12 Best Play Sets of 2025, According to Toy Experts, Parents, and Kid Testers
If you're looking for that "wow" present, look no further.
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How do you know that the play set you're getting for your kid will actually be something they'll like, and not a toy they'll abandon after five minutes? That's where the annual Good Housekeeping Best Toy Awards come in. The 2025 list has input from parenting experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute who look for durability, age suitability, safety, quality, and performance. But more importantly, all of the play sets included here have been tested by parents and kids, to make sure they aren't overly complicated and are fun to play with.
If you're looking for that "big present" to wow, you're in the right place. But don't worry, we've got some others that are more affordable, too. No matter if your kid is in the thick of the Bluey stage, or is really obsessed with all things cars, we've got suggestions below that we're confident they'll love.
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Bring the Disney Junior fun home with this Mickey Mouse Clubhouse play set that opens up to reveal lots of fun inside. It comes with 3-inch figures of Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, and Donald, and the Clubhouse says 20 phrases from the show. One parent said: “My son liked moving the car down the slide the most. But the theming and the figures were all cute.” Ages 3+
This 30-inch version of Gabby's dollhouse feels pretty magical, complete with a working elevator and interactive animations. It comes with a Gabby figure, and kids can customize their spaces with furniture sold separately. One parent said: “My daughter liked to arrange all the little pieces in the different rooms and send Gabby down the slide, but she especially liked pushing the nose button, which made the eyes open and react." Ages 3+
This beginner LEGO set is a great way to introduce them to building blocks. Kids will use the larger DUPLO bricks that are sized just for their small hands to assemble the Heeler house, and once built, there's a matching game for them to play. Parents appreciated the easy assembly directions that kids can figure out themselves. “It was such a proud mama moment—his focus, and his independence!” one said. Ages 3+
Kids always love kitchen gadgets that look just like the real deal, and this Play-Doh set looks like a mini oven. It comes with molds and 11 cans of compound so kids can "bake" their own goodies. One tester said: “It really captured my 3-year-old’s attention and sparked his imagination. He’s started creating pizzas too and has even opened his own pretend restaurant.” Ages 3+
Peppa welcomed a new little sister this year, and this play set has room for the whole family, including Baby Evie. This comes with all three siblings, and basic furniture, so kids can reenact their favorite episodes. It folds for easy clean up and storage. One parent said: “My 4-year-old very rarely plays by herself, but she asked multiple times if she could have the playroom to herself to enjoy this toy—a first for us." Ages 3+
A great toy for kids to play with together, as this separates into two car-demolishing dragons. One flaps its wings and chomps on cars, while the other uses its long fire tongue to brush cars out of its way. It also converts into a race track and launcher. Parents of testers loved how easy it was to store when not in use. Ages 4+
This Melissa & Doug stovetop feels like a bit of real cooking, as kids use the squeeze bottle of water to turn their "raw" creations into prepared meals. I got an early preview of this toy before it was released and was so impressed. I wished it was around when my kid was little. One parent said: "He liked that he could ‘cook’ me food and put it in the little to-go bags provided." Ages 3+
I've never been one to obsess over toy cars, but I got to play with these recently and they are so much fun. The Flat 2 Fast cars get placed in launchers, and then at the touch of a button, they go speeding across the floor. With the stunt pack, you'll get a ring of fire and a ramp, so you can set up races with tricks. Our parent testers love that this compact toy is packable for travel. Ages 5+
There's more to Pokémon than just collecting cards, including this fold-out play set that transforms from a backpack-sized shape into a battleground. It includes four play areas and comes with a Pikachu toy. One kid tester said: “It’s fun! There’s lots of things for Pikachu to jump on.” Ages 4+
Barbie can hit up the great outdoors with this fully-stocked camper van that has more than 60 accessories. It comes with a puppy pal, a swinging chair, and one grill, and all the pieces can be stowed inside the van when not in use. Kid testers really liked how many interactive elements this van had, like the pop-up tent and fold-down picnic table. Ages 3+
Train sets never go out of style, and this motorized Thomas can chug along 18 feet of track. Made by Fisher-Price, this is designed for preschoolers to use, and has fun elements like a bridge, bell, and tunnels. One parent said: “This keeps my 3-year-old entertained for hours." Ages 3+
A play set that's fun for the kids but can also help them with their motor skills is a win-win for parents. Toddlers can stack the veggies, open and shut the doors, and move the animals around. “My 2-year-old loved playing peekaboo with the animals. Opening and closing the little barn doors to ‘find’ each one turned into a giggly game,” one parent tester said. Ages 18 months+
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