10 Vintage ’90s Action Figures That Are Now Collectibles
These ’90s action figures, once staples of toy shelves, are now hot-ticket items for collectors.
- Chris Graciano
- 2 min read
The 1990s gave rise to a golden age of action figures, when Saturday morning cartoons fueled toy lines that flew off store racks. Packed with detailed sculpts and wild accessories, many of these toys now hold serious value. Whether you had them in a toy chest or missed out entirely, here are 10 vintage figures from the ’90s that collectors crave today.
1. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Playmates, 1990)
~ tOkKa on Flickr
These pizza-loving heroes dominated toy aisles with vibrant packaging and countless variants. From Sewer Samurai Leo to Undercover Donnie, each figure offered serious play value.
2. X-Men Action Figures (Toy Biz, 1991)
timdeer on Flickr
Based on the hit animated series, these figures brought comic-book energy to kids’ hands. With launching projectiles and spring-loaded limbs, they became a must-have.
3. Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (Bandai, 1993)
jake_511 on Flickr
With flip-head features and show-accurate weapons, these toys mirrored their on-screen counterparts. Kids swapped, battled, and lost pieces faster than Zordon could blink.
4. Batman: The Animated Series (Kenner, 1992)
Brecht Bug on Flickr
These moody, stylized figures reflected the show’s darker tone and sharp designs. From combat-ready Batman to villains like Scarecrow and Two-Face, the line had depth.
5. Spawn Series 1 (McFarlane Toys, 1994)
Chia-Hsin Ho on Flickr
These highly detailed figures pushed toy design boundaries with intricate sculpting and gritty realism. Not exactly kid-friendly, they marked the start of collectible-focused toys.
6. G.I. Joe Ninja Force (Hasbro, 1992)
Loren Javier on Flickr
These martial arts-themed versions of classic Joes had bold colors and action gimmicks. Though not as iconic as earlier Joes, their rarity gives them collector appeal.
7. Street Fighter II Figures (Hasbro, 1993)
Manuel García Melgar on Flickr
Capitalizing on the arcade craze, these figures brought the game’s fighters to 3D life. Though articulation was limited, characters like Ryu and Blanka thrilled fans.
8. Jurassic Park Dinosaurs and Humans (Kenner, 1993)
CrazyAsylumClown on DeviantArt
Released alongside the blockbuster film, these toys featured “dino-damage” battle scars and realistic sounds. Alan Grant, T. rex, and the raptor became instant icons.
9. Ghostbusters (The Real Ghostbusters, Kenner, reissued into early ’90s)
CG76 on Flickr
Though launched in the late ’80s, this line stayed strong into the early ’90s with glow-in-the-dark and transforming ghosts. Ecto-1 and the firehouse playset added serious shelf appeal.
10. WWF Hasbro Wrestlers (1990–1994)
7-how-7 on Flickr
Capturing the wrestling boom, these colorful plastic grapplers had spring-loaded punches and slams. With characters like Hulk Hogan and Ultimate Warrior, the line exploded in popularity.