It’s that time of year again as classic toys and games face off to join the The Strong’s National Toy Hall of Fame.
The popular institution in Rochester, New York, has revealed 2024’s class of 12 finalists up for induction this November, including iconic toys such as balloons, R/C vehicles, the stick horse, and the trampoline. The Transformers return as a nominee as the brand celebrates its 40th anniversary, while the Hess Toy Truck is also looking for a parking spot to cap its 60th anniversary year. My Little Pony, the Pokémon Trading Card Game. Apples to Apples, Choose Your Own Adventure gamebooks, Phase 10, and Sequence round out the field.
It’s great to see some returning contenders such as My Little Pony and Transformers among this year’s class of 12 finalists, but they’re up against some worthy first-time finalists, including party game Apples to Apples, the trampoline, and balloons. These 12 toys represent the wide range of play — from strategic to whimsical to physical — and present many playful matchups. The selection judges and public will have some tough decisions this year!”
The National Toy Hall of Fame, which honors toys that have engaged generations, receives thousands of nominations annually. Fans can vote for their favorite finalists from September 18 to 25 in a “Player’s Choice” ballot at toyhalloffame.org. The three toys with the most votes will join three other inductees selected by the National Selection Advisory Committee. The final 2024 inductees will be announced in November.
The Hall of Fame So Far:
To date, the following 84 toys have been inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame: alphabet blocks, American Girl Doll, Atari 2600 Game System, baby doll, Baby Nancy, ball, Barbie, baseball cards, bicycle, Big Wheel, blanket, bubbles, Cabbage Patch Kids, Candy Land, cardboard box, checkers, chess, Clue, coloring book, Crayola Crayons, dollhouse, dominoes, Duncan Yo-Yo, Dungeons & Dragons, Easy-Bake Oven, Erector Set, Etch A Sketch, Fisher-Price Corn Popper, Fisher Price Little People, Frisbee, G.I. Joe, The Game of Life, Hot Wheels, Hula Hoop, jack-in-the-box, jacks, Jenga, jigsaw puzzle, jump rope, kite, LEGO, Lincoln Logs, Lionel Trains, Lite-Brite, little green army men, Magic 8 Ball, Magic: The Gathering, marbles, Masters of the Universe, Matchbox Cars, Monopoly, Mr. Potato Head, NERF, Nintendo Game Boy, paper airplane, pinball, Play-Doh, playing cards, puppet, Radio Flyer Wagon, Raggedy Ann and Andy, Risk, rocking horse, roller skates, rubber duck, Rubik’s Cube, sand, Scrabble, sidewalk chalk, Silly Putty, skateboard, Slinky, Star Wars action figures, stick, Super Soaker, swing, teddy bear, Tinkertoy, Tonka Trucks, top, Twister, Uno, View Master, and Wiffle Ball.
