Dinosaur toys have been commercially available since the mid-1920s, and they’ve always been popular. Of course, the success of the original Jurassic Park movie made them even more sought after. Now, approximately 100 years after they initially hit the market, dinosaur toys show absolutely no sign of slowing down. Let’s take a trip down memory lane to see some of the best dinosaur toys ever, along with the coolest VR and AR items currently available.
10 Best Dinosaur Toys Ever
Dinosaur toys have changed during the past 100 years, but children remain as fascinated by them as ever. We kick off our list with the first dino toy ever made:
1. Twistums Brontosaurus
This cool dinosaur toy was released in 1925, and it changed the toy market forever. It was crafted with flexible internal piano wire springs and solid wooden spheres, which enabled the toy to be poseable. Affectionately nicknamed ‘Old Timer,’ it featured a high-grade gloss lacquered enamel paint. Due to this, the toys that have survived still look fantastic. This toy might be a hard-to-find collectible today, but kids from the 1920s absolutely loved it.
2. Dino Dig VR
Old Timer helped cement dinosaur toys as an all-time favorite amongst youngsters, and Dino Dig VR showcases just how far these toys have come since. Instead of being a traditional toy, this set rests firmly in the STEM toys category. Your child will love the opportunity to slap on a pair of VR goggles to get up close and personal with a T-Rex. They’ll also get to excavate their own 10” T-Rex fossil! The VR component brings the following to life:
- Dino coaster
- T-Rex chase
- Dino museum
- Fossil sites
Additionally, this set comes with a 40-page dinosaur book that works with VR.
Dino Dig
VR Exploration Kit
Slap on a pair of VR goggles to get up close and personal with a T-Rex, ride a dino coaster, and visit virtual fossil sites. Includes an excavation kit to dig out your own 10" T-Rex fossil and a 40-page interactive VR book.
Shop Now3. Jurassic Park Thrasher T-Rex
Today’s collectors consider the Thrasher T-Rex action figure to be the holy grail of Jurassic Park collectibles. When it came out in 1997, though, it was simply the best dinosaur toy most kids had ever seen. One of the features that made this toy stand out was the hidden button on its tail. By pressing it, the Thrasher would lunge forward, open its jaws, and release a screen-accurate, ferocious roar.
4. Virtual Reality Dinosaurs!
This VR gift set comes with an 80-page interactive book. In other words, once your kid has the included goggles on, they can flip through the pages to become immersed in the world of dinosaurs. Furthermore, this set comes with tools and a dig-out rock, which allows your child to uncover a T-Rex fossil.
Your youngster will appreciate getting to see dinosaurs close up, and you’ll appreciate that this set won several awards, including:
- Winner: Toy Insider Top 10 STEM 2023
- Winner: Toy Insider Top Holiday Toys 2023
- Finalist: STEAM Toy of the Year 2023
When you want to provide a truly educational but also cool dinosaur toy, Virtual Reality Dinosaurs! is an excellent choice.
Virtual Reality
Dinosaurs Gift Set
Immerse yourself in prehistoric world through an 80-page interactive DK book and VR goggles. Dig out a T-Rex fossil using included tools in an award-winning STEM experience.
Shop Now5. Professor Maxwell’s VR Dinosaurs
Does your child want to go even deeper into dinosaurs than the previously listed VR sets? That’s where Professor Maxwell’s VR Dinosaurs comes into play. Not only will they be able to see dinosaurs come to life via the 40-page interactive VR book from DK, but this set also includes an augmented reality project book. Plus, there are 12 hands-on activities, including:
- Amber lollipops
- Dino dig-out
- Blow pen art
- Erupt a volcano
VR Dinosaurs was also named a Finalist in the 2022 Toy of the Year Awards. In total, your kid will receive more than 60 pieces, including eight dinosaur toys.
Professor Maxwell's
VR Dinosaurs
Packed with over 60 pieces including 8 dinosaur toys and 12 hands-on activities. Features a 40-page VR book and AR projects to make volcanoes erupt, craft amber lollipops, and excavate fossils.
Shop Now6. DIY T. Rex
The Smithsonian presents budding engineers with a DIY Tyrannosaurus Rex robot. The set includes a kid-friendly electric screwdriver, so sit back and watch them assemble it. Once they’re done, they can switch it on and watch in wonder as their T-Rex begins walking and roaring! As an added bonus, they’ll also receive a multicolored Smithsonian pen, along with an activity booklet.
7. Marx Prehistoric Times Playset
Dinosaurs first hit toy aisles in the 1920s, but they didn’t become affordable to a wider audience until the 1950s. That was when Louis Marx and Company released their line of plastic dinosaur toys. Although most of these figures represent outdated thoughts about dinosaurs, they’re still one of the best dinosaur toys ever due to their sheer heights of popularity.
8. National Geographic VR Extinction
This VR set from National Geographic enables kids to experience the cataclysmic end to dinosaurs. With their VR goggles on, your child will come face-to-face with these massive creatures. Furthermore, they’ll be able to witness the massive asteroid that ushered out the Dinosaur Age, along with 75% of all life on earth. This kit comes with 15 unique VR experiences and a 20” T Rex fossil.
9. Jurassic World Super Colossal T Rex
This super long and super cool dinosaur toy measures more than 3 feet long. It instantly became a favorite of many dinosaur fans, including kids and collectors. One of the best features was that it could easily swallow around 20 mini figures, which could then be released through a hatch in its stomach.
10. Jurassic Dinos AR Book
If you’ve got a young dino lover, HoloToyz interactive AR book allows them to see and hear the creatures in action. By using a cellphone, your child will watch their favorite dinosaurs appear to literally leap out of the page. They’ll learn all about dinosaurs, including proper pronunciation of their names. To begin, download the free app, then step back and let your child explore the Jurassic Era.
Aside from the AR Book, HoloToyz also makes AR tattoos and AR stickers. Your kid can place a stegosaurus temporary tattoo on their hand, for example, and it’ll move and make noises through the power of AR.
Cool Dinosaur Toys will Capture Your Child’s Attention
Dinosaur toys are universal; in fact, it’s estimated that around 50% of children will develop an intense special interest in them. Psychologists note that having a hyper-fixation on dinosaurs can help expand a child’s vocabulary, process complex information, build better attention spans, and gain a sense of mastery. Therefore, it makes good sense to lean into this ever present trend. By giving your kid a VR set, they’ll learn to love dinosaurs even more!
