As someone who has been writing about toys for the last five years, I've seen a lot of the latest and greatest releases. But every so often, there's a toy that hits the market that leaves me thinking, "Where the heck was this when I was a kid?"
And for me (and many others on the Shop TODAY team), that toy this year was the Primal Hatch Jurassic World Toy. The interactive toy, which is unlike anything we’ve ever seen before, allows kids to hatch their own T. rex. Our team was so obsessed with it, we named it one of our Gifts We Love for 2025.
And as it turns out, many shoppers had the same reaction we did. When we posted a video of it on social media, plenty of adults were in the comments, saying things like, "I’m 50 and want this," and "Anybody else feeling deprived as a kid??" In fact, it's gotten so popular that the toy has already sold out at multiple retailers this holiday season.
Thankfully, we found it available right now at Walmart. Below, we're sharing everything you need to know about the toy, from how to shop it to why it's so popular right now.
I first saw the toy at the International Toy Fair in March 2025, a showcase event where the biggest brands gather to debut their new releases for the year. While there were a lot of exciting toys that I saw that day, this was by far the most memorable, because of the unique experience that it delivers.
Kids start with a cool, prehistoric-looking egg. Then, after repeatedly tapping on it, the hatching process begins as the dinosaur inside tries to break through. As the egg starts to crack, they'll see the dino emerge through the gooey egg membrane (as it roars and lights up).
Then, once it hatches, they'll have a dinosaur that they can play with and train like a pet! Each one can make over 100 sound effects and reactions. And using the included clicker and "meat" accessory, they can grab its attention and play games. If its eyes are green, that means that you have a happy dino. But if they turn red, beware! He's getting angry.
The toy is perfect for "Jurassic Park" fans or kids with a growing dino obsession. Senior partnerships editor Francesca Cocchi Zabloudil bought the toy for her nephews and shares that "it was so captivating" her whole family gathered around to watch the hatching process.
"Realistic details like the sound effects, movement and gooey red slime really blew me away," she says. "I also appreciate that it isn’t a one-and-done toy — since hatching two months ago, the T. rex (they named him Chompers) is still one of their favorite toys to play with."
Given how popular it's been this holiday season, there's no telling how long it will stay in stock, so you'll want to act quickly to grab it while you still can!
And if you're looking for more of the hottest toys of the holiday season, we're sharing some additional top picks below.
More hot toys to shop
This Fluffy Slime Kit was another one of our "Gifts We Love" for 2025. It's perfect for slime-obsessed kids, as it allows them to customize their creations with glitter and color.
Your kid might not be ready for a real pet just yet. But in the meantime, you can get them this cute turtle play set. Much like the dinosaur, it offers a hatching experience. When the eggs open up, they can see if they have two, three or four baby turtles. Plus, when they add water to the tank, the mommy turtle will start swimming!
"Jurassic World" probably isn't the only movie your kids have been obsessed with lately. If they're all-in on the "Wicked" craze, then they're sure to appreciate this Care Bear duo. It comes with Love-a-Lot Bear as Glinda and Good Luck Bear as Elphaba.
If dinosaurs aren't really their thing, this sweet cow may be more up their alley. The cute interactive plush toy walks, swishes her tail and blinks her eyes. Plus, she has more than 50 sound and motion combinations, so there are plenty of ways to play with her. Once they feed her, she'll follow them around like their new BFF.
Another option for dinosaur lovers, this toy was featured on The Toy Insider's Hot 20 list this year. It's inspired by the latest "Jurassic World" movie and comes with a projectile-launching Ultimate Action Chomp T. rex, mini dinosaur and a human figurine. When they pull the trigger on its tail, the big dinosaur will chomp down, light up and roar.
How we chose
At Shop TODAY, we are often highlighting bestselling and viral products. We chose to highlight this toy because it is one of our top gifts for the holiday season and has gained viral fame. It is also loved by multiple editors who have gotten to try and play with the toy.
