Barbie dolls have always been my favorite toy and they have always been a
part of my life. As a child, I played with my Barbies. As an
adult, I collect my favorite specialty Barbies. When I saw the 80th
Anniversary Barbie Signature Doll, I knew I would want to add this gorgeous
Barbie to my collection. Seeing "80th anniversary" printed on her box
caused me to pause and think though. Barbie isn't 80! No,
she is not. It is actually their maker, Mattel, that is celebrating
their 80th year in business and they doing it in grand style with a
signature edition anniversary Barbie.
While the Barbie Signature Doll may have been created with collectors in
mind, there is also an much less expensive 80's anniversary Barbie for
play. I actually like both of them. I have featured them at the
bottom of this review for you to compare. I would love to hear you
thoughts.
Most of us are already familiar with Barbie's history. The first
Barbie was released and introduced to the world by Mattel in 1959.
Since then, Mattel has sold over a billion Barbie dolls. It won't
surprise you to hear that the Barbie line is the most profitable for
Mattel. She is their own private little gold mine. After all,
one can't just stop at one Barbie. She must have everything: clothes,
accessories, homes, cars, boats, camping equipment, and certainly
friends. And, let's not forget her movies. Clearly, she is
Mattel's biggest star.
Take note of Barbie's earrings, shown in the picture on the right. They prominently feature the letter "M" for Mattel in honor of the original Matty Mattel logo.
Her fitted glittery red dress is stunningly detailed with a tulle bustle and accessorized with complimentary red sheer gloves and red pump shoes. But, you don't need me to describe her. You can see for yourself that she is gorgeous!
A doll stand is included for displaying this lovely collectible. As well as, a Certificate of Authenticity.
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
Anyone who loves Barbie and board games might find themselves wondering, as I did, what Barbie-themed board games are available. A simple search revealed the short list of Barbie-themed games that I review here on this page. However, the more I looked the more games I found and so you will also find on this page a longer list of games at the bottom of this page. This list may help you if you are seeking a particular game from a specific time period. Most of the games on this page (including on the list) are vintage but there are a couple of new games that were released along with the hit Barbie movie in 2023.
THE BARBIE GAME QUEEN OF THE PROM (1961 and 1994)
First up is the game with a blue cover shown above called simply, The Barbie Game. It was released by Mattel in 1960 and could well be the first game ever made. Beware that there are two versions of Queen of the Prom as it was re-released in 1994. Both are vintage games but have a decidedly different appearance.
The description of the game on the box of the newer version reads, “You are Barbie. Win if you are the first crowned Queen of the Prom. To win you must have a steady boyfriend, a prom dress and be elected president of a school club. Midge, Skipper and Ken share the fun.”
What fun it is to see the original game in this 1960s television commercial:
TAKE A PERSONAL APPEARANCE TOUR WITH BARBIE GAME (1980)
This vintage 1980 game was released by Whitman. The description on the back of the box reads, “Travel with Barbie by car and plane on her tour and visit movie studios, grand openings, charity telethons and more. If you are first to appear three times and then reach the awards presentation, you win.” It evokes all of the excitement of a glamorous life in the 1980s.
DREAM DATE (1992)
The Barbie Dream Date game was released by Golden in 1992. In this game, “…girls play the Dream Date Game with Barbie and Ken! Ken picks out beautiful gifts for Barbie and might take her horseback riding, snow skiing or maybe even to a ball! Players collect gifts for Barbie, moving around the board and taking photos of their dates. At midnight, the individual with the most gift and date cards wins!” The cover definitely reminds me of the 1990s.
BARBIE DRESS UP GAME (1993)
Another Golden release, this game was created in 1993. In this one you “play with a Barbie doll trying to be the first player to collect all of Barbie’s fashion accessories without getting a broken heart.” This game would be especially fun for anyone who loves fashion.
MONOPOLY BOUTIQUE AND MONOPOLY MOVIE (2007 AND 2003)
Monopoly has released hundreds or more likely thousands of board games on every theme you can possibly think of. Monopolyland says estimates range between 300 and 7,000 games and that the largest known collection of Monopoly games claims to have 3,500 games. Anyway, when I looked, I could find two Barbie versions.
The first version was the Barbie Boutique Edition from 2007, which was packed in a pretty pink box. Finding a description of it proved difficult though pictures show that it was beautifully presented in a jewelry-style box.
