Hot toys 2008

At this year’s annual Toy Test, we gathered 47 kids, ages 6 through 12 years, to test 24 toys. Included were remote-controlled vehicles, arts and crafts kits, “spy” gadgets, building sets, a racetrack set, an electronic pet, and more.

We let the kids loose in a room full of toys for more than two hours, allowing them to play with whichever ones they chose, for as long as they liked. We provided the toys' instructions and were there to help if the kids had questions, but we didn’t direct them to any particular toys or otherwise try to influence them.

We observed the children as they played, and we took notes on what they liked and disliked about each toy. At the end of the test, we gathered the kids, held each toy up in turn, and asked the kids to cast a vote only if they liked that toy. Based on that, we came up with this year’s list of hot toys. The toys are listed by category, in order of the number of votes cast by the kids. Prices are approximately what our shoppers paid.

The biggest hits

Hasbro Lazer Tag 2-in-1 System ($90), a two-player home version of the popular Lazer Tag game. It can also be used by a single player when connected to a TV.

Hot Wheels Speed Racer Sky Jump Track Set ($50), which lets kids launch their Hot Wheels cars from a “sky cone.” A group of eight boys spent the entire two-plus hours of the test building and playing with this and didn’t get tired of it.

FurReal Friends Biscuit the Dog ($180), a very lifelike—and nearly life-sized—animatronic Golden Retriever. Kids enjoyed having the “dog” respond to their voice-commands, and to being petted.

Jakks Pacific EyeClops Night Vision ($80). These are actual night-vision goggles that let kids see in darkness. Since absolute darkness was needed to test these, the kids tried them in our staff fitness center, where we set out small items for them to find in the dark. This was the most in-demand toy at the Toy Test—some kids stayed late to try them.

Some interest

Most of the other toys had their dedicated fans: Lego sets are always popular with kids who enjoy building elaborate creations. There were always at least a few kids playing with the Bakugan Battle Brawlers, currently one of the most popular toys (it was sold out at many local stores when we tried to buy it). Some girls enjoyed decorating hats and shirts that we provided using the Fisher Price Color Me Gemz sets.

We’ve typically seen groups of boys gravitate to the building sets in the past, but this year, three girls (ages 8, 9, and 10) worked together to build the K’Nex Ferris Wheel. They worked determinedly on it for two hours, and when they connected the battery pack and motor, they were thrilled to watch their Ferris wheel working perfectly.

Low interest

Other toys seemed to get lost in the shuffle. Mega Struxx Basixx 40X, another building set, was mostly ignored in favor of the flashier Lego sets. The Hasbro Incredible Hulk Power Glow Mask didn’t get much interest.

Safety notes

Most, if not all, of the toys we tested contain small parts and should be kept away from kids 3 and younger, or even kids older than 3 if they still put things into their mouths.

Age recommendations on packages should be taken seriously by parents and other gift-givers. The recommended age range might be due to the presence of small parts or because some judgment is assumed on the part of the child playing with the toy. (Judgment that a 10-year-old might have, for example, that a 5-year-old would not.)

Bakugan Battle Brawlers contain small magnets, and the usual cautions should be observed by both parents and kids: Be aware that small magnets can come loose, and if they are swallowed, they can cause serious internal injury or death.

The Dark Knight: Stealth Launch Batmobile Vehicle shoots small projectiles. They do not have sharp points, but common sense should be used at all times: Kids should not shoot toward another person, particularly at the face.

Recommendations

There’s a good selection of toys in this report for kids with a variety of interests. If you know the type of toy your child is interested in, check out our toy listings (arts and crafts, building, electronic, games and playsets, and “learning” toys) for some new items in that category.

While parents are the best judges of the types of toys their kids tend to like, our listings provide guidance on the toys that were solid hits with the kids in our tests.