The National Toy Hall of Fame in Rochester, New York has announced its class of 2022! Did any of your favorites get in?!

The 2022 inductees was announced Thursday morning, November 10th by the Strong Museum of Play, which houses the National Toy Hall of Fame. There were 12 finalists for induction this year (which you can see at the bottom of this story) but only three were selected for induction. For a toy to be considered for induction, they're measured against four major criteria: icon status, longevity, discovery, and innovation.

So without further ado, here are your 2022 inductees...

TOP

Photo by Ash from Modern Afflatus on Unsplash
Photo by Ash from Modern Afflatus on Unsplash
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The more you find out about this toy, the more it gets your head spinning... to begin with, it's ancient. Archaeologists have found 5,000 year-old examples... not only does this toy have a lengthy history, but it's also incredibly adaptable, suitable for making out of clay, metal, stone, and later, rubber, tin and plastic.

LITE BRITE

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash
Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash
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It first lit up the world of toys in 1967... several toy company executives were awestruck by a window display in New York City made up of hundreds of colored lights. 'It'd make a great toy', they thought, 'but it'd be much too expensive.' Only one of the men, toy designer Burt Meyer kept tinkering with the idea. Within two weeks, he had his "light bulb" moment and finished his plastic prototype. His firm presented the firm to game company Hasbro.

 

HE-MAN FIGURES (MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE)

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In 1979, Ray Wagner of Mattel formed a male action team to explore the creation of the company's next big line. Mattel needed to compete with the movie-fueled success of Kenner's Star Wars action figures... instantly distinctive among competing toys, he was super ripped, larger than life, scantly clothed, larger than life, and full of brute force.

Congratulations to the National Toy Hall of Fame class of 2022!

THE STRONG MUSEUM OF PLAY

If you've never been to the Strong Museum in Rochester, it's definitely worth the drive. Your kids will have a blast, but there's a wealth of interesting stuff in there for adults. It's a real trip down memory lane and the museum's displays will definitely scratch that nostalgia itch.

2022 National Toy Hall of Fame Finalists

Which of these 12 toys will make it into the hallowed halls of the National Toy Hall of Fame in Rochester, New York?!

KEEP READING: Check out these totally awesome '80s toys

LOOK: The top holiday toys from the year you were born

With the holiday spirit in the air, it’s the perfect time to dive into the history of iconic holiday gifts. Using national toy archives and data curated by The Strong from 1920 to today, Stacker searched for products that caught hold of the public zeitgeist through novelty, innovation, kitsch, quirk, or simply great timing, and then rocketed to success.

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