Back When Toys Were Actually Fun
If you grew up in the 1980s, there’s no way you forgot about these childhood gems. Back then, you didn't need the internet or a fancy touchscreen to stay entertained—all you needed was your imagination and a few figures from your favorite cartoon! Some toys were downright ridiculous, others were weirdly clever, and quite a few have become valuable collectibles today. But even if you don’t keep yours in pristine condition, these 20 classics deserve another moment in the spotlight.
Worlds of Wonder; Forsse, Earl Kenneth on Wikimedia
1. He-Man Action Figures
Let’s ignore the terrible movie they just made and focus on what He-Man used to be! Every kid wanted to defend Castle Grayskull, and Mattel's Masters of the Universe figures made that possible in 1982. He-Man, Skeletor, and Battle Cat became household favorites, especially once the original TV series hit screens in 1983.
2. Popples
Brownie points if you remember Popples! If not, allow us to enlighten you. These guys were colorful stuffed animals that could fold themselves into their own little pouches. You had Party, Pancake, and P.C., all of which became favorites. Honestly, who wouldn't miss a stuffed animal that could turn itself into a ball?
Alexandre Simões Martins on Pexels
3. Micro Machines
We reached a new dawn of car toys when Micro Machines came out in ‘87. It wasn’t just cars, either! You had your pick of the litter from miniature cars, trucks, and airplanes that were way smaller than regular toy vehicles. Sure, our parents stepped on way more of them, but we were too busy having fun to notice.
4. Rainbow Brite Dolls
Rainbow Brite arrived in 1984, and she was everything Barbie wanted to be. She came complete with colorful outfits, her horse Starlite, and adorable companions called Sprites. The dolls were based on the popular Hallmark character, and anyone who owned Twink or one of the original dolls easily remembers how badly they wanted the entire collection.
5. M.U.S.C.L.E. Figures
It didn’t matter the decade—little rubber wrestlers have always been popular. Take these guys. They first appeared in 1985, and their unusual designs made them impossible to put down. Mattel sold M.U.S.C.L.E. figures in packs and small plastic trash cans, giving us dozens of strange characters to collect and trade, too.
6. Pound Puppies
If our parents wouldn’t let us have a dog, they could at least give us a Pound Puppy! Before you could adopt a virtual pet, you were begging for these soft stuffed dogs. They even came with adoption papers that made ownership feel very official.
Ray or Jane Schumin on Wikimedia
7. Glo Worm
Playskool's Glo Worm quickly became a familiar sight in just about every kid’s bedroom. How could it not? Squeezing its body made its face light up, giving all of us something comforting to hold at bedtime. We bet today’s adults would appreciate one, too.
Carlos Alberto Sanches on Pexels
8. ThunderCats Action Figures
When the ThunderCats series premiered in ‘85, kids suddenly had another group of heroes to obsess over. Move over, He-Man—it’s time for Lion-O, Mumm-Ra, and Cheetara! If you owned the Sword of Omens accessory, we know you also spent your summers practicing Lion-O's battle cry.
9. My Pet Monster
Monsters don’t sound like they’d make good pets, but lo and behold, they did in the ‘80s! This 1986 weirdo featured a toothy grin, orange restraints that could break apart, and an appearance that was anything but cuddly. But we loved him anyway, and he became a beloved bedroom companion.
10. Jem and the Holograms Dolls
Another popular TV series, another Hasbro line of dolls. With flashy outfits and accessories inspired by the fictional rock band, these dolls offered something different from the typical fashion toys. Kids could spend an entire afternoon organizing without selling a single ticket.
Ryan Quick from Greenbelt, MD, USA on Wikimedia
11. Madballs
Try not to let the insane name bump you. Madballs were simply rubber balls decorated with hilariously grotesque faces. They had equally crazy names as well, like Oculus Orbus and Slobulus. Whoever you got, they all had bulging eyes, distorted expressions, and other wonderfully unpleasant details.
12. Keypers
These sure were a keeper! Tonka's Keypers were colorful plastic animals that doubled as containers for small treasures. Characters like the snail Belle and the swan Joy actually had special compartments that could be secured with accompanying keys. You not only got a best friend, but you also got a place to store friendship bracelets or pocket money.
13. Teddy Ruxpin
Teddy Ruxpin made his debut in 1985, and he was unlike anything we’d seen. This guy could tell stories while moving his eyes and mouth—it was remarkable at the time. All you had to do was pop a special cassette tape into his back, then watch him narrate adventures. Of course, nothing quite matched the disappointment of discovering that Teddy's batteries had died halfway through a story.
Worlds of Wonder; Forsse, Earl Kenneth on Wikimedia
14. Battle Beasts
Hasbro introduced Battle Beasts to us in 1987, offering tiny armored animal warriors equipped with removable weapons. If that wasn’t enough, each figure had a heat-sensitive chest emblem that revealed a symbol when warmed by a finger. All that was left to do was find out if you had a shark, tiger, or crocodile.
15. Strawberry Shortcake Dolls
Even if you never had the pleasure of owning one, you know all about Strawberry Shortcake dolls! They first hit shelves in the early ‘80s, and you could pick between any number of whimsical characters, like Blueberry Muffin, Lemon Meringue, or Raspberry Tart. Even now, we’d recognize their scents anywhere.
Joe Haupt from USA on Wikimedia
16. M.A.S.K. Vehicles
M.A.S.K. combined action figures with vehicles, so it was basically the perfect twofer. Matt Trakker's Thunderhawk could transform from a red sports car into a fighter aircraft, while other vehicles revealed hidden weapons and their own unique forms. The best part was discovering all those moving panels!
17. Sweet Secrets
For those unfamiliar, Sweet Secrets toys offered kids mini dolls that could fold into decorative objects (think jewelry). Introduced in the mid-1980s, the collection included characters tucked inside colorful lockets and similar plastic accessories. If you owned one, you definitely spent more time opening and closing its compartment than actually anything.
18. Ghostbusters Toys
Where would the ‘80s be without this franchise? You bet your boots we wanted Peter Venkman, Slimer, and all the unusual ghosts from the series. Anyone lucky enough to receive a toy proton pack probably spent the next weeks pretending that every noise in the house needed an exorcism.
Willian Justen de Vasconcellos on Unsplash
19. Boglins
Boglins weren’t your everyday stuffed animal. These rubber hand puppets had expressive faces, movable eyes, and flexible mouths that allowed you to create all sorts of ridiculous expressions. They were especially popular with mischievous kids who couldn’t wait to terrorize their siblings.
20. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Action Figures
Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello, and Michelangelo: those names should mean something to you. They mean something to us! The original lineup included recognizable villains, too, like Shredder, Bebop, and Rocksteady. The only problem is that you always lost the removable weapons.
