The 90's
This handheld digital pet, first released in 1996, had kids feeding it, cleaning up after it, and mourning when it "died."
Tamagotchi
In 1987, this fast-food giant became the first to include Lego building sets as part of its kids’ meal promotion, years before partnerships with Disney made character tie-ins the norm.
McDonald’s
In 1958, LEGO patented a new brick design featuring interlocking tubes, enhancing stability and compatibility across sets.
the stud-and-tube coupling system
This line of fashion dolls, launched in 2001, was known for its edgy style and diverse characters, becoming a major competitor to Barbie.
Bratz Dolls
This 1984 action figure line featured robots that could transform into vehicles and was sold in Toys “R” Us, Kmart, and local malls.
Transformers
Released in 1993, these color-changing action figures from the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers line revealed battle damage when you pressed their chest.
Auto-Morphin Power Rangers (a.k.a. Flip-Head Rangers)
In April 2010, Wendy’s offered toys tied to a groundbreaking video game franchise featuring two Italian plumber brothers—one dressed in green.
Super Mario Bros.
In 1969, LEGO introduced this line of larger bricks for younger children, which could also connect with standard LEGO bricks.
Duplo
This 2000s toy line featured small, collectible creatures that could be customized with various accessories and were marketed as "virtual pets."
Webkinz
Introduced in 1976, these small, colorful dolls with wild hair were becoming a fad.
Troll Dolls
This line of small, soft plastic “monster” figurines—released by Matchbox in 1990—featured collectible point values, with creatures like Tyrannosaurus Rex, Griffin, and Hydra scoring up to 25 or more.
Monster in My Pocket
In 2004, this fast-food chain released a series of 12 toys featuring Spider-Man and his villains, tied to the Spider-Man 2 movie, including bendable figures, mini vehicles, and web-slinging accessories.
McDonald’s
In 2000, LEGO introduced this robotics kit, combining LEGO building elements with programmable bricks, marking the company's entry into educational robotics.
LEGO Mindstorms
This interactive electronic pet, introduced in 2004, featured a water-filled case and responded to sounds with movement and melodies.
AquaPets
This 1970s construction toy allowed kids to create cars, planes, and buildings with small plastic bricks; it became a worldwide phenomenon after being sold in toy aisles of department stores.
LEGO
This strange 1994 toy by Mattel let kids mold their own bugs and creepy crawlies using a heated "oven" and liquid goop — but it was actually a revival of a 1960’s toy.
Creepy Crawlers
In 1998, this fast-food chain released a set of nine toys featuring digital pets, allowing children to care for virtual creatures through interactive keychains.
McDonald's
In 1978, LEGO launched this theme, its first attempt at minifigures with movable arms and legs, revolutionizing play by introducing characters into LEGO worlds.
LEGO Minifigures (or LEGO Town minifigures)
In 2005, this company introduced a line of robotic pets that could interact with their owners through sensors and voice recognition.
Sony
Released in July 2025, this McDonald's Happy Meal promotion introduced a collection of 21 miniature, McDonald's-themed toys, including tiny versions of a cash register, soda machine, and PlayPlace, sparking nostalgia and excitement among both children and adults.
Lil McDonald's Happy Meal
In the mid-90’s, this fad toy had kids everywhere mastering tricks like “Walk the Dog” and “Around the World,” sparking playground competitions worldwide.
Yo-Yo
In 1987, this fast-food chain released a series of collectible glasses featuring characters from the original Star Wars trilogy, marking one of the earliest major movie tie-ins for kids' meals.
Burger King
This 1989 LEGO theme introduced the first futuristic space sets with a distinctive black-and-white color scheme and the “Classic Space” logo, becoming highly collectible among fans.
LEGO Space Police or LEGO Classic Space
Launched by LEGO in 2001, this line of constructible action figures featured elemental heroes, a deep storyline, and masks with special powers, quickly becoming one of LEGO’s most popular franchises of the decade.
Bionicle
These tiny, pocket-sized playsets featuring dolls and accessories were sold in grocery stores, Kmart, and Toys “R” Us throughout the 1990s.
Polly Pocket