There were no buttons to tap, screens to swipe or badges to be won. But although kids today might not recognize something as humble as bubbles, a little green army man or a colorful puzzle called the Rubik’s Cube as sources of fun, those three classic toys have found a spot in the annals of entertainment history, as the 2014 inductees into the National Toy Hall of Fame.

While we only first heard of the NTHF last year when rubber ducks and chess won the spots for 2013, now tht we have we definitely don’t envy the 23 judges’ tough decisions. The three entries beat out a slew of other strong nominees.

Via the Associated Press, this year’s finalists:
• Fisher-Price Little People
• American Girl dolls
• My little Pony
• Pots and pans
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
• Slip ‘N Slide
• Operation (the game)
• Paper airplanes
• Toy trucks sold by Hess gas station chain

The 24 judges are experts like toy collectors, designers and psychologists. Anyone can nominate any toy, but to go on to the next level and become a finalist, the toy has to be an icon that’s survived through generations, has fostered learning,creativity or discovery and have profoundly changed play or toy design, the AP notes.

Visitors can find the toy hall inside The Strong museum in Rochester, NY.

Little green army men, Rubik’s Cube make toy HO [Associated Press]

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