We're calling it; these are the top Christmas toys for 2023.
You can never start shopping for the top Christmas toys too early. We know it's still September, but getting the hottest Christmas toys ticked off your shopping list - and keeping an eye on prices - can help you avoid the mad rush and spending frenzy that often comes with the countdown to the big day.
So what are the best toys to get the kids for Christmas this year? We put together this list of the hottest toys for Christmas 2023 after hours of research and lots of toy testing. We've attended exclusive new toy launch events, read piles of press releases about which toys kids are most keen to find under the tree this year, and even wandered around the shops with some youngsters to get a feel for what's selling in the toy aisles - and what's really catching the eye of toy-loving kids.
So whether you're looking for toys for one-year-olds or toys for 10-year-olds or just browsing for a sense of the popular toys for this year, there's something for all ages on this list. We've included top toys for Christmas 2023 from major toy brands like LEGO and Playmobil and recommendations from top toy retailers. So don't leave it to the last minute this year and spend your December scrambling for out-of-stock toys. Instead, get ahead of the game and shop our edit of the top Christmas toys for 2023.
Top Christmas toys 2023
In a hurry to shop for this year's popular toys? Here's our pick of the top toys for Christmas 2023 worth adding to your Christmas shopping list:
- Mattel Barbie The Movie Doll
- Playmobil 9487 Space Mars Mission Station with Functioning Double Laser Shooter
- Little Live Pets Cutie Cuts Lil Snippers
- Hot Wheels City T-Rex Chomp Down Track Set
- Melissa & Doug Jet Pilot Interactive Dashboard
- LEGO 10788 Gabby's Dollhouse Toy Playset
- Zuru Smashers Dino Island T-Rex Battles
- Xootz Kids Bubble Go Foldable Scooter
- LEGO Star Wars Ahsoka Tano's T-6 Jedi Shuttle Set
- Cookeez Makery Oven
- Magic Mixies Pixlings
- Hapello Air Fryer
- Jabadabado Wooden Market Stall
- DOG-E 1691 MINTiD Robotic Dog
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mutant Mayhem - Pizza Fire Delivery Van Playset
What is it? Mattel's Barbie the Movie Doll, based on none other than Margot Robbie. Ask anyone in the toy industry what this year's top Christmas toy is and they'll give you the same answer - Barbie.
Why we chose it: The new Dream Villa Pool Party Dollhouse (£349.99 at Amazon) Barbie Dreamhouse based on the movie is bound to be on lots of Christmas wish lists - but Barbie herself gets top billing on our top Christmas toys list.
What is it? This Playmobil Space Mars Mission Station features more than 180 individual play pieces and three Playmobil figures plus light and sound features so it's bound to keep budding astronauts occupied.
Why we chose it: Built to last and brilliant for imaginative play, Playmobil is hard to beat. You can build up your collection too, adding the Mars Mission Rocket and the Meteoroid Laser (both sold separately) at a later date.
What is it? Each cute pet character comes with a pair of child-friendly scissors so that little ones can trim away their pet's overgrown fur plus a handbag - the perfect place to pop your pooch!
Why we chose it: If, like me, you ever gave your dolls or cuddly toys a haircut when you were a child, you'll understand the appeal of Lil Snippers. There are four different levels of character 'rarity' to collect including two ultra-rare.
What is it? This racing track play set comes with a Hot Wheels toy car - pop it in the police station and press the slam launcher to send it racing through the mouth of a T-Rex who's trying to eat Hot Wheels City. Hours of Hot Wheels fun.
Why we chose it: It wouldn't be a top Christmas toys list without a Hot Wheels playset. This won't break the bank but it's still a substantial gift with plenty of wow factor. Time it right and you can defeat the dino and save the city, too!
What is it? This wooden airplane dashboard has everything little ones need to let their imagination take flight, including a steering yoke, scrolling map, throttle, lights, buttons, switches, and sound effects. It even comes with a play headset.
Why we chose it: My kids created versions of this using cardboard boxes and old game controllers - but this would have blown them away. The throttle actually increases the speed of the scrolling map plus it plays 22 sounds. Ace.
What is it? A LEGO playset based on the super-popular DreamWorks Animation TV show, Gabby's Dollhouse. With four floors and eight activity rooms to build and explore, plus LEGO minifigure versions including Gabby and Pandy Paws.
Why we chose it: Fans of the show may already have Gabby's Purrfect Dollhouse (£79.99 at Amazon) but this is a brilliant introduction to building LEGO. Large enough for absorbing play yet it takes up less space than the Dollhouse.
What is it? A simple premise - youngsters have to dig their way through slime and sand (and what kid doesn't love that...) to find their dinosaur pieces, before constructing two beasts who then battle it out using their weapons of choice.
Why we chose it: YouTubers have made this toy super popular with kids - my 10-year-old daughter spotted it in a toy shop and was able to tell me all about how brilliant it is. Slime, sand, duelling dinosaurs... what's not to love?
What is it? It's a three-wheeled scooter, which would make a pretty cool Christmas gift in itself, except this one has a bubble machine mounted on the front! They didn't make Christmas toys like this when we were kids!