The second version was official movie merchandise that was released in tandem with the movie Barbie. It is widely available and the box reads, “You can be anything with Barbie…Follow your dreams around the board. Buy famous streets, build DreamHouses and draw Dream Closet and Dream Career cards for extra twists. Flex your unique skills, dream a bit, own it all and be anything!” I expect a lot of people received this version of the game for Christmas in 2023. If you are interested, you can find Barbie Monopoly on Amazon by clicking here.
A LIST OF BARBIE BOARD GAMES
As I was reading about the games mentioned above, I kept discovering more new, used and vintage Barbie-themed games. I guess that is not really surprising given the length of time that Barbie has been around. The gaps in years tells me that this list is not likely complete but here’s my list, not definitive, but definitely long, arranged in chronological order:
Queen of the Prom Game (1960)
Keys to Fame Game (1963)
Skipper: Barbie's Little Sister (1964)
The Barbie World of Fashion game (1967)
Miss Lively Livin’ (1970)
Take a Personal Appearance Tour with Barbie. (1980)
Charms the World (1985)
Barbie Meets Ken in the Game of Their Dreams! (1987)
Just Us Girls (1989)
Shopping Spree Card Game (1991)
We Girls Can Do Anything (1991)
Dream Date (1992)
Fun Fashions Memory Game (1992)
Butterfly Princess (1995)
Dress Up Game (1995)
Sparkle Kingdom Game (1996)
Go Shopping! (1999)
Enchanted 3-D Game (2001)
Barbie Says (2002)
UNO: Barbie (2002)
Barbie of Swan Lake (2003)
Rapunzel (2003)
The Nutcracker Playset Game (2003)
UNO: Barbie California Girl (2004)
The Princess and the Pauper Game (2004)
Guess the Look! (2004)
Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses (2006)
Barbie and the Magic of Pegasus (2005)
World of Models (2008)
Race to the Party Game (2010)
Shopping Day (2011)
Charmed Travels (2011)
Fashion City (2011)
Gems! (2012)
Bring The Bling Game (2012)
Shop with Barbie (2013)
UNO: Barbie The Movie (2023)
Monopoly: Barbie Movie (2023)
WHERE TO BUY VINTAGE BARBIE GAMES?
If you are searching for any of these games, new, used or vintage, I suggest following this link to eBay's collection of new, used and vintage Barbie board games. There you will find many of these games in assorted condition. New games that are out of production will likely cost more. However, if you shop carefully, you can likely find a used game that is in good condition.
Have I missed a Barbie game that you used to play?
See you
At the toy store!
Brenda
Treasures By Brenda
Discover the movie fashioned after Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds movie!
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
Barbie fans who enjoy building sets will enjoy constructing Barbie-themed Mega Bloks sets. They were released long before the 2023 Barbie movie on March 29, 2012. At that time, Mattel announced that it would work with Mega Bloks on the creation of a series of building toys themed around Barbie. Fans would now be able to build their own Barbie worlds.
Mega Bloks said, "We are thrilled to join forces with Mega Bloks to create the first Mega Bloks building sets based on Barbie" and I am sure they were. Who wouldn't want to work with Barbie, one of Mattel's most recognized brands?
Mega Bloks is also a very well-known manufacturer, known for a line of building toys that are thought to be "innovative, well-designed, affordable and high-quality products." As a team, these two companies created some wonderful building sets that are reviewed here on this page.
Watch this three-minute video to see how you can build, design and decorate with Mega Bloks Barbie sets.
WHAT AGE ARE THESE SETS APPROPRIATE FOR?
Mega Bloks says that the Barbie Sets are appropriate for children aged 4 years old and up. Small parts make them inappropriate for younger children but there is no limit to how old you can be to play with them. Adult fans will have fun building, designing and decorating with Barbie Mega Bloks, too! Some more recent sets have an older recommended age of 10 and are even designed for adult collectors.
BUILD 'N STYLE LUXURY MANSION, SET 80229
Your builder will love this fantastic house, a mansion with eight different rooms that can be organized as she likes. There's no doubt that this set will make a little girl's eyes light up. It includes two of the Mega Blocks Barbie dolls or micro-dolls as they are called, Fab Girl Barbie and Teresa.
