The 2021 Toy Trend We Didn’t See Coming (But Makes So Much Sense)

Remember when kids (and adults) everywhere started running around town, trying to catch every Pokémon in sight? We’re predicting a similar reaction when the Got2Glow Fairy Finder jars hit stores. Kids open the jar and wave it around, and depending on where you are and the lighting in your home, you’ll be able to collect different fairies, which you can then feed and care for. Three different jars are sold, each allowing you to catch a different set of 30+ fairies (and trade them with friends). They officially launch on Oct. 1, but you can preorder one now, so you don’t find yourself in a Jingle All the Way-style scramble during the holiday season.

The Boy Who Lived Lives On! Only this iteration is more anime-esque than Daniel Radcliffe. Magical Minis are three-inch versions of Harry Potter characters, but that’s not all—you can also buy replicas of classrooms and sets from the series, including a nearly 2-foot-tall Hogwarts dollhouse.

At this point, Harry Potter could be its own sub-genre. It may be 14 years since the Deathly Hallows was published, but this year brings a flurry of new toys, and we’d be remiss in not including your chance to play Quidditch. Catch the Snitch is a fast-paced card game where, at any point, the golden Snitch could spring from its box and shoot into the air, causing a scramble to catch it as the game ends.

Let your kids channel their inner mad scientists as they fish through gooey ooze and wispy spiderwebs to assemble their own monster and reveal a gold-dipped treasure. The lab features 20 different activities to keep kids busy, as well as two different figures (the scientist and monster) to play with, so your little ones won’t tire of this toy after 15 minutes.

Fairies are trending big-time right now. These four-inch-tall Crystalina dolls each glow a specific color, but as their powers change (say, from wisdom to healing), so does the color they emit. You can even pass the color from one doll to the next, or between the (included) amulet jewelry.

Looking for a cuddlier fairy? Try Dream Seekers, a set of soft-bodied dolls that come with a pocket in their moon packaging for storing kids’ dreams and wishes. Each of the four dolls corresponds to a different type of wish to manifest—say, happiness or passion—and has removable shoes and brushable hair.

Amazon’s top-ranked new release in the games section is a classic, repackaged for newbies. The Dungeons & Dragons Adventures in Forgotten Realms set is a Magic: The Gathering crossover that gives you everything you need to get your geek on. We’re talking 40 land cards, three oversized dungeon cards, 10 draft boosters, an oversized d20 die and a storage box—and that’s just the basic bundle. Hardcore fans may want to spring for the $126 gift set, which includes three core Dungeons & Dragons rulebooks (with special foil covers) and a Dungeon Master screen.

Of course Barbie’s going to stay ahead of the trend. In the Dreamtopia series, you can buy pastel-haired dolls dressed as fairies, mermaids and princesses.

As if her glittery wings, Pixieprint cheeks and pastel-colored hair weren't cute enough, this little pixie starts to glow as you feed her. Kids will have fun guessing which color she'll light up—just don't be surprised if they want to collect all three styles (and the miniature version too).

It’s hard to be afraid of the monster lurking in your closet when it’s this cute. Each of these six collectible plush monsters comes with a shoebox-esque “habitat” that mirrors a spot in your house—like a fridge, attic or dishwasher—and an ID card breaking down their likes, dislikes and backstory.