History's Best Selling Toys of 1960

Revisiting 1960 presents a grand parade of toys history, marked by Space Age wonder and counter-culture flair and enduring fan favorites. Unrivaled hits including Life, Rock-a-Stack, and Etch A Sketch took top honors in living rooms and storefronts alike. Master craftsmen from industry leaders like Milton Bradley Company and Fisher-Price led the vanguard, engineering high-caliber releases that spurred a pop-culture revolution across the nation. Dive into the full historical rankings below to see which standout creations won the day.

1. Life

   Released in 1960 by Milton Bradley Company, Reuben Klamer & Bill Markham (1960 redesign)

   The Game of Life, in its most iconic iteration, burst onto the American scene in 1960, a vibrant celebration of the Milton Bradley Company's 100th anniversary. It wasn't just another board game; it was a cultural phenomenon that promised players a fast-paced journey through the aspirations and challenges of adulthood. Unlike its Victorian predecessor, this modern version eschewed moralistic virtues for the pursuit of career, family, and financial success, perfectly encapsulating the booming post-war optimism. Its innovative use of a spinning wheel, rather than traditional dice, added an element of unpredictability and excitement that instantly captivated families and cemented its place as a household staple, becoming an instant classic and a bestseller in its debut year.

2. Rock-a-Stack

   Released in 1960 by Fisher-Price

   On April 1, 1960, Fisher-Price, a company renowned for its durable wooden toys, officially introduced a groundbreaking new line of plastic infant and preschool toys. This launch marked a major strategic pivot for the company, embracing the vibrant colors and safety of modern plastics. At the forefront of this new collection was the Rock-a-Stack, a deceptively simple ring-stacking toy. Its debut on this day was not just the release of a new product, but the dawn of a new era for Fisher-Price. The toy perfectly encapsulated the company's new focus on developmental play for the very youngest members of the booming post-war generation, establishing a template for educational infant toys that would endure for decades.

3. Etch A Sketch

   Released in 1960 by Ohio Art Company

   On July 12, 1960, the Ohio Art Company launched a toy that would become a cultural touchstone for generations. The Etch A Sketch made its official U.S. commercial debut, poised to capture the imagination of the baby boomer generation just ahead of the holiday shopping season. This release marked the transformation of a French invention, 'L'Écran Magique,' into an American icon. The date signifies the moment the magical drawing toy became accessible to the American public, starting its journey from a novelty item at the Nuremberg Toy Fair to a permanent fixture in playrooms and a symbol of mid-century ingenuity and creative play.

4. Sea Monkeys

   Released in 1960 by Transcience Corporation, Harold von Braunhut

   The launch of Sea-Monkeys wasn't just the introduction of a new toy; it was the birth of a cultural phenomenon that captivated generations. What began as "Instant Life" in 1957, evolved into the iconic "Sea-Monkeys" in 1960, instantly becoming a staple of comic book advertisements and children's mail-order dreams. Their initial popularity stemmed from the sheer wonder of creating living pets from a packet of powder, promising a miniature underwater world that seemed nothing short of magic. This simple, affordable novelty pet kit tapped into a universal childhood desire for companionship and discovery, fostering an imaginative connection that transcended their humble origins and cemented their place in toy history.