In a virtual gathering of play professionals and toy fans around the world, The Toy Association’s 2021 Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards were held online, and LEGO once again dominated several of the Toy Awards’ categories. Considered the Oscar Awards of the toy industry, the annual awards are usually held in New York City where enthusiasts gather together to witness what toys in 16 categories will have the prestigious title of being the toy of the year. However, due to the current pandemic, the event was live-streamed enabling more people across the globe to witness the event.
Last year saw LEGO bringing home the trophy for three categories in the 2020 Toy of the Year Awards, including Construction Toy of the Year (LEGO City Deep Space Rocket and Launch Control 60228), Specialty Toy of the Year (LEGO Stranger Things 75810), and STEM/STEAM Toy of the Year (LEGO BOOST Star Wars Droid Commander 75253).
And this time around, LEGO’s winning streak continues in 2021 with 4 out of 16 awards eventually bagged by The LEGO Group, besting 117 outstanding finalists in various categories. Check out LEGO’s winning entries below. You may also click on the following affiliate links if you wish to know more about these winning LEGO sets.
Winner: Collectible of the Year – LEGO Super Mario Character Packs (71361)
Winner: Construction Toy of the Year – LEGO Star Wars The Razor Crest (75292)
Winner: Playset of the Year – LEGO Super Mario Bowser’s Castle Boss Battle Expansion Set (71369)
Winner: Specialty Toy of the Year – LEGO Ideas Grand Piano (21323)
Eventually, the highest and most coveted Overall 2021 Toy of the Year Award went to Hasbro’s Star Wars: The Child Animatronic Edition Toy. This Hasbro creation was also awarded the Innovative Toy of the Year Award for 2021.
If you recall, the last time LEGO managed to receive the Overall Toy of the Year Award was back in 2017 where the visually stunning LEGO Friends Amusement Park Roller Coaster (41130) was awarded the best toy of the year by the majority of retailers, consumers, media and TIA members at that time. It will be nice to see a LEGO set bagging the overall toy of the year award once again, and we’ll have to see if LEGO can pull it out for the second time in the next awards.
What do you think about this year’s winners? Do you have a LEGO set in mind that you think should have made it for the 2021 Toy of the Year Awards? Let’s talk about it in the comments below.
