The 1990’s was the best decade the world has ever seen, and anyone who argues otherwise has already been proven by science to be wrong. What science would that be? Well, look no further than the fantastic toys we got to play with. Super Soakers, Tamagotchis, Polly Pocket, Moon Shoes, Gak, Tickle Me Elmo, and a ton more were all there to wreak havoc on our parents’ wallets.
Who needs the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles when you could instead have the Street Sharks? They weren’t all identical clones of each other, and one of them was blue! Remember pogs? Who would have thought little cardboard disks would ever be popular? And who could forget the Bop it, which always got more use as a fake toy gun than… whatever it was supposed to be.
But not all of us were lucky enough to have such toys of course. A lot of kids would have settled for anything. Imagine the looks on those kids faces if they could have seen how expensive some of those toys would go on to be today. That’s right, many toys for our childhood have gone on to fetch ludicrous prices online from adults looking to relive their past. Let’s take a look at some of the more pricey toys that have sold on eBay over the years
25 Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers Carrier Zord Titanus – $270
eBay truly has a power and a force that you’ve never seen before. It’s got the power to morph and even up the score, using the power of the Power Rangers Carrier Zord Titanus toy from 1993.
Complete with metallic paint and diecast parts, the Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers Titanus was a pretty large toy based on the zord of the same name on the show. The Titanus was a carrier zord, so it would carry other zords around, because even for a kid’s TV show, Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers wasn’t messing around when it came to logistics and supply chains.
The toy version could be moved on wheels, or it could be transformed into a sort of battle station with cannons. Frankly it’s not very impressive, but that hasn’t stopped buyers from paying upwards of $270 for a complete, in box version. What’s especially great about the Titanus is that nobody who created it realizes what a rude sounding name that is.
24 Playskool McDonald's Happy Meal Drive Thru Playset – $350
Toys do a great job not only keep kids quiet, but also teaching them ways of capitalism. And what better way to introduce them to the concept, and warn them about their possible future, then by giving them a giant, fake McDonald’s drive-thru for them to play with and break?
The Playskool McDonald’s Happy Meal Drive Thru was released in 1999, intended for the use of pre-school aged children. It came with a façade of a McDonald’s, and all the play food you’d need, like fries, a burger, a white box, a cup, and some orange blobs. Curiously absent are the McPizza and McHot Dog, both beloved fan favorites. The box also points out (several times, and with plenty of exclamation marks) a “pretend” video screen, which is literally just a picture of Ronald McDonald’s face.
Shockingly, this absolutely beauty went for a whopp(er)ing $350 on eBay just a few weeks ago, sold from an owner promising this as an “ultra rare find.”
23 Super Mario Bros. 3 – $405
Okay, so, just for the sake of this list, let’s just all agree that video games are toys, or at least pretend. Some beloved games from the 90’s have sold for ludicrous prices, and they’re worth mentioning.
One such game is Super Mario Bros. 3 for the NES. Interestingly, the Japanese Famicom version doesn’t seem to be worth much, selling on its own, complete and in box for just $26. However, a complete and sealed copy of the American or European NES version can easily net you $405. Two were sold this year, one for $405 and another for $400. A third was sold recently this year as well, though that one only fetched $330.
Released in North America in 1990, Super Mario Bros. 3 is often considered the best of the original Super Mario Bros. games, and possibly still the best 2D one. That being said, it has been re-released multiple times over the years on various consoles, and it was pretty common when it first came out, which has dropped the value of the game significantly.
22 Dream Phone – $475
Ah, the oddly gender divided world of child toys. Whereas boys get to play with action figures and guns, girls have to stick with Barbie dolls and ovens. Another piece of crap they got saddled with was the Dream Phone, this one aimed more for pre-teen girls.
Dream Phone was actually more of a board game, in the loosest way possible. Basically a bunch of girls would pass around a fake, plastic pink phone (of course it was pink) and listen to allegedly cute guys describe themselves in minute detail–points for accuracy, if nothing else. The victims would then have to use those clues to guess who it was that was calling them.
For a time, the Dream Phone was a pretty big deal. But like with any fad, it quickly died out. That hasn’t stopped some from paying $475 online for a complete version of these though. But hey, the box says it “looks and sounds like a real phone,” so maybe the buyer confused it with an iPhone X.
