This post is part of our 25 Days of Nostalgia series, where we’re diving into what made Christmases of the 80s and 90s so special. Each day, we’ll explore a different piece of our childhood that brings back the magic of the festive season.
Day 1: It’s An Argos Christmas After All
For kids growing up in the 80s and 90s, the Argos catalogue was pure Christmas magic. Forget online wishlists or influencer gift guides – this chunky “book of dreams” – RIP, was all we needed to spark the festive spirit. Each glossy page held the promise of toys we’d beg Father Christmas (heaven forbid you said Santa Claus at the time) to deliver.
If you were an “Argos Kid” then this post will hit you right in the feels – so take a moment with me, before you get ready to flatpack all your Amazon boxes for another game of “this won’t fit in the recycling bin, why do we keep buying more stuff!?”
Armed with a trusty Argos red pencil (or pen depending on locality) we’d circle our favourite toys, imagining the joy of unwrapping the presents on Christmas morning.
From Tamagotchis to Cabbage Patch Kids, the Argos catalogue was more than just a book – it was a tradition that defined many of our childhood Christmases. It was also somewhere to look through what Xmas presents to get Dad & Mum (of course they wanted a new ironing board and VCR… simpler times).
Maybe you were like me and this event took a solid week or more, in the days before Netflix and social media. I’d watch Nickelodeon or The Snowman on repeat and calculate just how much I could potentially get Father Christmas to pay for (knowing full well my Mum had no money to speak of, all-the-while telling her “not to worry, these are free because the elves will bring them!”).
So, let’s dust off our collective memory, flip back through those glossy pages, and relive the toys that made this iconic wishlist such a big part of our lives.
Table of Contents
Christmas Trivia Challenge
Before we get started – do you think you know your 80s and 90s toys? Here’s one to test your memory:
Question: Which toy caused Christmas chaos in 1983, selling over 3 million units in just one year?
- A) Transformers
- B) Cabbage Patch Kids
- C) Stretch Armstrong
The Ritual of Circling Your Dream Toys
The Argos catalogue wasn’t just a toy guide – it was an event. As soon as it landed in the house, you’d have to negotiate with siblings over who got to flip through it first. It was a free-for-all in our family, each of us armed and ready to circle, underline, or (if you were really fancy) use those little sticker flags.
Every kid had their own strategy:
- Circle everything and hope for the best.
- Narrow it down to the top three (to be “realistic”).
- Go bold and hand your parents a fully annotated guide complete with page numbers.
Fun Fact: By 1997, Argos had sold over £1 billion worth of toys, proving that all that circling wasn’t in vain.
The Most-Wished-For Toys of the 80s & 90s
The Argos toy section was packed with treasures that defined our childhood. Here are just a few of the classics that found their way onto countless wishlists:
1. Cabbage Patch Kids
These dolls were a Christmas phenomenon, sparking riots in toy stores and making headlines worldwide. With unique names and birth certificates, every Cabbage Patch Kid felt one-of-a-kind.
Trivia: Cabbage Patch Kids were the best-selling toy of 1983, with over 3 million sold in a single year!
2. Game Boy
Nintendo changed the game (literally) with this handheld console. Whether you were playing Tetris or Super Mario Land, unwrapping a Game Boy on Christmas morning guaranteed playground bragging rights.
Trivia: By Christmas 1990, over 1 million Game Boys were sold in the UK alone!
Trivia Question: Which digital pet toy became a global phenomenon in the mid-90s, challenging kids to keep it alive?
3. Tamagotchi
The digital pet craze took over the world in the mid-90s. Keeping your Tamagotchi alive felt like a full-time job, but we all loved them anyway.
You can read more about Tamagotchis’ resurgence here.
Trivia: In its first year, over 40 million Tamagotchis were sold worldwide, making it one of the fastest-selling toys of the decade.
4. LEGO Sets
From castles to space stations, LEGO dominated the Argos toy pages. The only downside? Stepping on a piece the day after Christmas.
Fun Fact: LEGO has produced so many bricks that there are an estimated 62 pieces for every person on the planet.
5. Polly Pocket / Mad Max
These tiny, colourful playsets were all about imaginative fun. Polly Pocket may have been small enough to fit in your pocket, but her adventures were larger than life.
I had a few Polly Pockets from the boot sale, but I was all about Mad Max. Everyone else would bring in their new collections for show and tell, and there I was, week in and week out, with the same Mad Max set—missing pieces and all!
Trivia Question: Which action figure line, originally Japanese, was rebranded for Western audiences in 1984?
6. Transformers
Whether you were Team Autobots or Decepticons, these action figures brought Saturday morning cartoons to life.
Trivia: Transformers were originally Japanese robot toys rebranded for the Western market in 1984.
