In an era when so much time is spent on the computer, phone, or iPad, and when work is almost always at our fingertips, having toys and games around can really save the day. If you’re someone who likes to spend time relaxing on the couch (usually in front of the TV), you might be looking for a fun gaming console. If time spent outside with friends and family is your thing, a new yard game or two could be what you’re looking for. Time at the pool or beach can be enhanced by the best games and toys, encouraging you and your friends and family to get up and play.
The stresses of modern life make many adults interested in fun fidget toys that provide an occupying and soothing tactile experience and there are even those RC cars fit for a grown-up. Overall, the best toys for adults are high-quality, reusable, and can be played with in multiple scenarios and with different group sizes, just like these top picks here – perfect for when you’re looking for something to lure you away from your adult responsibilities.
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Nintendo Switch OLED
Best Tech Toy for Adults
Nintendo Switch OLED
Best Tech Toy for Adults
The Nintendo Switch OLED can be played handheld or docked and on the TV like earlier models, making it a fun console for solo play or gaming with friends and family. It includes a 7-inch OLED screen and 64 GB of internal storage, plus enhanced audio for playing in handheld and tabletop modes.
- What’s Included
- Console, left and right Joy-Con controllers, HDMI cable, dock, Joy-Con grips, and an AC adaptor
- Brand
- Nintendo
- Screen
- 7-inch OLED
- Storage
- 64GB
- Connectivity
- Wireless or wired
- Ports
- USB x2, AC adapter, HDMI, wired LAN
- Dimensions
- 2.9 x 6.5 x 7.9 inches
- Weight
- 3.33 lbs.
- Vibrant 7-inch OLED screen
- Play at home or on the go/handheld
- Precise motion control
- Wired network adapter could be even faster
- Large-handed adults may find the controllers a bit small on their own
With a new high-tech screen, plenty of storage, and good sound quality, the Nintendo Switch OLED is a great console to have around for hours of video-gaming fun (you can read our full review here) — and a very exciting toy for adults, indeed, who may have even more fun than any children in the house, reliving remakes of old titles and exploring new games.
As with earlier models, you can play handheld (which will be pleasantly nostalgic for the adults) but you can also easily dock it and use it as a traditional console. The controllers slide right off the side, and you can get holders to make them more comfortable for bigger hands. This is a toy you’ll really use, and the games available are varied and vast, but it’s the remakes of Mario Kart and the like, the sports games, and other classics that are easy to love and play again and again.
GoSports Classic Cornhole Set
Best Outdoor Toy for Adults
The GoSports Classic Cornhole Set is a quality and attractive set to use for playing the beloved outdoor/yard game. Its rustic design and sturdy build make it a worthwhile purchase if you’re looking to add a fun, very reusable toy to your collection.
- For Ages
- All
- Batteries Required
- No
- Assembly Required
- No
- Number of Pieces
- Full size 4 x 2-foot cornhole boards, 8 all-weather bean bags, carrying case, and rules
- Brand
- GoSports
- Material
- Wood
- Attractive rustic design
- Easy game to learn, enjoy, and play again and again
- Sturdy all-weather bags
- Carrying case zipper could be sturdier
- Board surface somewhat slick for some users
Cornhole is an easy game to learn and love. It’s at every brewery and tasting room with any outdoor space, it’s a backyard BBQ dream game, and it’s just so satisfying when you get the bag RIGHT in the hole. You can even play with a beverage or hotdog in one hand, no problem. While this game is fine fun for the whole family, adults seem to love it, and you can just leave the boards out most of the time so they’re ready to go, avoiding lugging them around and storing them.
The surface can be quite slippery, and while that can be part of the fun and challenge of making the toss, it can be tricky, especially if you’re used to a rougher board. Overall, though, the design of this set makes it the best available right now — you’ll be proud to display it in your yard, and your guests will be enticed to use it as they mingle, kick back, and have a good time.
JOYIN Inflatable Peacock Pool Float
Best Pool Toy for Adults
$35 $60 Save
$25
This big inflatable peacock is an eye-catching and comfortable pool float for up to two people. It adds festive fun and style to any pool or beach party.
