Mattel is leading the 2022 Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards nomination race with 17 nods across 13 categories.
In addition to nominations in 12 kid-focused categories, Mattel’s Hot Wheels Tesla Cybertruck (pictured) was named as a finalist in the inaugural Grown-up Toy of the Year race. As people of all ages continue to explore new hobbies, the category honors products developed primarily for adults, with a focus on items inspired by fandoms and social media. Disney (Disney Castle Collection), CreateOn (The Beatles Collection Magna-Tiles Structures) and Spin Master (Kinetic Sand Kinetic Kalm Zen Box) are among the other toycos vying for this first-of-its-kind trophy.
In overall nominations, The LEGO Group (11), Spin Master (eight), Hasbro (six) and Moose Toys (four) are not too far behind Mattel.
Finalists for the Toy Association’s awards were selected from 623 entries, and judging was conducted by 23 experts that include retailers, academics and journalists. Online voting for the 16 toy and game categories will be open until January 4, 2022, and winners are to be announced at the TOTY Awards on February 18 at New York Toy Fair.
Here is a list of nominees in a few of the more entertainment-centric categories, but the complete list is available online.
License of the Year
Barbie (Mattel)
Blue’s Clues & You (ViacomCBS)
Bluey (BBC Studios)
Marvel’s Spidey and His Amazing Friends (Marvel)
Masters of the Universe (Mattel)
PAW Patrol: The Movie (Spin Master and ViacomCBS)
Pokémon (The Pokémon Company)
Action Toy of the Year
Akedo—Ultimate Arcade Warriors (Moose Toys)
Avengers Hasbro Marvel Mech Strike 8″ Super Hero Action Figure—Ultimate Mech Suit Iron Man and Captain America (Hasbro)
Bakugan GeoForge Dragonoid (Spin Master)
Heroes of Goo Jit Zi (Moose Toys)
Jurassic World Ocean Protector Mosasaurus (Mattel)
Masters of the Universe: Masterverse (Mattel)
Star Wars Galactic Snackin’ (Hasbro)
Collectible of the Year
5 Surprise Toy Mini Brands (Zuru)
Chuckle & Roar Pop It Family (Buffalo Games)
FUNKO Star Trek The Original Series POP! Collection (Funko)
Got2Glow Fairy Finder (WowWee)
Hot Wheels Red Line Club (Mattel)
LEGO Minifigures MARVEL Studios (The LEGO Group)
Polly Pocket Compacts—Pocket World Assortment (Mattel)
Doll of the Year
Ada Twist, Scientist Lab Doll (Just Play)
Baby Alive Lulu Achoo Assortment (Hasbro)
Baby Bee Doll Collection (Orijin Bees)
Barbie Extra (Mattel)
Disney Classic Dolls (The Walt Disney Company)
Glo-Up Girls (Far Out Toys)
Rainbow High Winter Break Dolls (MGA Entertainment)
Spirit Untamed Ride Together Lucky & Spirit (Mattel)
Game of the Year
A Game of Cat and Mouth (Exploding Kittens)
Crossed Signals (Mattel)
Disney It’s a Small World Game (Funko Games)
GibGab (Fat Brain Toy Co.)
Hedbanz Blastoff (Spin Master)
Marvel Villainous (Ravensburger)
Monopoly Builder (Hasbro)
Grown-up Toy of the Year
Disney Castle Collection (The Walt Disney Company)
EXIT: The Game—Season 5 Bundle (Thames & Kosmos)
Hot Wheels R/C 1:10 Tesla Cybertruck (Mattel)
Kinetic Sand Kinetic Kalm Zen Box (Spin Master)
LEGO Botanical Collection Flower Bouquet (The LEGO Group)
Rambler 16 (Razor)
The Beatles Collection Magna-Tiles Structures (CreateOn)
The Goonies: Never Say Die (Funko Games)
Preschool Toy of the Year
Big Feelings Pineapple (Learning Resources)
Fisher-Price B.B. Hoopster (Mattel)
Land of Dough (Crazy Aaron’s)
LeapFrog LeapLand Adventures (LeapFrog)
LEGO Disney Ariel, Belle, Cinderella and Tiana’s Storybook Adventures (The LEGO Group)
Tonies (Tonies)
VTech KidiZoom PrintCam (Vtech)