The National Toy Hall of Fame at The Strong has inducted Battleship, Slime, and Trivial Pursuit as its class of 2025 honorees. The three toys emerged from a field of 12 finalists, including Catan, Connect Four, Furby, and Tickle Me Elmo, and are now on view at the museum, which celebrates toys that inspire creative play and sustained popularity.
Battleship began as a pencil-and-paper strategy game in the late 19th century and evolved into Milton Bradley’s iconic 1967 plastic edition, which has sold more than 100 million copies. The game was among the first to be computerized in 1979 and continues to exist in countless electronic formats.
“Battleship has long been a household name in the board game world. Its popularity crested in 2012 when Universal Pictures and Hasbro released a movie called Battleship,” says curator Mirek Stolee. “The film was only very loosely based on the game, but it helped cement Battleship’s place in popular culture history.”
Slime first appeared commercially in 1976 and has become a favorite for generations, both as a standalone toy and as an element in other play experiences. Its tactile appeal encourages messy, experimental play, do-it-yourself projects, and even therapeutic benefits such as stress relief and fine motor skill development.
“Though slime continues to carry icky connotations to slugs and swamps — all part of the fun for some — the toy offers meaningful play,” says curator Michelle Parnett-Dwyer. “Countless kids enjoy creating slime on their own or adding it as an element to play with other toys. For others, it has therapeutic benefits — offering stress relief and enhancing fine motor skills.”
Trivial Pursuit challenges players with questions across topics from history and geography to science and entertainment. Since its 1980s debut, the game has sold more than 100 million copies and remains relevant through multiple editions, video game adaptations, and an online daily quiz.
“Trivial Pursuit’s influence has spread beyond the realm of board games to game show iterations and video game adaptations,” Stolee says. “The game’s maker even offers a Trivial Pursuit online daily quiz, in the vein of other popular daily games like Wordle. Frequent updates and innovations continue to keep Trivial Pursuit relevant.”
The National Toy Hall of Fame honors toys that have sparked imagination, learning, and discovery over time. Inductees are showcased year-round at The Strong, one of the largest interactive museums dedicated to play.
Learn more at toyhalloffame.org.
