We're living through a golden age of Transformers toys
Michael Bay's movies might suck, but the latest wave of figures are fire.
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As someone who grew up in the 80s and 90s, Transformers is one of my favorite franchises of all time. Naturally, as I got older, I stopped buying the toys and relied more on comics and movies (no thanks to Michael Bay) to get my fix of robots that are more than meets the eye. But it seems everything is cyclical: now that I have my own kid who's old enough to share my passion with, I've found myself getting right back into it — and it feels like we're living through a golden age of Transformers toys. So if you need a quick rundown on the coolest robo figures on sale today, check out our guide below.
For me, the magic obviously goes back to the original cartoon and the first Transformers movie from 1986, which is still the bots' best film-length adaptation (though last year's Transformers One deserves an honorable mention). That three-year run turned Optimus Prime, Megatron, Bumblebee, Starscream and others into icons, and now thanks to Hasbro's line of Studio Series action figures, practically all of everyone's favorite bots have gotten updated releases (or have a new model on the way) that look better than ever.
Hasbro's line of Studio Series figures include excellent releases for fan favorite characters including Perceptor, Blaster and Bumblebee.
To no one's surprise, the two best examples of this are the leaders of the Autobots and Decepticons. The Studio Series 86 version of Optimus Prime is simply immaculate, and this is coming from someone who had an original G1 Optimus as a kid. It even comes with a full trailer and tons of accessories including Roller, an Energon Axe and an ion blaster. Megatron looks just as good (some might say even better), although he looks a bit different now that he turns into a tank because, you know, you can't really release a kid's toy in 2025 that looks like a Walther P38.
But it doesn't stop there because there's also the entire lineup of Dinobots including Grimlock (though Slag/Slug can be difficult to find, hopefully there's a reissue soon), other important characters like Wheeljack and Jazz (sadly, my son lost ours) and excellent renditions of my personal favorites: Soundwave, Blaster and Perceptor.
Sorry I can't show you the Constructicons assembled into Devastator, these are my son's Christmas presents this year.
However, the crown jewel of recent Transformers releases might be the updated line of Constructicons, who combine to form Devastator (PREPARE FOR EXTERMINATION). Anyone who has stumbled their way into a Transformers fan forum recently has almost surely seen pictures of this guy, because when you combine all six robots into one, it's truly impressive. Alternatively, if you prefer one of the good-guy combiners, there's always the Aerialbots and Superion (captained by the ever dependable Silverbolt).
Now, there's an understandable sentiment that Hasbro sometimes relies a bit too heavily on nostalgia and Transformers designs from the 80s. So if you're looking for toys with more engaging designs, there's the Age of the Primes line featuring bots such as Onyx Prime (who is a triple-changer to boot), Nova Prime, Prima Prime, Alpha Trion and more. I also adore this Tarn figure from IDW's older Transformers comics. His face is literally the Decepticon symbol. And this is before you even consider some of the upcoming models like Amalgamous Prime and Quintus Prime. Granted he isn't out yet either, I've got to give a shoutout to Big Convoy, who might end up being the best figure from the Beast Wars timeline.
Alchemist Prime (left) and Heatwave (right) are great choices for anyone looking for bots that don't come from the original cartoons and movie from the 80s.
I must add that even though it's the holidays, Transformers make great gifts for any time of the year. When I don't know what to buy as a birthday present for one of my son's friends, you can probably guess what I look at first. There's honestly something for everyone. If a kid is into space ships, there's no way they'll be upset about getting a robot that turns into a shuttle and a train. Or if they prefer planes, the new model for Thundercracker is a delight and a surprisingly decent representation of an F-15.
You don't need additional context or history with the franchise to enjoy these. There are also great options for younger children like this Bumble and Starscream two-pack, which I bought for my son way before the recommended age of six. And he loved and was able to transform them on his own. (Of course, there's also a two-pack featuring Optimus and Megatron.)
This Tarn figure (right) inspired me to dive back into IDW's older run of Transformers comics, which ended in 2022.
Meanwhile, for anyone feeling particularly generous, there are some incredible premium options, too. The $200 Titan-class version of Omega Supreme is a two-foot giant that could be the centerpiece of anyone's collection. Then there's Robosen's even more expensive figures that actually transform on their own, which are truly a child's dream come true — as long as you can afford them. And recently, the collab between Transformers and Lego has resulted in some of the coolest bricksets of all time, headlined by Optimus Prime and Soundwave.
If you don't mind going down the rabbit hole of third-party offerings (what some might call knock-offs), you might even consider "divorce-class" toys like the $1,600 M-01 Steel Fortress, which is a massive four-foot-tall take on Metroplex. Also, while it isn't a toy, I'd be remiss not to mention Transformers Deluxe Book 1, which contains the first twelve issues of Image Comic's recent run and is a fantastic expansion to the franchise's universe. Finally, if you or someone you know is a fan of the modern designs from recent live-action movies, there are quality figures like these Shockwave and Bumblebee models from Dark of the Moon or this three-pack from Revenge of the Fallen.
This Amazon-exclusive two-pack featuring Starscream and Bumblebee is a great option for younger children as both figures are super easy to transform.
As for actually buying these toys and figures, the vast majority of them can be found at major big-box retailers including Amazon, Walmart and Target. Alternatively, you can go straight to the source and purchase things directly from Hasbro Pulse. This may be the best option if you want in-demand sets like this Predaking re-issue, which sadly, is already sold out (again). You can even pay $50 a year to become a premium member and get free shipping, discounts and early access to certain products. But unless you're a hardcore collector, it's probably not worth it. Or you can opt for third-party retailers such as Big Bad Toy Store, which is my personal go-to retailer, particularly if you're not in a rush for things to arrive.
Transformers Deluxe Book 1 is an excellent place for fans of the franchise to get back into the comics as it combines the first 12 volumes of Image's current run into a single book.
Regardless, if you're like me and are revisiting a beloved franchise, I'm here to say that even after 40 years, there's a wealth of incredible Transformers figures to choose from. And if you're not and you're simply looking for a great gift this holiday season, Transformers has you covered there too with a huge variety of damn good bots.