Many of us have fond memories of the toys we had when we were children. From Hula Hoops and Slinky to G.I. Joe and Barbie, we can look back on our childhood with nostalgia and recall the times we spent playing with our beloved trinkets and playthings. And when it comes to Millennials, (those born between 1980 and 1996), the largest generational group in the U.S. as of 2023, there were many classic toys they adored.
It was during the ’80s and ’90s that the toy frenzies came into play. Children were so hyped about having a certain toy or gadget that it created a craze for the latest and greatest, starting a frenzied trend that often led to toy shortages. Parents were desperate to get the latest must-have toy and had to wait in lines, often for hours on end.
To compile a list of 17 classic toys millennials couldn’t get enough of, 24/7 Tempo consulted the archives of companies such as Hasbro; data curated by The Strong National Museum of Play; encyclopedia sources such as Britannica; and media outlets including Reader’s Digest, The New York Times, Time, Good Housekeeping, and Smithsonian. 24/7 Tempo exercised editorial discretion in making the final selection where appropriate.
Rubik’s Cube

- Made by: Ideal Toy Company
- Why so popular? Loved by children and adults, books dedicated to help solve it
Smurfs

- Made by: Peyo
- Why so popular? Due to a 1981 TV series
My Little Pony

- Made by: Hasbro
- Why so popular? Always popular but demand soared when TV series launched in 1986
Cabbage Patch Kids

- Made by: Coleco
- Why so popular? Successful marketing of dolls as ‘adoptable’
Transformers

- Made by: Hasbro
- Why so popular? Comics, animated television series, and live-action films
Teddy Ruxpin

- Made by: Worlds of Wonder/Hasbro/Yes! Entertainment/BacPack Toys/Wicked Cool Toys
- Why so popular? First commercially available animatronic toy
Care Bears

- Made by: Kenner/Parker Brothers
- Why so popular? Animated TV series and ‘personality’ traits
Jenga

- Made by: Milton Bradley
- Why so popular? Physical toy, can be played outside
Super Mario Bros

- Made by: Nintendo Entertainment System
- Why so popular? New type of entertainment for kids
Game Boy

- Made by: Nintendo Entertainment System
- Why so popular? Novelty of pocket-sized electronic game
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

- Made by: Playmates Toys
- Why so popular? Animated television series and live action movie
Super Nintendo

- Made by: Nintendo Entertainment System
- Why so popular? Very detailed graphics
Talkboy

- Made by: Tiger Electronics
- Why so popular? Used as a prop in the 1992 Christmas movie “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
Beanie Babies

- Made by: Ty Inc.
- Why so popular? An early internet sensation
Power Rangers

- Made by: Hasbro
- Why so popular? 1993 live action television series
Buzz Lightyear

- Made by: Thinkaways
- Why so popular? “Toy Story” movie
Tickle Me Elmo

- Made by: Tyco
- Why so popular? Novelty of shaking toy and popular TV character