After sharing a few niche and retro finds on the DadBlog Facebook page, I figured it was time to dedicate a full post to toys from the days of yore. These little treasures from the past hold a lot of fond memories for me, and I’m sure they do for you too!

I’ll be updating this post as time goes on because the wife keeps showing me reels and TikToks that trigger flashback memories. I want to share the same joy I’m feeling with my kids – and with you too!

And, seeing as it’s the season and what not, if you’re dying for more nostalgia, why not have a gander at my post on The Most Wanted Christmas Toys of the 80s and 90s (and let me know how many of your wishlist toys were on there)!

(Last updated: 12th December 2024)

Let me know in the comments if there’s anything you distinctly remember, or if you feel like there are any iconic toys that I have missed and I’ll be sure to add them!

Iconic & Nostalgic Toys Of The ’80s & ’90s

SuperSonic Pinball & Water Wizard Toys

Anyone who can remember the Sonic The Hedgehog comic series from the early 90’s will remember the absolute barrage of Sonic related memorabilia available on the market.

As an avid reader, I would duly enter every competition in the hopes of winning one of the top prizes. As luck would have it, I managed to bag myself a pinball machine (Though I’m pretty sure the rats got to it at some point.) The wife knows that she’s always safe with any Sonic related memorabilia for any birthday or fathers day. Instant win every time!

Tomy Tutor Play Computer

Most of us have a vague recollection of this amazing bit of machinary. Originally manufactured in the early 80’s as a companion for the Tomy Tutor 16-bit computer (or Pyūta) in 1982 in Japan, this toy was one of the reasons I’m a computer fanatic to this day!

Rubik’s Cube

No ’80s nostalgia list would be complete without a nod to the world-renowned Rubik’s Cube. It was the perfect companion for those endless car journeys, especially after your Gameboy batteries decided to snuff it!

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Times have definitely changed, and now there’s a whole assortment of advanced Rubik’s Cubes on the market. My son is an avid collector, and we’ve probably spent over £200 on his ever-growing collection, including a 7×7 cube and the GoCube Edge (which I’ll admit, I’ve “borrowed” more than once!).

Nintendo Game Boy

I was a Sega fanboy through and through, spending most of my waking hours glued to the MegaDrive. But when Pokémon fever hit the country, I couldn’t resist getting swept up in the craze. I spent every free second glued to my Game Boy, determined to catch ’em all before any of my friends!

The Game Boy will always hold a special place in my heart, even though I probably only ever played 3 or 4 games on it. Those few games were more than enough to make it a cherished part of my childhood!

A special mention goes out to the Gameboy “Light Boy” which ate batteries like nobodies business, but made night time drives all the more entertaining. I never had one, but my brother did.

I had to wait for the streetlights like a povvo.

Fisher Price Activity Center

This one hit really hard, obviously a baby / toddler toy – but I have vivid memories of stimming with that little red button, over and over and over *ding ding ding*.

There were a few varients of this toy, some made in the ’70s others in the ’80s, but there’s a modern day varient that you can pick up from Argos of all places!

Tiger 2-XL

Those flashing red lights still haunt me, and the end of tape “wheee-wooo, please turn me over NOW” alarm. Oh, My, God, nightmares for days. Even so, the Tiger 2-XL was probably one of my favourite toys from my childhood.

Thinking back, I’m pretty sure I tried to put my ELC Dinosaurs Cassette into the 2-XL as well.

View Master

Anyone who’s ever been to any kind of gift shop will have come across these absolutely amazing pieces of advanced technology. Stereoscopic viewing in HD before 3D and VR really took off.

I was fortunate enough to have one with a Yosemite Nation Park series and I can still remember staring at the Half Dome from Glacier Point for literal HOURS. (Neurospicy much?)

Tamagotchi

Defintely a late ’90s toy, but everyone had one! Unless of course you were poor, then you had the knock-off 8-in-1 heart shaped boot sale version *raises hand*… and of course I couldn’t leave it there, I found a video of someone with the “octogotchi” that I had.

My wife spent an inordinate amount of money importing all sorts of crazy, weird and wonderful new varients of the traditional Tamagotchi because we both missed out as children.

Nostalgic Toys From the 80’s

Ah, Mr. Frosty – the ultimate childhood betrayal! The box promised endless icy treats, yet somehow all you got was a pile of mushy ice and a lot of effort for very little reward. It’s the sort of toy that teaches you that adverts aren’t true to life.

Still, every one of these toys had its own magic, didn’t it? From the thrill of opening a new pack of LEGO to the endless arguments over who got to play as Optimus Prime, they shaped our childhoods in ways we didn’t even realise.

Which ones take you back? For me, it’s Stretch Armstrong – I’m still not over the time we “accidentally” cut him open to see what was inside.

Transformers

Robots that turned into cars, planes, and everything in between – Transformers were the ultimate toys for kids who wanted action and imagination in one package. Every playground argument revolved around whether Optimus Prime or Megatron was cooler.

Cabbage Patch Kids

These chubby-cheeked dolls, complete with adoption certificates, caused near riots in toy stores. Owning one wasn’t just about having a toy – it was like bringing home a new (and slightly weird-looking) sibling.

Care Bears

Huggable, loveable, and ridiculously collectible, Care Bears taught us about kindness and teamwork through their belly-badge powers. Admit it, you still secretly love the Care Bear Stare.

