Game Changers

Toys are serious business at the the Strong National Museum of Play, in Rochester, New York. On September 17, the museum’s National Toy Hall of Fame announced the 12 finalists for its class of 2025. The winning toys will be officially inducted into the Hall of Fame in November. They’ll join other toys that have, per the museum, “inspired creative play and enjoyed popularity over a sustained period.”

Eighty-seven toys have been inducted since the Hall of Fame was established in 1998. Last year, My Little Pony made the cut. This year’s contenders include board games, such as Battleship and Catan, and scooters, slime, and Tickle Me Elmo. Also on the list: snow—actual snow, from the sky—which the museum calls “a toy like no other.”

Who chooses the winning toys? Per a museum press release, the public submits thousands of nominations each year. The museum then chooses 12 finalists. From September 17 to 24, fans may vote for their favorite finalists online. The three toys that receive the most public votes will be submitted to a panel of judges. The judges will consider the list, then choose the final 2025 toy inductees.

“I’m always excited to see where the judges and public come out in their votes,” said Christopher Bensch, vice president for collections and chief curator, in the release. “At the end of the day, the playful debates just go to show how much personal and cultural relevance these toys have for us all.”