The countdown to Christmas and Hanukkah is on, and while finding those “hot” holiday toys and games is at the top of many shoppers’ to-do lists, there are tons of holiday-themed options if you want something with a whole lot of festive energy. From a new tradition involving a lovable mouse and brick sets inspired by Whoville’s most famous mountain-dweller to sensory kits with a Santa-inspired flair, the elves here at The Toy Insider have rounded up some fantastic toys and games that are bound to be holiday hits!

Scroll on to see what made our list, and don’t worry — we checked it twice!


THE GRINCH BRICK BUILDING SET COLLECTION

With this festive collection from Brickcraft, families can recreate the fun and mischief of Dr. Seuss' The Grinch. Builders ages 8 and up can create holiday decorations of The Grinch, Max, Cindy-Lou Who, or Christmas Wreath. The Up the Chimney Grinch and Grinch in Fireplace sets capture The Grinch at his most mischievous.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $11.99-29.99
  • Age:
  • 8+

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SNOWY’S MAGICAL CHRISTMAS EVE HOLIDAY BOOK & PLUSH GIFT SET

Source: Snowy the Mouse

Snowy's Magical Christmas Eve is a new holiday tradition. | Source: Snowy the Mouse

Families can start a new Christmas tradition with this gift set, which includes a hardcover book, Snowy’s Magical Christmas Eve, by author Susie Bramhall; a Snowy the Mouse Plush; a sticker; and stationery to write a letter to Santa.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $34.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

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MEEMZY MAGIC SANTA’S WORKSHOP KIT

Kids can unleash the power of their inner elves with this Santa's Workshop sensory kit. It comes with Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus peg dolls, an Elf peg doll, red and white wooden presents, a North Pole train, a Wooden sled, mini jingle bells, trees, dough, and more.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $65.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

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SUPER SMALLS CRAFTY HANUKKAH GIFT SET

With this gift set, kids can paint a colorful menorah and craft festive jewelry that sparkles and shines. It pairs Super Smalls' Hanukkah Activity Kit and Make It Mazel Mini Bead Kit. There are enough activities here for eight crazy days and nights of fun!

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $58
  • Age:
  • 4+

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2024 HOLIDAY BARBIE DOLL

This year’s holiday Barbie is decked in a red-and-green plaid holiday gown and comes in five doll designs. Each doll is packaged in a window display box for added collectability.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $45 Available
  • Age:
  • 6+

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HOLIDAY SQUISHMALLOWS (2024)

Kids can snuggle with or display these assorted sizes of festive plush throughout the holiday season.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $5.99-39.99
  • Age:
  • 0+

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MGA’S MINIVERSE MAKE IT MINI DINER: HOLIDAY

Holiday dinner goes mini with these new capsules, which come with holiday dishes and drinks made with resin. Kids and collectors may also discover a rare variant inspired by National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $9.99
  • Age:
  • 8+

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PLUS-PLUS HANUKKAH PLAY SET

With this 330-piece set, kids can create a 2D or 3D menorah, a spinning dreidel, and a pair of Maccabee figures. Each recloseable pouch includes Plus-Plus pieces in a variety of colors, a white rectangular baseplate, and a QR code that opens a swipe-to-build experience in the free Plus-Plus app.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $24.99
  • Age:
  • 4+

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POKÉMON HOLIDAY PLUSH

The 2024 Pokémon Heartwarming Christmas Plush collection features fan-favorite Pokémon dressed to impress in their festive, bright attire. Each Pokémon plush is wearing a gift from their Trainers, making this collection extra special for fans.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $15.99-27.99
  • Age:
  • 4+

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TWISTABLES HOLIDAY PUZZLE

Kids can mix, twist, and turn these six-sided puzzles. When the puzzle is complete, each of the six sides shows a different holiday picture.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $8.95
  • Age:
  • 8+

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JUDAH MACCABOT

Judah Maccabot is a flexible Hanukkah robot with pop-tube arms and legs that can stretch up to 8 inches. Kids can pose Judah Maccabot and secure him to flat surfaces using the attached suction cups.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $9.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

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GUND MY FIRST GINGERBREAD HOUSE

Parents can introduce babies and toddlers to the holidays with this plush playset, which opens up to reveal four miniature plush.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $25
  • Age:
  • 0+

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THE POLAR EXPRESS 20TH ANNIVERSARY LIONCHIEF TRAIN SET

Families can celebrate the 20th Anniversary of The Polar Express with this special edition O Gauge train set from Lionel. It includes The Polar Express 2-8-4 Berkshire Locomotive, an Illuminated Tender, two Coach Cars, an Observation Car, track pieces, and more.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $529.99
  • Age:
  • 14+

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BIZYBOO HOLIDAY SEEK ‘N FIND BUSY BAGS

The Holiday Series introduces a new cast of BIZYBOO characters — a Christmas Tree, a Snowman, and a Stocking — each packed with 30 different hidden seasonal objects.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $9.99
  • Age:
  • 2+

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FUGGLERS FESTIVE FUGGS (2024)

Ho, Ho, Nooo! The Festive Fuggs are a pair of Fugglers known for creating "holiday havoc." Kids can collect Santa- and Elf-inspired Fugglers, available exclusively at Walmart stores in the U.S. this holiday season. These limited-edition Festive Fuggs may be easier to find in your local store than online, so shop early and often!

