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We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page. 32 Popular Toys That Are Bound To Sell Out During The Holidays From a ridiculously popular twist on Uno to an adorable ice cream shop play set, I suggest adding these to your cart now before Santa runs out of stock. It's a struggle parents know all too well — suddenly it's mid-December and your child tells you they want the hottest toy of the year with less than two weeks until Christmas. This year is gonna be different, because I scoured the internet to help you find the toys you should buy right now before they sell out during the holiday shopping rush. From wacky board games and imaginative Lego sets to engaging activities that'll keep kids busy for hours, these are the toys that are bound to sell out this year. 1. Uno No Mercy, which takes the classic card game up a notch by adding some brutal but ridiculously fun rule tweaks. You know how mad your brother gets when you put down a Draw 4 card?? Imagine the steam coming out of his ears when you drop a Draw 10 card!!! There are also other unhinged cards like "Skip Everyone" and "Discard All" to up the ante and cause some legendary, good-hearted family disputes. If you want something less cutthroat, check out Uno Flip, which has a special Flip card that leads to all the cards being flipped over to reveal new numbers and colors. Promising review: "For highly competitive players! If you have players who can’t handle regular Uno without their feelings being hurt, they will not enjoy this version. We, however, have some very competitive card players in our family and had a blast playing this game. No Mercy means just that! Enjoy!" —Mom Reviews Get it from Amazon for $14.98. 2. Cows In Space — a delightfully silly game where players wear a magnetic UFO headband as they try to collect more cows than their opponent. It's simple, genius, and will lead to an overwhelming amount of belly laughs. What Do You Meme? Promising review: "This game is so much fun. The whole family loves playing. Even when it’s not your turn, it is fun and funny cheering on those playing." —Jess Get it from Amazon for $19.97. 3. A Bitzee, which puts a 3D spin on the traditional virtual pet. Simply open the capsule to reveal one of 15 pets that respond to touch, tilts, and swipes. There's even a Disney version with characters like Stitch, Wall-E, and Lightning McQueen — which sold out in the week before Christmas last year! Amazon When their pets evolve into Super Bitzees, they can find cool outfits and mini-games. In a rare turn of events, batteries are included! Promising review: "My 8-year-old loves this thing so much that she hasn't put it down since she got it. It was the star of the show for Christmas, and I got so many hugs for getting it for her. This is basically the modern take on the old-school Tamagotchis, but it has a fluttering LED bar that zips up and down at an extremely high rate of speed to mimic the appearance of an actual digital pet floating in midair. Seems weird at first, but that fluttering light bar also allows you to feel like you are really touching the animal — very cool in action. If you are a parent looking for the perfect gift for a 5–10-year-old child, then do yourself a favor and grab one of these; you will not regret it! Really awesome toy for a very reasonable price." —M. Myers Get it from Amazon for $24.99+ (available in five styles). 4. An objectively very cool remote-controlled lizard that can actual climb on the walls! Its eyes will glow as it climbs along every wall in your home — and the pranking possibilities are endless. This sold out quickly during the last Prime Day event, so I'd grab it now while it's still in stock. The lizard is rechargable and powered with the included USB cable, though two AAA batteries are needed for the remote (not included). Promising review: "My son asked and asked for this remote control lizard! And he absolutely loves it. I wouldn't recommend this product if you had only carpet. It crawls well on wood/tile and crawls up and across the walls using a vacuum." —Amanda Get it from Amazon for $24.97. 