’90s Throwback Toys :: How Many Do You Remember?

Ah, the ’90s — the glorious decade before things got complicated. 

Before the widespread use of the internet, before social media, and before our parents could track our every move through “Find My iPhone.” 

Boy bands ruled, the Spice Girls were at their prime, phones still had cords, and coveted mixed tapes took hours to make. Things were simple. Butterfly clips, Beanie Babies, Pogs, and Dunkaroos were the perfect recipe for a great day.

The good news is… IT’S BACK, BABY! 

Let’s take a look down memory lane at our favorite ’90s toys that STILL EXIST and are available to enjoy with our children. They will love it. (We will love it.) 

1. Tamagotchi

Who doesn’t love the sound of your Tamagotchi alerting you that it needs something? Let’s be serious, this is how we were first taught to be responsible for something “alive.” Personally, I was a Giga Pets girl, as Tamagotchis were quite the financial investment.

2. Polly Pockets

Polly Pockets were the perfect travel toy of the ’90s. They were compact and easy to clean up, which made them ideal for almost every situation that required us to sit still, be quiet, and wait. 

3. Don’t Wake Daddy

I can still feel the anxiety involved in landing on the pots and pans right before winning this game. In our house, no other game could compete with this classic. Even though it’s technically rated for the preschool crowd, we all know even our parents enjoyed playing. 

4. Bop It

Time to face the facts — this game requires skills that I have never possessed. Even after hours and hours of practice, my brother still won every time. Despite my wounded pride, it’s still one of my favorites!

5. American Girl Dolls

I can’t be the only mom who felt shock then some serious, “Wow, I’m old” grief after discovering the newest “historical” American Girl doll was from… 1999. While THAT makes me cringe, there’s no denying how much I loved reading the books and playing with the dolls for many years.

6. Nerf Vortex Football

Nothing ruined a competitive game of jump rope more than a “head’s up!” followed by the whistle of this particular football. Was it on purpose? Definitely. Did the recess monitor care? Absolutely not.

7. Pokémon

A favorite in the ’90s toy category, very few fads have aged as well as the Pokémon franchise. Pokémon cards, movies, action figures, stuffed animals, and booster packs are still available everywhere. In recent times, Pokémon Go, new Nintendo games, and the retirement of Ash and Pikachu have kept the magic alive. 

8. Duncan Yo-Yo

Yo-yos were toys that were relegated to our backpacks but always hidden in our desks anyway. Personally, the “butterfly” yo-yos were always my favorite — they were much easier for a beginner like me!

9. Lite Brite

The good news is that Lite Brites are much smaller than they used to be. The ’90s version that was as big as an old computer monitor has been retired and replaced with a sleeker and easier-to-store design.

10. Furby

Now that I’m a parent, I understand why my mom never let me have a Furby. Nevertheless, Hasbro decided to bring back this iconic toy to torture parents for another generation. Let’s hope they fixed the glitch that allowed them to make weird sounds in the middle of the night…

As we finish up, I would like to take a moment of silence to grieve the loss of our beloved ’90s toy, the “Skip It.”

We can celebrate the memory of our very bruised ankles with a Lunchable and Dunkaroos.

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