On the eve of Toy Fair, the Toy Industry held the 2025 Toy of the Year Awards, known as the Oscars of the Toy Industry. Toys were nominated in several different categories. Here is the official release from the Toy Association
Top Toys of the Year Announced at the 25th Toy of the Year® Awards
RealFX Disney Stitch Puppetronic Takes Home Coveted “Toy of the Year”; Story Time Backgammon Wins “People’s Choice” Award
NEW YORK, Feb. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The most creative and innovative toys and games earned top honors at the 25th Anniversary Toy of the Year® (TOTY®) Awards tonight, where nearly 800 toy, play, and youth professionals gathered to celebrate excellence in play, as well as the industry icons inducted into the Toy Industry Hall of Fame. Proceeds from the awards program and event supports The Toy Foundation™ (TTF), the philanthropic arm of The Toy Association™, which delivers play to millions of children when they need it most.
The RealFX Disney Stitch Puppetronic (WOW Stuff!) — a cuddly animatronic puppet based on the popular alien character — earned the prestigious “Toy of the Year” award, in addition to taking home the “Tech Toy of the Year” award. Story Time Backgammon (Story Time Learning), a unique story-based board game teaching kids as young as 3 how to play one of the world’s most popular games, took home the “People’s Choice” award for pulling in the most online votes from consumers.
TOTY awards were also handed out in 16 categories and given to the following:
- Transformers One Power Flip Optimus Prime (Orion Pax) (Hasbro, Inc.): Action Figure of the Year
- Deddy Bears Plush in Coffin (Innov8 Academy): Collectible of the Year
- Gecko Run: Marble Run (Thames & Kosmos, LLC): Construction Toy/Playset of the Year
- Mini Brands Create MasterChef (ZURU, Inc.): Creative Toy of the Year
- 12″ Rainbow Brite Doll (The Loyal Subjects): Doll of the Year
- National Geographic Epic Circuits Science Kit (Blue Marble): Educational Toy of the Year
- UNO Show ’em No Mercy (Mattel, Inc.): Game of the Year
- LEGO Ideas JAWS (LEGO Systems, Inc.): Grown-Up Toy of the Year
- Scan & Sort Grocery Cart with Lights and Sounds (The Radio Flyer Company): Infant/Toddler Toy of the Year
- Bluey (BBC Studios): License of the Year
- PoppinColorz Hydra 2-in-1 Blaster (South Beach Bubbles): Outdoor Toy of the Year
- Emotional Baggage (Solobo Toys): Plush Toy of the Year
- Melissa & Doug Sort, Stock, Select Wooden Vending Machine Play Set (Spin Master Corporation): Preschool Toy of the Year
- HEXEL (Plus-Plus USA): Specialty Toy of the Year
- RealFX Disney Stitch Puppetronic (WOW! Stuff): Tech Toy of the Year
- RoboRails: The Robot Monorail System (Thames & Kosmos, LLC): Vehicle of the Year
“The TOTY Awards celebrate the best of what the toy industry has to offer — innovation, imagination, and the ability to bring joy to kids and families. Congratulations to all of the winners and nominees on their tremendous achievements,” said Pamela Mastrota, executive director of The Toy Foundation. “The toy industry is deeply passionate about bringing play to all children, and we are proud to unite this collective philanthropy at the TOTY Awards and year-round to deliver comfort and positively impact children when they need it most.”
During the evening, toy industry trailblazers Maxine Clark, founder & former chief executive bear of Build-A-Bear Workshop; Sharon DiMinico, founder & chair of Learning Express Toys; and Professor Erno Rubik, inventor of the Rubik’s Cube, were inducted into the esteemed Toy Industry Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame’s posthumous inductees were honored with a special tribute and include Edwin S. Lowe, founder of the E.S. Lowe and Company; Charles Pajeau, founder of the Toy Tinker Company & inventor of Tinkertoy; Marty Scheman, CEO of Illco Toy & President of Tyco-Preschool; and Izannah Walker, American dollmaker & inventor. All seven Toy Industry Hall of Fame inductees are showcased in a state-of-the-art exhibit at The Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, New York.
You will see pictures of all of these toys as part of our Toy Fair coverage, which begins Saturday March 1st
