Blind box ranking
Before blind boxes became the it-thing in toy collecting, there were Gachapon machines – only a dollar for a surprise capsule toy dispensed from a vending machine. These days, the modern blind box has evolved greatly. The concept dates back to the 80s, inspired by the Japanese tradition of Fukubukuro – AKA good luck bag – packed with mystery merchandise from department stores.
Now, the rage is all fashion toys, with POP MART at the forefront of this new craze. We’re jumping on the bandwagon by collating the 10 most popular characters and coming up with our very own blind box ranking based on price, aesthetic, and hype levels. Read on to see if your fave made the list.
10. HACIPUPU
Image credit: POP MART
HACIPUPU (from $15.90) is a shy, rosy-cheeked little boy who’s “ordinary but a little special.” That probably sums up the Hacipupu line – he’s just a bit too vanilla, and while he is cute, there’s no extra oomph factor to make him stand out.
He’s dressed in various outfits and animal suits, even rocking Stitch and Loopy costumes for collabs. His image was designed to resonate with the everyday person through the innocence and pure perspective of a child. Fun fact: there is a little special touch – if you look closely enough, you’ll be able to spot the small snot run dribbling from his tiny nose.
Price: 6/10
Aesthetic: 6/10
Variety: 6/10
Hype: 4/10
Overall: 5.5/10
9. Hirono
Image credit: POP MART
Hirono is a complex character that’s meant to be the personification of our elusive human emotions. Reminiscent of Coraline visuals, this little oddball character has a multitude of expressions – used to represent life’s fluctuating ups and downs.
The myriad of outfits that Hirono dons are all unique in order to evoke the feelings of life – love, joy, sadness, fear, anger, surprise, etc. Going at $15.90 a box, his design range is both grubby and eclectic; some iconic collabs also include Snoopy and The Little Prince.
Price: 6/10
Aesthetic: 5/10
Variety: 8/10
Hype: 5/10
Overall: 6/10
8. Smiski
Image credit: Hands Au
Smiskis are curious little creatures who love hiding in the small nooks and crannies of your room. Despite having the least design variation compared to the other options on this list, these bald little figurines have a surprising amount of personality. Depending on the collection’s theme, they can be seen performing a variety of tasks and actions, including doing yoga, visiting the museum, and even going to the toilet.
They’re also minute – easy to place around your house as quirky accoutrements without cluttering the space. Plus, they glow in the dark and for only $11.90, that’s a whole lotta fun to get from these tiny, green men.
Price: 7/10
Aesthetic: 5/10
Variety: 7/10
Hype: 7/10
Overall: 6.5/10
7. CRYBABY
Image credit: Meaningless Art Store
Not a boy, a girl, nor even a human, CRYBABY is a caricature of that deep, inner feeling we all have and relate to. It’s not just all about sadness though – it’s a reminder to allow ourselves to feel openly and deeply, and to embrace even the messiest of emotions.
From their comically puffy cheeks and massive teardrops on the brink of falling, these figures in a variety of shapes, sizes, and bright colours are a sight to behold. Collabs with Alice in Wonderland and The Powerpuff Girls were especially popular. At $15.99, they’re a far cry from the prettiest and cutest of the characters, but they tell a great sob story nonetheless.
Price: 6/10
Aesthetic: 6/10
Variety: 8/10
Hype: 7/10
Overall: 6.75/10
6. MOLLY
Image credit: POP MART
No eyes are bluer than those of MOLLY (from $15.90), a confident little girl whose iconic pout is a trademark that fans will be familiar with. Her curiosity has allowed her to play many roles in a Barbie-like fashion, from astronaut and painter to martial artist and chef.
Artist Kenny Wong created MOLLY after being inspired by a sassy, wilful little girl he met in real life. MOLLY is instantly recognisable, even in her baby form, and rocks a can-do attitude in all her forms. She also has many themed designs that start at $18.90 – a little more pricey than your typical POP MART offerings, but that’s because she knows what she’s worth, after all.