Teddy Ruxpin

Part teddy bear, part audiobook narrator, Teddy Ruxpin brought stories to life with his animatronic mouth and blinking eyes. Slightly creepy? Maybe. Totally unforgettable? Absolutely.

I wanted one for Christmas one year. I had him and the VHS, but decided to feed the VCR champagne that year… what a toddler was doing with champagne? Your guess is as good as mine.

Sylvanian Families

These woodland creatures had wardrobes more stylish than most of us. Pair them with their adorable houses and miniature furniture, and they became the stuff of 80s kids’ dreams. Just don’t eat the fake food like my daughter did… we’re still missing that potato.

Matchbox and Hot Wheels Cars

Tiny, speedy, and durable enough to survive being hurled across a room, these cars were a staple for budding petrolheads. Bonus points if you owned one of the massive looping racetracks.

I had Matchbox growing up, but we have hundreds of cars and tracks for Hot Wheels nowadays. We’ve even gone as far as building a track from my son’s bedroom to the living room (cars are full speed to the shin sure do hurt!).

LEGO (Space-Themed Sets)

LEGO was already popular, but space-themed sets were next-level. Building rockets and moon bases was the perfect mix of creativity and intergalactic adventure. Stepping on a piece, ugh. Give me stepping on a an plug any day.

BTW – check out Dark LEGO® Gift Sets for Stereotypically Neglectful Dads – for more tongue-in-cheek fun.

I know I had this particular set – the motor was tempermental at best… but if you’ve still got one in box, then you can expect it to go for £800-3000+.

Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum

These home computers were the gateway to the digital age for many kids. Whether you were gaming or experimenting with coding, they made you feel like a tech genius of the future.

Fisher-Price Little People

These chunky, cheerful figures fit perfectly in tiny hands and populated farms, houses, and villages. The play possibilities were endless – until they inevitably disappeared under the sofa or the dog ran away with it.

Speak & Spell

A spelling tutor disguised as a toy, Speak & Spell made learning surprisingly fun (until you tried spelling “antidisestablishmentarianism”). Its robotic voice is seared into our collective memory and will forever live on in Toy Story.

Stretch Armstrong

The stretchy superhero who could be pulled, twisted, and squashed without breaking. He was practically indestructible – unless you got curious about what was inside (spoiler: it wasn’t muscles).

Mr. Frosty

Who didn’t want to make their own snow cones at home? Mr. Frosty was the coolest (pun intended) kitchen gadget of the 80s, even if his ice-shaving skills left a bit to be desired.

He was not in-fact “so much fun” – just really sticky and disappointing.

Lights Alive

Picked this up from the bootsale for 50p. Anyone else with neurodivergence will remember this or lite brite with a fond nostalgia.

Nostalgic Toys From the 90’s

The 90s were a golden age for toys – back when life was simpler, Saturday morning cartoons ruled (I miss Sonic SatAM), and your biggest dilemma was which toy to beg your dad for Christmas next.

From digital pets to action figures, the toys of the 90s weren’t just playthings; they were everything. Whether it was the thrill of trading Pokémon cards on the playground (or having them stolen) or the chaos of a Nerf battle in the living room, these toys defined an entire generation.

For me, Tamagotchis were the GOAT. Sure, they taught us responsibility, but they also taught us the crushing guilt of accidentally letting a digital pet “die.” What about you? Did your Furby wake up in the middle of the night and scare the life out of you? Or were you the playground Pog champion everyone feared?

Pokémon Cards

These trading cards were more than just collectibles – they were playground currency. A shiny Charizard could make you a legend, I had three of the damn things before a “friend” stole them.

Beanie Babies

Stuffed animals turned into a worldwide obsession. Everyone thought their Beanie Baby collection would fund their retirement. I know my mum sank a good grand into them…

Polly Pocket

Tiny worlds that fit in your pocket. Polly and her pals were the queens of portable play—until their pieces inevitably got lost in the carpet.

Mighty Max

The “boy” version of Polly Pocket, Mighty Max had creepy creatures, miniature monsters, and enough horror vibes to keep kids entertained for hours.

Buzz Lightyear Figures

“To infinity and beyond!” After Toy Story hit cinemas, Buzz Lightyear figures flew off the shelves faster than a hyperspeed rocket.

Pogs

Who knew cardboard discs could cause so much excitement—and so many playground arguments? Slammers were where the real power was.

Bop It

“Bop it! Twist it! Pull it!” The ultimate test of coordination (and patience). It was all fun and games until someone failed at “Flick It.”

Spice Girls Dolls

Girl power in doll form. Whether you were a Baby, Sporty, or Scary fan (Ginger spice for me), these dolls made you feel like part of the band – bonus points if you got the lollypops as well!

LEGO (Pirates and Technic Sets)

LEGO kept its iconic status in the 90s with pirate ships and Technic sets. Building your masterpiece was satisfying – and going to Legoland to get your drivers license was a right of passage. (One I still need to share with my younger three children!).

Nerf Guns

Foam darts flew across living rooms everywhere, turning siblings into rivals and pets into unwilling targets. Nerf wars were the stuff of legends. So much so that the family and I have an armory of at least 20+ guns – just wish the bullets lasted longer!

More Nostalgia

That’s all I’ve got for now as the kids are screaming at me to get outside, what toys do you have fond memories of from your childhood? Leave a comment below or get in touch and i’ll add as many as I can!