What Toys Were Popular Last Year
What Toys Were Popular Last Year? If you’re curious about the gifts that lit up Christmas morning in 2024 or want to shop smarter for 2025, this guide dives into the biggest hits from last festive season.
Selected by the Toy Retailers Association, the toys that made the 2024 Top 10 Christmas Toys list blended innovation, collectability, and timeless fun.
How we review toys explains our process for choosing sources, testing criteria, and linking standards for external authority references.
For independent roundups and pricing context, see John Lewis’ best Christmas toys and Which?’s guide to trending toys and where to find them cheapest.
From cuddly plush to roaring tech beasts, these toys defined what kids truly wanted.
Each year, the official list reveals the toys that captured the UK’s imagination, and 2024 was no exception. Supercharged by TikTok, YouTube, and trusted brands, these playthings became household staples.
So, let’s unpack the What Toys Were Popular Last Year lineup and explore what made them so irresistible—and what clues they give us for 2025.
Top Toys of Christmas 2024
While the full DreamToys list featured 20 standout toys, these ten emerged as the biggest buzzmakers. Showcased across social media and playground wishlists, they were near-impossible to find by mid-December:
- Bitzee Interactive Digital Pet – £24.99, ages 5+. A screen-free pet with holographic animation, Bitzee responded to taps and tilts, evolving through touch-based play. It balanced nostalgic Tamagotchi vibes with modern interactivity—and parents loved the lack of screens.
- Barbie Dreamhouse 2024 – £179.99, ages 3+. Standing over three feet tall, this behemoth of a playset came packed with lights, a working lift, and over 75 accessories. From pool parties to pet ramps, it offered endless inclusive role-play. (Page under construction)
- LEGO McLaren F1 Race Car – £189.99, ages 10+. A 1,642-piece marvel, this Technic kit delivered serious STEM value. Functional steering, V6 engine, and suspension made it a showpiece for teens and collectors alike.
- Magic Mixies Pixlings – £19.99, ages 4+. Kids brewed potions to reveal surprise fantasy dolls. It blended unboxing magic with imaginative role-play—perfect for fans of sparkle and surprise.
- Squishmallows 16-Inch Plush – £14.99, ages 2+. With new characters like dragons and unicorns, Squishmallows offered huggable comfort and collectability. Whether for stress relief or bedtime buddies, these plushies were everywhere.
- Beast Lab – £69.99, ages 5+. This science-meets-play experiment kit let kids ‘create’ a roaring beast with mist, sounds, and dramatic reveals. Full-on STEM-meets-spectacle fun.
- Gabby Girl Doll – £24.99, ages 3+. Inspired by Netflix’s Gabby’s Dollhouse, this doll featured cat ears and accessories for creative storytelling. It encouraged role-play, especially alongside the full Gabby range.
- Pokémon 151 Elite Trainer Box – £49.99, ages 6+. Celebrating the original 151 Pokémon, this trainer box came loaded with booster packs and accessories. A must-have for young collectors and nostalgic adults alike.
- Furby 2024 – £59.99, ages 6+. With over 600 responses and light-up modes, the latest Furby evolved with interaction. Singing, jokes, and fortune-telling made it a quirky, lovable friend.
- Hot Wheels T-Rex Transport Hauler – £49.99, ages 4+. Roaring action meets vehicle storage. This massive dino-hauler carried 20+ cars, launched them with flair, and became a staple for car-crazy kids.
These weren’t just presents—they were full-on experiences, packed with sensory value, storytelling potential, and hands-on play.
By December, they’d flown off shelves nationwide. For another view on last year’s retail picks, see the Independent’s coverage of Argos’ top Christmas toys.
What Made 2024’s Toys So Popular?
The secret sauce behind these hits? A consistent mix of trends that shaped the toy market:
- Interactivity – From Furby’s voice responses to Bitzee’s evolving pet care, kids gravitated towards toys that ‘responded’ to them.
- Collectibility – Pokémon cards and Squishmallows proved that the thrill of hunting, swapping, and completing sets still captivates kids (and adults).
- Franchise Familiarity – Brands like Barbie, Pokémon, and Gabby’s Dollhouse provided built-in fanbases and storylines kids already loved.