21 Super Soaker Monster XL – $500
The 90s was the tail end of a heated arms race between various water gun manufacturers for dominance in the United States. Hasbro, with their Super Soaker line, was pretty much the king of the mountain, and the Super Soaker Monster XL–the largest water gun ever made – was the final blow, the man on the moon moment that put an end to it all.
Released in 1999, the Super Soaker Monster XL was the nuclear option. With a range of 36 feet, spitting out 6 ounces of water a second, and multiple firing modes, you could probably use this thing to invade a small nation. This thing even had a bipod.
Originally priced at just $50 (about $75 today, adjusted for inflation), the Super Soaker Monster XL can now go for $495.95 on eBay, boxed and sealed. Whoever spent that much for this thing is probably up to no good. Or they just want to put it on a shelf, whichever.
20 Pokémon Red - $600
Again, pretending that video games are toys, Pokémon Red is an exceptionally expensive game these days. Originally released in 1998 for the Game Boy alongside Pokémon Blue (which itself can fetch $500 in the right condition), these were the first Pokémon games. The franchise has gone on to huge things since then, but it’s hard to believe that this is where it all started.
Or maybe not, if you look at the prices for this game online. A sealed copy of Pokémon Red will set you back $600. Again, re-releases and remakes have knocked the value of these games down over the years, but the inherent value of owning the first in what has become a mega-franchise will never devalue.
There doesn’t seem to be anything too special about this particular copy that sold for so much, it’s just sealed. If you’re interested, there’s currently a sealed copy on sale for $450 on eBay, though why nobody’s bid on that one yet when this one went for considerably more will forever remain a mystery.
19 Transformers Megatron Action Figure - $750
Here’s a fun fact: Megatron from the Transformers used to transform into a handgun, but it was changed to be more kid-friendly. What was it changed to? Why, a tank, of course. And that’s exactly the version of the character we get with this 1995 action figure from Generation 2, or as the eBay seller calls it: “1995 Transformers G2 Combat Hero Megatron AFA 85 Lot 112.” Great.
Unlike the other toys on this list, this really is just an action figure–no playsets, no extra accessories other than a couple of green crayons. Or possibly missiles, that’s more likely. This action figure sold for $750, and seems to have come from some kind of action. It’s in a protective plastic case, and a Certificate of Authenticity from ToyGrader dating back to 2014.
The description has long since been removed, but there were six bids on the figure, starting out at $500. It was a three person race all the way. Hopefully they’re old enough, because this toy is for those ages 5 and up.
18 Lego: King's Mountain Fortress - $875
Breaking news: Lego is expensive and is usually worth even more years later. Tonight at nine – a new phenomenon involving a brush can prevent cavities.
Yes, there’s nothing shocking about a Lego set rearing it’s blocky head on this list. For the sake of variety we didn’t load it up with the multi-colored bricks, but to suffice to say, there are a lot of valuable sets these days. One from the 90s is the Kings Mountain Fortress set. This set is pretty much exactly what you’d expect–a medieval castle sitting atop a hillside. There’s also a ghost in there, because why not?
It’s actually pretty charming to see such a low key Lego set. These days they’re all massively overpriced brand deals for Star Wars, Game of Thrones, and probably Empty Nest and Tru Calling, who knows? Perhaps that’s why this set was recently sold on eBay for $875, despite its relative plainness.
17 Polly Pocket Sweet Treat Shop – $990
Polly Pocket was a really weird idea for a toy, or maybe a great one given the success of the Nintendo Switch. It was a full toy set, except it was small enough to be folded up into a little plastic box and taken with you on the go and played with anywhere. The problem was that they were too small to really get any enjoyment out of, plus they fell into the trap of all girls toys in that it was just a lump of plastic that you couldn’t really do anything with.
Still, it became an iconic brand, one that’s still fondly remembered today. There were a couple of Polly Pocket playsets that sold for a lot online, such as the Sweet Treat Shop. This was… actually, it’s hard to tell, even looking at it. Its compact size, poorly molded plastic shapes, and abundance of glitter could define this as a Candy Shop, or possibly a mad killer’s diary.
That hasn’t stopped someone from shelling out $990 on this, and its sister set…
16 Polly Pocket Jewel Magic Ball – $990
Imagine taking the idea of Polly Pocket and putting it in a crystal ball. It can’t really be fit in your pocket then, obviously, but who cares? It’s an obvious idea and there’s gold in them there pieces of plastic.