5. A jaw-droppingly futuristic Nex Playground, which is a game console that's entirely motion-controlled — no controller necessary! It uses a small camera to track your little one's movements, meaning they can get their video game fix in while staying active and off the couch. Also, there's a Barbie dance game available, which sounds like a 10/10 good time. The console includes five games, though you can expand your collection by purchasing a Play Pass subscription ($49 for three months, or $89 for a full year). Promising review: "First, as a UX and graphic designer, I love the design of everything about the Nex Playground. Opening it was easy, and setup was understandable and easy for anyone. The onboarding was fun and creative. I wish there were more games in the catalog, but the games available were definitely worth buying. This is great for apartment living and during the cold winter when your toddlers can't go outside; it solves many sensory issues. Keeping my kids active and keeping me in shape at the same time with a variety of creative activity games is amazing, and it makes for great family game nights. If you are looking for something fun for your kids that keeps them active, this is the buy for you. As a father of two toddlers with autism, I can honestly say this brings me back to when I had an Xbox Connect as a kid, and I am happy my kids will be able to experience what I experienced. Looks good with my other systems." —louis Get it from Amazon for $249. 6. And the Toniebox 2, an impressive upgrade to the wildly popular audio toy that's topping every kid's list. It's a totally screen-free alternative to iPads and video games; just place one of the interactive figures on top to activate narrated stories and educational games. Plus, the updated model includes a helpful sleep timer and alarm clock feature! Amazon Check out more Tonies figures here, including Ms. Rachel and Moana! Promising review: "My kids love it. Totally worth the upgrade from the original Toniebox, the sleeptimer is a game changer, and the interactive games are fun for the 10-year-old as well. Very robust and reliable. The sound is much better than the original, and all our figurines work like a charm." —lili Get it from Amazon for $139.99 (available in five colors). 7. The new Pets Alive Mommy Turtle Surprise that will be a huge hit with any animal lovers on your list. The cute turtle toy starts to swim once it's placed in water, and the included tank features four eggs that magically pop open to reveal either three, four, or five baby turtles. Amazon Get it from Amazon for $18.79. 8. A Mini Brands mini fridge with a working light and plenty of shelves to fit their collection of tiny grocery staples. Yes, there's even a separate freezer section for tiny tubs of ice cream and frozen waffles. 😭 Working with liquid resin can be dangerous without proper precautions. Read the instructions and monitor your child as they work on the project. Make sure all resin has completely hardened before handling with bare hands. Read more about precautions from Missouri Poison Center. Promising review: "So worth my money. Amazing quality and detail, so cute!! Really easy to assemble. Seems really durable and I love it so much!! The metal feels smooth and cold, the light changes, and the little details like silicone are adorable!!" —Morgan E. Get it from Amazon for $19.97. 9. A five-pack of Hatchimals Alive, which is both a cute collectible and fun experience in one. The packaging includes a built-in hatching zone, so all your little will have to do is add water and watch their tiny new friends come to life. Amazon Promising review: "I was pretty impressed with this toy! When we added water, the colors began to swirl around, and the little animals started to pop out! It was really cool to watch, and my daughter loved it! The pretty rainbow effect only lasted for a matter of minutes, then it all mixed together into a muddy brown color, but by then the animals were all hatched out." —Diana U. Get it from Amazon for $8.04. 10. A hide-and-seek Bluey game — kids can hide the Bluey figure around the house, which will talk and giggle every few seconds to help lead them in the right direction. Once they find her, it's time for a dance party to the theme song!! Amazon Promising review: "This toy is so awesome that I have now purchased three! Every child loves it! Heck, I like playing with it, too! Push the nose button, hide it. Bluey talks every 20 seconds or so, until you find her. Then you push the button, and it plays the theme song. Kids burst into dancing. I HIGHLY recommend this gift." —Florida Buyer Get it from Amazon for $11.99+ (also available in a Bingo version). 11. An interactive Ms. Rachel plush doll that speaks 16 different phrases when they press the button on her hand. It also includes four songs including "Icky Sticky Sticky Sticky Bubble Gum," which I personally have never heard but I'm assuming it's an absolute bop based on the title alone. Btw, this sold out fairly quickly last year! Amazon Promising review: "My son loves it already! The sound is perfect. I am shocked by how clear the audio is. It has a quiet and loud option, which we are huge fans of. Plenty of phrases and songs. She is soft and so far seems to be amazing quality. My MIL bought him a second for backup since he loves it so much."