Why we chose it: Aside from the absolute joy of whizzing about through a cloud of bubbles, this scooter is also height adjustable to accommodate growth spurts and foldable for easy carrying. Because you will end up carrying it.
What is it? Young Star Wars: Ahsoka fans will love this buildable LEGO Jedi Shuttle which comes with four Star Wars mini-figures (including Ahsoka) plus lightsabers and blasters.
Why we chose it: No list of top Christmas toys is complete without a LEGO set. This has an opening cockpit, retractable landing gear, and stud shooters, plus mini figures of Sabine Wren ready to do battle against Marrok.
What is it? It's a plush toy with sensory tactile features and a clever 'surprise reveal' feature - when children open the oven door they'll discover a warm, scented interactive plushy in the shape of a baked treat!
Why we chose it: Have you not read the description? Come on, kids are going to love this. And yes, it's on our list of top Christmas toys because we really wanna play with it too.
What is it: Kids can mix their own magic potion to reveal a magical Pixling doll. There are three Pixlings to create and collect; Unia the Unicorn, Deerlee the Deer, and Marena the Mermaid Pixling.
Why we chose it: We hate to boast but we predicted that Magic Mixies were going to be huge when we attended the launch in 2021 - and we're sure this craze is set to continue.
What is it: A toy air fryer! At long last, little ones who love playing kitchens and mimicking the adults can cook along with their very own must-have kitchen gadget of the moment. Hope they know what not to put in an air fryer, though!
Why we chose it: So many kids enjoy kitchen-based role-play, and we've been wondering how long it would take for everyone's favourite kitchen item to appear as a toy.
What is it: No top Christmas toys list is complete without a toy kitchen - but this beautiful wooden market stall goes one better. There's a till with coins and even fabric shopping bags for customers, along with 28 different food accessories.
Why we chose it: We think this is a lovely modern twist on the traditional kitchen toy. Let's encourage youngsters to play farmers' markets!
What is it: A Robot dog unlike any other - through a special 'minting' process Dog-E comes 'alive' and reveals a unique combination of lights, sounds, and personality traits. No two Dog-E toys are the same. Kids, the future's here.
Why we chose it: With 200+ sounds and reactions, this interactive toy uses innovative technology to communicate via its tail when it’s hungry, playful, or needs a hug. You can use the app to teach it tricks and it can learn your name.
What is it: Everyone's favourite Turtles are experts at using their Pizza Fire Delivery Van to defeat the bad guys by shooting pizza pies at them - and this toy version will be a huge hit with fans of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie.
Why we chose it: The van opens from the front and the back, with space for all four Turtles and Splinter (sold separately) but the fun really begins when you fire off pizza pies from the motorised launcher.
What are the best Christmas toys to buy?
“Choosing the right toy can be overwhelming, especially during the holiday season,” says Vese Aghoghovbia, founder of Philly and Friends . Obviously it's important to consider your child's preferences and their Christmas wish list if they have one, but do't forget to consider your goals for your child and your parenting style. "As a supporter of STEM education, I often opt for educational toys that provide learning opportunities," explains Vese.
"However, there are times when I simply want to see the joy on my child's face and give them something on their wish list that doesn't fall under the category of learning toys! It's also important to remember that children can be easily pleased. My son is usually thrilled with simple toys like Pop-its or Hot Wheels.”
To make the process easier of choosing what to buy from the top Christmas toys, Vese suggests categorising toys and picking those that best suit your little one's age and temperament. "Toys come in different types, including dolls and figurines, learning toys, craft kits, magnetic toys, pretend play toys, and digital toys," she adds.
- Dolls and figurines — "Ranging from soft dolls to action figures, these encourage imaginative play and help children learn nurturing skills and build empathy," Vese says. "They also offer a great opportunity to introduce diversity into children's toy collections."
- Learning toys with educational aspects — "No matter how young, these are a priority for those who value STEM education," Vese adds.
- Kids' craft kits — "Products such as baking and gardening kits are perfect for keeping children busy building, making, or growing."
- Magnetic toys — "Products like Magna-Tiles and Smart Max create endless possibilities for experimenting with different surfaces and building structures while teaching children about the concept of building," Vese tells us.
- Pretend play toys — "These are excellent for developing storytelling skills."
- Digital toys — like audio boxes are on the rise. According to Vese, they are a 'great way' to build listening skills in children.
How we chose the top Christmas toys
As well as being Deputy Editor of Goodto, I'm a mum of three and have been a parenting journalist since having my first baby 18 years ago - so I've got lots of experience testing and writing about all kinds of toys over many years. For this feature, I spent time researching new toy launches for 2023 before shortlisting the ones I think are going to be popular with kids this Christmas, and worth parents spending their hard-earned on. Finally, my 10-year-old daughter and her friends got to choose the toys included in this guide, based on the things they think kids are going to be asking Santa for this Christmas. We have first-hand experience with almost of the all the toys featured on this list, so we know for a fact that they're items that live up to the hype and which kids really rate.
If you want to know more about how we chose the top Christmas toys, you can also read all about how we test the products featured in our buying guides and product reviews.
You might also like to read our guide to the best gifts for new mums or our edit of the best baby shower gifts.
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