The 60 absolute best toys in the world

Linda Tanner/Flickr

Playing around is very serious business. Or at least, it is at the National Toy Hall of Fame, a real institution that honors the finest childhood playthings.

Since 1999, the Toy Hall of Fame has inducted toys that have met their strict criteria for admission. The toys need to have achieved icon status, be more than a passing fad, promote creativity and learning, or be innovative enough to have totally changed the toy game. So far, 60 toys have made the cut, and they're represented at the Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, New York, which houses the Hall of Fame.

The toys on this list range from Barbies to Super Soakers, with plenty of surprise in between. There are high-tech gizmos like the Nintendo Game Boy right alongside the most basic toy of all time - a simple wooden stick.

Here are the 60 toys that have endured the test of time.