The 51 Best Toys of 2020 Your Kids Will Love
The 51 Best Toys of 2020 Your Kids Will Love
If there’s one thing we know for sure, it’s that kids today are extremely lucky when it comes to toys. The toys that came out this year are incredibly innovative, designed to spark their imaginations, allow them to become their favorite characters and teach them everything from STEM concepts to social-emotional learning. Did we mention they are also just incredibly fun to play with? From toddlers to teens, everyone will find a new toy this year that can become their very favorite.
So, what trends can we identify from the hottest toys of 2020? Kids still love to be surprised: mystery unboxing, blind bags and collectible surprises are still big this year. Water is also a hot new ingredient in toys, and you can find lots of items that transform or change colors when dipped in liquid. And kids still love getting their hands dirty, messing around with compounds that you can squish, squeeze or stretch.
Parents will be happy to know that environmental sustainability is becoming a big buzzword, too: Plant-based plastics are on the rise, as are toys where the packaging is either recyclable or re-used as part of a playset. That way, you don’t have that extra layer of guilt if you come home with one too many toys in your cart — and who can blame you when they’re all so much fun!
These are the popular toys and gifts for kids we've spotted through the year as embodying some or all of these trends and more.
Zero Gravity Laser
Air Hogs
amazon.com
$34.99
This lightweight race car can drive on any smooth surface at high speeds, including the wall and ceiling. If that's not cool enough, it's controlled by an LED laser. Just point it anywhere and the car will follow. Ages 8+
Pinkfong Baby Shark Dancing DJ
WowWee
walmart.com
$33.88
Baby Shark is going to drop the beat! As if the song wasn't already stuck in your head permanently, this little guy comes programmed with seven different "Baby Shark" songs and remixes. And it can tell when you're dancing, so it boogies down when you do! The fins flap, and the body rocks back in forth for the cutest sharky dance moves ever. You can also play games like freeze dance with your undersea friend. (Parents: Get some earplugs.) Ages: 2+
Play-Doh Compounds
Play-Doh
amazon.com
$14.99
The slime trend is not going way, and we can see why — there's just something so oddly satisfying about taking something in your hand that squishes, stretches, or crunches under your fingers. OG Play-Doh fits that bill, but Play-Doh is also coming out with a series of new compounds to keep those hands happy. Look for Play-Doh Slime, Super Stretch, Hydroglitz, Krackle, Elastix, Super Cloud, and Foam, all of which feel just a little bit different to the touch. Ages 3+
RELATED: The Best Sensory Toys for Exploring Different Textures, Sights, and Sounds
CurliGirls
CurliGirls
walmart.com
$9.99
Not only are these dolls collectible and cute, they come with a fun twist: You can style their hair without any additional equipment. Simply pull on a strand of hair, and it'll coil up into a tight curl. (The harder you pull, the tighter the curl.) If you want to set it straight again, all you have to do is dip the doll in warm water. Age 3+
Mega Bloks Peek-a-Block Animals
Mega
amazon.com
$9.99
You wouldn't think it'd be possible to combine peekaboo with construction blocks, but Mega Bloks found a way. Taken by themselves, these animals' faces are hidden behind their hands, and they're curled up into a ball that you can roll or toss. But, once you stack 'em up on a peg, the arms fly open and you can see their faces. Buy them individually to incorporate into your existing Mega Blok collection, or get a set like the amusement park that comes with slides for the balls to roll down. Ages 1+
RELATED: Amazon Says These Are Going to Be the Hottest Toys of 2020
Secret Agent Mystery Mission Case
RYAN'S WORLD
amazon.com
$59.99
Ryan fans can play detective starting with figuring out the code to unlock this "top secret" briefcase, then revealing the mystery messages to discover exclusive figurines, spy gear and "wrist communicators" (a.k.a. walkie talkies). Ages 3+
Easy-Clean Finger Paint
Crayola
Michael's
$29.99
Parents will owe Crayola a huge debt of thanks for this one: You place the paper and paint inside a plastic case with a clear, flexible top, then hand it to your toddler to go to town. Your little artist can still make a beautiful masterpiece, but the paint stays off his hands, so you don't have to worry about him adding some "artistic" touches to your couch or clothes. Ages: 1+
