14 Toys That Required Way Too Many Batteries
Some childhood toys were loud, flashy, and fun—but also incredibly needy when it came to batteries. Whether it was a singing robot or a racing car that only worked for 10 minutes, these toys drained your battery stash faster than anything else in the house.
- Tricia Quitales
- 3 min read
Kids loved these toys for their lights, sounds, and motion, but parents remember them for the endless battery changes. This nostalgic list rounds up 14 toys that were fun but incredibly power-hungry. Each one needed multiple AA, C, or even D batteries, and they never lasted long. You’ll smile, laugh, and maybe groan a little as you remember how much energy these toys really took.
1. Tickle Me Elmo
Joshua Lim on Pexels
This fuzzy red toy giggled and wiggled with joy until the batteries died. It needed multiple AA batteries just to laugh a little. The more you played, the faster it faded.
2. Furby
Vickie Intili on Pexels
Furbies talked, blinked, and moved all day long, but behind that cute voice was a serious appetite for batteries. If left on overnight, it would chatter until it drained itself.
3. Remote Control Cars
DS stories on Pexels
Fast, fun, and flashy—these cars zoomed around the room like rockets, but they ate batteries in both the car and the remote. Playtime often ended with slow turns and sad beeps.
4. Bop It
Matthuxtable on Wikimedia
Bop was loud, addictive, and full of commands. Every twist, pull, or bop produced sound effects that constantly required fresh batteries. One dead battery, and the whole thing shut up.
5. Talking Dolls
Mikhail Nilov on Pexels
From Barbies to baby dolls, many came with pre-programmed voices. A few phrases were cute until the batteries got low and the doll sounded haunted. Replacing them was the only way to fix the creepy whispers.
6. Light-Up Swords
Mysid on Wikimedia
These toy lightsabers lit up and made swooshing sounds—pure magic for kids, but they needed big batteries and lots of them. You’d swing it a few times before it went dark again.
7. Dance Mats
Statikeffeck on Wikimedia
These electronic mats had music, flashing lights, and sound with every step, but they drained batteries after just a few dance-offs. Half the fun was trying to finish a song before the lights dimmed.
8. Portable CD Players
Evan-Amos on Wikimedia
Taking your music on the go was great, but the price was a pocket full of batteries. Two AAs would barely last through an album. Skip protection was bad, and the low power made it worse.
9. Electronic Board Games
Evan-Amos on Wikimedia
Games like “Operation” or “Dream Phone” needed battery power to buzz, ring, or light up. Without them, they were just pieces of plastic. You couldn’t even start playing without checking the battery level.
10. Robo Pets
Vladimir Srajber on Pexels
Robotic dogs, cats, or dinosaurs moved and made sounds just like real pets. However, they needed a small army of batteries to come to life. No batteries? No tricks.
11. Laser Tag Sets
Greg Vojtko on Wikimedia
Laser tag at home felt like a dream until the batteries wore out mid-game. Each gun and sensor needed its own set, and running out of power meant an unfair win.
12. Walkie-Talkies
Wtshymanski on Wikimedia
Walkie-talkies were great for backyard adventures and secret missions, but the batteries ran out before your big plan could even begin. You’d hear static, then nothing.
13. Handheld Video Games
Evan-Amos on Wikimedia
Before phones, handheld games were all the rage—until they died. Whether it was a Game Boy or a Tiger Electronic game, they all needed constant battery feeding. Some even took four AAs just to turn on.
14. Electronic Keyboards for Kids
Nigel Tufnel on Wikimedia
These toy keyboards had demo songs, animal sounds, and flashing lights, but after one mini-concert, they’d fade fast. Replacing the batteries felt like part of the music routine.