13 Most Iconic Toys From the 90s and Where to Buy Them Now
Like any other decade, the toys that shaped 90s culture reflect how society moves forward while still looking towards the past. The 90s also solidified how voracious some consumers can be.
The most iconic 90s toys showcase a wide variety of interests, evolving technology, and a reverence for the past. From makeshift pets to video games and unique dolls, kids of the era had no shortage of fun-filled choices.
However, the 90s also had an odd side, with the trends proving how unexpected the toy market could be. Regardless, these seminal toys still spark many feelings amongst those who grew up in this decade.
1. Tamagotchi
The word Tamagotchi can still trigger many 90s kids. This virtual pet consisted of a small digital device that required constant care and attention, such as taking it for walks. If left alone for too long, the “pet” would die.
U.S. Tamagotchi sales reached 3.5 million by June 1997, but no one can calculate the trauma and disruption they caused. While it teaches kids responsibility, this also taught kids to stare at screens all day. Don’t get us started on the heartbreak of these digital creatures “dying.”
You can still buy these virtual pets, but they are in a much-improved condition. Now, they have pause buttons, so kids won’t have to go through the pain of losing a pet that once lived an average of 12 days.
2. Tickle-Me Elmo
If anything could rival the Cabbage Patch dolls mania of the 1980s, it would be the Tickle-Me Elmo craze from 1997. A promotion on The Rosie O’Donnell Show lit the fuse that caused the frenzy, with one Walmart employee trampled by customers attempting to pick up one of the popular toys. He suffered broken ribs and a concussion.
The frenzy doesn’t quite match the essence of the toy itself. The sweet and innocent Elmo — the beloved character from Sesame Street — would laugh and vibrate as if you are tickling him. The juxtaposition of this sweetness with the mania of buyers remains a fascinating part of the 90s.
If you’re looking to buy a Tickle-Me Elmo today, the frenzy has subsided, but the prices on eBay and Toys 4 You will not be for everyone.
3. Polly Pocket
Invented in 1983, the doll and her compact home, small enough to fit in your hand, took off in the 1990s. Interestingly, they became Barbie’s biggest competition until Mattel purchased the brand in 1998.
Polly Pocket soon expanded beyond compacts to other kinds of play sets, including ones officially licensed by Disney. Polly Pockets remain one of the cutest toys ever, with the ones sold in the 90s coveted by fans and collectors. Those on the hunt can find some 90s gems on eBay, but for a pretty penny.
4. Furby
If Tamagotchi caused trauma because of a pet’s digital death, Furbies caused another kind of trauma. These hamster-looking toys could mimic how you spoke, but many children swore they heard their Furby begin speaking at random times, even without their batteries.
Urban legends and jokes aside, this toy the U.S. government briefly banned over fear of espionage sold 40 million in three years. Anyone looking for a little nightmarish nostalgia can still find them on websites like eBay and Poshmark.
5. Beanie Babies
Multiple toys became sensations during the 90s, and Beanie Babies remain one of the most infamous. The adorable stuffed toys filled with pellets became a hot commodity. Beyond children, collectors began buying as many as possible to resell for way above the $5 price.
Theft of these toys also became commonplace, with robberies in stores, cars, and other places. Today, those hoping to make a lot of money still list Beanie Babies at high prices on eBay. Those who love them for their cuteness fear not — the Ty company still sells new ones at the reasonable prices.
6. American Girl Dolls
Educational, historical, and fun, American Girl dolls were the pinnacle toy for many children of the 1990s. Founded in 1986 by Pleasant T. Rowland, the dolls each came with a backstory and companion books. Aiming to teach children about life in different periods, these dolls became the perfect gift for kids who loved learning about the past.
I still treasure my Samantha doll, whose story took place in 1904. The company expanded to various time periods, ethnicities, modern-day dolls, and even a store where children could bring their dolls for a fancy lunch.
Though the 90s remains a peak for the brand in many ways, the American Girl company still thrives, with many available to purchase.
7. Sega Genesis
The first video game system to give Nintendo a run for its money, Sega Genesis became as popular and well-known as the NES in the 90s.Though the consoles started out with modest sales in Japan in the 1980s, their release in North America helped put the system on the map.
With the popularity of Sonic the Hedgehog (Sega’s version of Super Mario Brothers), sales soared. By 1993, Sega controlled 60 percent of the market.
While Sega’s peak remains in the 1990s, many still have warm, nostalgic feelings for the original Sega games, such as Aladdin and Eco the Dolphin. Fans can still find the 90s Sega Genesis on Amazon. Ironically, gamers today can still play classic Sega games on Nintendo systems such as the Nintendo Switch.
8. Skip-It
A combination of a jump rope and hula hoop, a Skip-It involved each child placing a plastic ring around their ankle and twirling and jumping over the connected device, which counted each skip.
While many 90s kids enjoyed them, others remember the device’s weight, making it difficult to use. As a result, many kids would trip, get bruises, and have sore ankles. One does not have to search hard to find an original Skip-It, but would it be worth the pain?
9. Koosh Balls
Inventor Scott Stillinger first came up with the idea of the koosh because his children had trouble catching traditional balls. Indeed, the toys made of rubber filaments took off in the ’90s because of their ease of play.
Lightweight and easier to catch than other similar toys, the koosh became so successful that Stillinger sold the company in 1994. By then, they’d sold 50 million. These 90s staples have not lost their appeal since, and people can readily buy them on places like Amazon.
10. Super Soaker
While water pistols have existed for decades, the Super Soakers of the 1990s deserve their own category. They have a fascinating history, with their origins dating back to 1982. Conceived by electrical engineer Dr. Lonnie Johnson, the toy took eight years to perfect. It utilized water pressure and arm pumping to make water shoot further than ever before.
Super Soakers took water gun fights to new levels. Coming in bright neon colors helped solidify them as playthings instead of weapons. Opinions on the toy may vary today, but many a ’90s kid remembers summer days filled with Super Soaker water fights. Stores like Amazon and Walmart still sell brand-new versions.
11. Troll Dolls
Kids today think of Trolls as characters from the popular animated DreamWorks films. However, the dolls that inspired these films have a long and colorful history dating back to the 1950s. The toy that will not fade has faded and returned multiple times, with a significant resurgence in the 90s.
These kitschy dolls had brightly colored hair and many featured jewels in their belly buttons. Some bought a few, while others became rabid collectors. Nostalgic fans can continue their collections thanks to heaps of listings on Etsy and eBay.
12. Bop-It
A successor to the 80s game Simon, Bop-It involves two players holding each side of the device, each needing to do whatever the voice commands. They must “pull it, twist it, or bop it.”
Whether the game proved to be fun, or the source of fights depends on who you ask. Gilmore Girls fans will remember a hilarious scene that inspired the latter. You can find original versions on eBay and updated ones at retailers like Target.
13. Pogs
Few toys seem to be firmly in the 90s the way pogs do. At the same time, their much older origins date back hundreds of years to the Japanese game Menko, which traveled to Hawaii in the 1900s. Their 90s resurgence began when teacher Blossom Galbiso introduced the game to her students.
In the ’90s, pogs fans came in two types: the kids who played the game with the cardboard discs and metal or plastic slammers, playing for keeps the same way kids did with marbles in the 50s, or kids who enjoyed collecting the discs for their pictures, much like trading cards.
Whoever category one fell into, the fad did not last. Still, those looking for a 90s flashback can find many pogs on eBay and Etsy.
