15 Toy Lines That Tried (and Failed) to Be the Next Big Thing

Not every toy gets to be a household name like Barbie or Transformers. Some lines launched with high hopes, flashy commercials, and wild gimmicks only to vanish almost overnight. Here’s a look at 15 ambitious toy lines that aimed for stardom but never stuck the landing.

1. Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future

Wikimedia Commons

This line blended action figures with a TV show that let you shoot at the screen: cool in theory, chaotic in practice. The tech rarely worked, and kids quickly lost interest.

2. Sky Dancers (for Boys)

Mike Mozart on Flickr

While the original Sky Dancers were a hit with girls, the boy-targeted versions bombed. With aggressive designs and rocket-like launches, they caused more injuries than fun.

3. Food Fighters

Brecht Bug on Flickr

Armed hamburgers and combat-ready eggplants seemed fun on paper. However, the idea of food-themed soldiers never really connected with kids.

4. Battle Beasts

heath_bar on Flickr

These small animal warriors had heat-sensitive stickers to show their powers. It was a neat concept, but the figures lacked personality and depth.

5. Crystar: Crystal Warrior

~ tOkKa on Flickr

Based on a Marvel comic, Crystar figures looked cool with their translucent designs. However, the story was too niche, and kids preferred more familiar fantasy worlds.

6. Army Ants

Bryan Wilkinson on Flickr

Tiny insect soldiers with rubbery bodies and goofy names, these figures were quirky but lacked any media tie-in. Without a cartoon or comic, they couldn’t compete in the crowded 80s toy market.

7. Z-Bots

Mathijs Dubbeldam on Flickr

Miniature robotic warriors from Micro Machines creators, Z-Bots had tons of variety but no storyline. Kids loved collecting them for a bit, but without a narrative hook, interest dropped.

8. Barnyard Commandos

Nong on Unsplash

Mutant farm animals in military gear made for a strange pitch. They were marketed hard, including a short-lived animated series, but kids just didn’t bite.

9. Inhumanoids

fbwash on DeviantArt

This horror-inspired line featured giant monsters and a surprisingly dark cartoon. The creatures were detailed, but the tone was way too creepy for most children.

10. M.A.X. Steel (2000s reboot)

Xelku9 on Deviant Art

The original had a modest following, but the reboot tried too hard to modernize everything. Overcomplicated gadgets and weak storytelling didn’t help.

11. Biker Mice from Mars

PokemonToonPatrolFan on DeviantArt

These tough-talking rodents had a brief cult following and even a cartoon. However, they couldn’t escape comparisons to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

12. Skeleton Warriors

TomatoRoll on DeviantArt

Gothic design and creepy villains made this line stand out visually. However, the cartoon was short-lived, and the toy joints broke easily.

13. Xevoz

Gobi on Flickr

Marketed toward older kids and collectors, these customizable figures had swappable parts and wild designs. The concept was unique but too niche and pricey.

14. Stikfas

herval on Flickr

These poseable, buildable stick-figure toys were ahead of the modular trend. They had a loyal fanbase but lacked mass appeal due to their minimalist look.

15. Savage Mondo Blitzers

WishItWas1984 on Flickr

These crazy mini-figures rode skateboards and had outrageous names like “Wedgie Daredevil.” They were fun for a laugh but had zero depth or direction.

• Tags:
• failed toy lines
• 90s Toys
• forgotten toys
• nostalgic toy list
• childhood collectibles