—Courtney M. Get it from Amazon for $21.99. 12. A darling Ms. Rachel Official Huggable Lovey available as the iconic Ms. Rachel herself or the lovably fluffy Herbie. The blanket-plush hybrid is super soft and machine-washable, so it'll be a hit with babies and parents alike. Amazon Promising review: "This is perfect for my 9-month-old granddaughter. Easy for her to hold, very soft and cuddly. Nice vibrant colors. It seems to be of very good quality and durable. My granddaughter loves it." —Lisa Get it from Amazon for $5.99+ (available in two characters). 13. A Sereed balance bike that's low to the ground, easy to steer, and lightweight, meaning your tiny tot can get a head start on developing their balance and coordination. Plus, the wheels are specially designed for indoor use, so you don't have to worry about damaging your floors. Promising review: "We purchased this for our toddler, and it has quickly become one of their favorite things to play with! The design is both fun and functional — it’s sturdy, safe, and easy for little ones to maneuver on their own. I really appreciate how it encourages independent play and helps build balance and coordination. The smile on our child’s face every time they hop on is priceless. Highly recommend this to any parent looking for a fun, well-made riding toy that will keep their little one moving and entertained!" —Debi Epstein Get it from Amazon for $34.99+ (available in eight colors). 14. An 850-piece Lego Brick Box starter set perfect for the kid whose imagination cannot be contained by an instruction booklet! This will let their creativity run wild as they build their own masterpieces, and there are even some helpful picture guides to get them started on their Lego journey. Perhaps most importantly, it's all housed in a sturdy storage container, so no random Lego pieces will end up all over your floor. Amazon Promising review: "Very cute, and handy storage. It’s Legos, what can I say, my toddler loves it! The directions are sooo easy to read, and if he doesn’t want to build with the preset instructions, he can open his imagination and build a variety of shapes. I love how legos come with the tool to help separate the shapes. Bought it for a 4-year-old present, and he loves having his own Legos, and the variety of colors really helps his imagination." —R-kat Get it from Amazon for $54.15. 15. And a 3-in-1 Lego set that can be a whimsical unicorn, a silly seahorse, or a playful peacock. Under $7 and three toys in one?! That is the definition of a steal, so it's bound to be a super popular stocking stuffer option. Have you heard of the "Will it Millennium Falcon?" trend? It's where Lego fans attempt to turn random sets into the Millennium Falcon from Star Wars, and as you can see in the photo above on the right, this set passes the test! Though do be aware that the set does not come with instructions for a Millennium Falcon build, sorry. Promising review: "Got this for my kiddo. They absolutely loved it! Three different blueprints for three different figures. They had a few hours of entertainment. The quality was Lego standard, so pretty great." —Kkarmy45 Get it from Amazon for $6.79. 16. And!!! A set of Lego flower pots — these are honestly so adorable, I don't know how I'm going to finish writing this sentence with the tears welling up in my eyes. The best part? The flowers are interchangeable! Just kidding, the actual best part is that they can hold hands. ❤️ Lego flowers are always a hit, so expect these adorable additions to the lineup to be a popular pick. Promising review: "Great set, simple build, cute faces, and love that the plants are swappable between the two. I would recommend this set to anyone looking for a cute deco set and would absolutely buy it again!" —Alex Get it from Amazon for $19.97. 17. Melissa and Doug's wooden ice creamery set which upgrades the smaller and also popular "scoop and serve ice cream counter" to a full-on shop setup. Your dessert-loving tot can spend hours playing with the pretend cash register, display board, sprinkle station, and spacious scoop case. Promising review: "My granddaughter loves playing pretend ice cream store with this toy. It sparks her imagination, and she provides us with the menu of options so that we can order, and she prepares the order. It brings her a lot of joy." —Kathy Siegel Get it from Amazon for $72.99. 