Price: 5.5/10
Aesthetic: 7/10
Variety: 7.5/10
Hype: 8/10
Overall: 7/10
5. DIMOO
Image credit: @popmartsg via Instagram
DIMOO (from $15.90) is a boy who just wants to explore the world and make new friends. The only problem? He’s too scared. He’s a precious little thing, loving his sleep and embarking on all his adventures as he dreams. While he slumbers, he meets Baby Cloud, who likes to hide in DIMOO’s hair, and together they support and grow alongside each other.
DIMOO has no shortage of alter egos, cosplaying as Donald Duck, Mickey Mouse, and even other mythical beasts. His wide range of figurine options serves as a reminder to us – we can be whoever we want to be and to always chase our dreams. Also, check out the little cloud face atop his head – absolutely adorbs.
Price: 6/10
Aesthetic: 7/10
Variety: 8/10
Hype: 8/10
Overall: 7.25/10
4. SKULLPANDA
Image credit: POP MART
For those looking for a little bit of edge, SKULLPANDA (from $15.90) is the aesthetic to spring for. These unapologetic figurines journey through worlds and adopt various personas that challenge worldviews and go against the grain.
Unlike other usual cute characters, they can be distinguished by their spherical braids and uniquely cynical look. Combined with fine makeup details and their signature astronaut helmets, they’ve managed to attract plenty of fans, thanks to their darker and more mysterious allure, which resonates with the young and old alike.
Price: 6/10
Aesthetic: 9/10
Variety: 8/10
Hype: 8/10
Overall: 7.75/10
3. Sonny Angel
Image credit: @sonnyangel.usa via Instagram
“He may bring you happiness,” goes the slogan of Sonny Angel – a line of 7cm cherub figurines inspired by the beloved character Kewpie. Launched in 2004, these minute dolls are each priced from $15.90 and were first designed to comfort young working adults in Japan during a time of recession and financial uncertainty.
While they don a variety of costumes, you can often recognise them by their trademark naked bodies. In fact, they have over 650 figure variants, with food, animal, and even themed seasonal series for occasions like Christmas and Valentine’s Day.
Price: 6/10
Aesthetic: 8/10
Variety: 10/10
Hype: 9/10
Overall: 8/10
2. Mofusand
Image credit: HappiBox
At $5.90 per piece and $16.90 for a 4-pack, Mofusand blind boxes offer great bang for your buck. These adorable little felines donning fruit hats and furry apparel got their names from the Japanese mofu mofu, meaning soft and fluffy, and san, a Japanese honorific.
The best part is they aren’t just limited to blind boxes. Mofusand has a wide range of merchandise, including stationery, plush toys, bags, and other cute paraphernalia.
Price: 9/10
Aesthetic: 9/10
Variety: 8/10
Hype: 9/10
Overall: 8.5/10
1. Labubu (THE MONSTERS)
Image credit: POP MART
Priced from $24.90, you’d think a Labubu would be way more expensive considering how much clout it has garnered these days.
The Labubu originated from Nordic folklore and mythology, and since its creation in 2015, there have been over 300 different Labubu figurines to date. With scruffy fur, large rabbit-like ears, and sharp teeth, these mischievous elves have conquered the blind box market, our hearts, and our wallets.
Real talk: we need to study the grip these ugly-cute monsters have on us. Just last month, in June 2025, a $170,000 life-size Labubu doll was auctioned off to the highest bidder in Beijing.
Price: 5/10
Aesthetic: 8/10
Variety: 9/10
Hype: ∞/10
Overall: 10?/10
Did your favourite character make it to our blind box ranking?
There are so many blind box toys to choose from – each one is visually striking and distinct, so you’re bound to find one that tickles your fancy. Plus, there are still plenty of characters that aren’t POP MART IP, like those from Sanrio, Disney, and Harry Potter.
If you’ve jumped aboard the blind box train, let us know if you agree with our blind box ranking. Who did we miss, and who deserves that coveted #1 spot?
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