They just don’t make ‘em like they used to

A review of the best Mcdonald's toys

By: Nikhil Kumaran

The golden arches have gone through a lot of changes over the years. From the original 1950s design to the now-minimalistic modern design, one thing has stayed consistent. A toy with the Happy Meal. For the sake of journalistic immersion, I decided to get a Happy Meal, as a 20-year-old college student. When opening the iconic red box, a wave of nostalgia rushed through me. But nothing beats the classic toys. The top three are as follows:

3. The “Star Wars” fingerboards: These mini skateboards are probably the reason I can’t really do long division in my head. In elementary school, I spent countless class periods mastering the kickflip as well as nose grinding that piece of plastic across every object in my immediate vicinity. Until of course, my second-grade teacher confiscated it for “causing a distraction in class.” I’ve obviously gotten over it. 

2. Sega handheld toys: I think we all are forgetting that Happy Meals had actual video games in them at some point. The Sega Digi Sportz handheld devices are forever ingrained in my memory. Specifically, I remember the bright yellow basketball simulator that, when I was younger, kept me occupied during long car rides and whenever I was dragged along to the bank. 

1. Hot Wheels: Let's get real here. The number one spot undoubtedly belongs to the Hot Wheels cars. As the absolute MVPs of the Happy Meal, these cars managed to stay iconic throughout the decades. They don't really ask for much. All they require is your imagination and a hand to pilot them.