BUILD N'STYLE BEACH HOUSE, SET 80226
Yes, Barbie also has her very own beach house. This set includes two micro-dolls, Beach Fun Barbie and Beach Fun Nikki and the that is comprised of two rooms and a patio that can be arranged however the builder likes.
BUILD 'N STYLE POOL PARTY, SET 80228
The Build 'n Style Pool Party is cool or at least Barbie and Ken will be when they take plunge! It comes with two micro-dolls called Pool Party Barbie and Pool Party Ken and a multi-level pool that actually holds water. The pool area is built and decorated by the builder using the umbrellas, trees, flowers and other accessories that are provided.
BUILD 'N STYLE CONVERTIBLE CAR, SET 80223
Where would a beach-themed Barbie set be without a car? The Build 'N Style Convertible Car allows Barbie to get around with the top down! We love it. Although it is nothing like the Barbie convertible from the 1970s, it still seems very like Barbie to me. The pink car features wheels that turn, a working trunk and a doll called Go Barbie.
ORIGINAL MEGA BLOKS BARBIE SETS
A few more of the very early releases:
The Pet Shop The Fashion Boutique The Fashion Stand The Ice Cream Cart Party Time Movie Star Puppy Pals
2023 MEGA BLOKS BARBIE SETS
The sets discussed above were the original releases but Mega Bloks has released more Barbie sets since 2012. The most exciting set released in 2023 must surely be the Barbie DreamHouse, which is shown above. It is a replica of Barbie's home in the hit movie of the same name and is intended for adult collectors and rated for players aged 10 and up. With 1795 pieces, it comes with micro-dolls representing Margot Robbie's Barbie and Ryan Gosling's Ken.
The earliest sets discussed here on this page were sold under the name Mega Bloks, and have been discontinued. If you are looking for a specific one of them you may have to turn to eBay. Click here to see what Mega Barbie sets are available on eBay today.
The more recent sets are sold under the shortened name, Mega.
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
If you, like so many others, are looking for the perfect Barbie Movie gift idea, you’ll enjoy the four options I am reviewing here on this page. There is a lot of merchandise available because of the movie but I believe these are the basic choices that collectors should consider adding to their collections now or even gifting to someone who is actually going to play with them.
THE BARBIE & KEN DOLLS
First up is the most important doll from the movie and the one you need to own. That is, the version of Barbie or Margot Robbie in pretty pink gingham. It’s just such an important part of the 2023 movie.
This Barbie is ready to have a great day in Barbie Land. Her hair is pulled back and tied with a pink ribbon that coordinates with the gingham dress. Her accessories complete the look and she looks like she’s stepped from the movie big screen and into the box. Find your Margot Robbie Barbie doll on Amazon by clicking here.
Then you will need the Ken doll. He is dressed for the beach as seen in the movie in a pastel-colored, striped short set with blond hair, unbuttoned shirt and white sneakers that make him look like he also stepped from the movie into the box. Find your Ryan Gosling Ken doll on Amazon by clicking right here.
THE CONVERTIBLE
Next, you will need Barbie’s convertible. She put her 1956 Corvette Stingray to good use in the movie and for simple, imaginative play value, I think it is a great choice. You have two choices.
I prefer the first Barbie Corvette, which is powered by the person playing Barbie. It looks just like the convertible on the big screen and will allow whichever four fashion dolls you put in the car to take off on an adventure.
The other option is the Hot Wheels Remote Control Barbie Corvette, which once again looks just like the one that you saw in the movie. It will hold two fashion dolls and is controlled by a remote control. Find them both of these Barbie corvettes here on Amazon.
THE DREAM HOUSE
Finally and only after you have added these other choices to your collection, you might want to consider Barbie’s newest dream house, the 2023 version. This, the biggest gift idea shown here, will deliver hours and hours of creative play but be aware that it will take up some serious space and it does come with a somewhat expensive price point.
This version of Barbie’s Dreamhouse is modern with an open floorplan design and 75 accessories. The play areas include a kitchen, living room, dining room, bedroom, bathroom, closet, bonus room, balcony, pool and a huge slide. It even has a working elevator that is wheelchair accessible. Find your Barbie Movie Dream House here on Amazon.
I love all of these Barbie Movie gift ideas and yes, they all come boxed in movie-themed packaging! True collectors might want to hang onto a sealed set but true fans will probably need to play with them.
See you
at the toy store!
Brenda
Treasures By Brenda
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
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