The 1990s are becoming one of the hottest decades for collectibles right now. People who grew up in that era are at peak nostalgia age (late 30s–40s), which is driving demand. Here are some of the most collectible things from the 1990s:
Gaming & Electronics
- Nintendo Game Boy (1989–90s models) – especially original boxed sets, special editions (like Pokémon Yellow Game Boy Color), and limited color variants.
- Nintendo 64 & PlayStation 1 games – sealed or complete-in-box titles like Super Mario 64, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Final Fantasy VII, and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night fetch high prices.
- Tamagotchis & Digimon Virtual Pets – original Bandai releases are in demand, especially boxed.
- SEGA Dreamcast & accessories – short-lived but iconic, making it collectible.
Toys & Pop Culture
- Beanie Babies – while most are overproduced, rare errors and special editions (like Princess Diana Bear, Peanut the Royal Blue Elephant) remain collectible.
- Polly Pocket (Bluebird Toys era) – compact playsets from the early 90s are highly sought after.
- Transformers G2 & Beast Wars (1990s) – later generations of Transformers are climbing in collectibility.
- Mighty Morphin Power Rangers – action figures, Megazord sets, and role-play toys are nostalgic treasures.
- Pokémon Cards (1996 onward) – 1st Edition Base Set, Shadowless, and early Japanese promos are grails.
Music & Media
- Cassette Tapes & Walkmans – certain albums on cassette are collectible now, and Sony/AIWA Walkmans are sought after by retro audio fans.
- CDs & Box Sets – early pressings, especially grunge/hip-hop/alt rock (Nirvana, Tupac, Radiohead, Pearl Jam).
- VHS Tapes – sealed Disney “Black Diamond” editions, horror films, and cult classics are starting to appreciate.
Fashion & Lifestyle
- Nike Air Jordans & Basketball Shoes – 90s originals (Jordan 1s, 5s, 11s) are valuable, as are Nike Air Max and Reebok Pumps.
- Starter Jackets & Snapbacks – NBA, NFL, and college team jackets are hugely nostalgic.
- Concert Tees & Band Merch – Nirvana, Metallica, Tupac, Spice Girls, and early hip-hop tour shirts are highly collectible.
- Furbies – first edition (1998) boxed Furbies are already collectible.
TV & Film Memorabilia
- Nickelodeon & Cartoon Network Merch – Rugrats, Ren & Stimpy, Powerpuff Girls toys and lunchboxes.
- Star Wars (1990s Kenner figures) – The “Power of the Force” line (1995+) isn’t as rare as 80s Star Wars toys, but mint-on-card sets are starting to be collected.
- Disney 90s collectibles – The Lion King, Aladdin, and Beauty and the Beast toys, McDonald’s promos, and merchandise are rising.
