Top 27+ Once-Beloved Toys That Are Pretty Much Forgotten

#1: Skip-It (1960s), #3: Lite-Brite (1967), #4: Tinker Toys (1914), #6: View-Master (1939), #7: Popples (1986), #9: Micro Machines (1987), #10: Sit n’ Spin (1974), #12: Pound Puppies (1984), #13: Fashion Plates (1978), #15: Mall Madness (1988), #16: Polly Pocket (Original tiny version, 1983), #18: Koosh Balls (1987), #19: Cup-and-ball Game, #21: Water Wiggle (1962), #22: Sock’em Boppers (1970s), #24: Yak Bak (1994), #25: Glo Worms (1982), #27: Wacky Wall Walkers

Just like every other facet of our life and society, the world of toys is changing all the time, and the toys children are growing up with today are not the toys that were around when we were growing up. It’s time to take a look at some of the toys we loved throughout the decades that people sadly don’t talk about anymore. Let’s take a look at these nostalgic toys before they are completely forgotten.

#1: Skip-It (1960s)

#1: Skip-It (1960s), #3: Lite-Brite (1967), #4: Tinker Toys (1914), #6: View-Master (1939), #7: Popples (1986), #9: Micro Machines (1987), #10: Sit n’ Spin (1974), #12: Pound Puppies (1984), #13: Fashion Plates (1978), #15: Mall Madness (1988), #16: Polly Pocket (Original tiny version, 1983), #18: Koosh Balls (1987), #19: Cup-and-ball Game, #21: Water Wiggle (1962), #22: Sock’em Boppers (1970s), #24: Yak Bak (1994), #25: Glo Worms (1982), #27: Wacky Wall Walkers

The Skip-It was such a popular toy that it became the subject of multiple lawsuits, as every toy company wanted to sell its own version. Of course, the brilliant thing about it was that it was basically just a jump rope that you could use without your hands. Sometimes, a stroke of genius is very surprising.

#3: Lite-Brite (1967)

#1: Skip-It (1960s), #3: Lite-Brite (1967), #4: Tinker Toys (1914), #6: View-Master (1939), #7: Popples (1986), #9: Micro Machines (1987), #10: Sit n’ Spin (1974), #12: Pound Puppies (1984), #13: Fashion Plates (1978), #15: Mall Madness (1988), #16: Polly Pocket (Original tiny version, 1983), #18: Koosh Balls (1987), #19: Cup-and-ball Game, #21: Water Wiggle (1962), #22: Sock’em Boppers (1970s), #24: Yak Bak (1994), #25: Glo Worms (1982), #27: Wacky Wall Walkers

Any kid today presented with a Lite-Brite and told to play with it would probably be bored out of their wits, but for us, it was a source of sheer joy. You didn’t need to be a child who was really passionate about neon-lighted signs to realize that Lite-Brite gave you the power to create with electricity.

#4: Tinker Toys (1914)

#1: Skip-It (1960s), #3: Lite-Brite (1967), #4: Tinker Toys (1914), #6: View-Master (1939), #7: Popples (1986), #9: Micro Machines (1987), #10: Sit n’ Spin (1974), #12: Pound Puppies (1984), #13: Fashion Plates (1978), #15: Mall Madness (1988), #16: Polly Pocket (Original tiny version, 1983), #18: Koosh Balls (1987), #19: Cup-and-ball Game, #21: Water Wiggle (1962), #22: Sock’em Boppers (1970s), #24: Yak Bak (1994), #25: Glo Worms (1982), #27: Wacky Wall Walkers

Tinker Toys are probably the oldest toy that I’m acquainted with, I guess, except for sticks – those are toys that go back to the Jurassic period. Tinker Toys were an earmark of an era where adults still thought that the most fun things they could do were just a child-sized version of manual labor.

#6: View-Master (1939)

#1: Skip-It (1960s), #3: Lite-Brite (1967), #4: Tinker Toys (1914), #6: View-Master (1939), #7: Popples (1986), #9: Micro Machines (1987), #10: Sit n’ Spin (1974), #12: Pound Puppies (1984), #13: Fashion Plates (1978), #15: Mall Madness (1988), #16: Polly Pocket (Original tiny version, 1983), #18: Koosh Balls (1987), #19: Cup-and-ball Game, #21: Water Wiggle (1962), #22: Sock’em Boppers (1970s), #24: Yak Bak (1994), #25: Glo Worms (1982), #27: Wacky Wall Walkers

Imagine a reel of camera film. Now imagine that reel put inside a small plastic box. Now imagine that box had eye holes through which you could see the film. There you have it, you now understand the principle behind the View-Master. The secret to making it interesting was making sure the pictures were hard to see.

