20 Classic Holiday Toys That Sold Out Every Year
Certain must-have toys ignite a shopping frenzy every holiday season, flying off shelves, sparking bidding wars, and turning parents into determined treasure hunters.
- Alyana Aguja
- 6 min read
During the holiday season, must-have toys drive shopping crazes, with parents sleeping overnight outside stores, fighting for restocks, and occasionally even going to outrageous resale prices. From the frenzied madness of Cabbage Patch Kids in the ’80s to the digital pet mania of Tamagotchis and the gaming console shortages of PlayStation 2 and Wii, these toys were instant sellouts every year. Their combination of innovation, nostalgia, and scarcity made them holiday legends, with tales of happiness, aggravation, and the thrill of the hunt left behind.
1. Cabbage Patch Kids (1983)
Image from Ubuy Philippines
These soft-bodied, one-of-a-kind-faced dolls ignited one of the craziest toy crazes ever. Parents camped out in front of stores and even brawled over the remaining few dolls on the shelves. Demand was so high that stores began using lottery systems to hand them out.
2. Tickle Me Elmo (1996)
Image from eBay.ph
This chuckling, rumbling red Sesame Street creature sparked a buying frenzy in the ’90s. With sparse inventory and mammoth demand, parents went so far as paying thousands of dollars in secondary markets. The plaything’s success lay in part in its active, infectious guffawing.
3. Furby (1998)
Image from Robots Guide
This chattering, flashing, robotic animal was a must-have for children who wanted their own “learning” toy. Furbies were so popular that stores sold out in hours, and prices on the secondary market skyrocketed. Their combination of artificial intelligence and adorableness made them a best-selling holiday item for years.
4. Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) (1985)
Image from Wikipedia
The NES changed home gaming and was almost unobtainable during its first holiday season. Nintendo’s limited supply made it one of the hottest gifts, with huge lines at toy stores. The shortage only added to the frenzy, making it a legendary console launch.
5. PlayStation 2 (2000)
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The PS2 was not just a gaming console—it was a DVD player, making it appealing to all ages. Sony underestimated the demand, leading to mass shortages and scalpers charging triple the retail price. Even a year later, it was still one of the hardest gifts to find.
6. Tamagotchi (1997)
Image from Wikipedia
This virtual pet was a global phenomenon, selling out in record time. Children went crazy keeping their pixelated pets alive, leading to bans in schools because children were distracted. Parents imported the small electronic toy at exorbitant prices.
7. Beanie Babies (Mid-1990s)
Image from CNN
These small stuffed creatures were collectors’ items due to Ty Inc.’s few releases and “retirements.” The frenzy resulted in store stampedes, with rare Beanie Babies available for thousands. Holiday periods typically included complete sellouts, resulting in collectors competing in bidding wars.
8. Transformers (1984-1985)
Image from Ebay PH
Autobots and Decepticons flew off the shelves as kids fell in love with these shape-shifting robots. The toy line’s popularity skyrocketed thanks to the hit cartoon series, leading to widespread shortages. Some parents drove to several states just to get Optimus Prime or Megatron.
9. Game Boy (1989)
Image from Wikipedia
Nintendo’s portable gaming system revolutionized the business, and the demand was crazy. The included Tetris game made it a necessity, and retailers couldn’t stock it fast enough. The fever continued for years, with every holiday season experiencing supply issues.
10. Hatchimals (2016)
Image from Ubuy Philippines
This interactive toy hatched from an egg became a modern-day Christmas phenomenon. Shortages led to desperate parents paying up to ten times the retail price on resale sites. The excitement of not knowing which Hatchimal you’d get only added to the hysteria.
11. Zhu Zhu Pets (2009)
Image from Ebay PH
These robotic hamsters were the holiday season’s surprise must-haves, selling out in seconds. They were inexpensive, interactive, and never-ending to play with, which made them ideal for children. The short supply caused havoc in stores as parents fought for them.
12. LEGO Star Wars (1999-Present)
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When LEGO met Star Wars, it produced one of the most sought-after toy lines in history. The initial sets, introduced in 1999, were immediate sellouts, and special-edition releases have continued to fuel holiday shortages. Hard-to-find minifigures and big sets have driven collector prices through the roof.
13. Rubik’s Cube (1980)
Image from eBay.ph
This colorful, brain-bending puzzle swept the world off its feet, becoming one of the hottest Christmas gifts. Shops couldn’t meet demand, resulting in months-long waiting lists for restocks. It remains one of the all-time best-selling toys, with popularity surging every few years.
14. Wii (2006)
Image from Wikipedia
Nintendo’s motion-controlled gaming system became the ultimate family console. It sold out in days, resulting in resale prices doubling and even tripling. Two years later, individuals still wait in line during the holidays to acquire one.
15. Teddy Ruxpin (1985)
Image from Science History Institute Digital Collections
This storytelling animatronic bear was a tech wonder of the ’80s, and every child dreamed of getting one. Its mouth movements driven by a cassette made it nearly lifelike, causing a sellout nationwide. Parents who could not procure one were forced to go to great lengths, such as taking long drives.
16. Sky Dancers (1994-1995)
Image from Instagram
These airborne fairy dolls whizzed across the room with a pull of a string, delighting youngsters around the globe. The unique, spinning motion made them one of the most sought-after gifts of the mid-’90s. Though sometimes safety was a worry, their popularity continued to make them fly off the shelves during every holiday season.
17. Elmo Live (2008)
Image from Muppet Wiki - Fandom
On the heels of Tickle Me Elmo, this cartoon Elmo walked, talked, and laughed. Demand was so strong that stores were cleared out weeks before Christmas, resulting in astronomical resale markups. Its real-like movements and cute personality made it an overnight sensation.
18. Pokémon Red & Blue (1998)
Image from My Nintendo News
The initial Pokémon games on the Game Boy were so popular that retailers sold out before the holidays. Children were obsessed with catching all 151 Pokémon, which was one of the largest gaming fads ever. The shortage was so bad that some parents brought in copies from Japan.
19. Black Barbie (1980)
Image from Ubuy Philippines
When Mattel introduced the first official Black Barbie, the demand was many times greater than the supply. It was a historic moment in toy representation and became extremely sought after. Due to the shortage, it was a rare and coveted item for collectors.
20. Power Rangers Action Figures (1993-1994)
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When Mighty Morphin Power Rangers first aired, stores couldn’t stock enough action figures. Within days, store shelves were emptied, and parents had to call them every day to request restocks. Even through the years following, special editions of Power Ranger toys sold out every holiday season.