7. Stretch Armstrong
The indestructible superhero who could be stretched, twisted, and knotted (but “somehow” never broke).
Fun Fact: Stretch Armstrong is so durable that some original toys are still in playable condition today!
8. Pokémon Cards
Pokémon Cards burst onto the scene in the late 90s, creating a collecting craze that quickly spread across school playgrounds. Kids traded, battled, and searched for rare cards like Charizard, which became a status symbol.
Fun Fact: The Pokémon Trading Card Game has sold over 30 billion cards worldwide, and rare cards from the original sets are now worth thousands!
Trivia Question: Which gaming console was a fierce competitor to the SNES during the 80s and 90s, becoming a Christmas wishlist favourite?
9. SNES / Mega Drive
The 80s and 90s were the golden era of home consoles. Whether it was the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), the Sega Mega Drive, or the Game Boy, these gaming systems provided hours of entertainment. The Game Boy, in particular, became a Christmas wishlist favourite thanks to its portability and classic games like Tetris and Pokémon Red/Blue.
I was always a huge Mega Drive and SEGA fanboy, and that love has stuck with me throughout my entire life. There was just something about those classic SEGA games that kept me hooked – from Sonic the Hedgehog to Streets of Rage. To this day, I still have a soft spot for those 16-bit graphics and the unforgettable soundtracks.
Trivia: The SNES and Mega Drive were fierce competitors, each selling tens of millions of units worldwide and dominating Christmas wishlists throughout the early 90s.
10. Furby
Furbies were the must-have toy of the late 90s, with their blinking eyes, quirky language, and ability to “learn”. These interactive pets were both adorable and a little unsettling, but that didn’t stop millions from wanting one.
I remember buying one of the newer Furbys for my eldest daughters, and the look of sheer horror on everyone’s faces when we accidentally put it into “Roadman” mode was something I will NEVER forget. Unfortunately, I can’t seem to find any videos of this mode on YouTube, so I’ll have to dig it out of the closet (where it lives without batteries) to rediscover just what curse the damn thing has!
Trivia: In the first three years of production, over 40 million Furbies were sold, making it one of the fastest-selling toys of its time!
Why the Argos Catalogue Was Special
The catalogue wasn’t just a book – it was the centrepiece of Christmas planning. Parents secretly used it to budget, siblings fought over it, and kids spent hours dreaming about what might appear under the tree.
In a world before online shopping, the Argos catalogue represented endless possibility. It was physical, tangible, and wonderfully imperfect – a reminder of simpler times.
I still remember circling the 7-in-1 games table that had pool, ping pong, and more (but what, I couldn’t tell you) for four years in a row before I finally got it. And let’s not forget Backfire – the “fast paced game of fury” before Santa finally popped it under the tree for me.
Those were the moments that made the Argos catalogue so special, and why it holds such a nostalgic place in my heart.
If you’re still yearning for more things Argos, then take a quick look at RetroMash and his huge collection of digitised catalogs!
Related Post: Check out “Iconic Toys from the 80s and 90s You’ve Probably Forgotten About” for more retro treasures.
A Fond Farewell to the Argos Catalog
The Argos catalogue may no longer be a part of our Christmas routines, but the memories it created are timeless. It gave us the joy of anticipation, the thrill of possibility, and the shared excitement of childhood dreams. Though holiday traditions have evolved, the magic of Christmas and the spirit of wishful thinking remain unchanged.
Whether it’s a digital wishlist or a simple note to Santa, the heart of Christmas lies in the joy of dreaming big. So as we reflect on those iconic toys and catalogue rituals, let’s remember that some things – like the magic of Christmas morning – never really change.
Share Your Memories!
What toys did YOU circle in the Argos catalogue? Were you a “circle-everything” kind of kid, or did you have a carefully crafted strategy? Share your memories in the comments or share with a friend who spent hours with the “book of dreams”!
And don’t forget to follow along with our 25 Days of Nostalgia series for more Christmas throwbacks:
- Day 2: “Throwback Christmas Ads: The Most Memorable Commercials of the 80s & 90s“
- Day 3: “The Most Iconic Christmas Snacks of the 80s & 90s“
Trivia Answers
- Which digital pet toy became a global phenomenon in the mid-90s, challenging kids to keep it alive?
- Answer: Tamagotchi
- Which action figure line, originally Japanese, was rebranded for Western audiences in 1984?
- Answer: Transformers
- Which gaming console was a fierce competitor to the SNES during the 80s and 90s, becoming a Christmas wishlist favourite?
- Answer: Mega Drive
- Which toy caused Christmas chaos in 1983, selling over 3 million units in just one year?
- Answer: Cabbage Patch Kids