#7: Popples (1986)

#1: Skip-It (1960s), #3: Lite-Brite (1967), #4: Tinker Toys (1914), #6: View-Master (1939), #7: Popples (1986), #9: Micro Machines (1987), #10: Sit n’ Spin (1974), #12: Pound Puppies (1984), #13: Fashion Plates (1978), #15: Mall Madness (1988), #16: Polly Pocket (Original tiny version, 1983), #18: Koosh Balls (1987), #19: Cup-and-ball Game, #21: Water Wiggle (1962), #22: Sock’em Boppers (1970s), #24: Yak Bak (1994), #25: Glo Worms (1982), #27: Wacky Wall Walkers

Popples initially had quite a short run and I can’t for the life of me figure out why. Oh yes, that’s right, it’s because bright-colored plush dolls, while ostensibly cute, were actually a little bit terrifying. They were eventually brought back in the 2000s, thankfully with a significant redesign.

#9: Micro Machines (1987)

#1: Skip-It (1960s), #3: Lite-Brite (1967), #4: Tinker Toys (1914), #6: View-Master (1939), #7: Popples (1986), #9: Micro Machines (1987), #10: Sit n’ Spin (1974), #12: Pound Puppies (1984), #13: Fashion Plates (1978), #15: Mall Madness (1988), #16: Polly Pocket (Original tiny version, 1983), #18: Koosh Balls (1987), #19: Cup-and-ball Game, #21: Water Wiggle (1962), #22: Sock’em Boppers (1970s), #24: Yak Bak (1994), #25: Glo Worms (1982), #27: Wacky Wall Walkers

Calling these toys Micro Machines was quite a brilliant marketing ploy on Hasbro’s part. Of course, toy cars and the like had been around for a while, but never had they received such an attractive title. The other special feature was that many Micro Machines were transformers. Before we knew about “Transformers”.

#10: Sit n’ Spin (1974)

#1: Skip-It (1960s), #3: Lite-Brite (1967), #4: Tinker Toys (1914), #6: View-Master (1939), #7: Popples (1986), #9: Micro Machines (1987), #10: Sit n’ Spin (1974), #12: Pound Puppies (1984), #13: Fashion Plates (1978), #15: Mall Madness (1988), #16: Polly Pocket (Original tiny version, 1983), #18: Koosh Balls (1987), #19: Cup-and-ball Game, #21: Water Wiggle (1962), #22: Sock’em Boppers (1970s), #24: Yak Bak (1994), #25: Glo Worms (1982), #27: Wacky Wall Walkers

Toys really used to be a whole lot simpler than they are today. Maybe the simplicity of the Sit n’ Spin specifically has something to do with the 18 months to 6 years age bracket that it’s designed for, though today, even that age group needs toys with a smorgasbord of bells and whistles attached.

#12: Pound Puppies (1984)

#1: Skip-It (1960s), #3: Lite-Brite (1967), #4: Tinker Toys (1914), #6: View-Master (1939), #7: Popples (1986), #9: Micro Machines (1987), #10: Sit n’ Spin (1974), #12: Pound Puppies (1984), #13: Fashion Plates (1978), #15: Mall Madness (1988), #16: Polly Pocket (Original tiny version, 1983), #18: Koosh Balls (1987), #19: Cup-and-ball Game, #21: Water Wiggle (1962), #22: Sock’em Boppers (1970s), #24: Yak Bak (1994), #25: Glo Worms (1982), #27: Wacky Wall Walkers

It’s pretty hard to go wrong with plush dogs, especially ones as good quality as Pound Puppies. They were kind of like an earlier version of Build-a-Bear, complete with an adoption certificate received upon purchase. Seeing as I was never allowed a dog, this was the closest I could get.

#13: Fashion Plates (1978)

#1: Skip-It (1960s), #3: Lite-Brite (1967), #4: Tinker Toys (1914), #6: View-Master (1939), #7: Popples (1986), #9: Micro Machines (1987), #10: Sit n’ Spin (1974), #12: Pound Puppies (1984), #13: Fashion Plates (1978), #15: Mall Madness (1988), #16: Polly Pocket (Original tiny version, 1983), #18: Koosh Balls (1987), #19: Cup-and-ball Game, #21: Water Wiggle (1962), #22: Sock’em Boppers (1970s), #24: Yak Bak (1994), #25: Glo Worms (1982), #27: Wacky Wall Walkers

Some might have considered Fashion Plates to be a niche toy only for those few young girls who knew without a doubt that their futures lay in the world of textiles. Yet for those who fell within that niche, it was a toy that opened up a world of possibilities that no other toy could – and who knows, maybe it really did help them become designers.

