Out of more than 600 nominees submitted by 150-plus companies of all sizes, the following list of 122 finalists for the Toy of the Year Awards were chosen by a panel of toy and play experts, educators, retailers, and journalists.
ACTION FIGURE OF THE YEAR
IAmElemental’s Series 2/Wisdom Lunch Box Carrying Case with Complete Set of 7 Action Figures & Accessories (IAmElemental)
Imaginext DC Super Friends BatBot Xtreme (Mattel)
Marvel Guardians of the Galaxy Dancing Groot Figure (Hasbro)
PJ Masks Duet Figure Packs (Just Play Products)
Star Wars Forces of Destiny Adventure Figures (Hasbro)
Stikbot (ZING)
WWE Superstars Action Figures (Mattel)
COLLECTIBLE OF THE YEAR
Disney Pixar Cars 3 Diecast Cars (Mattel)
Fingerlings (WowWee USA)
Funko’s Mystery Minis (Funko)
Hatchimals Colleggtibles 4 Pack (Spin Master)
L.O.L. Surprise! (MGA Entertainment)
Pikmi Pop! Surprise Pack (Moose Toys)
The LEGO Batman Movie Minifigures (LEGO Systems)
CONSTRUCTION TOY OF THE YEAR
K’NEX THRILL RIDES: Web Weaver Roller Coaster™ Building Set (K’NEX Brands)
LEGO Star Wars BB-8 (LEGO Systems)
Magformers Log Cabin 87Pc Set (Magformers)
Mayka Toy Block Tape (Zuru)
Meccano M.A.X (Spin Master)
Silent Mary (LEGO Systems)
VEX Robotics BattleBots Minotaur (HEXBUG)
CREATIVE TOY OF THE YEAR
3Doodler Start Powerpuff Yourself Pen Set (3Doodler)
K’NEX Imagine: Power & Play 50 Model Motorized Building Set (K’NEX Brands)
LEGO Make Your Own Movie (Klutz)
Magnaflex (WowWee USA)
Nickelodeon Slime Deluxe Slimy Creations (Cra-Z-Art)
Oonies Starter Pack (Moose Toys)
Star Wars Droid Inventor Kit (LittleBits)
DOLL OF THE YEAR
Baby Alive Sweet Tears Baby Doll (Hasbro)
Barbie Fashionista Ken Dolls (Mattel)
Disney Princess Dance Code Belle (Hasbro)
DreamWorks Spirit Riding Free Spirit & Lucky Deluxe Feeding Set (Just Play Products)
JoJo Siwa Singing Doll (Just Play Products)
Luvabella (Spin Master)
Wonder Crew Superhero Will (PlayMonster)
GAME OF THE YEAR
Beasts of Balance (Sensible Object)
Boom Blast Stix (Moose Toys)
Happy Salmon (North Star Games LLC)
HEARING THINGS (Hasbro)
Roller Coaster Challenge (ThinkFun)
Soggy Doggy (Spin Master)
Ultra Dash (PlayMonster)
INFANT/TODDLER TOY OF THE YEAR
GearZooz Roll & Roar Animal Train(VTech)
Little Tikes Light ’n Go 3-in-1 Sports Zone (MGA Entertainment)
Magformers My First Pastel 30Pc Set (Magformers)
Mega Bloks Elephant Parade (Mattel)
Mirari Shellby (PlayMonster)
Pop-a-Balls Push & Pop Bulldozer (VTech)
Strolly Bike (Yvolution)
Teddy Ruxpin (Wicked Cool Toys)
INNOVATIVE TOY OF THE YEAR
DROPMIX Music Gaming System (Hasbro)
HEXBUG BattleBots Arena (HEXBUG)
Hot Wheels MindRacers (Osmo)
Klask (Buffalo Games)
Lightseekers Starter Pack (TOMY International)
Rubie’s Jurassic World T-Rex Inflatable Costume (Rubie’s Costume Company)
Think & Learn Teach ’n Tag Movi (Mattel)
LICENSE OF THE YEAR
Disney Pixar’s Cars 3 (Disney Consumer Products & Interactive Media)
Hatchimals (Spin Master)
Nickelodeon Slime (Nickelodeon Consumer Products)
PAW Patrol (Spin Master)
Peppa Pig (Entertainment One)
PJ Masks (Entertainment One)
Star Wars (Disney Consumer Products & Interactive Media)
OUTDOOR TOY OF THE YEAR
Bunch O Balloons Filler Soaker (Zuru)
Disc Jock-e (Tucker Toys)
Luke Skywalker’s Landspeeder (Radio Flyer)
Nerf N-Strike Elite Accustrike Alphahawk Blaster (Hasbro, Inc.)