18. A toy laptop that converts into a tablet so your toddler can stop messing with your Macbook and iPad. Unlike a real tablet, this doesn't connect to the internet and is instead filled with educational games to help kids learn their letters and numbers and identify animals. I wonder if toddlers consider some lessons to be strictly laptop activities??? Promising review: "This helped my daughter learn and it also distracts her. She always sees me on my laptop working so it’s cute when she plays with this laptop. Everything works well and is easy to use. I love the option to turn it into a tablet." —Victoria Get it from Amazon for $24.97 (available in two colors). 19. A NeeDoh Nice Cube — a super popular sensory fidget toy (it frequently went in and out of stock in the lead up to Christmas last year) that reviewers say lives up to the hype. It has a weighted yet super squishy design that's perfect for keeping fidgety hands busy, and parents might even borrow it to relieve some stress. This is the only lump in my stocking I wouldn't mind seeing. Promising review: "High quality and very durable! This cube is fantastic for any age and any need. The cube provides slight resistance when compressed, which is both stress-relieving and satisfying!!! Once squeezed, it quickly returns to its natural shape. A great choice!" —Joe stevenson Get it from Amazon for $8.95 (available in three colors). 20. A miniature Radio Flyer Amazon Delivery Van for any kid who anxiously waits by the door to see their favorite person — the Amazon delivery driver! Now they can ride in style just like them and deliver packages around the house in record speed. Promising review: "Love love love!! My son loves packages, anything from getting them to bringing us packages. So we saw this and we are glad we got it. He loves this. He is four and a bit bigger than the targeted age and size. But he doesn’t care. He pushes it around like a toy car. Definitely recommend if your child loves Amazon packages or any packages." —Denise Reeb Get it from Amazon for $29.64. 21. The Barbie Dreamhouse, because let's be honest, this is a slam-dunk every single year. This version includes three levels of play and tons of furniture and accessories. And, yes, the iconic pink slide remains, which is the ultimate Dreamhouse feature. This specific design has over 75 pieces, a three-story pool slide, a pet elevator and puppy play area, working lights, sounds, and room to sleep four dolls. When can I move in? Promising review: "The Barbie Dreamhouse is an amazing dollhouse! It’s big enough to fit all of my daughter’s Barbies and gives her so many ways to be creative. She especially loves the fun slide and the working elevator, which make playtime even more exciting. It’s a great mix of fun and imagination, and my daughter absolutely loves it. It does take time to put together. Super sturdy!" —Mariana Fulgencio Get it from Amazon for $137.99. 22. Or the more compact Getaway House with two stories of fun, because Barbie has invested her money wisely into several properties. The house features a kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom on the inside, and then they can flip it over to reveal a grilling area and garage. Best of all, it folds up when playtime is over so it won't take up tons of space. Amazon Promising review: "Kids enjoyed this and really loved the portability of playing anywhere and on the go. It’s good quality even for toddlers." —Amazon Shopper Get it from Amazon for $24.49. 23. A Fisher-Price Musical Toy Deluxe Rockin’ Record Player any budding music aficionado will love. It features "records" that play hip-hop, country, pop, mindfulness, and kid classic tunes — so they'll have an album ready for any occasion. And yes, there's a volume function so the parents can control the noise level! But honestly, the included songs are bangers (the rock version of "B-I-N-G-O"?! Put it on Spotify ASAP), so they might want to turn it all the way up. Amazon Heather Braga: "My son was gifted this TWICE last holiday season, and we enjoyed it so much we honestly just kept both and sent one to my in-laws' house. The songs themselves are fun (thankfully) and won't make you want to rip all of your hair out. It's super simple for kids to use; both my 3-year-old and 1-year-old play with it easily. They love having the power to create their own music listening sesh without the help of mom or dad, and I love that it comes with a stand for housing all of the 'records.'" Get it from Amazon for $43.14. 