Toy and game companies are assembling a wide holiday lineup that ranges from sensory plush to modular dollhouses, space-themed train sets, collectible figures, and screen-free audio players. In a ‘Hot for Holiday’ roundup, manufacturers were invited to submit products they want retailers to watch. The picks span imaginative worlds, hands-on experiences, sensory fun, tech-forward play, and familiar franchises, with prices from about $4.99 to $279.99.
Sensory, plush, and character play
Goliath’s Chester is a goofy, rear-shaped pal that wiggles and makes silly sounds when kids squeeze and stretch its cheeks; pressing its head makes it dance. It is $29.99 for ages 8 and up and needs three AAA batteries. Schylling’s NeeDoh countdown hides six NeeDoh surprises and seven Halloween treats behind 13 doors for $14.99. Just Play’s 18-inch Tiggle Me Elmo Giggle Max offers laughter and full-body movements for $39.97, ages 18 months and up. License 2 Play’s Domo returns with a blocky shape, fuzzy texture, and wide-open mouth at $4.99–$14.99, while Yoonique’s 4-inch farm friends combine plush with a squeezable rubber core for $4.99.
Building and imaginative sets
Mattel’s customizable dollhouse has nine indoor and outdoor play areas, two pools, two slides, more than 65 accessories, and a modular design that forms one large house or two connected houses with a bridge. It is $214.99 for ages 3 and up. Ravensburger’s BRIO World Space Deluxe Train Set is a 56-piece multilevel space layout with tunnels, a space station, a rover, and a shuttle with lights and sounds; astronaut figures have magnetic suits that connect to a tether inside the shuttle. It is $279.99. The LEGO Group’s 106-piece Bluey set includes Bluey and Rusty mini-figures and a school scene with a mini kitchen, café, hospital, and baby-care area for $24.99. CONNETIX’s travel pack offers 32 compact magnetic pieces, two reusable sticker sheets, and a carry tin for $25. Magna-Tiles’ lighthouse-inspired set adds a rescuer figure, a sea turtle, a rescue raft, and shoreline pieces, though no price is listed.
Tech-forward and active play
Fat Brain Toys’ tube-building set uses adjustable airflow to send foam balls racing, hovering, and popping through constructed routes for $129.95. Hasbro’s 11-inch action figure converts into a car in four steps and includes accessories for both modes at $54.99. The Bat-Link Batmobile measures more than 16 inches, fits 6.5-inch action figures, and hides a disc-launching BatDrone beneath the hood for $43.19. ZipString’s wrist-mounted webshooter launches a string and retracts it for $39.99. Golden Bear’s Strikesphere indoor basketball trainer uses light-guided drills across three modes and an LCD scoreboard for $99.99. Hapiko’s voice-powered sticker maker uses AI to create sticker combinations, with built-in filters and assurances that the device is not “always listening.” Tonies’ Toniebox 2 Pokémon set includes Pikachu, Squirtle, Charmander, and Bulbasaur figures that play stories and songs on a screen-free audio player for $199.99, ages 5 and up.
Collectibles, games, and role play
The Pokémon Co. International’s 30th-anniversary Elite Trainer Box introduces a Futuristic Rare card rarity, all-foil cards, and the return of 30 classic Pokémon for $49.99, ages 6 and up. MGA Entertainment’s mini dolls cover eight music genres, each in a pink disco ball with a vinyl record player on top, for $11.99 at ages 4 and up. Super Impulse’s Drip Drops line offers 16 tiny sneaker styles, including Hot Wheels, Godzilla, and Smiley themes, each with a shoebox, real laces, display case, and keychain. Jakks Pacific’s Donkey Kong playset includes 2.5-inch Donkey and Diddy Kong figures that ride rails, swing on vines, and climb ladders for $19.99. Playmates Toys’ Mega Thunderzord plays more than 15 phrases and sounds and lights its eyes for $37.99. Fizz Creations’ keyring arcades offer PAC-MAN and Tetris, plus Grinch-themed gaming devices, at $16.99–$39.99.
Taco Cat Games’ go-kart card game lets players cheer a racer through three races and switch sides when a swap card changes the odds; it is aimed at ages 7 and up. Moose Toys’ slime kit combines five slimes with more than 50 mix-ins and beauty-inspired accessories for $32.99. Melissa & Doug’s modular room set has an open-top design and flexible layouts for ages 0–2, priced from $9.99 to $34.99. Sunny Days Entertainment’s school bus has dual joystick controls, a working microphone, lights, engine sounds, friction movement, and a sliding roof for $44.99. Cra-Z-Art’s instant-print camera lets tweens capture photos and videos and print in seconds without cables, with markers and stickers for decorating prints.
The roundup shows manufacturers balancing low-price collectibles with larger playsets and tech-enabled toys. Many entries include suggested retail prices and age grades; others leave those details unspecified. The picks reflect company submissions, offering a directional view of what toy makers hope will land on wish lists.