RELATED: 20 Best Toys for 1-Year-Olds Growing Out of Their Baby Gifts
Crayola Paper Flower Science Kit
Crayola
$29.99
Toys with a STEM/STEAM focus are hot, and Crayola's Paper Flower Science Kit is the perfect blend of science and DIY craft. Little scientists mix up colors and dye, then plant a paper flower in the mixture. Afterwards, they can see as the colors wick their way up the stem and create a pattern on the petals (which can then decorate a cool, artsy bedroom). Age: 7+
Care Bears Unlock the Magic Interactive Figures
Care Bears
walmart.com
$14.99
The Care Bears are back, and brighter and more expressive than ever! But these aren't just mere figures: Press on their paws, and they can talk, tell jokes, and sing. Collect more than one, and the bears will interact with each other (and, yes, combine to do a Care Bear Stare). Ages 4+
LeapFrog Pick up and Count Vacuum
LeapFrog
walmart.com
$27.88
Little kids love to pretend clean. (Why oh why they can't keep that love of cleaning into their teen years?) This cheery vacuum will really pick up the colorful "dust bunny" discs if your child rolls the vacuum over them. Not only that, it'll count how many bunnies your kids have cleaned and issue little challenges, like telling them to pick up the blue ones, so they can practice numbers and colors, too. Ages 2+
RELATED: A List of All the Best Toys You Can Get For Toddlers in 2020
Singing Elsa Doll
Disney Frozen
amazon.com
$17.99
Some things never change, like your kid's obsession with Frozen and Disney's endless lineup of Frozen merch. Press a button, and this Elsa doll lights up and sings "Into the Unknown" from Frozen 2. And don't forget the matching Anna doll, which sings "Some Things Never Change," natch.
Minions Babble Otto
Minions
walmart.com
$29.84
There have been other talking Minions toys before, but this one is just a little bit more magical: His mouth is an LED projection (not a mechanical animatronic), so it looks especially lifelike. And what does that mouth do? It talks, sings, laughs, and makes other silly sounds. It also responds to motion: If you rock it, it'll fall asleep and start snoring. Ages 4+
Playmobil 'Back to the Future' DeLorean Time Machine
PLAYMOBIL?
amazon.com
$44.73
Marty McFly, Doc Brown, and even Einstein the dog can play and re-play the events of Back to the Future with this DeLorean playset (which also comes with a case of plutonium for them to keep safe). The DeLorean lights up, makes sounds, and definitely won't rip a hole in the space-time continuum. The set comes out in time to celebrate the 35th anniversary of Back to the Future. Ages 6+
See My Feelings Mirror
Hand2Mind
hand2mind.com
$9.59
Everyone wants to develop kids' social-emotional learning, but it's hard to work that into a toy that's actually fun to use. Hand 2 Mind's See My Feelings mirror makes a game out of labeling their feelings — kids get to copy the facial expressions from different snap-in emotion slides. (Bonus: The mirror is shatter-proof.) Ages 4+
LEGO DOTS
LEGO
amazon.com
$28.50
LEGO moves in more of a DIY/crafty direction with the 2D LEGO Dots. Kids can use them to make jewelry holders and boxes, picture frames and holders, pencil cups, desk organizers, and bracelets, and you can buy "booster packs" to dress up the projects even further with fun patterns and emojis. Ages 6+
RELATED: LEGO's New DOTS Line Uses Flatter Tiles to Let Kids Customize Their Room and Accessories
Wreck Royale Cars
MGA Entertainment
bestbuy.com
$7.99
Every kid knows the best part of having a toy car is crashing it. The Wreck Royale cars guarantee a good smash-up each time; each one has spring-loaded bumpers that flip the car and send the pieces flying in different directions. Each car has a different flair and comes with special, decorative pieces to go with its theme, but kids can mix and match all the parts of all the cars to make their own creations (and then crash them all over again). Ages 5+
Hasbro Gaming Operation Game: Star Wars The Mandalorian Edition Board Game for Kids
Hasbro Gaming
amazon.com
$28.48
Don't worry, you won't be operating on Baby Yoda, but rather, you'll be using the tweezers to find his cup of broth, mudhorn egg and more. Ages 6+
LEGO DUPLO My First Alphabet Truck
LEGO
amazon.com
$58.88
This Duplo set will become your go-to gift for toddler birthdays. It comes with all the letters of the alphabet, plus some additional pieces and figures, so little ones can build to their hearts' content. Then, as they get older, they can spell out words and drive them around on the back of the truck. Ages 18 months+
Rattlesnake Jake
Goliath
amazon.com
$26.54