- STEM + Surprise – Beast Lab and Magic Mixies delivered that exciting “what happens next?” moment while subtly teaching experimentation and patience.
Parents, too, appreciated the balance: educational value without sacrificing fun.
And the nostalgia factor—especially with Furby and Pokémon—bridged generations, making gifting decisions even easier.
Developmental Benefits Behind the Hype
Beyond flashy marketing, these toys supported genuine growth. Here’s how:
- Bitzee taught care and cause-effect through interaction. No screens—just tactile learning.
- Barbie Dreamhouse fostered creativity and inclusive play, reflecting diverse family dynamics and stories.
- LEGO Technic offered older kids and teens complex problem-solving, engineering confidence, and screen-free focus.
- Squishmallows provided sensory support, ideal for bedtime, anxiety relief, or emotional comfort.
- Pokémon TCG built strategic thinking, maths skills, and social bonding through trading and battles.
Toys like Beast Lab and Magic Mixies also encouraged scientific exploration and critical thinking, proving that learning through play is very much alive.
Brands That Dominated 2024
The brands behind these toys brought experience, quality, and savvy marketing:
- LEGO – Engineering marvels like the F1 Technic kit proved their status as the king of construction play.
- Mattel – Between Barbie’s Dreamhouse and Hot Wheels’ roaring dino hauler, Mattel cornered the role-play and vehicle markets.
- Hasbro – Furby returned with AI flair, cementing Hasbro’s place in the interactive toy spotlight.
- Jazwares – With the unstoppable Squishmallows, they turned softness into a global craze.
- Character Options – Bitzee and Beast Lab showed this brand’s knack for innovation and hands-on fun.
These brands don’t just follow trends—they set them, and 2024 proved they know exactly how to capture kids’ attention (and parents’ wallets).
Toys by Age Group
One size never fits all. Here’s how 2024’s favourites catered to different age ranges:
- Ages 2–4 – Squishmallows and Gabby Girl Doll offered comfort, simple storytelling, and sensory-friendly play.
- Ages 4–6 – Bitzee and Magic Mixies gave little hands something interactive and surprising to explore.
- Ages 6–10 – Furby and Beast Lab delivered laughs, learning, and light-up fun, while encouraging responsibility and curiosity.
- Ages 10+ – LEGO Technic and Pokémon cards provided immersive challenges for older kids, from complex builds to strategic gameplay.
This spread ensured that no matter the age, 2024 offered something exciting—and developmentally on point—for everyone.
How to Store 2024’s Big Toys
Some toys are compact. Others… not so much. Here’s how parents tackled storage headaches last Christmas:
- Small Collectibles – Bitzee, Pokémon cards, and Squishmallows were drawer- or shelf-friendly. Try labelled containers for easy access.
- Large Sets – Barbie’s Dreamhouse needed a dedicated spot. Under-bed setups or room corners worked best.
- Buildables – LEGO builds stayed intact on shelves or went back into modular storage bins to preserve pieces.
- Accessories – Beast Lab’s parts and Furby’s accessories were best stored in stackable, labelled boxes.
With a bit of planning, even the biggest toys can live in harmony with your living room.
What 2024 Can Teach Us About 2025
Looking at What Toys Were Popular Last Year gives us clear clues for what’s coming next. Expect to see:
- More screen-free tech like Bitzee
- STEM-meets-surprise formats à la Beast Lab
- Comfort collectables like Squishmallows dominating again
- Franchise tie-ins (Pokémon, Barbie, Gabby) leading demand
If you want to stay ahead, start tracking releases in September.
Bookmark our Best Christmas Toys 2025 predictions and our evergreen Top 10 Toys This Christmas guide.
After bargains? Check the Cheapest Christmas Toys page or follow price-drop alerts on sites like Smyths and Amazon.
For background context on trends and timelines, see our History of Christmas Toys and check the quick answers in our FAQs.
Final Thoughts
The 2024 toys weren’t just products—they were playtime revolutions. From nurturing digital pets to crafting mist-filled monsters, they taught, comforted, and inspired.
If you’re planning your 2025 shopping spree, learning from What Toys Were Popular Last Year is a savvy place to start.
Want more? Explore our predictions, deals, and trend insights via these pages: