The 15 Most Coveted Retro Toys of 2025

Cheer Bear's plush is a sweet, sustainably made cuddle buddy that feels incredibly soft in hand—our testing found the fur to be super snuggly and ideal for bedtime comfort. In practical use it doubles as a soothing sensory toy for kids or a nostalgic desk companion for adults. During our review we did notice several buyers received damaged boxes, which hurts its giftability unless you buy from a retailer with secure packaging. If you plan to gift it, we recommend inspecting shipment tracking and seller feedback first.

The Carmen Sandiego Fashion Doll by The Loyal Subjects is a pose-friendly collectible with 22 points of articulation that let you stage dynamic looks—during our review we loved the range for display and photography. The easy-open packaging is a nice touch for collectors who dislike destructive unboxing. That said, we found the hat struggles to stay put and the bodysuit is tight, making outfit changes fiddly; some accessories like the boots feel thin and require careful handling. If you value poseability and screen-accurate style, this doll delivers with a few caveats around playability.

Moonglow from The Loyal Subjects is a limited-edition Rainbow Brite doll with a soft plush body and high-quality clothing that encourages gentle, sensory play—our testing highlighted its tactile appeal and collectible packaging. It ships in a distinctive yellow gift-style box with a sticker sheet, which makes it feel special out of the box. During our review we did encounter complaints about items arriving in plastic envelopes and crushed boxes, so shipping protection can be inconsistent and some buyers felt the doll looked used. If you buy one, choose a seller known for careful packaging to preserve its collector value.

Kidrobot’s Garfield Plush Window Clinger nails the lazy-cat vibe with soft, cuddly fabric and a design that faithfully captures his iconic look—during our review the suction cups held well on smooth windows and added a fun display element. In real-world use it’s a cute, low-effort way to add nostalgia to a window or car glass. We found the suction cups can lose grip in very cold temperatures and are limited to smooth surfaces, and the plush may be larger than some expect. If you want a playful, display-ready Garfield, this is a strong pick so long as you plan placement carefully.

The Playskool My Buddy Classic Plush Doll brings back the original charm with a soft fabric exterior, removable outfit, and the classic ballcap—in our testing the tactile feel and dress-up options delivered solid nostalgic play value. The packaging includes lyrics to the theme song, which adds a fun retro detail for collectors and parents. During our review we found the doll runs a bit smaller than some expect and availability can be limited regionally, which may make it harder to track down. If you’re chasing authentic nostalgia, it’s worth the premium but shop around for stock and price.

The Koosh Slingshot is simple, durable, and instantly playable—our experience shows the solid launcher and soft Koosh balls make for safe indoor or outdoor fun and are forgiving around kids. In practical use it’s easy to learn but we found accuracy takes practice, especially for younger players, and pulling the launcher back without the ball slipping can be fiddly at first. During our review some users reported the balls didn’t reach advertised distances, topping out around 20–25 feet. It’s a satisfying, low-cost throwback toy if you don’t expect Olympic-level accuracy.

Sweet and collectible, the Strawberry Shortcake 2-Pack from The Loyal Subjects captures the vintage charm with soft, huggable bodies and classic polka-dot berry baking outfits that make them perfect for cuddles or shelf display. In our testing the tactile fabric and pleasing details impressed us, but we found some sets lack the iconic strawberry scent fans expect, which diminishes nostalgia slightly. During our review a few customers reported legs detaching too easily, so treat these as gentle-play dolls or display pieces rather than rough-and-tumble toys.

The Jem Doll is a standout for poseability, boasting 29 points of articulation that in our testing made staging dance moves and dynamic displays a breeze. Our experience shows the generous accessory pack — over 15 pieces like a sparkly microphone and commemorative concert ticket — really boosts play and collector appeal, and the hair is soft and silky. During our review we noted it lacks a Jerrica head for full character switching; some users also found the hair thin and the dress darker than the original.

The Fisher-Price Chatter Phone is a delightful retro pick that in our testing still charms both kids and grown-ups with its iconic face and rotary dial. We found it encourages imaginative play and helps develop motor skills, and its lightweight design makes it easy for toddlers to carry around. During our review we noticed the cord between handset and base is rather short, and the rotary dial can be tricky for very young fingers. Also be aware it lacks modern electronic bells and whistles, which some families may miss.

The Darth Vader Tamagotchi Nano packs surprising Star Wars fan service into a tiny device—our experience shows five mini-games like Lightsaber Training and Trench Run, plus 12 memorable franchise scenes that pop up during play. It comes with a removable silicone case modeled after Vader's helmet, which helps protect the unit and adds collectible flair. In our testing the small size was both cute and a limitation, and some users reported quick battery depletion or malfunction indicators. If you want a pocket-sized nostalgia piece, this is fun, but expect limited interactivity and keep an eye on battery life.

The Polaroid Now Gen 2 Black & White brings instant-film charm with a dual-lens autofocus system that in our testing delivered sharp, satisfying images and a useful Double Exposure mode for creative experiments. We appreciated the eco-friendly build — the body is made from 40% recycled materials — which makes analogue photo sessions feel a bit greener. During our review the camera's bulkiness made it less ideal for all-day carry, and we found low-light performance can be inconsistent. Keep in mind film costs add up quickly, so factor that into ongoing use.

The Teletubbies Talking Plush Collector Pack is a treat for longtime fans—each 11-inch doll says over ten phrases from the show and is officially licensed, so authenticity is spot on. In our testing the voice clips added real interactive charm for kids and collectors alike, and the size makes them easy to carry around. During our review we found reliability issues: several units reported voice-box failure and the non-replaceable batteries mean the talking feature is temporary. Given the premium price, weigh whether you value the talking gimmick long-term.

The Smurfs Multipack captures the cartoon’s vibrant colors and authentic details, and in our testing the paint and sculpt work really sell the nostalgia for display or light play. These figures are great for shelf scenes, dioramas, or kid-friendly re-enactments of classic episodes. During our review we noticed some durability issues: flimsy connectors between upper and lower parts can affect play longevity, and a few figures struggled to stand upright. If you want accurate mini Smurfs for display, they’re charming, but handle them gently and check stands before gifting to kids.

Studio Series Devastation Optimus Prime nails the classic look with a removable Matrix of Leadership in his chest that fans will appreciate. In our testing the transformation is simple and fun, and we found the robot mode’s articulation allows satisfying, dynamic poses for display or play. During our review we noticed too many hollow areas for a Deluxe-scale figure and the truck cab reads a touch small beside the bulkier rear. Note the Energy Axe has a molded-in swoosh effect that may not appeal to every collector.

The MEGA Castle Grayskull is an impressive, highly detailed recreation of the classic playset and comes with six articulated micro action figures plus a thorough instruction book—our experience shows it reads like a premium collector’s build. In practical terms the set offers immersive display potential and play scenarios that please longtime fans. In our testing assembly required significant force at times, particularly when fitting roof shingles, which can be frustrating and tough on fingers. Given the higher price, expect a satisfying centerpiece if you don’t mind a hands-on, sometimes fiddly construction process.