Toys that only children from the 1980s will remember

Thanks to their unique marketing strategy – where each doll was “adoptable” with its own name and birth certificate – Cabbage Patch Kids became the defining toy of the decade, so much so that adults also got in on the craze. The US even saw a series of “Cabbage Patch riots”, where adults got into physical scuffles while trying to score one of the dolls. While today’s generation might laugh, they seem to also have a fondness for ugly-yet-adorable collectables if the Labubu hype is anything to go by…

‘80s kids were the first generation to grow up with these familiar candy-colored plushies, which became so popular they scored their own TV specials during the decade. Armed with their “Belly Badges” that symbolized their unique personalities, Care Bears are credited not just with being a cuddly bedtime toy, but helping kids express their feelings.

It’s fair to say the ‘80s spearheaded gaming console development, and few companies were doing it like Atari. Enter the Atari 2600, which peaked in popularity at the start of the decade and delivered an authentic arcade experience in the comfort of your living room. Armed with your very own joystick, it was easy to spend hours blasting Space Invaders and chomping dots on Pac-Man – especially when the graphics felt revolutionary.

Another timeless toy that galloped onto ‘80s shelves was the original My Little Pony, adored for their colourful, sparkly design and complete with brushable hair. Like Care Bears, the toys boasted a “cutie mark” that represented their unique character, so the desire to collect every one of the pastel ponies – and their matching dinky accessories – was basically every child’s dream.

Mattel’s famous toy line hit shelves at the turn of the decade and enjoyed a significant boost in popularity thanks to the animated show He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (1983), which became one of the biggest hits of the decade. These tiny plastic bodybuilders were a staple in every action-figure aisle, and came with their own little comics – and maybe we’ll see a resurgence thanks to the upcoming live-action film, set for release this year.

Before the days of Switches or DS consoles, Nintendo first broke into the home gaming market with its NES, which became the benchmark for consoles to come. While it feels worlds away from the sleek designs of today, you can’t beat the nostalgia of a game of Super Mario or Zelda on one of these trend-setting devices, which became one of the biggest gaming systems of the decade.

Hasbro’s answer to the He-Man craze, these “Real American Hero” action figures dominated the toy market, also entertaining kids across the pond under the name “Action Force”. The company later brought Snake Eyes and Cobra Commander to the screen with a range of hit cartoons, and these original nifty figurines are still in high demand by toy collectors today.

“More Than Meets The Eye”, Transformers first hit shelves in 1984 before rolling into movie stardom with a popular animated film in 1986. While the franchise is still going strong today with a slew of live-action movies, nothing can beat the first jaw-dropping wave of toys where kids discovered that these cars and trucks literally transformed into robots – mind-blowing stuff.

Hours of creative fun away from a screen, coupled with no clean up, were enough to make every kid’s parents adore this revolutionary light-up device. Although they first hit shelves two decades earlier, Lite-Brites ballooned in popularity during the ‘80s thanks to new editions licensed where kids could make pop culture figures like Mickey Mouse and Snoopy – plus, neon lights do feel very ‘80s. 

Marking yet another iconic franchise that first made its appearance in the ‘80s, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles first appeared in a comic book series before being immortalized in plastic after their resounding popularity. An animated series also dropped in 1987 that ran for 10 seasons, and it’s safe to say these “Heroes in a Half Shell” enjoyed their fame long after the decade ended.