Everyone remembers the big 90s toys. But for every Tamagotchi and Furby, there was a toy that ruled one birthday party or one summer and then quietly disappeared. These are the forgotten 90s toys that deserve a moment of recognition. You almost certainly had at least three of them.
Quick answer
Popular but forgotten 90s toys include Dream Phone, Socker Boppers, Skip-It, Moon Shoes, Gak, Floam, Yak Bak, Sky Dancers, Mighty Max, Treasure Trolls, Puppy Surprise, Crazy Bones and Tech Deck.
Key takeaways
- Many forgotten toys were Nickelodeon-era goo and gadgets.
- Several were briefly huge, then banned, recalled or replaced.
- Some, like Tech Deck, are still sold today.
20 forgotten 90s toys
| # | Toy | Era | What it did |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dream Phone | Early 90s | Call boys on a giant pink phone to find your secret admirer |
| 2 | Socker Boppers | 90s | Inflatable boxing gloves for living-room fights |
| 3 | Skip-It | Late 80s–90s | Spin it on your ankle and count your skips |
| 4 | Moon Shoes | 90s | Mini trampolines strapped to your feet |
| 5 | Gak | Early 90s | Squishy, noisy Nickelodeon goo |
| 6 | Floam | Mid 90s | Moldable goo full of tiny foam beads |
| 7 | Yak Bak | Mid 90s | A handheld voice recorder for silly messages |
| 8 | Talkboy | 1992 | The cassette recorder from a holiday movie sequel |
| 9 | Sky Dancers | 1994 | Fairy dolls that spun up into the air |
| 10 | Mighty Max | Early 90s | Skull and monster playsets that opened up |
| 11 | Treasure Trolls | Early 90s | Neon-haired trolls with a gem in their belly |
| 12 | Puppy Surprise | Early 90s | A plush dog with a surprise number of puppies inside |
| 13 | Crazy Bones | Late 90s | Tiny collectible figures for flicking games |
| 14 | Tech Deck | Late 90s | Fingerboards for desk-top skate tricks |
| 15 | Bop It | 1996 | Bop it, twist it, pull it, faster and faster |
| 16 | Pogs | Mid 90s | Milk caps and slammers |
| 17 | Polly Pocket compacts | Early 90s | Tiny worlds inside a clamshell |
| 18 | Water blasters | 90s | Pump-action summer soakers |
| 19 | Magic 8 Ball | Evergreen | Every sleepover's fortune teller |
| 20 | Hit Clips | 2000 | Tiny one-song music players |
- Dream PhoneWho has a crush on you?
- Socker BoppersInflatable boxing gloves
- Gak and FloamSquish, stretch, repeat
- Moon ShoesMini trampolines for feet
- Yak BakPocket voice recorder
- Sky DancersSpinning fairy dolls
The goo era
Nickelodeon turned slime into merchandise. Gak squished and made rude noises in its container, and Floam let kids mold beaded foam into shapes that inevitably ended up in the carpet. Parents hated them; kids loved them. See more of the network's world in 90s Nickelodeon shows.
Toys that talked back
Voice recorders were a 90s obsession. The Talkboy became a must-have after it appeared in a hit holiday movie sequel, and Yak Bak put a tiny recorder in every backpack. Dream Phone took it further with a big pink phone that "called" boys to give you clues about your crush.
Fun fact: Sky Dancers were recalled in 2000 because the spinning dolls could fly off unpredictably and hit kids, which only made them more legendary.
Collect, flick and trade
Small collectibles were made for recess. Pogs, Crazy Bones and trading cards all followed the same pattern: collect them, play a game, win your friends' pieces and then get them banned by the principal. Read more in 90s trading cards and 90s fads.
Where to find them now
Thrift stores
Bins of loose 90s toys still turn up regularly.
Online resale
Search the exact toy name and check sold listings.
Re-releases
Some, like Polly Pocket and Bop It, have modern versions.
Your parents' attic
The most underrated source of all.
Try this: Find more forgotten favorites in the toys collection of the 90s Museum.
Conclusion
Forgotten 90s toys are proof that the decade's toy box was much deeper than the famous names. For the classics, see popular 90s toys, and if you've found a box of them, check 90s toys worth money.
Frequently asked questions
What are some forgotten toys from the 90s?
Forgotten 90s toys include Dream Phone, Socker Boppers, Skip-It, Moon Shoes, Gak, Floam, Yak Bak, Sky Dancers, Mighty Max, Treasure Trolls, Puppy Surprise, Crazy Bones and Tech Deck.
What was Dream Phone?
Dream Phone was an electronic board game from the early 90s. Players used a big pink toy phone to call boys and collect clues to find out who had a crush on them.
What were Socker Boppers?
Socker Boppers were inflatable boxing gloves that let kids punch each other without getting hurt, and they were a 90s sleepover favorite.
What was Gak?
Gak was a squishy, stretchy compound sold by Nickelodeon in the early 90s that made funny noises when you squeezed it in its container.
Why were Sky Dancers recalled?
Sky Dancers were spinning fairy dolls launched from a base. They could fly unpredictably and caused injuries, which led to a recall in 2000.