Arguably the last decade of the 20th century is also one of the most memorable. While nostalgia depends on timing and who you ask, the ’90s consistently come out on top. Or at least very close.
According to research by CivicScience, it’s the most popular decade overall among Americans, with 24% saying they’re most nostalgic for the ’90s out of all decades dating back to the ’60s.
Another survey by GWI found even stronger numbers, especially among millennials: 61% said they feel nostalgic for the ’90s. That’s to be expected, since it was basically their golden era of Saturday morning cartoons and questionable fashion choices.
Gen X isn’t far behind either: sure, the ’80s will always be their first love, but 55% say they still miss the ’90s too.
Interestingly, 37% of Gen Z say they feel nostalgic for the decade too, despite many being born at the very end of it or not having lived through it at all. For them, it’s less about personal memories and more about the vibe. Many see it as a carefree, fun era: something that feels increasingly rare these days.
Baby boomers were the least drawn to the decade, with 28% saying they look back on the ’90s fondly. But hey, still not zero.
Whether you think the ’90s were the best decade or just one of many good ones, there’s no denying it left us with iconic moments, trends, and treasures.
To help us take a proper trip down memory lane, Bored Panda spoke with Caylen Belcourt, owner of Nostalgic Episodes, a Canada-based store filled with vintage finds and retro gems.
If anyone knows ’90s memorabilia, it’s her. And Belcourt’s favorite artifacts from that time? Video games.
No shock there, the ’90s were a turning point for gaming. Graphics made a massive leap forward, likely one of the biggest we’ll ever see in a single decade.
Game soundtracks in the ’90s got a serious upgrade, evolving from simple blips to songs that sounded impressively close to the real thing. It led to collaborations with major artists—Aerosmith and Michael Jackson both had their own games, and Jackson even helped score Sonic 3.
By 1993, the video game industry was out-earning Hollywood. Street Fighter II alone brought in $1.5 billion that year, half a billion more than Jurassic Park.
Of course, we can’t forget the consoles. The original Game Boy launched in 1989, and the Nintendo 64 hit shelves in 1996, both of which were Belcourt’s personal favorites.
“I couldn’t believe I could play games with my favourite characters like Barbie, Rugrats, or Mary-Kate and Ashley! Also, the fact that computer games would come in a cereal box for free! It was all so exciting to me,” she said.
And then there were the toys, a category of their own: Tamagotchis, Polly Pockets, Furbies, Pokémon cards, Bop Its. The lineup was unmatched.
Belcourt recently added a batch of vintage Disney dolls from the ’90s to her shop, still in their original packaging.
“It amazes me how often I find toys that have never been opened in over 20 years,” she told us. “I was one of those kids who always ripped the boxes open. I can’t imagine the restraint you’d need to keep them in perfect condition!”
Missing the ’90s might feel like a lost cause sometimes, since the decade’s gone for good and took a piece of your heart with it.
But thankfully, trends have a way of coming back around. The ’90s are very much in, and even if we’re not living in them anymore, you can still get pretty close.
Whether it’s tracking down vintage finds in thrift stores or enjoying new content inspired by the era, there are plenty of ways to bring that magic back.