And if you thought that last toy was a disaster, take a look at this one. Multi-colored plastic bits are randomly strewn about what looks like the leftovers of a Chestburster scene from Alien. There seems to be some form of swimming pool beneath a room full of gold, next to a room with a bunk bed?
Whatever this cacophony of bad 90s toy design has to do with crystal balls, it too sold for $990 on eBay. Perhaps the buyer is doing us all a favor and getting rid of these things for good.
15 Transformers Optimus Prime Action Figure – $1,000
Hey look, more Transformers. While our good friend Megatron the Tank Gun was sold for $750, his arch-nemesis was also sold for a pretty penny (though it also included Megatron).
Optimus Prime, the robot who feels the need to constantly tell people his name, obviously got his own action figure in the 90s as well. Whereas Megatron came with two green crayons, Optimus got four red ones. He can also transform into a truck, which comes equipped with guns on the back instead of a trailer.
This action figure, coupled with the same Megatron from before, sold for $1,000. This one also seems to be from the same seller, or at least from the same auction with it’s pretty plastic case and labeling. Maybe that factors into it, but for some G2 action figures of a classic show, maybe four figures isn’t so bad.
14 Sega 32x – $1,050
If we’re going to call video games toys, we might as well call consoles toys too. One such “toy,” or rather “disaster,” was the Sega 32x. This was a failed add-on by Sega for the Genesis/Mega Drive that was intended to extend the life of the system. It was a bulbous lump that you stuck into the cartridge slot of the original console, and was supposed to provide better graphics and faster gameplay. It cost $150 when it first came out, but after only months it was marked down in price considerably.
With that in mind, consider how amazing it is that a 32x and two games–as well as several Sega Saturn games–sold for about $1,050. Depending on your perspective, that’s either way too much or a steal. The Saturn games and the other Genesis games helps, but spending that much money on a failed, not very good console seems like a mind-boggling mistake.
13 Philips CD-i –$1,200
The Philips CD-i is considered one of the worst video game consoles of all-time, so it only makes sense that a minty fresh version would sell for $1,200. Wait, what?
Despite its awful reputation, the Philips CD-i is highly sought after by collectors for a couple of reasons. The first–who doesn’t want to say they own one of the worst consoles of ever made? Not many people get to say they own a train wreck.
But the real reason is because of the CD-i’s catalogue. The console is one of the first to use CD’s to run games, and some developers (still wanting to emulate Hollywood), created several live action, full motion video games. These games were poorly acted, looked awful, and played even worse. Best of all, the console is home to the infamous Legend of Zelda CD-i series, and Hotel Mario–the only Nintendo games to not appear on a Nintendo platform, at least until they started making games for mobile phones.
12 Yu-Gi-Oh – Legend of Blue Eyes White Dragon Box – $1,300
For a time, Yu-Gi-Oh cards were all the rage back in the day. The Blue Eyes White Dragon in particular was the card everyone wanted. I remember losing it in a duel when I was young and the kid I lost it to hired some of the bigger kids to use as muscle and force me to give him the card. Though the Blue Eyes I got I was lucky enough to find in a random pack–if you had really nice and rich parents, they would get you the Legend of Blue Eyes White Dragon Box.
The box comes with 216 cards, and presumably came with a guaranteed Blue Eyes White Dragon and some other rare(ish) cards. So of course the box is incredibly valuable today, especially if you can get a sealed, proven authentic one.
That exact thing is selling on eBay for a grand total of $2,480 – plus $60 just for shipping. But one of them has already been sold, for the much more reasonable, but still absurd price, of about $1,300.
11 Castlevania Trilogy NES - $1,450
If a terrible video game console can sell for over a grand, then so can a good video game series. The original Castlevania trilogy, released between 1987 and 1990 in North America–so it totally counts as a 90’s product–once sold on eBay for $1,450. You sure do like to play Castlevania, don’t you?
The trilogy of games that was sold contained all three of the original games for NES, and each were protected in plastic cases. The seller claims they’re factory sealed, and even had them graded by “the Video Game Authority” for a authenticity.
Developed by Konami, this 2D sides-scrolling series of games went on to become legendary, spawning countless sequels, remakes, remasters, and re-releases on almost as many systems. It’s not hard to see why the original games went for so much given the state of the franchise these days, which is to say there is no Castelvania franchise these days.
