Menu
 

BestReviews is reader-supported and may earn an affiliate commission. Details

Best Hatchimals

Updated January 2023
Bottom line
Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
Hatchimals Mystery
Hatchimals
Mystery
Check Price
Original Cuddly Fun
Bottom Line

Experiencing your very own Hatchimal peck out of its shell is a big part of the appeal, but its charming personality makes this sweet pet a must-have toy.

Pros

Care for the egg, and watch the Hatchimal hatch to greet you. Find one of four pastel Cloud Cove Hatchimals inside. Talks, its eyes shine, flaps its wings, and is super fluffy.

Cons

The classic Hatchimals are moderately priced.

Best Bang for the Buck
Hatchimals CollEGGtibles Neon Nightglow 12-Pack
Hatchimals
CollEGGtibles Neon Nightglow 12-Pack
Check Price
Glowing Neon
Bottom Line

Both an activity and a toy collection in one, kids will enjoy personally hatching each egg and watching their 12 neon Hatchimal pals glow at bedtime.

Pros

Inexpensive. Includes 12 neon eggs. Exclusive glow-in-the-dark figurines. Kids will enjoy gently breaking apart the color-changing eggs for the toys inside. Reusable case.

Cons

Each carton contains the exact same set.

Hatchimals Pixies Riders - Crystal Charlotte Pixie and Draggle
Hatchimals
Pixies Riders - Crystal Charlotte Pixie and Draggle
Check Price
Fun Characters
Bottom Line

The ability to pick out a preferred pixie and their companion Seastallion, Draggle, or Unicornix makes it especially easy to give the perfect gift for kids and collectors.

Pros

Colored heart matches the pixie inside, making it easy to find a favorite. Pixie includes rideable mystical beast. Bundled with doll stand and several accessories. Affordable.

Cons

All 10 Pixies Riders are not readily available online.

Hatchimals WOW Llalacorn
Hatchimals
WOW Llalacorn
Check Price
Customer Favorite
Bottom Line

As lanky and fuzzy as a llama and as vibrant and magical as a unicorn, this lively Llalacorn is sure to keep kids entertained for hours on end.

Pros

Durable egg lets the Llalacorn re-hatch over and over. Grows up to 32 inches tall. Fuzzy and soft. Features 250 noises and reactions. Available in pink or purple. Batteries included.

Cons

Llalacorns are fairly pricey.

Hatchimals Hatchtopia Life
Hatchimals
Hatchtopia Life
Check Price
Feature-Packed
Bottom Line

With two adorable toys and the ability to virtually play with your new Hatchimals, this is clearly a value-packed option.

Pros

Inexpensive. Includes two hatching eggs per pack, each with a soft plush toy inside. Bundled with a code to play with your Hatchimals in the companion app game.

Cons

No way to know which of the 15 toys in the series are inside until they hatch.

Why trust BestReviews?
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
HOW WE TESTED

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

32
Models
Considered
190
Consumers
Consulted
20
Hours
Researched
Category cover

Buying guide for best hatchimals

Imagine hatching and raising your own baby animal. Well, with Hatchimals you don't have to imagine. These adorable critters hatch out of their eggs with just a little help from their new owners, then learn to walk, talk, dance, and more.

It's not surprising these toys are a huge hit, with children everywhere longing for a Hatchimal to call their own. If you're in charge of the gift-buying, you might want to learn a little more about Hatchimals before you make your purchase.

At BestReviews, our goal is to help consumers find the products that are right for them. We perform extensive research in order to create our thorough, unbiased product reviews and shopping guides.

Content Image
If you plan to buy a Hatchimal as a holiday gift, be sure to make your purchase in good time, as these popular toys can sell out quickly.

Types of Hatchimals

Hatchimals come in a number of "species," each with a unique look.

Original Hatchimals

You can choose from five different species of original Hatchimals: Pengualas, Draggles, Owlicorns, Burtles, and Bearakeets.

  • Pengualas: Part penguin and part koala, pengulalas have trademark tufts of hair on their heads.

  • Draggles: These dragon-inspired Hatchimals have prominent ridged wings.