This is a game of nerves: Rattlesnake Jake comes curled around a pile of gold pieces, and players have to steal them from him. But watch out, because his rattle gets more intense, and then he strikes! Snatching the gold before the bite helps kids work on their fine-motor coordination. Ages 4+
Baby Grows Up
Baby Alive
macys.com
$59.99
The newest Baby Alive! doll starts off as a four-inch-tall baby and grows into a full-size "big girl" doll as your child takes care of and feeds her. As she grows up, the doll reveals 75+ sounds and phrases — plus, she can be reset so she can grow up again and again. Ages 3+
Educational Insights Design & Drill Bolt Buddies
Educational Insights
amazon.com
$29.49
Kids can really get a feel for engineering and construction with these playsets, which come with a kid-sized toy drill that helps them take apart and reassemble the toys. Three sets are available: a recycling truck, a rocket ship and a race car. Each comes with two little helpers: one human and one pet. Ages 3+
'Trolls World Tour' Color Poppin’ Poppy
DreamWorks Trolls
amazon.com
$19.97
This Poppy plush is just as energetic and musical as you'd want her to be. She can play games like Poppy Says, sing songs like "Trolls Just Want to Have Fun" and even DJ a little, but her coolest feature is her "paint" mode: You choose a color from her flower crown, and you can change the color of the strands of her hair just by touching them. She's a must-have for any fan of DreamWorks Trolls: World Tour. Ages 3+
Shape Shifter Olaf Plush
Disney Frozen
amazon.com
$16.83
With magnets and velcro, Olaf's parts can be taken apart, re-arranged and put back together. But he might have a thing or two to say about it: Stack his body pieces in different sequences to hear him say things like, "That doesn't feel right." Ages 3+
Mr. Potato Head Chips (Bundle of Five Chips)
Mr. Potato Head
walmart.com
$24.99
A new twist on a classic, the "chips" version Mr. Potato Head can be stacked and re-sorted, and the accessories snap into place. There are five chips and five accessories in each one, and you can mix-and-match with five different characters. Collecting them is as addictive as, well, eating potato chips. Ages 3+
Peekaboo Cookie Monster
Sesame Street
amazon.com
$18.49
Peekaboo never gets old, but it does feel new again with this Sesame Street friend. The ultra-adorable Cookie Monster hides his face behind his oversized cookie, then reveals it again while saying funny expressions like, "Hey! Me busy eating cookie!" Ages 18 months+
Rainbow Jellies Surprise Creation Kit
Rainbow Jellies
amazon.com
$25.42
Kids make their own in a half-art project, half-science experiment. Creators can customize their own squishy characters by choosing a face and a hairstyle, then set it in magic goo that turns it into a squishy when it dries. Ages 6+
Funkoverse: Golden Girls Expandalone
Funko
amazon.com
$18.99
Funkoverse is a strategy game that incorporates your favorite pop-culture characters and tailors the gameplay to their skills and abilities. A Golden Girls version already came out with Rose and Blanche, but now you can add Sophia and Dorothy to your collection. The best thing is, the characters are balanced across all the sets, so you can have your Golden Girls challenge Harry Potter, the DC superheroes, Dr. Ian Malcolm, or Rick and Morty. Our money's on Sophia! Ages 10+
Hape Silly Spaghetti
Hape
amazon.com
$20.00
Pretend food is always so much fun, but it's hard to reduce spaghetti into kid-kitchen form. Hape has perfected play pasta with its Silly Spaghetti. You can bend, twist and shape the felt-covered strands into crazy contortions, then clip on protein, veggies and even a face. The set comes with 13 pieces. Ages 3+
Hocus Pocus: The Game
Ravensburger
amazon.com
$15.99
There's Hocus Pocus, the movie. There's Hocus Pocus, the sequel book. Now get ready for Hocus Pocus: The Game. A cooperative board game, players all work together to use magic to ruin the Sanderson witches' potion before the sun rises, saving the kids of Salem in the process. It's a perfect game to play with your sis-tahs! Ages 8+
Shape Factory
Fat Brain Toys
amazon.com
$24.95
Every kid gets a shape sorter at some point, but they can really only do one thing with it: match the correct shape to the correct slot. With Fat Brain Toys's Shape Factory, one push of the orange button twists the top half of the sorter, which changes the shapes of all the slots. Now kids have to hunt for the right shape and the right slot, making it more of a challenge for those little brains. Ages 2+
Monopoly House Divided
Monopoly
walmart.com
$19.99
