If you’ve ever visited Hamleys on Regent Street, or even spent countless hours browsing its website, you know the treasure trove of toys and games the legendary shop offers.
This year, Hamleys is celebrating its 265th anniversary. To mark the occasion, it released a top 100 list of the most iconic toys of all time.
So, whether you’re looking to reminisce about your childhood favourites or simply want some gift inspiration for your younger loved ones, keep reading to discover some of the list’s highlights from each decade since the 1940s.
1. Forties
If you’ve ever heard claimed it was “Colonel Mustard in the library with a candlestick”, you have the 1940s to thank for that.
The beloved murder-mystery game, Cluedo, has been testing detective skills (and potentially causing a row or two) since its release in 1949.
Another standout of the decade was the Slinky. Accidentally invented by the naval engineer, Richard James, in 1945, the toy sprang to popularity thanks to its ability to “walk” by itself.
2. Fifties
The 1950s were somewhat of a golden era for toys and games, some of which are just as loved even today.
Mr Potato Head debuted in 1952, and he was even the first toy to be advertised on TV. Interestingly, when the toy first launched, you actually had to supply your own potato!
Then, 1958 brought a toy that essentially changed everything: LEGO.
While the Danish company had been producing toys for several years already, notably with wood rather than plastic, the Classic Bricks set was the start of LEGO’s rise to international success.
In 1959, another incredibly iconic toy – Barbie – landed on shelves around the world. She quickly became a global phenomenon. Considering she was recently the titular character in a successful blockbuster film, it doesn’t seem as though Barbie’s influence will fade anytime soon.
3. Sixties
The 1960s marked the beginning of a significant cultural shift, and toys were also becoming more innovative and competitive. In fact, the decade was filled with games that continue to keep families occupied on rainy days.
- Mouse Trap had everyone excited to see a plastic boot start a chain reaction in 1963
- Operation turned everyone into would-be surgeons after its release in 1965
- Battleships (released in 1967) brought naval warfare tactics to homes worldwide.
It wasn’t just about games, either.
Tammy dolls, released in 1962, were a massive hit with children who wanted a more “wholesome” doll than the aforementioned Barbie.
4. Seventies
Whether you were raised in the 1970s or have fond memories playing the game with older relatives, there’s a good chance you remember the frenzy and excitement of Hungry Hippos. The game, which was released in 1978, involved slamming buttons to ensure your hippo consumed the most balls.
That same year was the start of Top Trumps. Today, it feels as though the card game has made a special pack for just about any topic imaginable, ranging from football and dinosaurs to space and pop stars.
Connect 4, a game released in 1974 that needs little introduction, also proved incredibly popular, while Playmobil – a LEGO-type product for younger children launched in the same year – saw similar success.
5. Eighties
The 1980s were the start of a historic turning point for toys. While physical ones were still available, electronics began to dominate the public’s imagination through arcade machines.
Yet, the real change came when Nintendo released the first Game Boy in 1989. Suddenly, people could become immersed in video games from the comfort of their own homes.
It wasn’t all screens, though. The famous quizzing board game, Trivial Pursuit, was launched in 1981, while Jenga allowed players to build (or, as was often the case, topple) a wooden tower in 1983.
6. Nineties
The “digital revolution” with toys continued in the 1990s. Tamagotchis landed in 1996, allowing children around the world to experience the joy (or stress) of keeping a digital pet alive.
It seemed as though the decade launched several collecting crazes. Beanie Babies rose above being just toys, becoming extremely valuable assets after their introduction in 1993.
Meanwhile, 1999 introduced the mighty Pokémon cards to the UK, which essentially inspired several different trading card brands over the following years.
After inspiring future TV programmes, films, and games, Pokémon has since become a monolith of pop culture.
7. Noughties
The 2000s continued the tech trend, and if you have children or grandchildren born in the noughties, you may remember the Wii.
Once again, Nintendo changed the face of gaming with its new console that involved swinging virtual tennis rackets or beating your friends at bowling in your own living room.
It wasn’t just consoles that dominated the decade, however. Bratz dolls landed on shelves in 2001, sporting fashion that suited the new millennium.
What’s more, Baby Alive dolls – reintroduced in 2006 – ramped up the realism of dolls by requiring feeding and a nappy change from time to time.
8. Twenty-tens
LEGO had been teaming up with brands for years by the 2010s, releasing iconic sets ranging from Star Wars to Lord of the Rings. Yet, the Harry Potter set, launched in 2018, made an especially significant mark.
And in 2017, Nintendo once again proved its understanding of markets, launching the Switch handheld console.
The sleek console – which you could play through either your TV or on the go – became a significant seller, allowing you to explore new worlds in Zelda or race friends in Mario Kart.