#15: Mall Madness (1988)

#1: Skip-It (1960s), #3: Lite-Brite (1967), #4: Tinker Toys (1914), #6: View-Master (1939), #7: Popples (1986), #9: Micro Machines (1987), #10: Sit n’ Spin (1974), #12: Pound Puppies (1984), #13: Fashion Plates (1978), #15: Mall Madness (1988), #16: Polly Pocket (Original tiny version, 1983), #18: Koosh Balls (1987), #19: Cup-and-ball Game, #21: Water Wiggle (1962), #22: Sock’em Boppers (1970s), #24: Yak Bak (1994), #25: Glo Worms (1982), #27: Wacky Wall Walkers

That’s right, Monopoly wasn’t the only board game designed to indoctrinate us into loving Capitalism. Where Monopoly taught us about accumulating wealth, Mall Madness taught us about dedicating ourselves to rampant consumerism. Of course, it was much easier to spend all that cash when you knew it was toy money.

#16: Polly Pocket (Original tiny version, 1983)

#1: Skip-It (1960s), #3: Lite-Brite (1967), #4: Tinker Toys (1914), #6: View-Master (1939), #7: Popples (1986), #9: Micro Machines (1987), #10: Sit n’ Spin (1974), #12: Pound Puppies (1984), #13: Fashion Plates (1978), #15: Mall Madness (1988), #16: Polly Pocket (Original tiny version, 1983), #18: Koosh Balls (1987), #19: Cup-and-ball Game, #21: Water Wiggle (1962), #22: Sock’em Boppers (1970s), #24: Yak Bak (1994), #25: Glo Worms (1982), #27: Wacky Wall Walkers

While the tendency for doll designers over the last fifty years has been to try and make them more and more lifelike, Polly Pocket was one doll that flew against the trend. Instead, Polly Pocket’s primary goal was compactness, something it achieved admirably. It was a lifesaver for busy Moms who needn’t keep kids occupied on the go.

#18: Koosh Balls (1987)

#1: Skip-It (1960s), #3: Lite-Brite (1967), #4: Tinker Toys (1914), #6: View-Master (1939), #7: Popples (1986), #9: Micro Machines (1987), #10: Sit n’ Spin (1974), #12: Pound Puppies (1984), #13: Fashion Plates (1978), #15: Mall Madness (1988), #16: Polly Pocket (Original tiny version, 1983), #18: Koosh Balls (1987), #19: Cup-and-ball Game, #21: Water Wiggle (1962), #22: Sock’em Boppers (1970s), #24: Yak Bak (1994), #25: Glo Worms (1982), #27: Wacky Wall Walkers

Koosh Balls are now the kind of thing that you might find broken and torn lying in some dusty corner of a thrift shop in Ohio, but they were once a popular toy. Whoever invented them must have had the idea come to him in a dream because it’s not really clear exactly why they were even fun to play with, but they were.

#19: Cup-and-ball Game

#1: Skip-It (1960s), #3: Lite-Brite (1967), #4: Tinker Toys (1914), #6: View-Master (1939), #7: Popples (1986), #9: Micro Machines (1987), #10: Sit n’ Spin (1974), #12: Pound Puppies (1984), #13: Fashion Plates (1978), #15: Mall Madness (1988), #16: Polly Pocket (Original tiny version, 1983), #18: Koosh Balls (1987), #19: Cup-and-ball Game, #21: Water Wiggle (1962), #22: Sock’em Boppers (1970s), #24: Yak Bak (1994), #25: Glo Worms (1982), #27: Wacky Wall Walkers

Even though the Cup-and-ball Game looks like something primitive and ancient, it’s still surprising to learn that it was first created so many years ago. Maybe that’s why using it evokes such primal emotional reactions in people. Succeeding or failing at the Cup-and-ball Game can make or break you in a way that few other toys can.

