The Cabbage Patch Kids prove that you don't need to reinvent the wheel to be wildly successful in the toy market. First introduced in 1978, the Cabbage Patch Kids wouldn't become a worldwide phenomenon until a few years later in the '80s. And that's despite the fact that there's really not much that differentiates them from other dolls!
The wild popularity of the Cabbage Patch Kids was also responsible for the creation of another hot '80s toy trend--the Garbage Pail Kids. Originally a trading card line, the Garbage Pail Kids parodied the clean-cut, wholesome vibe of the Cabbage Patch Kids with grosser, more crude characters. Despite being an '80s phenomenon, both toy companies are still in business today!
Compared to the technology of today, video game consoles of the 1980s may as well be as old as cave paintings. However, without these early products, the video game industry wouldn't be what it currently is. And one of the most influential and in-demand consoles of the '80s was the Atari 2600.
While other companies were trying to become the next big thing in the video game world, during the '80s, the Atari 2600 was the clear winner. And, for kids during this time, this was the pinnacle of technology. While Atari is a shell of its former self these days, '80s kids still think fondly about unwrapping the 2600 on Christmas morning.
The Rubik's Cube is a deceptively simple puzzle that kept '80s kids occupied for hours. If you've never played with one yourself, you have no idea getting all the colored squares to match up was! This toy went worldwide in 1980 and quickly became a must-have for '80s kids who wanted to stay up with the times.
However, the Rubik's cube wasn't just a hit among kids--a lot of adults got in on the fun, too! To this day, people still gather annually for cube competitions, with contestants solving the puzzle sometimes in a matter of seconds. Over the years there have been several variations created for those wanting a new challenge, including a very intimidating-looking 17x17 cube!
Teddy Ruxpin was a bit of a divisive toy for '80s kids. Either you loved the cute, cuddly bear or you were totally creeped out by its animatronics. Despite the creepy factor, Teddy Ruxpin was flying off the shelves and ended up being the best-selling toy in the United States during 1985 and 1986.
Like a lot of popular toys of this era, Teddy was popular enough to warrant his own spin-off cartoon series, which ran for two seasons and 65 episodes. Whether you were a Teddy Ruxpin fan or secretly thought he might be a possessed doll, there was no escaping this toy phenomenon in the '80s!
Simon wasn't your average '80s toy. While it may have been a simple electronic game of memory, it became a cultural touchstone, and it still comes up when you talk about the decade today. Despite being a hot toy, Simon was shockingly expensive. When it launched, it was sold for $25, which would be the equivalent of $99 today. Simon may be fun, but it's not $100 fun!
Like many other retro toys, Simon wasn't just a product of the '80s. Several variations of the game have been produced over the years, allowing kids from all generations to get in on the fun. However, nothing will ever beat finding an OG Simon under the tree on Christmas morning in the '80s!
