Toys & Games
Cards Against Humanity Chicago
In 2010, eight college friends who grew up in Highland Park created a “party game for horrible people.” Since then, Cards Against Humanity has become a mini-media empire that keeps pulling off audacious stunts like buying a piece of the U.S.-Mexico border to make it harder for President Donald Trump to build a border wall.
Eli Bridge Company Jacksonville
The owner of this bridge building business, W.E. Sullivan, rode the original Chicago Ferris Wheel at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition and was inspired to make amusement park rides. In 1955, Eli Bridge invented the Scrambler, which thrilled fairgoers for decades.
Horizon Hobby Champaign
Founded in 1985 by Rick Stephens, Horizon makes radio control airplanes, cars, and more.
Netherrealm Studios Chicago
The video game development studio behind Mortal Kombat survived the death of Chicago’s Midway Games in 2009 and was purchased by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. Netherrealm began releasing new games in 2011.
Radio Flyer Chicago
Best known for its popular red toy wagon, Radio Flyer started in Chicago in 1917. It partners with manufacturing companies worldwide, but its design hub remains in the city.
Raw Thrills Skokie
Eugene Jarvis started making popular arcade games in Chicago in the early 1980s — like Defender and Robotron — and hasn’t stopped since. He founded the Skokie company Raw Thrills Inc. in 2001, and added Big Buck Hunter makers Play Mechanix Inc. to the fold five years later.
Replogle Globes Hillside
Founder Luther Replogle started making globes out of his Chicago apartment in 1930. Replogle is now the largest globe manufacturer in the world — and after spending several years in Indiana earlier this decade — is producing them again in Illinois.
Spikeball Chicago
What started as a side venture from CEO Chris Ruder’s basement in 2008 has grown into a company that employs 25 people and generates $15 million in revenue a year. Spikeball says it now has more than 4 million players worldwide.
Stern Pinball Elk Grove Village
Chicago is the historic capital of the pinball manufacturing business, and Stern is the last company standing from the glory days. Because of a recent pinball revival, the company moved to a 110,000-square-foot facility in Elk Grove Village in 2015 to keep up with an increase in sales.
Testor Corporation Rockford
Started in 1929 by Swedish immigrant Nils F. Testor, this manufacturer of model kits, tools and accessories is part of the multinational company RPM International.
Trinket Studios Chicago
The trio behind Trinket, a video game studio in the Ravenswood neighborhood, met in 2009 while working for Disney Interactive. In 2017, it scored the biggest hit of its 6-year-old studio with Battle Chef Brigade — a fantasy cooking game for PlayStation 4, PC and Nintendo Switch.
Volition Champaign
Founded in 1993, the video game developer has changed hands several times and almost went under in 2013. But it found a buyer in Koch Media, and last year released 1980s pop-culture-themed shooter Agents of Mayhem.