9 Best Blind Boxes—Bag Charms, Plush Pendants, and More (2026)

The Best Blind Boxes You Can Buy Online Blind boxes are here to stay. Mystery collectibles are nothing new-from the fukubukuro “lucky bags” and gashapon machines of Japan to vinyl Funko Pop figurines and packs of mysterious cards-one facet of this era of capitalism is the urge to spend your money on something, even if you don't know what it is, exactly. Blind boxes are undeniably popular , and sometimes hard to buy online . If you don't want to trek to the nearest Pop Mart or Miniso, but you do want to see what all the fuss is about, you're in the right spot. I hunted down several blind boxes that you can get online, for yourself or someone else. And even though I don't quite understand the human urge to unwrap presents, or hunt for the “secret” editions of various blind boxes, I can confirm that the contents are cute and make me happy staring at me from my desk. And I didn't have to wait in line or go in-store to get them! Be sure to check out our other gift guides, including the Best Desk Accessories , Best Gifts for Book Lovers , and Best STEM Toys . What Are Blind Boxes? Blind boxes are mystery collectibles, often in the form of vinyl figures or plush bag pendants. They're similar to trading cards or grab bags. They're sealed and opaque, so you don't know what's inside until you open it. Some blind boxes also have plastic weights inside to keep resellers from being able to guess what figure is inside based on how heavy it is. Some boxes are so popular that they sell out within seconds, often appearing on marketplaces with an artificially inflated price. Why Are Blind Boxes So Popular? Mystery collectibles are nothing new-remember Pokémon and Beanie Babies?-but unboxing videos on TikTok and other social media platforms skyrocketed the popularity of blind boxes in recent years. Some celebrities have taken to wearing bag charms like Labubu and Hacipupu which drove up the demand and popularity as well. Blind boxes are also designed to be addictive, thanks to the variable dopamine reward that could be compared to gambling and the FOMO (fear of missing out) factor. What's a Secret Edition Blind Box? Many blind boxes have at least one “secret” or “chase” design that has smaller odds of being opened than other designs in the same series. Since they're rarer, collectors “chase” that secret design, even though it likely means buying multiple boxes or full sets in an effort to get it. How Did WIRED Choose Blind Boxes? I researched blind boxes to find the most popular options that have wide availability. I factored in price, quality, uniqueness, and design into my recommendation decisions. Would I like it? Would my little sisters? Would my friends? I tried to find options that appealed to a wide variety of collectors. Next up I'll be testing blind boxes from Sanrio (and Hello Kitty), Crybaby Sad Club, Smiski,...

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