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $7.97
  • Age:
  • 4+

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SKETCH PALS — FLURRY THE SNOW PAL & ALIX THE AXOLOTL

Kids can draw on these clippable doodle boards and clear their creations by pressing the character’s nose to start over. The new, limited-edition boards feature Flurry the Snow Pal & Alix the Axolotl.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $19.99
  • Age:
  • 4+

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Battery Requirements

Energizer is the official battery partner of The Toy Insider.
  • Type:
  • CR2032
  • Quantity:
  • 1

OPERATION: THE GRINCH EDITION

This whimsical twist on Hasbro's classic OPERATION game brings Dr. Seuss’s iconic character to game night. Players navigate the Grinch’s “Funatomy” by carefully extracting Seuss-inspired treasures, including a cuddly cactus, a garlic soul, a seasick crocodile, and a heart two sizes too small. In the end, the player with the most parts wins.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $39.99
  • Age:
  • 6+

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Battery Requirements

Energizer is the official battery partner of The Toy Insider.
  • Type:
  • AA
  • Quantity:
  • 2

SNACKLES 14-INCH PLUSH: CHRISTMAS EDITION

This Christmas-themed plush collection includes a reindeer, a snowman, a bear, and Santa, each cuddling a licensed holiday snack.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $19.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

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COMPOUND KINGS BUTTER CLOUDZ TUBS: PEPPERMINT CANDY CANE

We wish the holidays would stretch on forever. Now, with this candy-cane-scented slime, they can! Each slime is non-drying, non-sticky, and full of moldable fun. Playing with slime is a fun way to keep screen time down and kids present during the holiday festivities, so break open a tub and stretch your imagination!

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $16.99
  • Age:
  • 4+

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CRAFT-A-DREIDEL 6-PACK

Kids can celebrate Hanukkah by designing their own wooden dreidel while learning the significance of the Hebrew letters as they trace them onto each side. This set contains everything needed to create six dreidels making it a perfect family activity.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $29.99
  • Age:
  • 5+

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LEGO ICONS SANTA’S POST OFFICE

The LEGO Winter Village Collection expands with this 1,440-piece building set. It comes with two sets of instructions so that kids and grown-ups can build this festive North Pole environment together.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $99.99
  • Age:
  • 18+

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TOYS “R” US GEOFFREY HOLIDAY ELF PLUSH (2024)

Geoffrey the Giraffe is back this season as a festive, 9-inch plush toy. Dated 2024 on his right foot, Geoffrey embodies the holiday spirit while wearing a whimsical elf costume. You can find him exclusively at Toys "R" Us stores, including Toys "R" Us at Macy's.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $14.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

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NERF ELITE 2.0 JOLLY DASH

Tweens can blast their way through the holidays with this colorful foam dart blaster. The blaster is white with red stripes reminiscent of a candy cane, and it's topped off with a wreath-shaped scope for additional festive fun. It comes with a pair of official NERF Elite foam darts for indoor and outdoor play.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $5.59
  • Age:
  • 8+

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THE ELF ON THE SHELF OFFICIAL ELF IDEAS SUPER SET

Parents can plan a whole holiday season worth of elf surprises with this set of props and MagiFreez gear for The Elf on the Shelf.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $39.95
  • Age:
  • 3+

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ELF BREAKFAST (MAPLE SYRUP) KIDDOUGH PLAY KIT

Little ones can create a breakfast fit for an elf with this play kit. It comes with super-silky sensory dough that lasts for at least 120 hours of play and washes out of carpets and fabric with warm water. Each set includes KidDough, an Elf Figurine, a Noodle-Shaped Dough Extruder, and festive accessories.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $23
  • Age:
  • 3+

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EMOTIONAL SUPPORT GINGERBREAD

Embrace the festive spirit with Emotional Support Gingerbread! The set includes five gingerbread cookie plushes in a decorative basket, each featuring unique and endearing expressions.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $16.99
  • Age:
  • 0+

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About the author

James Zahn

James Zahn

James Zahn, AKA The Rock Father, is Editor-in-Chief of The Toy Book and Co-President of The International Toy Magazines Association (ITMA). He is also a Senior Editor at The Toy Insider and The Pop Insider, and Editor of The Toy Report, The Toy Book‘s weekly industry newsletter. As a pop culture and toy industry expert, Zahn has appeared as a panelist and guest at events including Comic-Con International: San Diego (SDCC), New York Comic Con, Wizard World Chicago, and the ASTRA Marketplace & Academy. Zahn has more than 30 years of experience in the entertainment, retail, and publishing industries, and is frequently called upon to offer expert commentary for publications such as Forbes, Marketwatch, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, USA Today, Reuters, the Washington Post, and more. James has appeared on History Channel’s Modern Marvels, was interviewed by Larry King and Anderson Cooper, and has been seen on Yahoo! Finance, CNN, CNBC, FOX Business, NBC, ABC, CBS, WGN, The CW, and more. Zahn joined the Adventure Media & Events family in 2016, initially serving as a member of the Parent Advisory Board after penning articles for the Netflix Stream Team, Fandango Family, PBS KIDS, Sprout Parents (now Universal Kids), PopSugar, and Chicago Parent. He eventually joined the company full time as a Senior Editor and moved up the ranks to Deputy Editor and Editor-in-Chief.

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