13 Iconic ‘80s Toys That Still Have Value (Beyond Nostalgia)

While 1980s toys weren’t looking so hot in the Y2K era, enough time has passed that they’re retro, cool, and coveted.

If you’ve got toys in the attic at Mom and Dad’s, or you’re just into vintage goods, read on. Here are 13 iconic toys from the ‘80s that could help boost your bank account.

The Game Boy’s portability, wide selection of games, and unique handheld style made it a hit.

If you still have yours today, it could be worth well over $100.

Some sources say that your Game Boy could even fetch over $5,000 if it’s brand-new in mint condition with the manual.

American Girl dolls have been a hit since first launching in 1986. The four flagship dolls came with a series of books to learn about the historical times in which the American Girl lived, and today they’ve found a firm foothold in our cultural zeitgeist.

At their release, the dolls retailed for $65. This price was considered so high that most little girls weren’t allowed to play with them.

This could be good news for parents and collectible sellers today: an original Samantha doll recently sold for $4,200.

Cabbage Patch Kids were the must-have toy of the 1980s. Cute chubby cheeks, cuddly bodies, and even adoption papers. At the peak of the craze, the dolls sparked riots.

The dolls originally sold for around $21 to $25, but according to Antique Trader, some early-edition dolls can sell for $1,000 or more.

Inspired by 1980s rock culture, this Barbie was totally bodacious. Flirty and feminine Barbie went rock ‘n’ roll to go toe-to-toe with Hasbro’s Jem and the Holograms for the most sales (and biggest hair).

This rocker Barbie originally retailed for about $12, with her sidekicks going for $10 each. A whole set originally went for $70, but today, it can fetch up to $300.

The Atari 2600 was groundbreaking for bringing arcade-style games to the home. Though primitive now, it was like the Eighth Wonder of the World. The consoles sold for a staggering $190.

If you still have a console today, it could be worth up to $890.

Care Bears went viral in the 1980s. They were a cute, cuddly way to radiate positivity and caring — and had adorable bellies bedecked with rainbows and shamrocks and flowers. 

Originally quite affordable, Care Bears can currently fetch several hundred dollars. Special Care Bears or Care Bear collections could command as much as $10,000.

These plastic reptiles were hugely popular thanks to the popular TV show and comic series.

The ninja dolls originally sold for $4.99 but may fetch $60 or more today on the nostalgia market. Some figurines are especially valuable, like Rocksteady (one of the first bad guys to ‌get their own toy), worth approximately $422.

Garbage Pail Kids were the height of sarcastic cool in the 1980s, poking fun ‌at baseball cards and the Cabbage Patch Kids. Parodying the dolls, the cards had gross-out humor that kids loved — like characters with worms for hair.

While the card packs originally sold for around $0.25 and came with a piece of gum, most individual cards are now worth anywhere from $1.25 to $106.60.

Rare cards, like Nasty Nick, can be worth several thousand dollars.

The My Buddy Doll was launched in 1985 with the intent of making a doll that appealed to boys. The dolls taught children about caring for a friend or little brother and were popular in the 1980s.

While the My Buddy Doll originally sold for $25, the original dolls in mint condition can fetch up to $400.

Pocket-sized Polly Pockets were a huge deal. The compact playsets were miniature dollhouses and playhouses and came with adorable dolls and accessories.

While original playsets sold for around $10 to $15, they can now go for well over $1,000.

The gentle teddy bear who could talk and read stories was one of the decade’s most iconic toys. Originally, the bear sold for $70 (or $204 in today’s money), but today, well-preserved bears with working cassette tapes can sell for around $1,000.

Pound Puppies were plush, stray dogs with a backstory. Caregiving was clearly a theme for toys of that decade. Dogs came with a doghouse and care instructions, as well as an option to send away for a personalized dog tag.

In 1985, the dogs sold for $30, but today, they can sell for several hundred dollars. One original Pound Puppy recently fetched $450 on eBay.

My older brother had one of these, and I’m kicking myself that it went missing. The Transformers were another cultural staple of the 1980s due to the fun cartoon and bots’ ultra-cool ability to rearrange their body parts and transform into different duo robot vehicles.

Optimus Prime was the most popular and sold for $20.99, but today, it could fetch $600 or more. Even used and boxless Optimus Primes can sell for more than $100.

Today’s toys are tomorrow’s treasures. Well-loved toys might not be worth much, but impeccably kept playthings can be a decent investment.

The trick is to pick winners, keep them in the box, and not lose them — a feat that's easier said than done.

Still, if you’ve got a large cache of vintage toys or frequent flea markets looking for treasure to flip and make some extra cash, there’s no question the nostalgia market does well. 

Do some research first, and see what the toy might be worth on eBay, Heritage Auctions, Mercari, and other resale sites.