were inclusive of diverse skin, hair and eye color, allowing children to play with a doll that looked like them," he says.

25. Groovy Girls

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"Launched in 1998, these plush and soft dolls offered an alternative to plastic Barbie and other fashion dolls. Kids loved playing with the colorful, yarn-like hair and bright clothing," Changnon says.

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