The Top 10 Toys of the Year on Hot 97

The countdown to the holidays is on! Toy Insider Senior Editor Marissa DiBartolo joined New York City’s Hot 97 to count down the top 10 toys of the holiday season. For more on the items featured in this segment, check out the product notes below, and for our complete rundown of the best gifts for the holidays, check out our complete holiday gift guide.

HOUSE OF BOING (UNIVERSITY GAMES)

• House of Boing is the game that mixes speed, dexterity, and fast thinking. The first player to empty his or her room of balls wins.
• House of Boing features 10 games, including House of Boing, Top Boing, Team Boing, Long Boing, and more.
• With its elegant design, House of Boing may be enjoyed as a work of art or played as a challenging addition to any game room.
• Age: 12+
• MSRP: $24.99
• Available: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Toys “R” Us

LASER X (NSI INTERNATIONAL)

• Laser X is the ultimate high-tech game of tag! Blasters feature pinpoint accuracy up to 200 feet – day or night – and invisible infrared beams can go through windows and bounce off walls and mirrors to hit opponents.
• Advanced sensors know when players are blasting, being hit, running or hiding, and an interactive voice “coach” uses this intel to offer tips and tricks throughout the game.
• Headphones (not included) can be plugged into the receiver vest, so players can listen to a stereo soundtrack while they play. This makes it feels like they’re inside a video game – or starring in an action movie!
• All Laser X sets work together so games can include an unlimited number of players. Play one-on-one, in teams, or set your blaster to “rogue” and it’s every man for himself!
• Blasters were designed to NOT look like handguns or rifles and to make futuristic sounds, not the sounds of gunfire.
• Age: 6+
• MSRP: $49.99
• Available: Target, Toys “R” Us

TEDDY RUXPIN (WICKED COOL TOYS)

• Parents and grandparents will remember everyone’s favorite storytelling bear from the 1980s.
• Introducing the new 14-inch Teddy Ruxpin animatronic bear. He’s totally lovable, and brings magic and friendship to storytime with oodles of interactive technologies and features.
• Teddy Ruxpin enjoys telling tales and singing songs with friends, making him the perfect companion for both little ones who love hearing stories, as well as older children just starting out on their reading journey.
• He has colored LCD eyes with more than 40 different animations, and an animatronic mouth that syncs to Teddy’s speech.
• Touch sensors allow kids to control the story and songs.
• Teddy features three original pre-loaded stories, including seven sing-along songs.
• There are two Modes of Play: with or without the free Teddy Ruxpin app (app is secondary). View the digital books to read along with Teddy using the storytime app, or kids can enjoy listening to TR’s stories without the app, anytime anywhere.
• Ages: 2+
• MSRP: $99.99
• Available: Amazon, Target, Toys “R” Us, Walmart

JOJO SIWA CD + G KARAOKE MACHINE (EKIDS)

• This karaoke machine is inspired by the teen and tween sensation JoJo Siwa!
• Kids can access their music library and stream content with voice control.
• Users Connect to the TV and sing their hearts out to their favorite JoJo lyrics on screen using the included CD, featuring  songs with and without guide vocals.
• The karaoke machine even features a multi-colored LED light show. Bluetooth wirelessly streams audio from any compatible device, and it also take calls with the included speakerphone.
• Ages: 6+
• MSRP: $69.99
• Available: Walmart exclusive

FURREAL ROARIN’ TYLER, THE PLAYFUL TIGER (HASBRO)

• Kids can bring home an adorable baby tiger to love, play with, and care for as their own.
• Make a noise or give a loud jungle roar and Tyler will roar back in response.
• Kids can enjoy playtime with him using his play chicken.
• Tyler features more than 100 sound and motion combinations with sensors on his forehead, back, and muzzle allowing him to respond to touch in fun ways.
• Kids can pull him up close to snuggle thanks to his posable back legs, or nuzzle his cheek and he’ll respond with expressive eyes, sounds and tail movements.
• Ages: 4+
• MSRP: $129.99
• Available: Amazon, Target, Toys “R” Us, Walmart, www.hasbrotoyshop.com

CUTIE CARS DRIVE-IN DINER PLAYSET (MOOSE TOYS)

• Kids can pull up their ride at the Cuties Car Drive-in Diner. This playset allows kids to take their Cutie Cars on a spin in the rotating Drive-Through, ride up the elevator or grab a meal on the go, or pull up a tray at the parking bay. Each playset includes 1 Mini Shopkin and 1 exclusive Cutie Car.
• Age: 5+
• MSRP: $19.99
• Available: Amazon, Target, Toys R Us, Walmart

SMOOSHY MUSHY PETS (REDWOODVENTURES)

• Smooshy Mushy from RedwoodVentures is part of the newest collectible craze, full of exciting, super squishy, slow-rise surprises.
• Each Smooshy Mushy series includes one of eight randomly assorted pets. Kids can unwrap the container to find out which scented Smooshy Mushy squishy surprise is inside.
• Every pet has a Bestie they can’t live without so kids should keep searching to find out, which tiny squishy “Bestie” is their pets BFF. Sets also come with a “what’s your smooshy name?” game, a nametag, mini container, stickers, and a collectible poster.
• For fall of ’17 kids can collect 24 food-themed Smooshy Mushy Pets to discover, squish, and trade with their friends.
• Age: 5+
• MSRP: $9.99
• Available: Walmart

VAMPIRINA SCARE B&B PLAYSET (JUST PLAY)

• Inspired by the new Disney Junior series, Vampirina, the Scare B&B Playset is three floors of spook-tacular fun. From the secret reveal telescoping bedroom tower with magically growing portraits, to the bookcase that transforms into a guest day bed, there’s always something special brewing at Vampirina’s house.
• Magically rising food in the kitchen, a record player that moves and shakes when Vampirina dances and a 360-degree spinning TV in the living room are just some of the cool features.
• Kids can place Vampirina on six special spots located on each floor throughout her house and watch her glow. She can even hang upside down when she’s feeling a little batty. Her BFF Poppy is included, allowing little ones to play out the adventures right from the show.
• Age: 3+
• MSRP: $59.99
• Available: Kmart, Target, Toys “R” Us

L.O.L. SURPRISE! TOTS (MGA ENTERTAINMENT)

• L.O.L. Surprise Tots are collectibles that have seven layers of surprise hidden inside.
• Each layer reveals a hint of which fierce, fashion-forward L.O.L. Surprise doll kids are unboxing. Seven surprises include: a secret message, stickers, a baby bottle, shoes, an outfit, a fashionable accessory, and the L.O.L Surprise doll.
• Feed or bathe the doll with water to reveal her surprising water feature. The playset (ball) can also be used as a hangout, bath tub, doll stand, and a purse to carry for on-the-go fun.
• Final layer reveals the doll. Each character is completely different and packed with personality – from rockers to divas to merbabies.
• Ages: 6+
• MSRP: $9.99
• Available: Amazon, Target, Toys “R” Us, Walmart

FINGERLINGS (WOWWEE)

• Fingerlings baby monkeys come to life with endless ways of play and realistic sounds to let kids know how they are feeling. Kids can wrap them on their finger to have a new friend at their fingertips.
• These silly critters have happy monkey sounds, blinking eyes, heads that turn, hands that grip, and a curly hanging tail.
• Kids  can swing them, pet them, kiss them, and even rock them to sleep.
• There are six different Fingerlings to play, share, and collect.
• Ages: 5+
• MSRP: $14.99
• Available:  Amazon, Target, Toys “R” Us, Walmart