Top 5 2000's Toys and Games Gen Z will never forget

Looking through this list will bring back some fond childhood memories. These were better than fidget spinners and slime; they were the ones you ran through Toys R Us to find (Rest in Peace). This list will not include game consoles, as I'm planning a separate post on the technology of the 2000s, so stay tuned for that. This list is also of toys and games that were crazed specifically in the 2000s and are not still popularised today, so Barbie is not included.

1. Bop It Extreme

I'm sure you can all remember the TV ad for this one and we all played this at the sleepover. With the original Bop It only having 3 simple demands, Bop It Extreme in the 2000s added more demands. This made the toy more exciting as the commands got faster, you could feel the adrenaline trying to get it right, along with the pressure of your friends watching. Who could forget the excitement when getting a new high score. 

2. Silly Bandz

These were so easy and fun to play with (especially during school). All the different shapes and colours made them very fun collectables, with some of us having 20 on each wrist. Silly Bandz were also fun to trade with friends in the playground- "I'll give you my giraffes for a turtle". Listen, this is where most of us would've learnt key negotiation skills we use every day now as an adult!

3. Zhu Zhu Pets

These cute battery-powered hamsters felt like having your own pet without having to actually look after them. You had to have more than one of these as you didn't want one to feel alone. You could also buy huts and hamster balls for your pet, which made it feel like you really had your own pet. Zhu Zhu pets were the top selling Christmas gift in 2009  - Top-selling Christmas toy from each of the past 30 years revealed...but how many do you remember? - Mirror Online. Perhaps this was a better idea for Mum and Dad to avoid getting an actual Hamster?

4. Orbeez 

This sensory toy is made for hours of fun. Watching your tiny orbeez grow in water and then playing with thousands of them in a bowl. The satisfying feeling and colours helped with their popularity in the 2000s. You had to be careful though as you didn't want to get them squished or spill them all over the floor (although I think half the fun was trying to pick them all up). The orbeez soothing spa in particular became their best-seller.

5. Aquabeads 

This arts and crafts toy allowed you to be creative in making shapes and pictures with colourful beads. The Aquabeads pen made it so much easier to create fun designs and all you had to do was add water to make them stick together. It was so easy to make gifts for your family and friends (which I'm sure they kept). As an adult I would still enjoy doing this as it's so relaxing, so I might just go on eBay and see if I can get one. 

Other Mentions

My Password Journal

Mighty Beans

TechDecks

I hope you enjoyed reading and maybe remembered a toy or two you forgot about. I think we can all agree that 2000s toys were some of the best and certainly beat any current toys. What toys did you love? Is there any you'd perhaps buy now as an adult? Feel free to comment and let me know!