10 Hot Wheels Treasure Hunt Series – $1,600
Who doesn’t love brightly painted lumps of metal with some weird stripes slapped on? While Matchbox hit the market first, it was Hot Wheels, with its bright colors and flame prints that captured the attention of boys everywhere. But Hot Wheels had their own slightly classier line of cars. One such was the Treasure Hunt Series, as seen in the collected “bundle” as we’d call it nowadays, released in 1995.
This collection, which comes with a Certificate of Authenticity, contains twelve different cars. There’s a green one, a blue one, another green one, and several others that are probably modeled after real life cars. There’s also one that seems to be missing half the body and has hideous brown and purple stripes, for some reason.
Everything is worth something to somebody, and this particular collection of classic Hot Wheels cars was worth $1,600 to somebody out there.
9 GI Joe Action Figures - $2,000
Who doesn’t know what GI Joe is? Quite possibly a lot of people, but that’s beside the point. Enough people know about the action figure line that it’s become an icon of 80’s and 90’s toys, so much so that, like everything on this list, complete and in box figures can sell for thousands of dollars.
While mostly associated with the 1980’s, the GI Joe line has continued through to this day. The 1990’s stuff isn’t as valuable as those that came a decade before, but it still goes for a pretty penny or two. Recently, a collection of 65 boxed GI Joe action figures from the 90’s sold for $2,000.
There are some pretty incredible, and weird, figures in here. You have historical American figures like George Washington and Dwight Eisenhower, general army and navy soldiers, icons like Bob Hope, and even “Army Football QB” and “Navy Football QB.” That would quarterback in American football, for those who prefer leg orange.
8 Tamagotchi –$3,000
The Tamagotchi is, by now, a legend in its own right. But it was a pretty strange toy all things considered–a fake, electronic pet living inside a cheap plastic shell that just eats and dies. In that context, it’s hard to believe it ever caught on. Yet here we are, twenty years later, talking about one that sold for $3,000 only a few years ago.
The original Tamagotchi, released in 1996 in Japan and 1997 in the US, had a tiny 16x16 LCD screen. Its graphic interface was little more than a series of blobs, navigated with three tiny buttons on the bottom. The idea was that your Tamagotchi would be a virtual pet, and you had to feed it, discipline it, take it to the bathroom–you know, all the fun stuff of own a pet. It would even age and eventually die, giving kids a nice lesson in reality.
A mint condition, “new old stock” you could call it, is a pretty valuable toy, but one sold on eBay just a few months ago that sold for the absurd price of $3,000. It has a red and white color scheme, but that’s not anything special about it, and there’s no information given in the listing other than some pictures. Truly a strange one.
7 Pokémon Cards: Complete 1st Edition Set – $4,629
We already talked about the Pokémon games, it was only a matter of time before we got to the cards themselves. In 2016, a complete 1st Edition Set of the original run of Pokemon cards, graded by the PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator) was sold for $4,629. Unfortunately, all the pictures have been removed and if there was any other information on the listing page, it’s gone now.
First published in 1996 by none other than Wizards of the Coast, the original Pokémon card game, and was eventually taken over by Nintendo in 2003. Bizarrely enough, there are at least a couple of video games based around the card game, Pokémon TCG Online and Pokémon Trading Card Game, which was based on the video games.
The original set is made up entirely of the first 150 Pokémon, including the popular ones like Pikachu, Charizard, and Blastoise. It only had 120 cards though, and since it was a first one, the Pokémon Company didn’t quite have the basic printing down yet, and the 1st Edition set have a different font than they do now, and were printed in brighter colors.
6 Pokémon Cards: 1st Edition Charizard –$5,100
If an entire pack of Pokémon cards can sell for $4,629, then surely one single card can’t sell for any more than that, right? Yes, one can sell for more than that–and we have the proof. In May 2016, somebody paid $5,100 (plus another $30 just for shipping) on a rare, 1999 1st Edition Holo Charizard. It was given a “Gem Mint” rating by the PSA.
The “holo” there refers to holofoil, meaning the card had a nice glittery, shiny surface. Holofoil is like catnip to collectors, and this exact card would be unlikely, if impossible, draw in the 1st Edition pack from the previous entry. Still, it’s mind-boggling to think somebody would spend over five grand on a single Pokemon card, even if it is a shiny Charizard one.
Still, maybe it’s not that hard to believe. It’s holofoil, it’s from the original release, and it’s Charizard, everybody loves Charizard. Still, you went you start getting into prices this high for what is essentially a piece of cardboard, you can’t help but wonder what you could do with that much cash.