- For Ages
- Adults and kids
- Batteries Required
- No
- Assembly Required
- No
- Number of Pieces
- 1
- Brand
- Joyin
- Dimensions
- 66 x 62 x 48 inflated
- Material
- Raft material
- Eye-catching, trendy design
- Holds two adults (up to 400 lbs.) rather than just one
- Handles and durable raft material make it practical and long-lasting
- The tail can lose its air more quickly than the rest (but it’s quick and easy to inflate)
- Careful not to drift too far if you’re using it in open water and not just a pool
Not only is this beautiful pool float quite impressive and eye-catching, it’s also super comfortable. There are handles near the neck to hold onto as you ride or relax, and the tail makes a perfect prop to display your relaxed self. The tail can deflate a bit more quickly than the rest, but it’s really easy to inflate the whole float.
Its go-to use is definitely in the pool, and it adds a fun and festive touch in a variety of scenarios. Consider adding it to draw attention to the fact that you have a pool, even if it’s not so likely that guests will actually be jumping in that day (think real estate showings, evening events, etc.). Two full-grown people can ride, no problem, making this float a practical and stunning choice.
EastPoint Sports Bristle Dartboard and Cabinet Set
Best Indoor Toy for Adults
This classic, tasteful dartboard set has hinged wooden doors that open up when you want to play a game. It is easy to mount and has an integrated scoreboard and dart storage.
- For Ages
- Adult or with adult supervision
- Batteries Required
- No
- Assembly Required
- Yes, minimal
- Number of Pieces
- Cabinet, 6 steel-tip darts, hanging hardware, dartboard cabinet, scoreboards with chalk
- Brand
- EastPoint Sports
- Dimensions
- 4.33 x 21.65 x 25 inches
- Material
- Alloy steel, sisal
- Classic, attractive design
- Completely self-contained and includes everything you need to hang, play, and keep score
- Easy, fun game for anyone to try (and the darts go in smoothly, too)
- The darts could be sturdier
- Mounting requires nails (included) and won’t work on surfaces that require screws without extra materials
Darts are a game pretty much anyone can play, and at the very least, have a good time giving it a try. Challenge yourself during your downtime, play a game with a partner or friend, or open up the doors of the EastPoint Sports Bristle Dartboard and Cabinet Set for guests to enjoy at a party or gathering. Not only is it high-quality, but it’s also attractive.
The color, materials, and design are all winning and stand out from any other available options right now. It looks classic, and it functions well. You can close the doors to create a tasteful cabinet appearance or open them up to display the target. The unfolded doors include a scoreboard (with chalk included), and there’s a place to hold the darts nicely when they’re not in use, making this toy for adults not only practical but also safer than other options. The darts themselves could be a bit sturdier, but the surface of the target is quality, and they go in smoothly. For a toy that you can use any time — any season — share with friends and family, and set up easily wherever you want (with included hardware), this dartboard is a winning choice.
Toss and Catch Ball Set
Best Nostalgia Toy for Adults
$22 $30 Save
$8
This Toss and Catch Ball Set of four Velcro paddles and balls is perfect for playing an easy game of catch outside. Relive ’90s nostalgia or play this fun beach, yard, or pool game for the first time.
- For Ages
- 4+
- Batteries Required
- No
- Assembly Required
- No
- Interactive
- No
- Number of Pieces
- 4 balls, 4 paddles, and 1 storage bag
- Brand
- Bufeeaye
- Dimensions
- 7.3-inch-diameter paddles, 2.5-inch-diameter balls
- Material
- ABS
- Easy and fun to catch the ball and tear it off again to throw
- Adjustable hand straps, so it works for all ages and sizes
- Plenty of balls and paddles to include up to four people or in case one is lost
- The balls could be sturdier
- Not great on the wrists if other players throw really hard
The neon colors are popular and nostalgic, and if pink-and-green doesn’t suit you, it comes in yellow-and-hot-pink or a mixed pack with two of each of the color options, as well. If you grew up in the ’80s or ’90s, it’s likely you played with one of these sets, were given one as a gift, or had a blast with catch-made-easier at a BBQ or party. It’s so fun to have a toy you remember loving as a kid that’s just as fun to play with today.
Think of the laid-back fun at the beach or pool or just out in the yard. The paddles make it easy to catch the ball without much effort or attention. You can include the kids, or not. What’s great about this particular pack is that it comes with four paddles and four balls, allowing you to include a whole group or play with just one other person. It even includes a handy carrying and storage bag — for some bodacious catching fun.
ONO Roller
Best Fidget Toy for Adults
Relieve stress, anxiety, and tension and promote inner peace with the ONO Roller. This fidget toy can help to foster focus and clarity, and it’s fun to use.