#21: Water Wiggle (1962)

#1: Skip-It (1960s), #3: Lite-Brite (1967), #4: Tinker Toys (1914), #6: View-Master (1939), #7: Popples (1986), #9: Micro Machines (1987), #10: Sit n’ Spin (1974), #12: Pound Puppies (1984), #13: Fashion Plates (1978), #15: Mall Madness (1988), #16: Polly Pocket (Original tiny version, 1983), #18: Koosh Balls (1987), #19: Cup-and-ball Game, #21: Water Wiggle (1962), #22: Sock’em Boppers (1970s), #24: Yak Bak (1994), #25: Glo Worms (1982), #27: Wacky Wall Walkers

Marketed under the slogan “cool splashing fun,” these were either a nifty way to cool down in the summer heat or else a brilliant device to help older siblings bully their younger ones with intense jets of water. It’s a shame the toy was discontinued after causing a number of deaths.

#22: Sock’em Boppers (1970s)

#1: Skip-It (1960s), #3: Lite-Brite (1967), #4: Tinker Toys (1914), #6: View-Master (1939), #7: Popples (1986), #9: Micro Machines (1987), #10: Sit n’ Spin (1974), #12: Pound Puppies (1984), #13: Fashion Plates (1978), #15: Mall Madness (1988), #16: Polly Pocket (Original tiny version, 1983), #18: Koosh Balls (1987), #19: Cup-and-ball Game, #21: Water Wiggle (1962), #22: Sock’em Boppers (1970s), #24: Yak Bak (1994), #25: Glo Worms (1982), #27: Wacky Wall Walkers

Another good strategy for a successful toy is finding innovative ways to allow kids to harness latent aggression in a way that (ostensibly) causes no harm to anyone around them. Sock’em Boppers, basically a set of huge colorful boxing gloves, fit that categorically very nicely. But I seem to remember that they did pack a punch.

#24: Yak Bak (1994)

#1: Skip-It (1960s), #3: Lite-Brite (1967), #4: Tinker Toys (1914), #6: View-Master (1939), #7: Popples (1986), #9: Micro Machines (1987), #10: Sit n’ Spin (1974), #12: Pound Puppies (1984), #13: Fashion Plates (1978), #15: Mall Madness (1988), #16: Polly Pocket (Original tiny version, 1983), #18: Koosh Balls (1987), #19: Cup-and-ball Game, #21: Water Wiggle (1962), #22: Sock’em Boppers (1970s), #24: Yak Bak (1994), #25: Glo Worms (1982), #27: Wacky Wall Walkers

As electronic toys became more and more popular in the 1990s, it was everything a kid could want to be able to play with sound. The Yak Bak was one of the pioneers in this category, enabling you to endlessly annoy your siblings without wasting your voice (or playing tricks on your parents). If one of these was used against you, it was nothing short of infuriating.

#25: Glo Worms (1982)

#1: Skip-It (1960s), #3: Lite-Brite (1967), #4: Tinker Toys (1914), #6: View-Master (1939), #7: Popples (1986), #9: Micro Machines (1987), #10: Sit n’ Spin (1974), #12: Pound Puppies (1984), #13: Fashion Plates (1978), #15: Mall Madness (1988), #16: Polly Pocket (Original tiny version, 1983), #18: Koosh Balls (1987), #19: Cup-and-ball Game, #21: Water Wiggle (1962), #22: Sock’em Boppers (1970s), #24: Yak Bak (1994), #25: Glo Worms (1982), #27: Wacky Wall Walkers

If you remember Glo Worm, it means you were a kid in the 80s. This plush stuffed toy was one of the most popular toys of the 1980s thanks to its worm body that would light up when squeezed, creating a warm, soft light. Everyone had one of these plush worms in the 80s, but no one ever mentions them anymore.

#27: Wacky Wall Walkers

#1: Skip-It (1960s), #3: Lite-Brite (1967), #4: Tinker Toys (1914), #6: View-Master (1939), #7: Popples (1986), #9: Micro Machines (1987), #10: Sit n’ Spin (1974), #12: Pound Puppies (1984), #13: Fashion Plates (1978), #15: Mall Madness (1988), #16: Polly Pocket (Original tiny version, 1983), #18: Koosh Balls (1987), #19: Cup-and-ball Game, #21: Water Wiggle (1962), #22: Sock’em Boppers (1970s), #24: Yak Bak (1994), #25: Glo Worms (1982), #27: Wacky Wall Walkers

If you grew up in the 80s, you had Wacky Wall Walkers crawling on your bedroom walls. And if you’ve got no idea what we’re talking about, don’t worry; it’s not as gross as it sounds. They were sticky, gooey, octopus-like creatures that you could throw on the wall and watch them crawl down it slowly. After too many times of them clinging to the wall and falling on the floor, they’d gather too much dust and lose their adhesive power, and you would lose your interest in them.

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