These are the best-selling Christmas toys from the 80s and 90s… so how many do YOU remember?
From Care Bears to Transformers - these Christmas toys are guaranteed to take you back to memories of unwrapping old school heroes and cuddly friends. But how many of these bestsellers can you recognise from our list?
WHETHER you like it or not, Christmas is just around the corner - which means kids are already making their wish lists.
John Lewis has released its top ten toys list for 2017, with the Luvabella doll tipped to be a must-have.
The hyper-lifelike doll will remind parents of a certain age of Tiny Tears, just one of many toys which were big news during the 1980s.
From Lego sets to Transformers, here are some of the other big sellers during the 80s and 90s according to Christmas Connections, which looked at data from around the world. So how many do you remember?
1980: The Rubik's Cube
The Rubik's Cube is the best-selling puzzle game of all time, selling 350 million cubes worldwide by January 2009.
Although it reached its ultimate mainstream popularity in 1980 (when it cost £1), the confusing handheld puzzle still keeps fans occupied today.
As of 2003, The World Cube Association was set up to organise worldwide competitions and beat official world records.
By the end of 1980 Rubik's Cube won a German Game of the Year special award, and also similar prizes for best toy in the UK. Well done little cube.
1981: The LEGO train set
Advancing from the older versions without tracks, LEGO's 1981 train set included paper tracks and an electric motor unit. It cost £40 at the time, about £100 in today's money.
Modern spins have seen the original propelled even further into the future with city themes, high speed passenger trains and cargo carriages.
1982: BMX Bike
Grazed knees and possibly broken bones: yes, the BMX Bike provided all the fun of injuries and stunt riding.
In the same year that its popularity reached its peak, the International BMX Federation was founded and held the first world championships.
The small agile bike is still helping youngsters pull off stunts today. The 1982 version would set you back £45.
1983: Cabbage Patch Kids
The plush dolls, which we once named "little people", became one of the most popular fads in the 80s.
Created by art student Xavier Roberts in the 70s, the doll was made entirely of cloth and became one of the longest running franchises in America. Hitting their peak in 1983, they cost £15.
Most good toys don't come without controversies - Cabbage Patch Kids included.
A later version of it included a feature so it could "eat" plastic snacks. Following several incidences where children got their hands stuck in the doll's mouth, the model was pulled.
1984: Optimus Prime
The Transformer (Robot in disguise! - remember that song?) was a hit with mainly boy viewers of the TV programme where the futuristic, extra-terrestrial, galactic car androids featured.
The iconic figure was (and still is) known as the "good guy" of the Transformers world.
While being a personality for pop culture, he, well... transforms - from a car to a robot and back again.
As a toy it seems we couldn't get enough of it - two toys in one?! Yes, please.
1985: Care Bears
Even though the cuddly toys started as humble greeting cards, Care Bears are still widely recognised today.
The Care Bears featured on TV throughout the 80s - fuelling their popularity and cute factor.
Each Care Bear is a different colour and has a sign on its belly (known as a 'belly badge') - detailing the duty and personality traits of the bear.
In 1985 they were the toy all kids wanted, with prices starting at a tenner.
1986: Lazer tag
Lazer tag caused as much hype as it possibly could before Christmas 86 by dropping a series of teaser ads.
Like many other toys on this list, the £50 Lazer Tag brand earned itself an animated TV series called Lazer Tag Academy, which was screened in America.
1987: Koosh Ball
The fun ball of 2,000 natural rubber filaments shot to popularity in 1987 - but is also used for more than just squishing, prodding and chucking at walls.
Koosh balls are also used during QuickStart tennis exercises to help children develop motor skills - who says a ball of rubber can't be educational?
The stocking fillers cost between £1 and £3.
1988: Ghostbusters toys
Who you gonna call? If you were a kid in 1988 probably your local toy store to see if the £10 Fright Features figures were in stock.
The gory figures were based on the characters from the classic Ghostbusters movie - the main selling point being that the eyes and tongue of the characters bulged out when they were squeezed.
