If you haven't noticed yet, the '90s are back! In addition to the revival of '90s fashion trends and pop culture, beloved toys like Polly Pocket and Tamagotchi are also making a comeback. The latest '90s toy to get a modern makeover? The iconic Furby — and we're predicting it's going to be one of the most popular toys of the holiday season this year.
That's right, a brand-new version of the quirky interactive talking toy that captured the hearts of millions of kids and caused a sellout craze when it was introduced 25 years ago is available once again.
The original Furby, which was released in 1998, was a small robotic creature with a plush exterior that spoke its own language, "Furbish." (The gibberish was charming to kids, but maybe less so to parents.)
The new iteration, which is much fluffier than the original, has five voice-activated modes and is equipped with more than 600 different responses, some of which include lights, sounds and songs. Available in bright purple and coral, kids can try out commands like "let's chill," "dance party" or even "tell my fortune."
Initiating a mode is simple: Just press the heart gem, say "Hey, Furby" to get the toy's attention, then say the name of the mode you want.
With the original version, which recorded audio and wouldn't turn off unless the batteries were removed, there were concerns surrounding Furby recording young voices. The National Security Agency even banned the toy from its offices so it couldn't record government secrets. But the new Furby doesn't connect to the internet and isn't always listening, like a Google or Alexa device — in fact, the only time Furby is connected to another device is when you program multiple Furbys (each sold separately) to interact together. The latest version also requires that you hit a heart jewel on its head for it to react (press it three times to turn the toy off).
GH Institute Chief Technologist and Technical Director Rachel Rothman, who oversees testing for our annual Best Toy Awards, recently had the chance to try out the new version with her kids (ages 3, 5 and 6) and shared some of her thoughts. While the revamped toy does speak some English now, she recommends keeping a Furbish dictionary handy to help translate. (For instance, "noh-lah" is "dance" and "kah mee-mee noo-loo" is "very happy.")
Rothman also notes that the more kids play with Furby, the more new content they'll get. "My eldest enjoys copycat mode, where the Furby will repeat back in a silly voice what you've said," she says. "Dance party mode is my middle child's favorite. She enjoys when she is able to unlock a new one. And my youngest likes the light show mode — by tapping the head or tummy you get different patterns and effects."
And while it's easy for kids to learn how to initiate different modes, Rothman did note that sometimes Furby didn't do exactly what the kids asked, which was a bit frustrating for them.
We're predicting the revamp of this old favorite will soon be appearing on many hot toy and holiday wish lists, so snag one now to avoid channeling Arnold Schwarzenegger in Jingle All the Way come December. Furby is readily available (for now!) on Amazon and retails for $69.
Angel Madison is a commerce editor for Hearst, covering LEGOs, trending products, toys, plus-size fashion, wellness, home, tech and more. Previously she covered entertainment, pop culture, and parenting for a variety of publications. When she's not at her desk you can find her hanging with her daughter and cat, finding offbeat roadside attractions, or doing crafts.
