Toy and game companies are pitching a broad holiday lineup designed to capture children’s attention across imaginative play, hands-on activities, sensory toys, technology and familiar franchises. The selections were submitted by manufacturers for The Toy Book’s “Hot for Holiday” roundup, which is intended to highlight products retailers should have on their radar this season.
Large-scale playsets feature prominently. Mattel’s customizable dollhouse, priced at $214.99 for ages 3 and up, has nine indoor and outdoor play areas, two pools, two slides, more than 65 accessories and a modular design that lets two structures connect as one large house or two linked homes with a bridge. BRIO’s 56-piece Space Deluxe Train Set, at $279.99, adds a multilevel space layout with tunnels, a station, a rover and a shuttle with lights and sounds. Simplay3’s oversized sensory nest, $129.99 for ages 2 and up, is built for several children to rock and spin together, while a two-foot-tall Bluey home, $149.99, offers five floors of themed rooms and a chimney that projects spinning stars and moons.
Sensory and active play appear across several price points. Goliath’s Chester, $29.99 for ages 8 and up, is a butt-shaped character that wiggles and makes silly sounds when squeezed; pressing its head triggers a dance. Just Play’s 18-inch Tiggle Me Elmo Giggle Max, $39.97 for 18 months and up, combines laughter, full-body movement and other reactions. Schylling’s 13-door NeeDoh countdown, $14.99, hides six NeeDoh surprises and seven Halloween treats. Horizon Group’s slow-flow glitter stress toys, $4.99–$8.99, use licensed themes including Squishmallows, Hello Kitty, SpongeBob SquarePants, Minecraft and Bluey.
Technology-enabled play is aimed at both younger children and tweens. Tonies’ Toniebox 2 Pokémon set, $199.99 for ages 5 and up, includes Pikachu, Squirtle, Charmander and Bulbasaur figures that play stories and songs on the screen-free audio player. Jazwares’ Pikachu toy, $79.99, offers more than 100 action and sound combinations, touch sensors, blinking eyes and mouth movement. Hapiko’s voice-powered sticker maker uses AI to create and print sticker combinations, with built-in filters and assurances that the device is not “always listening.” Cra-Z-Art’s instant camera prints black-and-white photos in seconds and comes with markers and stickers for decorating them.
Collectibles and franchise products cover a wide range. The Pokémon Co. International’s 30th-anniversary Elite Trainer Box, $49.99 for ages 6 and up, introduces a “Futuristic Rare” card rarity, all-foil cards and the return of 30 classic Pokémon. Super Impulse’s Drip Drops Series 1 offers 16 tiny sneaker styles, including Hot Wheels, Godzilla and Smiley themes, each with a shoebox, real laces, display case and keychain. MGA Entertainment’s mini music dolls, $11.99 for ages 4 and up, come in pink disco balls with a record player on top. LEGO’s 106-piece Bluey school set, $24.99, includes Bluey and Rusty figures and a mini kitchen, café, hospital and baby-care area.
Active toys include ZipString’s wrist-mounted webshooter, $39.99, which launches a string and retracts it; Golden Bear’s Strikesphere basketball trainer, $99.99, uses light-guided drills and an LCD scoreboard; and a 16-inch Bat-Link Batmobile, $43.19, that fits 6.5-inch figures and hides a disc-launching BatDrone. Spin Master’s Rocky recycling truck, $64.99, pops out a two-foot inflatable dinosaur when children press the light bar, and Jakks Pacific’s Donkey Kong playset, $19.99, lets 2.5-inch figures ride rails, swing on vines and climb ladders.
The submitted picks range from about $4.99 to $279.99 and span ages from 18 months to teens and older. Because manufacturers supplied the selections, the roundup is a retailer-facing showcase; The Toy Book directs readers to its sister publication, The Toy Insider, for its own 2026 Holiday Gift Guide.