Each decade, new toys hit the market. As time passes, some of these toys become more complex, but there is something so nostalgic about toys from past decades. If you were a kid in the ’90s, you’re able to probably think of several toys and collectibles that you saw on a daily basis. Though they may be gone, they still have a place in your heart.
Here, we are going to take a look at the best toys and collectibles that dominated the playground in the ’90s. These toys seemed to be everywhere at one point during the decade; some have even achieved long-term success and are still manufactured today!
8Pokemon Cards
How could we not start this list with Pokemon cards? Today, Pokemon cards are everywhere; you caneven collect them on your phone. The physical version of these cards originally launched in 1996 for Japan, and by 1998, they hit America.
Though this is only two years of the ’90s, Pokemon cards were an instant hit. If you spent any time on the playground in the ’90s, then you definitely saw some kid flex their Pokemon card collection.
7Pogs
How do you explain Pogs to someone who has never heard of them? To understand Pogs, you need to know about milk caps. This is a game where players take turns dropping ‘slammers’ onto a stack of flat milk caps. Sounds simple, huh? This is pretty much the generic version of Pogs, which is the commercial name.
The real fun of Pogs is collecting the little caps. Sure, the game can be fun, but have you ever shown off your Pog cap collection and traded with a friend during lunch? This is where the fun really began.
6Tamagotchi
Tamagotchi is a timeless toy; there are new versions that you can buy today! In the ’90s, Tamagotchi were simplisticlittle creatures that lived inside their colorful eggs. Tamagotchi officially launched in May 1997 within America, and quickly became a hit.
In the ’90s, it wasn’t uncommon to see someone with their Tamagotchi on a chain attached to their clothing. Though the premise is simple, there is something so fascinating about a little alien-like creature that needs constant attention.
5Slap Bracelets
You can still find slap bracelets today, but they truly peaked in the 1990s. Interestingly, the bracelet was invented in 1983 by a teacher in Wisconsin. The bracelets initially look like thin bookmarks, but when slapped on a wrist, they coil around like a band.
The simplicity of these bracelets boosted them in popularity. It didn’t involve a game that required kids to learn; all you needed to do was slap the bracelet on your wrist and have a good time. If you were unfortunate enough, they may have even been banned at your school.
4Hacky Sack
Hacky Sacks are something that you don’t really see anymore. The term ‘Hacky Sack’ refers to the brand, but the generic name for these pellet-filled sacks is ‘footbag’. This bag had one purpose, which was to be kicked around.
This could be done solo or in a group circle. The goal was to keep the sack moving for as long as possible without dropping it, but you had to use your feet to move it. Hacky Sacks were a bit more popular among older kids and young adults.
3Trolls
Next up, we have Trolls. In the 21st century, Trolls is a cute and colorful movie. In the ’90s, Trolls were naked little figures with colorful hair that shot straight up into the air. They were also a bit bizarre-looking, but in an endearing way.
Trolls of this device came in a mini size, which was perfect for the playground. You never knew who would whip out a collection of trolls and line them up for everyone to see. Trolls have actually been around since the 1950s, making them quite an old toy.
2Garbage Pail Kids Cards
Cabbage Patch Kids was a brand of doll that many people had, but have you heard of Garbage Pail Kids? This was a parody of the dolls that produced stickers that kids could trade like cards. Instead of focusing on cute dolls, these cards depicted strange deaths and situations, leading to several school bans.
This controversial tone made them all the more interesting though. If someone pulled out a Garbage Pail Kids card, everyone wanted to take a look. Our personal favorite is Surreal Neal, who is simply just a Dali-style clock/blob draped over a branch.
1Beanie Babies
Last but not least, we have Beanie Babies. These were introduced in 1993 and became a phenomenon quickly, even with just nine ‘characters’. Everyone had at least one Beanie Baby, and some even boastedimpressive collectionsthat sat organized on shelves.
Beanie Babies were truly revolutionary; people of all ages collected these little stuffed animals due to their resale value. Of course, so many Beanie Babies were produced that many of them really aren’t valuable now, but even if you didn’t see them as valuable collectible items, they were still adorable.
