10 Electronic Toys That Felt Futuristic at the Time
Here's a throwback list of electronic toys that once made us feel like we were living in the future.
- Daisy Montero
- 2 min read
Long before smartphones and tablets, electronic toys gave us a taste of what the “future” could be. From robotic pets to handheld games, these gadgets blew our young minds with lights, sounds, and digital magic.
1. Tamagotchi
Nori Norisa from 熊谷市, Japan on wikimedia commons
Owning a Tamagotchi was like having a tiny alien pet in your pocket. Feeding it, cleaning up after it, and keeping it alive felt like a futuristic responsibility.
2. Furby
Vickie Intili on pexels
Furby’s blinking eyes and “intelligent” chatter made it feel alive. It was equal parts adorable and creepy, but definitely ahead of its time.
3. HitClips
Jason Curtis / Museum of Obsolete Media on wikimedia commons
Forget streaming — HitClips gave you 60 seconds of your favorite pop song on a tiny cartridge. At the time, it felt revolutionary.
4. Poo-Chi Robotic Dog
Jon Ray on wikimedia commons
Before robot pets were mainstream, Poo-Chi wagged its ears and barked like a futuristic companion. It was the dream pet for kids who couldn’t have real dogs.
5. Talkboy
Rodrigo Alberto Soto on wikimedia commons
Made famous by Home Alone 2, Talkboy let kids record and play back their voices. Its slow-motion playback felt like spy-level technology.
6. Bop It
Kindel Media on pexels
With voice commands like “Twist it!” and “Pull it!”, Bop It felt like a game from the future. The electronic voice and fast-paced gameplay kept us hooked.
7. Laser Tag Sets
Di (they-them) on wikimedia commons
Strapping on a glowing vest and blasting friends with laser beams was the ultimate sci-fi fantasy. For a moment, you felt like you were in Star Wars.
8. Simon Says (Electronic Version)
Kindel Media on pexels
The flashing lights and sounds of Simon made a simple memory game feel futuristic. The glowing discs were hypnotic to play with in the dark.
9. Yak Bak
Y2kcrazyjoker4 on wikimedia commons
A smaller cousin of the Talkboy, the Yak Bak let you record short voice clips and play them back with silly effects. It was pocket-sized sci-fi fun.
10. Game Boy Color
Luis Quintero on pexels
When Nintendo released the Game Boy Color, handheld gaming leveled up. The addition of color screens made us feel like we were holding the future in our hands.