16 of the coolest surprise toys for kids
- From dinosaurs to sweet smelling stuffed animals, we found some of the best surprise toys for kids of all ages, including toddlers and older kids.
- Many surprise toys on our list come in under $10, making them an inexpensive holiday gift or stocking stuffer.
- Check out all of our 2020 holiday gift guides here for more great ideas.
One of the hottest toy trends in 2020 is the surprise toy. From slimy alien dissections to toys that unbox themselves, this trend is pervasive. Many surprise toys come in under $10, making them ideal for stocking stuffers as well as regular gifts.
We've rounded up 16 surprise toys, so you're sure to find something for every kid. Many of our picks feature the larger "ultimate" version as well as the more inexpensive single version of the toy.
The top 5 surprise toys for kids:
- Treasure X Sunken Gold Bottle Smash, $9.99
- Barbie Color Reveal Doll, $11.99
- Skyrocket Blume Doll, $7.59
- Paw Patrol Dino Rescue Rev Up Vehicle with Mystery Figure, $14.99
- Snow Pets, available at Amazon, $4.99
If you're looking for a memorable gift, check out our favorite surprise toys for kids:
A slimy alien dissection
Treasure X Aliens Dissection Kit with Slime, available at Amazon, $14.99
This alien dissection takes kids through 12 steps of surprising reveals. The entire dissection leads kids through a mission to save the Treasure Hunter. Along the way, they'll find surprises and encounter obstacles. Some aliens even include peridot "space gems."
Recommended ages: 5 years and up
A secret spy mission
Ryan's World Mystery Spy Vault, available at Walmart and Amazon, $34.99
Ryan's World Road Trip Micro Mystery Figure, available at Target, $3.99
Ten surprises await "Ryan's World" fans as they complete a secret spy mission in the Mystery Spy Vault. As kids go through each of three boxes, they'll reveal spy gear, clues, toys, eventually uncovering a build-your-own spy vehicle. If you're looking for a budget-friendly option, the Micro Mystery Figure includes two figures, four stickers, a game card, and a poster.
Recommended ages: 3 years and up
Dolls that magically grow with water
Blume Rainbow Sparkle Surprise, available at Target and Amazon, $19.99
Skyrocket Blume Doll, available at Target and Amazon, $7.59
In Rainbow Sparkle Surprise, three Blume dolls magically grow with water via the built-in rain shower cloud. The set also includes other surprises like accessories for the dolls and stickers. Once the dolls have grown out of their pots, you can use the rainbow and cloud to water real plants. The single Blume doll includes over 10 surprises, including the doll itself, stickers, and accessories.
Recommended ages: 3 years and up
A sweet-smelling, talking Rainbocorn
Rainbocorns Sweet Shake Surprise, available at Walmart and Amazon, from $29.98
Rainbocorns Sparkle Heart Surprise, available at Walmart and Amazon, $9.97
Hatch a sweet-smelling plush along with over 15 layers of unique surprises. The sweet surprise also comes with DIY slime mix and a recipe to create a shake. The Rainbocorns in the Sweet Shake Surprise sing, make sounds, and repeat what kids say. The smaller and more inexpensive option includes five surprises, including Rainbocorn "poop"!
Recommended ages: 3 years and up
A sunken treasure surprise
Treasure X Sunken Gold Bottle Smash, available at Target and Amazon, $9.99
Uncovering treasure is exciting as kids smash the bottle to find their surprise. The bottle includes 10 hidden treasures, including a map, a treasure chest, slime, and a surprise character.
Recommended ages: 6 years and up
A mini shop under lock and key
Shopkins Lil Secrets Mini Playset, available at Walmart, $2.50
The mini shop is a secret until kids find the key that opens the door. As they play, they'll find another key to unlock an additional layer. The sets also come with a Teeny Shoppie doll.
Recommended ages: 5 years and up
A pet that comes with play snow
Snow Pets, available at Amazon, $4.99
Simply pour water into the ball to reveal a Snow Pet. The snow expands to "hatch" the pet. Once the pet is revealed, kids can use the snow as a fun play scene. I received a sample Snow Pet to test — the unveiling was fun, and the snow was a nice texture to play with.
Recommended ages: 4 years and up
A Barbie that changes color in water
Barbie Color Reveal Slumber Party, available at Walmart and Target, from $39.98
Barbie Color Reveal Doll, available at Walmart, $11.99
The Color Reveal Slumber Party set comes with two dolls and over 50 surprises, including clothing, accessories, stickers, and pets. The unboxing game leads kids through a board as they open each surprise, culminating in revealing the dolls. Single Color Reveal Barbies contain seven surprises such as the Barbie itself and clothes.
Recommended ages: 3 years and up
A rescue vehicle with a surprise dinosaur
Paw Patrol Dino Rescue Rev Up Vehicle with Mystery Dinosaur Figure, available at Kohl's and Amazon, $14.99
This toy includes a Paw Patrol character, a rescue vehicle with a rev-up motor, and a mystery dinosaur figure to rescue. Once the dinosaur is unveiled, kids can continue to complete rescue missions with the toys.
Recommended ages: 3 years and up
A pet that unboxes itself
Present Pets, available at Amazon, Target, and Walmart, from $39.88
I received a Present Pet to test, and the unboxing was the most unique I've seen. Pull the tab on the top, and the pet breaks out of the box itself. Once our dog was out of its box, my daughter and I weren't left disappointed. The dog responds to actions like petting its head or rubbing its tummy, and it plays interactive games.
Recommended ages: 5 years and up
Surprise balls that kids create themselves
Make Your Own Surprise Balls, available at Amazon and Fat Brain Toys, from $14.77
For the DIY, crafty type, this is a creative twist on the surprise toy. The kit comes with materials to create five surprise balls. It even includes the surprises to put in each ball. Kids can use them as gifts for friends and family or to keep for themselves.
Recommended ages: 6 years and up
A soft stuffed animal in a food-inspired wrap
Cutetitos, available at Amazon, Kohl's, and Target, $9.97
Cutetitos are surprise stuffed animals that come with attributes like a sweet scent and a unique personality. Each also comes with a surprise wrap and a collector card with information on the Cutetito.
Recommended ages: 3 years and up
Mini dinosaurs from the Ice Age
Smashers Dino Ice Age Mini Surprise, available at Target and Amazon, $9.99
Kids get to smash open this mini surprise egg to find more than 10 surprises. In addition to a surprise dinosaur, they'll find unique compounds to play with such as stretchy snow or crystal slime.
Recommended ages: 5 years and up
Surprise figures hidden in Playfoam
Playfoam Pals, available at Amazon and Target, $21.99
Kids will search through the squishy Playfoam to uncover their surprise pal figure. Once they have their pal, they can use the Playfoam to sculpt scenes and anything their imagination can dream up. Playfoam is a soft, stretchy, and moldable substance that in my experience is a cross between Play-Doh and slime.
Recommended ages: 3 years and up
Tiny versions of groceries
Mini Brands, available at Walmart and Target, from $6.97
Each mini ball includes five surprise products, from soy sauce to ice cream. These mini brands are the perfect size to stock a dollhouse kitchen or simply for little hands to play with.
Recommended ages: 3 years and up
A surprise toy for kids under 3
Peek & Play Surprise Eggs, available at Amazon, $11.99
These eggs are one of the few surprise toys that are safe for children under 3. Inside each egg, kids will find an animal, and there are letters printed on the eggs. Use them for a fun game of peek-a-boo or to practice letters, colors, and animal sounds.
Recommended ages: 18 months and up