Key Takeaways
- Pokemon, the world’s highest-grossing media franchise, did not make it into the National Toy Hall of Fame for 2024.
- This year’s winners include Transformers and My Little Pony, as well as the 80s card game Phase 10.
- Fans are hopeful that the franchise will eventually earn a spot in the Toy Hall of Fame.
Despite the franchise’s continued success, Pokemon failed to be inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame for 2024. Following this unfortunate denial, Pokemon will need to wait until at least 2025 to make another attempt.
Following the release of the original Pokemon games for the Game Boy in 1996, the franchise exploded, inspiring multiple anime series, films, a successful trading card game, toys, and more. Today, Pokemon is said to be the world’s highest-grossing media franchise, earning an estimated $99 billion worldwide and continuing to find success with early fans and newcomers alike. While this level of success is unprecedented, it wasn’t enough to earn Pokemon a coveted spot in one of America’s most unique museums dedicated to fun and play.
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Founded in 1998, the National Toy Hall of Fame, located at The Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, New York, has announced its new inductees for 2024. Fans were shocked to find that Pokemon failed to be given the honor, alongside other beloved childhood playthings such as the trampoline and remote-controlled vehicles. Popular games like Apples to Apples and Sequence were also passed over in favor of the popular Hasbro propertiesTransformers and My Little Pony, as well as the 80s card game Phase 10.
New Inductees to the National Toy Hall of Fame for 2024
- Transformers
- My Little Pony
- Phase 10
The National Toy Hall of Fame has inducted several gaming consoles in the past, including the Atari 2600 in 2007 and the Nintendo Game Boy in 2009. Dungeons & Dragons received the honor in 2016, while Magic the Gathering found success in 2019, with the museum noting that the card game was recently found to be the most “complex game in existence.” As these beloved franchises have managed to earn a spot in the Toy Hall of Fame, fans have ample hope that Pokemon will get its chance in the near future.
The Pokemon series continues to expand, with Pokemon Trading Card Game Pocket surpassing 30 million downloads and earning almost $50 million since its release for mobile devices on October 30. Since its release in 2016, Pokemon Go has also managed to maintain its popularity, seeing frequent updates and events to keep gameplay fresh and exciting for mobile gamers. The next major title in the franchise is aiming for a 2025 release, and while few details about Pokemon Legends: Z-A have been announced, players can expect to travel to the Paris-inspired city of Lumiose in the Kalos region first introduced in Pokemon X and Y.