If the election brought out the long knives in your family, this is the game for your clan. Instead of buying and renting properties, you're trying to gain states and votes. You can establish campaign headquarters in your states to earn even more votes — but beware the Executive Power cards, which could land you in jail. Ages 8+
Marvel Villainous: Infinite Power
Ravensburger
amazon.com
$27.99
Your kids are probably already obsessed with the Disney Villainous board game series (and, BTW, the newest Perfectly Wretched version of Disney Villainous was released in March). But if they're more into superheroes than Disney movies, Marvel Villainous may be more in their wheelhouse. Players can choose to be Thanos, Hela, Ultron or one of two other secret Marvel villains. Then, they'll battle for world domination, using each villain's special abilities to their advantage while dodging challenges from the shared fate deck. Ages 12+
Treasure X Sunken Gold Treasure Ship
Treasure X
walmart.com
$34.99
Treasure X is known for getting kids to dig through various puzzles and compounds hunting for various surprises. For its new pirate ship set, treasure-hunters will have to defeat a sea beast, rescue a captain, explode a hatch and more, while looking for gold and other goodies. There are 25 levels to explore in each ship. Ages 5+
Make-Me-Over Challenge
ALEX
amazon.com
$27.99
Derived from a popular internet dare, the Make Me Over Challenge asks one player to put on a blindfold and then try to put makeup on another player — to hilarious results, of course. Remember, giggling only makes it harder to put makeup on neatly! Ages 8+
Helping Heroes Fire Station
VTech
walmart.com
$29.82
Parents are going to love the space-saving abilities of this one: When it's all unfolded, it's a fire station, complete with pole, helipad and even a little gym for the heroes to use to get in shape. But when a fire breaks out — or when the toy needs to be stored away — it all folds up into a fire truck that can race to the rescue, with working lights and sounds. Ages 18 months+
LEGO Creator 3-in-1 Monster Burger Truck
LEGO
amazon.com
$63.99
It's a monster truck. It's a hamburger food truck. It's ... both at the same time, with a hilarious brick burger on top! (And its got a real working suspension to boot.) The best part about this LEGO set is that, after the monster burger truck is built, you can disassemble everything and use the same bricks to make an off-road vehicle, and then take that apart and change it up into a weight-pulling tractor. It's three times the fun in one box! Ages 8+
Barbie Color Reveal Slumber Party Fun
Barbie
walmart.com
$37.49
Barbie fans already know about Barbie Color Reveal, where a doll comes obscured and painted in a monochromatic color, and is revealed when dipped in warm water. Now, kids can get even more surprises: The Barbie Color Reveal Slumber Party Fun set comes with 35 goodies to unbox, including a Barbie doll, a Chelsea doll and a pet, along with PJs, snacks and other fun things you'd need for a sleepover. The whole thing comes packaged in a what looks like a paint can, keeping with the "color reveal" theme. Ages: 3+
Little Friends Vacation Camper Play Set
HABA
amazon.com
$49.99
Camping playsets are all the rage right now, and there's no better way for toys to explore the great outdoors than in Haba's camper van. It comes with a motorized car that really tows the trailer. Then the roof comes off the camper so little ones can move the figures around inside, and then there's two chairs for them to relax in under a removable awning. The playset also comes with one Little Friends figure. Ages 3+
Nerf Halo MA40 Motorized Dart Blaster
Nerf
walmart.com
$49.99
Bring the Halo experience off the screen with Nerf's line of Halo-inspired blasters. The MA40 can unleash 10 darts in a row, but if that's too much power for you, the Mangler Dart Blaster is a smaller, more manageable and comes with six darts. Ages 8+
Paw Patrol Dino Rescue Dino Patroller
Paw Patrol
amazon.com
$54.96
The Paw Patrol is really on a roll with this vehicle, the first motorized vehicle in the Paw Patrol lineup. The all-terrain wheels can drive over obstacles, and it comes with a Chase figure and a T-Rex. Ages 3+
Star Wars "The Child" Animatronic Edition
Star Wars
walmart.com
$94.50
Admit it: Ever since you saw The Mandalorian on Disney+, you've wanted to adopt a "Baby Yoda" all your own. This is the next best thing. The Child (as it's officially called, since the character isn't really a baby version of Yoda) makes lifelike sounds and motions, including adorable baby coos, giggles and babbling noises. If he gathers all his strength, he can close his eyes and try to use the Force — but immediately has to take a Force nap afterwards, so lay him down and watch him sleep. Ages 4+