- For Ages
- Sized for adults (junior sizes available)
- Batteries Required
- No
- Assembly Required
- No
- Number of Pieces
- 2 (roller and carrying bag)
- Brand
- ONO
- Dimensions
- 3.5 inches long
- Material
- Aluminum
- Attractive and portable/easy to carry and use anywhere
- Available in a nice variety of colors, with something for everyone
- Silently and discreetly helps users to avoid bad habits, find calm, and stay occupied
- Styling is more subdued and less fun than some fidgets (what some people want/need)
- Not every user will find it comfortable for prolonged use at first
There are so many fidget toys out there, but many of them feature loud colors, are relatively cheaply made, and make noise when you use them. They aren’t built to last; they are rather more like children’s disposable toys or party favors. Enter the ONO Roller, which you can purchase in rose gold, black, stainless steel, gray, sapphire, or teal. There’s a color for just about everyone, and it comes with a cute carrying bag, too, in case you don’t want to leave it out handy on your desk or side table.
Throw it in your purse, work bag, backpack, or fanny pack. It’s available in a junior and mini size, too, for smaller hands. (You can check out a short review of the junior size here.) The size is perfect for grown-up hands, the very quiet action suits the needs of many adults who are seeking relief from stress, anxiety, ADHD, and more, and, most importantly, it looks attractive and high-end — and it’s fun to use.
Pin Art
Best Desk Toy for Adults
This classic distraction toy is still as perfect for the desk, shelf, or coffee table as ever. It’s satisfying to play with, and you can display the impressions you’ve made when you’re done.
- For Ages
- Intended for adults (small-parts choking hazard)
- Batteries Required
- No
- Assembly Required
- No
- Number of Pieces
- One
- Brand
- Toysmith
- Dimensions
- 3.75 x 2.5 inches
- Material
- Plastic, metal
- Feels good against your skin and has a nice weight to it
- Convenient to leave around for anyone to check out and play with
- High-quality and sturdy, as well as interesting and artistic
- Might be smaller than you remember from childhood
- Quite irresistible to play with, so don’t leave it in sight if you want your art to last
A beloved distraction toy across the decades, and a common bookshelf or coffee-table item in homes and offices of the ’90s, 3D Pin Art is still just as satisfying to press your hand into as ever, and it might just take you back to a (somewhat…) simpler time. The weight of it feels nice in your hands, and the little metal pins slide in such a way to hold your interest and give just enough to create a perfect impression that can be kept for display or tipped to erase entirely.
This model may be somewhat smaller than what you recall from the past, but it’s just as fun to use and hard to not pick up and fiddle with for a minute or two — which is why it’s the top pick as far as desk/office toys for adults. Just be sure to put it out of easy reach if you intend for your creation to last for others to see or to enjoy for a while yourself.
Gagster Dancing Pickle
Best Unique Toy for Adults
This funny pickle dances, sings in a variety of styles, and yodels, can tell a joke, and will even mimic what you say. It also lights up, making it a bizarrely wonderful and unique gift and toy for adults, or pretty much anyone.
- For Ages
- 3+
- Batteries Required
- Yes
- Assembly Required
- No
- Interactive
- Yes
- Number of Pieces
- One
- Brand
- Gagster
- Dimensions
- 13 inches tall; 4.2-inch-diameter base
- Material
- Plush, plastic
- Raps, sings, scats, yodels, dances, mimics, tells jokes, and lights up
- Hilarious, breaks the silence, and encourages laughing and a good time
- Perfect for the holidays and other potentially awkward/boring situations
- It could get old quickly in the hands of a child
- A noisy toy isn’t for everyone
It’s kind of a big dill. After all, who doesn’t love a dancing pickle? In all likelihood, someone in close proximity will be inspired to dance right along, and couldn’t we all use a little more wiggling and a little less sitting still and looking at screens? This little guy will laugh right along with you, after it delights you and your friends/family/coworkers with its dancing, singing, yodeling, rapping, joke-telling, and lighting up.
There are few toys more ridiculous, more out-there, more just-for-the-good-old-plain-fun-of-it. Lighten up, laugh, and do something just for the heck of it. Make the heaviness of grown-up life a little more … cucumber-some.
HAIBOXING 1:18 Scale All Terrain RC Car
Best Exciting Toy for Adults
$83 $109 Save
$26
Go four-wheeling in miniature with the best RC car for adults. The HAIBOXING 1:18 Scale All Terrain Rc Car has a flexible body, shocks, and a 280-foot control range, with plenty of power.
