History's Best Selling Toys of 1989

Hats off to 1989! Few toys commanded as much fanfare and nationwide excitement as Super Soaker. Alongside sensationally popular hits like Polly Pocket and Little Tikes Log Cabin, consumers eagerly embraced the neon-soaked culture and synthwave energy. Pioneering outfits from industry leaders like Larami Corporation and Bluebird Toys set the standard for quality, producing celebrated items that sparked mega-hit frenzies and Saturday morning excitement. Browse our definitive retrospective below to rediscover the genuine articles of the era.

1. Super Soaker

   Released in 1989 by Larami Corporation

   On June 1, 1989, with summer just around the corner, Larami Corporation quietly released a new water toy called the 'Power Drencher.' This date marked the unassuming debut of what would become a cultural phenomenon. Unveiled without major fanfare, this air-pressurized water gun was the brainchild of NASA engineer Lonnie Johnson. Its release was perfectly timed for the season of outdoor play, offering a revolutionary alternative to the weak, palm-sized squirt pistols that had defined water fights for decades. Though it would take a name change and a marketing blitz to achieve global fame, this initial launch laid the groundwork for the Super Soaker dynasty, forever changing the landscape of backyard fun.

2. Polly Pocket

   Released in 1989 by Bluebird Toys

   On June 16, 1989, British company Bluebird Toys took a monumental step in protecting one of the decade's most ingenious toy concepts by filing the U.S. patent for Polly Pocket. This legal maneuver was not just a formality; it was the crucial beachhead for an invasion of the American toy market. While the toy was already captivating children in the UK, this date marks its official, protected entry into the world's largest consumer market. The patent filing secured the unique 'toy doll's house' design, ensuring that the self-contained, pocket-sized world invented by Chris Wiggs would be safeguarded as it prepared to become a global phenomenon under a future distribution deal with Mattel.

3. Little Tikes Log Cabin

   Released in 1989 by Little Tikes

   On January 1, 1989, as a new year dawned, Little Tikes officially introduced a product that would become a cornerstone of suburban backyards for decades: the Log Cabin playhouse. While listed in the 1989 catalog, this date marks its symbolic entry into a market it would soon dominate. Launching at the start of the year perfectly positioned the cabin for parents planning for spring and summer outdoor activities. It represented more than just a new toy; it was the arrival of a durable, imaginative, and safe haven for children's play. The Log Cabin's debut signaled a shift in outdoor play, moving beyond metal swing sets to offer a personal, story-filled space that would define childhood for millions.

4. Space Hulk

   Released in 1989 by Games Workshop, Richard Halliwell, Dean Bass

   Space Hulk launched in 1989, quickly becoming a landmark game for Games Workshop. It masterfully combined the grimdark sci-fi universe of Warhammer 40,000 with a tense, claustrophobic tactical board game experience. Its release was met with significant enthusiasm, captivating players with its unique blend of strategic depth, dice-rolling tension, and a strong narrative of desperate last stands against overwhelming alien hordes. It wasn't just another board game; it was an immersive journey into the derelict, gene-stealer-infested corridors of a massive, drifting spacecraft, establishing itself as an instant classic and a commercial success that solidified Games Workshop's reputation beyond just miniatures.