But hey, still not as gross as getting slimed,
1989: Gameboy
The Japanese hand-held game console is undoubtedly famous in modern pop culture after its mainstream popularity during 1989.
One of the pricier things on the list, the £50 gadget is still popular today and appears on T-shirts, mobile phone cases, trainers and even as a case for modern game devices such as the Nintendo DS.
Definitely worthy of a Throwback Thursday Instagram post.
1990: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles toys
With a whopping 30 million worldwide sales, the £1 action figures were based on the original comic book characters.
The series had ten different figures - a team of five good guys, and five enemies with featured vehicles and accessories.
The most memorable feature of the figurines was the creation of "ooze" – radioactive slime that made turtles Michelangelo, Donatello, Raphael and Leonardo "mean, green, fighting machines".
1991: SEGA Game Gear
Sold to its audience as the cooler alternative to the Gameboy, the £99 Game Gear demonstrated technology maturity against its previous rivals.
But even with a full-colour back lit screen and a landscape format, the console couldn't edge Gameboy at being the most popular console, due to its short battery life and lack of original games.
1992: WWF Action Figures
These mini muscular Hasbro wrestlers were based on the giant names in WWF (now the WWE) such as Hulk Hogan, The Undertaker, and Big Bossman.
Now a favoured collectable, the £4.99 toys did face some issues.
The brand was criticised for apparently using the same cartoon-esque appearance on their figures as the Wrestling Superstars line from LJN.
1993: Talkboy
Arguably made famous by Macaulay Culkin in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, the toy used all the conventional elements of a cassette recorder, plus it had a microphone.
Due to this added feature, and its ability to slow down and speed up recording, the £19.99 Talkboy was a must have Xmas toy in 1993.
1994: Power Rangers
Based on the original Japanese Super Sentai series, Power Rangers found their way into Western culture via the English TV series.
The £4.99 figures based on the show became so popular that a black market developed which sold the action figures to desperate parents for more than four times their original retail price.
1995: POGs
Originally played with caps from pretty much any old bottle, the game evolved to using specifically POG branded caps.
Kids played by collecting POGs into a pile, and then throwing the "slammer" (the heavier POG) down on the lot. The player kept any POGs that landed face up after their go. The game was reintroduced with the colourful, playful caps in the early 90s, costing £2.99.
1996: Tickle Me Elmo
Now the subject of internet memes and jokes, the £19.99 toy originally had surprising success.
Huge in America thanks to an appearance on Rosie O'Donnell's chat show, versions of the doll were soon swapping hands for hundreds of pounds.
Two shoppers in Chicago were arrested for fighting over one of the toys, and in a Canadian Wal-Mart an employee was injured by stampeding shoppers after being spotted carrying a box of the toys. Sesame Street was big in the UK too, so Elmo fever quickly spread.
1997: Tamagotchi
Although it seemed to cause children distress when their little virtual pet Tamagotchi died, these toys were the major obsession of 1997.
Tamagotchi creatures originated from an alien species, who lay eggs and leave them with the player. They have to care for it and teach it about life on Earth along the way.
Originally from Japan, the pocket sized pet would die within half an hour of being unused (or "uncared" for).
Their high maintenance led to schools banning the toy due to the distraction it was causing. They cost between £2.99 and £5.99.
1998: Furby
A sightly more sophisticated, and less likely to die, robot pet was the Furby.
The speaking toy began life knowing only its own unique language, but would gradually learn English over time.
Known for its characteristically big eyes and fuzzy look, the toy sold 1.8 million units in its release year, followed by 14 million the next year.
The original has come a fair way over the years - the newest models now have LCD eyes and its own mobile app. In 1998, they set parents back £14.99 or more.
1999: Pokemon Nintendo
Gotcha catch 'em all - and people sure did try to during '99.
The original £19.99 Pokémon Nintendo game saw players focused on finding, capturing and training creatures known as Pokémon.
With TV series, films and mass fan conventions - it's safe to say Pokemon hasn't done too badly.
Fancy yourself an expert on everything throwback? See if you can spot this hidden hint to the original IT movie from the new one.
Can you see it? Some more old familiar faces are also appearing in strange places.
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