24. A *magic* Crayola watercolor set parents might like even more than kids since it's a totally mess-free way to let them channel their inner Picasso. The paint only works on the included paper (it lights up to let you know which color you're using!), starting as clear and then transforming into the color once it hits the paper. No more getting stains out of clothes, tablecloths, hair, etc!!! Amazon The kit comes with a paintbrush, 18 special pieces of paper, and six clear paints that change colors when they hit the paper. The brush lights up to indicate what color is currently on the brush. Promising review: "I saw this everywhere and wanted to get it for my kids. My kids love this magic light brush paint set. It's perfect for toddlers who want to paint, but you don't want the whole mess. The only problem I found was the yellow, after a few swipes, wouldn't make yellow anymore, no matter how much I rubbed the brush on the palette. It would be an orange-brown color. It wasn't a deal breaker for us. Overall, it's fun, and the kids love it." —Ashley Get it from Amazon for $23.65 (available in two sets and a refill pack). 25. Or Crayola's Color Wonder Bluey Activity Kit featuring mess-free markers that only work on the special Color Wonder paper, meaning no more random marker streaks on your carpet and furniture! Amazon Heather Braga: "The kit comes with seven Bluey coloring pages, eight mess-free markers, four sticker sheets, two die-cut cardstock Bluey character cutouts, and a trifold background scene. My family has tried so many of the Color Wonder products — I love them so much, I'm constantly restocking on the paper! The markers come in so many fun colors and genuinely only work on Crayola's specially designated surfaces." Promising review: "Win for mom and kiddo. They get to have fun coloring their favorite characters, and I don’t have to worry about markers on everything! Definitely worth it." —sammi Get it from Amazon for $21.29. 26. A 12-inch Buzz Lightyear action figure for all the Andys in your life who are ready to leave their cowboy phase — or for any nostalgic millennials who fight over which Toy Story is the best (it's the first one, argue with the wall). His wings pop open, and each of his three buttons activates lights and sounds. Promising review: "This is exactly the toy from Toy Story. As a millennial who grew up on that movie, I was so excited while unboxing it for my kids. It was fun for me to see all the features that are in the movies. My daughter has become a big fan of the movies as of late and asked for a Woody and Buzz for her birthday. The chopping action, the wings that bust out, the laser, it is all there." —Mimie H. Get it from Amazon for $39.99 (seven other characters available at various prices). 27. An Optimus Prime figure that transforms from a truck to a robot in six steps. Reviewers say it's surprisingly simple to transform, meaning youngsters can re-enact all their favorite Transformers scenes without asking their parents every five seconds, "Can you make it a robot???? *coughs* *sniffles* now, can you make it a truck???" Promising review: "I just got the Optimus Prime transforming toy for my son, and it’s been a total hit! The transformation is super easy, which is perfect for kids — he can switch from truck to robot mode in no time. The colors and details are vibrant and really capture Optimus’s iconic look. It’s durable enough to withstand rough play, which is a huge plus. This toy has sparked his imagination and kept him entertained for hours. If you’re looking for a fun and engaging toy for a young Transformers fan, I highly recommend this Optimus Prime — definitely a five-star winner!" —Joseph A. Get it from Amazon for $24.99. 28. The Minions Ultimate Fart Blaster because fart jokes are timeless, universal, and truly bridge the generational divide. This light-up blaster makes 15 different fart sounds and shoots rings of fog in two scents: "stinky" and banana. Choose wisely. Promising review: "Got this for my daughter's 10th birthday, and she absolutely loved it. The smell from both the vials is nice, and even though it’s labeled as fart, it just smelled like buttered popcorn. So fun and enjoyable. We like that it’s very easy to use and great quality! Not cheap like other toys. Highly recommended!" —C. Gallardo Get it from Amazon for $22.14. 29. Gravity Maze — a brain-busting logic puzzle that challenges kids to create intricate marble mazes. It comes with 60 challenges — each card tells the player which pieces to use, but it's up to them to figure out the best way to arrange them so the marble makes it from point A to B. This set is suitable for ages 8+. Promising review: "My 7-year-old son spends many hours playing this. Some challenges are easy, but on others, he gets stuck and asks for my help. Good game for children to develop imagination and skills to solve problems." —Jean Carlos Barcelo Get it from Amazon for $24.72. 