Singing witch dolls, a grave-digging monster and shimmering slime are among the predicted top-selling toys this Christmas, according to industry experts. The 15 toys to have made the 2025 DreamToys list, selected by a panel of independent toy retailers and experts, include innovative and unusual items, as well as old favourites such as Lego sets, and even a Human Controller game that encourages teenagers and adults to do daft things like pretending to lay an egg like a chicken.
'The list is still very much driven by licences, movies and interactive toys,' says Paul Reader, chairman of the DreamToys selection Panel at the Toy Retailers Association. He reassures parents that all the toys on the list should remain in supply until Christmas, pointing out that some items were left out of the running because they weren’t widely available. 'We exclude any supplier exclusives or products that are only available in selected retailers,' he explains, 'because while they may be popular, they’re not easily accessible by the masses.'
'It’s really important that when we select what we believe to be the hottest toys at Christmas, they’re in general distribution – so you can be anywhere from Land’s End to John O’ Groats and you should have access to all the products on our list.' Reader adds: 'Christmas is very special, and you want the kids to have a really enjoyable experience, but it’s got to be affordable, and we’re very conscious that the list has got to be accessible to all. The list is designed to help gift-givers, and to say if you’re not sure, these are what we believe to be some of the hot properties this Christmas.'
Among the highlights on the list are a collection of articulated model dolls, each with their own signature style, from vintage streetwear to gala glam, with endless looks that can be created by swapping the doll’s hair, top, bottom, accessories, and shoes. Each doll comes with a sparkling gold-star display capsule and a special collector card. There is also 'the most beautiful slime ever', with different-scented ones to collect – with this pack containing Shimmer Slime and Crystal Pearl Slime, plus boosters to add for a 'glamorous texture upgrade'.
Other notable toys include a Formula 1 Grand Prix Circuit track set with three miniature F1 cars, a lap counter and an interactive DRS diverter; a Human Controller party game where players wear a headset and carry out 30 interactive tasks while blindfolded; and a dino toy that lets kids watch their baby T-rex hatch and decide whether it grows into a friend or a fierce predator, featuring more than 100 sounds and reactions. There is also a family marshmallow-eating game, a playset with a mini fridge and working UV light, a remote control monster truck that compresses into a 'smashed' state, a 1,376-piece Lego ship with five One Piece mini-figures, an interactive Peppa Pig baby doll, and a Pokémon Trading Card Game Mega Evolution Elite Trainer Box.
