The Toy Foundation's Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards recognize the top toys, games, and licenses across 17 categories of play.

This year’s finalists were selected by a panel of judges comprised of play experts, journalists, academics, retailers, and other toy experts, who considered each nominated product’s creativity and originality; design and quality; and play value.

On Monday, August 15, 2022, the finalists were revealed, and voting began.

The TOTY 2022 voting process includes input from not only consumers, but also members of The Toy Association, retailers, journalists, bloggers, and academics.

Who nominated the toys?

Representatives from any toy-related company are eligible to nominate products and/or properties for the TOTY award categories. 

Submitted nominations contain detailed explanations of the product’s play value, creativity/originality, application of new technology, creative manufacturing processes, commentary on how the product is meeting marketplace expectations, and details of outstanding, unusual and/or creative execution of artwork, product/package design, and promotional strategy.

An unlimited number of products may be submitted per award category, but no more than two products from the same company may appear in an award category on the finalist list.

What criteria must the toys meet?

All 2022 TOTY nominated products must be available at retail in the United States on or before November 1, 2022 and must have been introduced to the marketplace within the last two years. The Toy Association requires verification that all TOTY finalist products have been reviewed by an independent third-party testing lab and comply with strict U.S. toy safety standards.

View the complete Rules and Eligibility requirements here.

How did these finalists get chosen?

The toys featured on this site are the finalists that were chosen from more than 600 nominations. Finalists were selected by a panel of judges comprised of industry experts including toy specialists, journalists, and retailers.

Note for families: It’s very important to pick toys that are age-appropriate for the children who will be playing with them. Several of the TOTY categories have a mix of toys for children of different ages, so please be mindful of the age grade on each product. Visit PlaySafe.org for more information about selecting age-appropriate toys.

The Announcement

The TOTY finalists were unveiled via a press release on Monday, August 15, 2022.

Category Voting

The category winners, determined by votes from Toy Association members, retailers, media, and consumers, will be announced at the TOTY Awards on September 20, 2022 in Dallas, TX.

Any attempt by finalists to manipulate the voting process by offering compensation in exchange for votes will result in disqualification.

Toy of the Year and People's Choice Award

The overall Toy of the Year and People’s Choice award winners will be announced November 21, 2022. Voting for the People’s Choice Award will remain open through November 11, 2022; it is uniquely decided by votes on this website. The Toy of the Year will be determined by a panel of expert judges.