There is something magical about the toys we played with when we were kids. It doesn’t matter what generation we grew up in, those toys will always hold a special place in our hearts. Spending hours playing and using our imagination means those memories are deeply loved, and anytime we get to revisit those toys, it’s a boost of serotonin.
While many of the toys we played with as kids are no longer on store shelves, reminiscing and revisiting is never a bad thing to do. Just like ’90s fashion, things have gotten better in terms of games and toys. But there’s nothing quite like the simplicity of Game Boy or remembering to check-in with our Tamagotchi.
Have you ever wondered what the most popular ’90s toys were around the world? We know what we enjoyed playing with, but what about the rest of the world? If yes, we’ve got answers for you. Take a look at the top ’90s toys in each country – they’re full of retro surprises!
Canada
Was there anything as cool as the Tamagotchi? Nope! This toy allowed us to pretend we were in charge of something without having any actual responsibility. The handheld tech kept us up in the middle of the night, as we'd rush home from school to show our friends how awesome our digital friend was doing.
United States
We could probably all guess that Beanie Babies were super popular with us in the ’90s. It was pure frenzy — we had to collect them all, and we would be wildly excited when we found one we didn’t have. These are basically collector’s items now, and if you have any left, we’re a little jealous.
Mexico
There was something really magical about Polly Pocket toys – the original ones from the ’90s and not the ones that came out when our kids were little. These were literally pocket-sized, and the kids in Mexico clearly had a really good time playing with their sets, too.
Brazil
Polly Pocket was also the most popular toy in Brazil because they knew how to have fun during that decade, too. Some kids were lucky enough to have a few different scenes for their micro doll to play in. These compact toys delivered hours and hours of fun.
Puerto Rico
Betty Spaghetty was another character that had blonde hair and was responsible for inspiring an interest in the fashion world for so many kids. She was a cool preteen or teen girl who had all the latest tech, like laptops and a cell phone. While the doll is no longer in circulation, a picture of Betty will always bring back the best memories.
Great Britain
There aren’t a lot of games that are able to be played alone, with a friend, or a group of people – especially one that’s handheld. But that’s probably what made the ’90s Bop-It so popular in Great Britain. There are so many different versions now, but the original that asks to bop it, twist it, or pull it will forever be the best one.
Germany
Atari Jaguar is one of the word’s first video game consoles. It was released around the same time as other systems like Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo. While the brand didn’t win against the other video game consoles over time, Germany says it was a favorite to play in the ’90s.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong’s favorite ’90s toy was the same as Canada – the beloved Tamagotchi. The handheld digital pet was popular around the world after a Japanese toymaker released it to the world. We would spend hours taking care of our egg and watch it turn into a small digital pet, and we worked hard to make sure that pet was happy, fed, and loved on.
Egypt
The Game Boy was the coolest thing for anyone who liked new technology in the ’90s or if they were really into computer games. The first hand-held video game console was the favorite toy in Egypt, and we’re guessing the kids and teens spent lots of time trying to out-rank whatever score their best friends were able to achieve on the same game.
India
This ’90s toy was a unique doll that danced in the sky, just like the toy’s name. These Sky Dancers were a favorite toy in India and were so loved that a kid’s TV show based on them was created, too. While there were kids and parents who loved this toy, it wasn’t as safe as it probably could have been, so it didn’t last on the market too long. However, those memories are for life.
Korea
After the popularity of the Game Boy, the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) came next, and it was the favorite in Korea. The SNES came after the original Nintendo did, allowing players to play slightly faster games with more challenges to overcome.
Slovakia
Who wasn’t obsessed with their Furby in the ’90s? This creature was fuzzy, adorable, and interactive, and having more than one made the toy even more fun. Everyone loved them — especially kids in Slovakia. We spent hours pretend-feeding them, mimicking that strange sound they made, and probably annoying the heck out of our parents.
Pakistan
Just like Egypt, Pakistan really took to the Nintendo Game Boy in the ’90s. Of course, if we were to show our kids now what a working Game Boy looked like, they’d laugh. However, back in the day, having one of these was the coolest things ever.
Kenya
Just like in Mexico and Brazil, Kenya’s favorite toy in the ’90s was Polly Pocket. This toy was inspired by a dad who wanted to give his daughter a toy that could fit in the palm of her hand. The very first Polly scene was created in a literal makeup compact, which was such a cool idea at the time (and honestly still is now).
Check out the full map
The Toy Zone discovered the top ’90s toy in every country, and taking a peek at the whole map is pretty fascinating. It seems like many countries had similar favorites and a lot of these toys are no longer being made today. Makes us wonder what favorite toy our kids have that will be extinct when they’re our age.
Take a look at the entire map on The Toy Zone.
