Switch and Hatchimals on deck as hot holiday gifts
Toymakers give gift of surprise as well as interactive animals as experts name newcomer hits
The holidays are upon us, which means toys are popping up everywhere.
There are Hatchimals and Shopkins, Fingerlings and, of course, updates on classics such as Legos and Nintendo. The most popular of the bunch have already begun selling out online and in stores.
Here are some newcomers that retailers and industry experts say are likely to be among the season’s most popular. Nintendo Switch Who says you have to stay home to play video games? The $299 Nintendo Switch is a portable home console that doubles as a hand-held device for when you’re on the go.
The console, introduced in March, is widely expected to surpass the Wii to become Nintendo’s bestselling product. Nearly eight million units had been sold as of September. The company expects to sell more than 17 million Switch consoles this year, and is planning on making up to 30 million more next year, according to a recent report by the Wall Street Journal.
Games, which typically start at $59, include Super Mario Odyssey, Mario Kart 8, Splatoon 2 and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. In early November, Nintendo introduced a new Switch video app that allows users to stream movies and television shows on the device. Users can also record 30-second video clips of gaming moments to share with friends. Big surprises No surprise here, toymakers say: Kids love big reveals. And that’s exactly why two of the season’s most popular toys, the L.O.L. Surprise! Big Surprise and Hatchimals Surprise, both priced at $69.99, are flying off shelves.
The L.O.L. Big Surprise, by MGA Entertainment, is a glittery, dome-shaped plastic case filled with four dolls — along with dozens of accessories, clothing, charms and other knick-knacks — that must be individually unwrapped. It can take hours to peel away the toy’s layers and figure out exactly what’s inside. Some dolls cry, spit or “tinkle.” Others change colour in cold water.
Hatchimals Surprise, meanwhile, adds a twist to last year’s hit holiday toy. This time around, there are two Hatchimals — fuzzy creatures that sing, dance and interact with one another — inside each speckled egg. But first, users have to help the creatures hatch, which generally requires about 15 minutes of holding, tapping and cajoling the outer egg. Women of NASA and Star Wars Lego sets Lego has had a bumpy year — it ousted its chief executive in August and the following month posted the first sales decline in more than a decade. But now, the Danish toymaker may be poised for a comeback with two fast-selling lines: Women of NASA and Star Wars.
Women of NASA, which sells for $24.99, honours four female scientists and astronauts, including Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, and Mae Jemison, the first African-American woman in space. The set, released Nov. 1, sold out on Amazon.com within 24 hours. Interactive animals Meet the Fingerlings: a family of tiny monkeys, and the occasional unicorn and sloth, that latch onto your finger and respond to voice, movement and touch by blinking, babbling and blowing kisses. The animatronic toys, which sell for $14.99 apiece, are already sold out online at Walmart, Target and Toys “R” Us.
Tap their heads, and they’ll burp. Hang them upside down, and they’ll laugh hysterically. The critters — which are about the size of fingerling potatoes — also coo when cuddled and doze off when rocked. And if you run out of ways to keep them entertained, the toy company WowWee also sells pint-size jungle gyms and playground sets for $25 to $40.