Botley 2.0 the Coding Robot
Learning Resources
amazon.com
$64.99
This little guy helps kids learn to code, without being glued to a screen. Kids can use the remote to build coding sequences of up to 150 steps, and it can play games like Botley Says. Build an obstacle course around your house, and see if your kids can program Botley to get around all the obstacles. Add in the Crashin' Construction accessory set, and Botley can stack up blocks and knock them down again. Ages 5+
Mama Josie the Kangaroo
FurReal friends
amazon.com
$34.99
Like all FurReal pets, Mama Josie makes ultra-realistic sounds and movements. But Josie is unique in that she comes with three joeys who need love and affection. Together, Josie and your kids can feed the joeys, give them kisses and nuzzle them with love. And, if Josie's happy about how it all goes down, she can do a hopping dance. Ages 4+
Scooby-Doo Adventure in the Mystery Mansion Playset
Playmobil
amazon.com
$99.99
This haunted mansion would be amazing even if it had no relation to Scooby-Doo: It has lots of little tricks, like a trap door in the floor, a revolving fireplace and a staircase that turns into a slide. Add in the Scooby-Doo characters, and you might want to take it and play with it all by yourself — if it weren't for your meddling kids. If $100 is too much of an investment, you can get a set with Scooby, Shaggy, and a ghost, or a Mystery Machine that comes with Daphne, Fred, and Velma. Ages 5+
RELATED: The Best Toys and Gifts for 2-Year-Olds, According to Parents and Parenting Experts
Imaginext DC Super Friends Super Surround Batcave
Fisher-Price
amazon.com
$124.00
Any Dark Knight fan would thrill to have a bat-bunker like this: The set comes with LED lights and sounds that alert Batman to when there's a villain afoot. Then, he can use the Batcave's projectile launchers, bat signal, batsuit displays, and other helpful features to go chase down the bad guy at put him int he first-floor jail. The set comes with five exclusive figures. Age: 3+
KidKraft Alexa 2-in-1 Kitchen & Market
KidKraft
amazon.com
$299.99
This is a two-sided playset: one is set up like a kitchen, and the other is a grocery store and market. What separates it from other playsets out there is the way the ingredients, which are equipped with RFID chips, interact with an Amazon Echo device. Alexa can "guide" kids through recipes and understand if they add the right ingredients to a pot — and make the appropriate sound effects. For a hot dog recipe, for example, she'll tell kids to put a pot of water on the stove, and then make a bubbling sound when it's boiling and a splashing sound when the hot dog is dropped in. Ages: 3+
Ghostbusters PSA Mega Mighties Stay Puft Marshmallow Man
Sure, there's a new Ghostbusters movie coming out in the future, but he longtime fans know it'll never get better than the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. This one changes its facial expression at the push of a button, and it's sized for preschool hands.
Ages: 3+
Price: $15
Expected release date: Fall/Winter 2020
Ghostbusters Proton Pack and Role-Playing Items
If one thing is true of all kids, it's this: Bustin' makes them feel good. To help them get rid of paranormal baddies, they're going to want to strap on this Proton Pack, and fill it with ghost-busting equipment like Hasbro's Proton Blasters, Ghost Whistle, and a PKE Machine.
Ages: 5+
Price: $15–$30
Expected release date: Fall/Winter 2020
Ryan’s World Fun House Playset
Ryan's fans can stage their own unboxing events at home. This playset comes with wooden, re-fillable mystery eggs, which can then be catapulted into the set. Watch as they slide down the slide, stop behind the mystery doors, or land in a ball pit (or lava pit). The three-level set comes with 26 pieces.
Ages: 3+
Price: $130
Expected release date: Fall/Winter 2020
Hot Wheels Cybertruck R/C
It'll cost you at least $40,000 to buy one of Tesla's buzzy, all-electric Cybertrucks. If you can't shell out for that, a radio-controlled Hot Wheels version is definitely the next best thing. It comes in two sizes: 1:10 for teens and collectors (it goes up to 25 mph!), or 1:64 for kids, which is compatible with all their other Hot Wheels cars.
Ages: 5+ for 1:64; 14+ for 1:10
Price: $20 for 1:64; $400 for 1:10
Expected release date: December 2020
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It's almost unfair how kids today get the best toys.