The 80s were a great time for boys to be boys, with hours melting into days as we played on and on … did you ever forget to come in before dark? And right there helping us along our adventures were amazing 80s boys toys like these stone-cold classics.
Atari
Talk about wiling away the hours! Atari has been around since the early 80s, and they hooked more boys on video games than you can shake a joystick at.
Nintendo Game Boy
The Nintendo Game Boy was a handheld game console released by Nintendo in 1989. It’s one of the most popular 80s boys toys. The device is notable for its portability and ruggedness.
Star Wars Action Figures
There was no better way to spend a rainy Saturday than creating your own take on Star Wars with the Kenner action figures that accompanied the George Lucas franchise.
Tiger Electronic Laser Tag
Laser tag was maybe the ultimate 80s boys toy. It’s a game in which players are divided into teams, each with an objective to accomplish–capture “enemy” territory or eliminate members of the opposing team.
Hot Wheels Racetrack
What little boy doesn’t dream of big engines in fast cars? Hot Wheels Racetrack fanned the flames of those fantasies and drove children around the world to play with their toy cars.
Matchbox Cars
Another one of the 80s boys toys that is still in production, Matchbox Cars were introduced by Lesney Products back in 1953.
Garbage Pail Kids Trading Cards
Created by Topps and released in 1985 as a parody of the wildly popular Cabbage Patch Dolls, Garbage Pail Kids are trading cards with pictures of gross kids on them being humiliated or grossed out.
Castle Grayskull Playset
The Castle Grayskull Playset was introduced by Mattel Toys in 1983. It consists of a toy that resembles the interior and exterior of The Masters’ stronghold, with furniture and all sorts of traps for enemies to fall into.
Nerf Guns
Introduced by Parker Brothers back in 1969, Nerf guns were marketed as “unbreakable” because they had no metal parts.
Rubik’s Cube
First introduced by Ernő Rubik in 1974, these cubes were originally called “Magic Cubes” but picked up the name of their inventor after being mass-produced. The original version consisted of six different colors for each side and included instructions on how to solve it with a paper clip or pen.
Moon Shoes
First introduced in 1979, these shoes were popular with kids and adults alike. They are essentially large plastic rings that attach to your feet by a strap on the back of your heel.
Transformers
First introduced to the toy market in 1984, these transforming robots were hugely popular among young boys.
He-Man
Introduced by Mattel in 1982, this figure was a huge hit based on the success of He-Ro and his sword which later became known as “The Power Sword.”
G.I. Joe Action Figures
Originally called “The Adventures of G.I. Joe” by Hasbro in 1964, these action figures were popular among many kids for the next three decades until they finally went out of production in 1994.
Mad Balls
Mad Balls were introduced in 1986 and marketed by AmToy. They consisted of a small ball with a rubber or plastic character head on top, which was meant to scare people.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Action Figures
Based on the comic book by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, this action figure series became a huge hit in the 80s.
Daisy Red Ryder BB Gun
After gaining renewed popularity in 1983’s “A Christmas Story,” this is a must-have for any 80s boy. Daisy Manufacturing Co introduced the BB gun in 1938, and it has been popular ever since its release!
Voltron Action Figures
Based on the Japanese animated TV series, “Voltron” introduced a new way to play with toys. It is not surprising that these action figures were very popular back in their day– they are still being made today!
(Like 70s boy toys? Then you might like our 80s boy toys article, click here to read it.)
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