- For Ages
- 8+
- Batteries Required
- Yes (included)
- Assembly Required
- No
- Number of Pieces
- 5 (car, remote, 2 battery packs, charger)
- Brand
- HAIBOXING
- Dimensions
- 9.72 x 7.88 x 4.17 inches (car)
- Material
- PVC body
- RC 380 motor, efficient drivetrain, 4-wheel-drive, and speeds of 36 KPH
- Splash-proof and flexible body that’s extremely damage-resistant
- Replacement parts are available on Amazon, just in case
- Controller quality could be even better
- Occasional issue with side shock
It’s fast. It can handle all terrains. The remote works well even at long range. This is the stuff of your childhood dreams — but now you can spend your very own money on it (and not very much) and play with it whenever you want. An RC car is a hit with dads and grown-ups in general because it’s exciting! It allows the (remote) driver to relive childhood, or perhaps fulfill childhood dreams. But this isn’t the basic RC car of yore.
It has replaceable parts that are readily available on Amazon, real shocks, a tough motor that goes fast, and a good battery (with an extra one included) — and it looks super cool. Bomb down that hill, charge the yard your dog dug up, splash through puddles, and show off to your friends. Amid hard work, bills, and responsibilities, you deserve to live a little, and this powerful little car will help you do that.
What’s The Best Toy For Adults Overall?
Are you looking to change your current lifestyle, or for a toy that fits right in with your regular daily tendencies? No matter who you are, you’ll be able to have a lot of fun with the best overall product featured here, the Nintendo Switch OLED. Playing handheld works great for downtime, or you can share both nostalgic and recent titles across adventure, sports, action, and other genres, sitting still or getting up and getting moving.
For an attractive game you’ll be happy to display outdoors in either a home, party, or business (think restaurant/brewery or break-time patio) setting, the GoSports Classic Cornhole Set is hard to beat. It’s easy for just about anyone to play, it’s relaxing and approachable, and it’s just so satisfying to get a beanbag right in the hole. It will last for years of play. Plus, it might tempt you and your family or party guests to get outside and move around a little when you otherwise wouldn’t — a bonus for both your health and happiness.
The EastPoint Sports Bristle Dartboard is a high-quality game that will look great hanging on the wall. It’s easy to mount and use, with everything you need to play included tidily within its closing doors. It’s nice that it’s always handy, perhaps encouraging you to take a minute to play a game when you happen by it. However, the fact that it closes up into a good-looking and classically tasteful cabinet might just be the best part — and what makes it a top toy for adults who want their homes to look more sophisticated and less like their college days.
Nintendo Switch OLED
Best Overall Toy for Adults
The Nintendo Switch OLED can be played handheld or docked and on the TV like earlier models, making it fun for solo play or gaming with friends and family. It includes a 7-inch OLED screen and 64 GB of internal storage, plus enhanced audio for playing in handheld and tabletop modes.
- What’s Included
- Console, left and right Joy-Con controllers, HDMI cable, dock, Joy-Con grips, and an AC adaptor
- Brand
- Nintendo
- Screen
- 7-inch OLED
- Storage
- 64GB
- Connectivity
- Wireless or wired
- Ports
- USB x2, AC adapter, HDMI, wired LAN
- Dimensions
- 2.9 x 6.5 x 7.9 inches
- Weight
- 3.33 lbs.
- Vibrant 7-inch OLED screen
- Play at home or on the go/handheld
- Precise motion control
- Wired network adapter could be even faster
- Large-handed adults may find the controllers a bit small on their own
FAQs
Q: Do adults still buy toys?
A: Yes! In fact, the market has expanded in recent years to offer more toys geared specifically toward grown-ups. According to Today, at least 25 percent of toy consumers are adults who buy toys for themselves, also known as “kidults.” An increasing number of toys are being marketed toward folks looking for toys for nostalgic reasons, and why wouldn’t they? It’s fun to feel connected to our childhoods and that sense of wonder and excitement at a simple, purchasable thing.
Q: What types of toys are popular with adults?
A: When it comes to toys, adults will tend to like engaging in the same basic types of play. The top categories that might interest you or spark your imagination as you peruse the available options are construction toys (it’s fun to build!), open-ended toys that let you play your way, creative toys, movement toys that encourage you to be less stationary, musical or noisy toys that empower and engage, small-world toys, and wooden toys or toys made of simple materials that bring a very basic satisfaction as you manipulate them. (Think approachable, empowering, and gratifying to use.)