8 Popular Games and Collectibles of the 1960s

Those who spent their youth in the ‘60s were lucky enough to experience firsthand the iconic games and tchotchkes that were enjoyed by the young (and young at heart) during the decade. In spite of today’s omnipresent use of cutting-edge technology, some of these are still around at present, adding fun and laughter to gatherings large and small.

Check out eight of the most popular games and collectibles of the ‘60s that are still family favorites today.

The ‘60s was the decade of the Cuban Missile Crisis. Communism was built up as such a threat that many people built fallout shelters proximate to their residences, whilst some others found solace in renewing their sense of patriotism through playing with Die-Cast Army Men. 

The toys, which are made up of military figurines, are made of metal and each figurine has its own unique pose. The fun part is when you’re playing with them as if you have your own battalion of soldiers, letting you expand your imagination as you think of ways to defeat the enemy.

While variants of these are still up for grabs in present-day toy stores, it’s rare to see die-cast metal figurines anymore. Nowadays, most of the soldier miniature toys are made of plastic.

G.I. Joe, was among the most famous (or should we call him infamous?) military action figurines in the ‘60s, alongside the little army men we just met. The soldier actually helped the toy company Hasbro in amalgamating the term “action figure,” given that he was the first-ever character to include the four branches of the military, namely the Action Soldier (U.S. Army), the Action Sailor (U.S. Navy), the Action Pilot (U.S. Air Force), and the Action Marine (U.S. Marine Corps). It was much later that the Action Nurse was introduced.

The idea for the jack-in-the-box was not an original one. Toys popping out of boxes was first introduced as a concept as early as the 14th century, according to historians. However, the idea didn’t become popular until jack-in-the-box was invented.

The ‘60s gadget was considered “traumatizing” by many children since it just pops unexpectedly. Nevertheless, its level of popularity during the decade will never be surpassed, even though it continued to upset children in the ‘70s, ‘80s, and ‘90s.

Twister poses the possibility of getting injured while playing it, but that’s kind of where the fun lies. The game got its start in the ‘60s as the first-ever board game to use the human body as one of its moving pieces.

Meanwhile, it didn’t sit well with everybody from the get-go. Some people accused the creator of the game, Milton Bradley, of promoting sexual contact. Nevertheless, it didn’t stop Twister from becoming one of the most in-demand games of its time. Even today, it’s considered a great way to spice up a party.

This game is odd as it depicts the monotony of life, making you wonder where the fun is at first glance – you grow up, get a job, then settle down and have a family before retiring. Fortunately, Milton Bradley’s game creators didn’t give up on the idea and thus, The Game of Life remains one of the most enjoyable family games of all time.

Meanwhile, the game didn’t exactly begin in the 1960s as it is said that the original version of it was first introduced a thousand years earlier. So, to be accurate, it was re-invented with updated rules and settings in the ‘60s.

Mystery Date is yet another game under the wing of Milton Bradley, wherein you get to acquire all the outfit pieces to be ready for a date that awaits you behind the mystery door. Unfortunately, this game aged fast.

It was reissued in 1970, 1999, and 2005, and can still be found on shelves. However, it was never as popular as it was in the ‘60s. Its concept was also replaced by electronic games, such as Dream Phone, that became famous in the ‘90s.

These mini-construction toys remain special to the little guys from the ‘60s who adored excavating their backyards, reveling in the dirt and mud. It’s one of the longest-surviving truck toys (and toys in general) and takes pride in the fact that many of the young men who used to play with them grew up to work in agriculture and construction.

Caterpillar toy trucks can be bought online, but can also be bought from physical stores.

These dolls are still in-demand among collectors today. Their oddly-shaped features and vibrant-hued hair somehow captured the hearts of millions of youngsters in the 1960s. Their popularity deteriorated a bit as the decade passes, but they are still up for grabs in store shelves, awaiting adoption by their new human parents.

Moreover, troll dolls even managed to sneak their way into modern pop culture by way of a DreamWorks animated film which brought them to life in 2016.