RECOIL (Skyrocket)
Sky Viper V2450 GPS Streaming Video Drone (Skyrocket)
Watermelon Ball (PlaSmart)
PLAYSET TOY OF THE YEAR
Ben 10 Rustbucket Transforming Alien Playset (Playmates Toys)
Fisher-Price Shimmer and Shine Magical Light-up Genie Palace (Mattel)
Go! Go! Smart Wheels Race & Play Adventure Park (VTech)
HEXBUG nano Space Cosmic Command (HEXBUG)
Hot Wheels® Super Ultimate Garage (Mattel)
My Fairy Garden Magical Cottage (PlayMonster)
PLAYMOBIL Pharaoh’s Pyramid (Playmobil U.S.A.)
Shopkins Shopville Super Mall (Moose Toys)
PLUSH OF THE YEAR
Disney Junior Minnie’s Walk and Play Puppy (Just Play Products)
Dolce Activity Zebra (Magformers)
Funko’s SuperCute Plushies (Funko)
Peppy Pets (Commonwealth Toy & Novelty Co.)
Pikmi Pops Surprise! Mega Pop (Moose Toys)
Storytime Rhymes Sheep (VTech)
Surprizamals (Beverly Hills Teddybear)
PRESCHOOL TOY OF THE YEAR
Beat Bugs Musical Submarine (Blip Toys)
Disney Junior Doc McStuffins All-in-One Nursery (Just Play Products)
PAW Patrol My Size Lookout Tower (Spin Master)
Play-Doh Magic Oven Set (Hasbro)
Racing Adventures Mickey (Just Play Products)
Scoop & Learn Ice Cream Cart (LeapFrog)
Thomas & Friends Super Station (Mattel)
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Beach House Group (Antsy Pants Build & Play Kits)
Pai Technology Inc. (Circuit Conductor)
Move2play (Fuzzy Flyers)
Bevy & Dave (History Makers Puzzle Block Set)
YULU Toys (Operation: Escape)
FlyCatcher Inc. (smART sketcher)
WeCool (WeCool)
SPECIALTY TOY OF THE YEAR
American Girl Logan Doll (Mattel)
Creative Cosmetics Lab (Thames & Kosmos)
Fidget Spinner (TopTrenz)
HEXBUG CuddleBots (HEXBUG)
LEGO Star Wars Millennium Falcon (LEGO Systems)
Mirari Juballees (PlayMonster)
SmartMax My First Animal Train (Smart Toys and Games)
Zipes Speed Pipes (Neat-Oh! International)
TECH TOY OF THE YEAR
Circuit Cubes (Circuit Cubes)
Cue (Wonder Workshop)
LEGO® BOOST Creative Toolbox (LEGO Systems)
Piper Computer Kit (Piper)
Robotics Workshop (Thames & Kosmos)
SoundMoovz (Cra-Z-Art)
VRSE (Skyrocket)
VEHICLE OF THE YEAR
Air Hogs Hyper Drift Drone (Spin Master Ltd.)
Anki OVERDRIVE: Fast & Furious Edition (Anki)
Automoblox SC1 Chaos and HR5 Scorch 2-Pack (PlayMonster)
Drone Force Angler Attack (Alpha Group U.S.)
NERF NITRO MOTOFURY RAPID RALLY Set (Hasbro)
PAW Patrol Sea Patroller (Spin Master)
PLAYMOBIL Ghostbusters Ecto-1 (Playmobil U.S.A.)
One winner in each category, as well as the coveted “Toy of the Year” award winner and the “People’s Choice” winner (based solely on consumer votes), will be announced at the TOTY Awards gala to be held on Friday, February 16, 2018, at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York City. The celebration will help kick off the 115th North American International Toy Fair, and will include the induction of toy industry trailblazers into the Toy Industry Hall of Fame. All proceeds from the event – including Tribute Book sales, ticket sales, and sponsorships – will contribute much-needed dollars to the Toy Industry Foundation, which partners with generous toy companies throughout the year to bring brand-new toys to children in need.
Between now and January 5, consumers can visit toyawards.org to vote for their favorite picks in each of the 17 categories – including new categories for this year, like Creative Toy of the Year, Playset of the Year, and Plush of the Year.