30. A retro-chic projector toy that functions as both a storytelling device and a really neat white noise nightlight. Kids can insert the story cartridge of their choosing, and the projector will shine "pages" of the story on the wall that automatically change while playing lights and sounds. When they're done with their bedtime story, the projector can also play five different sounds to help them fall asleep. Amazon The projector includes The Poky Little Puppy, Tawny Scrawny Lion, and The Saggy Baggy Elephant, and a Poky Little Puppy figure. Promising review: "My daughter is afraid of the dark and the nightlight, music, sounds are perfect to get your little ones right to sleep. The whole thing reminds me of what toys were like when I was a kid, I'm a millennial, simple, easy for young kids to use. I can't sing enough praises about this toy, this baby is way more fun than a tablet that's for sure!" —Amie G. Get it from Amazon for $49. 31. Kanoodle Ultimate Champion game, an updated version of the game that's taken over TikTok. This version includes a whopping 500 puzzles to solve, but the game-changer is the included timer to help provide an extra challenge. Amazon The goal? Try to fit all of the puzzle pieces on the game board before the timer is up! The easiest way to get started is to place one piece inside, close the lid and shake until the piece falls in a spot on the board, then open and start the timer as you try to fit the remaining pieces inside! There are also challenge cards that give you a specific shape to make in a set amount of time. Here's a TikTok video that shows how to play. It requires AAA batteries, so pick some up here. BuzzFeed contributor John Mihaly has this to say about this game: "We love the classic version in our home, and it's been in heavy rotation since we got our hands on it. The object of the game is to finish a puzzle using all 12 Kanoodle pieces. The 2D version lies flat, while the 3D version (you can play both with this set) requires you to build a pyramid of pieces. Simple, fun, and challenging (harder puzzles reveal fewer pieces to start)." Promising review: "Very easy to use and fun for all ages. Great gift idea and is small and compact, so you can take it anywhere with you!" —Jocelyn Get it from Amazon for $19.97. 32. A Dyson Ball toy vacuum — yes, it actually works!!! Tiny clean-freaks can push it around the house and actually suction up any stray dust and hair, which will make parents' deep-cleaning sessions way easier. There's even a debris chamber at the bottom, so parents can easily empty it between play sessions. Amazon Promising review: "I bought one for a 2-year-old child’s birthday gift. Around this age loves pulling and pushing; this is perfectly developmentally appropriate material. Plus it does look like a real Dyson and sucks some real dust. It was absolutely the best gift from the party; the child dragged it all over the backyard. Once he put it down, his 2-year-old cousin played for the next hour until he claimed it back. His parents were very happy too that he learns how to help around at home." —Kim Get it from Amazon for $21.37+ (available in three colors). Why Trust BuzzFeed Shopping? BuzzFeed Shopping is service journalism first: our writers and editors spend all day shopping so you don’t have to, vetting products, fact-checking brand claims, and surfacing what actually helps in real life. We center readers over revenue, recommend products with authenticity (using real experiences, not ad-speak), and reflect our diverse audience, inclusive of a variety of price points, people, and needs. We cut through fake deals, favor useful info over glossy fluff, and recommend both budget and splurge options with context so you can decide what’s right for you — and still have a little fun along the way. Daniel Boan is a Shopping & Products Editor at BuzzFeed who uses his passion for hitting "add to cart" (and his 8+ years in media) to curate the best products on the web — from personal care essentials to cleaning must-haves. He's particularly passionate about finding the best beauty products, which probably stems from his days of working at Lush Cosmetics, where he learned about effective skincare ingredients while getting covered in bath bomb dust every day. Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.