  • Owlicorns: If you want cute, look no further than these owl/unicorn hybrids.

  • Burtles: Burtles are part bee, part turtle and have adorable curly antennae.

  • Bearakeets: With their impressive tails and cute ears, there's no mistaking these are bear/parakeet combos.

Hatchimals surprise

Hatchimals Surprise are newer types of Hatchimals that come in twin sets. Adorably, the twins interact with their owners and each other. You'll find six new Hatchimal species in the Surprise range: Puppadees, Ligulls, Deerioles, Giravens, Peacats, and Zuffins.

  • Puppadees: These Hatchimals look like puppies with patterned wings and large feet.

  • Ligulls: Ligulls are lion/seagull hybrids with impressive manes.

  • Deerioles: Adorable Deerioles look like winged deer, complete with antlers.

  • Giravens: Part giraffe, part raven, these Hatchimals are bright and more plush than ever.

  • Peacats: These creatures are designed as a mixture of peacock and cat, but they’re cuter than the sum of their parts.

  • Zuffins: Striped Zuffins are part zebra, part puffin.

Content Image
Did you know?
Hatchimals Surprise have a different way of hatching than original Hatchimals – they burst out from the top of the egg rather than pecking their way out.
STAFF
BestReviews

Considerations

Color

Different Hatchimal species come in different colors, with at least a couple of colors for each species. The color doesn't make any difference to how the Hatchimal works or interacts, so choose whichever its new owner will prefer. That said, depending on the variety of Hatchimal you select, you may not have a color choice – the color is a surprise you discover after hatching.

Size

At around eight inches tall, original Hatchimals are fairly large, so you feel like you're getting a good bang for your buck. Since Hatchimals Surprise come two to an egg, they're smaller than the original models, but some owners find this to be cuter. In fact, the smaller size may seem to “match” the smaller Hatchimal’s more plush appearance.

"Hatchimals "grow up" from baby to toddler to child, with their owner teaching them along the way. This means there's plenty to keep a child entertained; a Hatchimal isn’t a toy that will be discarded after five minutes of play."
STAFF
BestReviews

Age group

Make sure that the future owner of the Hatchimal is in the correct age group to safely enjoy it. Hatchimals are suitable for ages 5 plus. While there's no upper age limit, we recommend them for children up to around age 10. That's not to say that older people can't enjoy them; some tweens, teens, and even adults might like to collect the different varieties. But generally speaking, children between the ages of five and 10 will probably get the most out of playing with Hatchimals.

Number of Hatchimals

Original Hatchimals come with just one Hatchimal inside each egg, whereas Surprise Hatchimals come with two creatures inside a single egg. There are pros and cons to each type, but some people may prefer to get a couple of Hatchimals for their money, especially since Hatchimals Surprise twins talk to and interact with one another.

Content Image
Some Hatchimal species are exclusive to certain stores, so you may have to shop around if the giftee has asked for a particular variety.

FAQ

Q. How long do Hatchimals take to hatch from their eggs?

A. Original Hatchimals start hatching around 25 minutes after removal from the packaging. The hatching process takes up to 40 minutes, and the more the owner plays with and encourages the Hatchimal, the faster it will hatch. Hatchimals Surprise take between seven and 15 minutes to hatch. Holding, talking to, and tapping the egg will help hurry the process along.

Q. What do Hatchimals do once they've hatched?

A. Once a Hatchimal has emerged from its shell, there's still a lot of playing to be done. These interactive toys learn to talk and walk with the help of their owner, plus they play a number of games, including tag and "Hatchimal Says." Since there's a bit of a learning curve figuring out how to teach and play with a Hatchimal, we recommend thoroughly reading the instruction manual or watching an instructional video online.

Q. What are Hatchimals Colleggtibles?

A. Hatchimals Colleggtibles are small collectible toys that come in an egg. They aren't interactive or electronic, and they don't hatch by themselves. They're quite different from classic Hatchimals, so if you buy one for a child who's put a classic Hatchimal on her Christmas or birthday list, she’s likely to be disappointed!