Toys · 1998
Electronic Pets and Playground Fever
In 1998, toy aisles were defined by high-tech digital companions and high-stakes playground trading crazes. From robotic furry pets to collectible plastic game pieces, kids and parents alike lined up around blocks to score the year's hottest items.
- Tiger Electronics | Interactive Animatronic
Furby
This owl-like animatronic creature took the holiday shopping season by storm with its eerie ability to learn English and speak Furbish.
- Wizards of the Coast | Card Game
Pokémon Trading Card Game
Arriving in North America in late 1998, these collectible cards sparked a massive playground trading obsession as kids scrambled to collect holographic cards.
- LEGO Group | Robotics Construction
LEGO Mindstorms Robotics Invention System 1.0
Combining plastic bricks with a programmable micro-computer block, this landmark kit allowed builders to code and assemble real working robots.
- Cranium Inc. | Party Board Game
Cranium
Blending trivia, drawing, acting, and clay sculpting, this clever multi-activity board game became an overnight smash hit at dinner parties.
- Ty Inc. / McDonald's | Plush Craze
Ty Teenie Beanie Babies
Millions of collectors swarmed fast-food drive-thrus to snap up miniature plush toys packaged inside Happy Meals during a frantic nationwide promotion.
- ToyCraze | Plastic Collectible Craze
Gogo's Crazy Bones
Inspired by ancient bone-throwing games, these small molded plastic characters became a huge schoolyard phenomenon for trading and flicking games.
- Hasbro / Kenner | Action Figures
Small Soldiers Action Figures
Tied to the summer blockbuster, these rugged Commando Elite and Gorgonite figures brought movie-accurate battle action to bedrooms with working accessories.
- Bandai | Virtual Pet
Tamagotchi Angel
This popular virtual pet spin-off tasked players with raising a heavenly digital creature, using motion sensors to tap the screen and scare off intruding bats.
Enjoyed your trip back in time?