Best Toy
Easily Magmatron. This is a toy I've wanted ever since I learned of its existence and expensive after market prices made me hold off until this modern version was released. And I'm glad I waited because while it has the same awesome look, it isn't a brick. The designers really outdid themselves with this one. As a fan of Beast Wars, Dinosaurs and Combiners, and well executed Transformers toys, this is a winner through and through -William-james88
Missing Link Sentinel Prime. All the awesome fun of G1 reborn with articulation to achieve things that have lived in your imagination (and various artwork/media) for 40 years. I picked the Sentinel Prime version because there were way, way, way too many Optimus Prime toys released this year.
-ScottyP
Lunar Cruiser Optimus Prime- It was nice to see something out of the box!-kuhlio
Legacy Gears/Selects Small Foot. It manages to be a good, solid figure with a fun transformation, at a perfect scale. And in Gears' case, a character that gets so little love in toy form. -Bounti76
Best Legacy United Toy
Tigerhawk. I had written a list of toys that needed updates the most and Tigerhawk was up there. It's a great design and the original toy, while fun, was not show accurate. This one fixes that, it's an excellent update. Beast Wars Forever! -William-james88
Origin Wheeljack, but it'd be Sandstorm if not for the chest peg that doesn't peg on 99% of copies. Picking this not based on what it represents, but because it's a really fun Transformer even when removed from its basis point in "MTMTE Part 1". Fun to transform, has interactivity with other toys, even the slightly weird road accessory has multiple things that you can do with it. Apologies here to Magmatron who is great, but just a nicer Magmatron. There's never been a G1 Wheeljack like this one before. -ScottyP
Magmatron -kuhlio
3-way tie: Animated Motormaster, Filch, and G1 Optimus Prime. Motormaster because he fits the mold better, Filch for being the best version of that bird mold with a fantastic headsculpt, and G1 OP because it's a fantastic representation of a Missing Link toy on a budget. -Bounti76
Best Studio Series Toy
I feel so basic writing SS86 Optimus Prime, but I want to be honest with myself and with you. It's an excellent version of the character and well worth the price it commands. -William-james88
Swoop. Completed the Dinobots, is a fantastic toy and, notably, is not Optimus Prime.-ScottyP
Swoop- I love the Commander Optimus Prime, but my copy has some tolerances that make it feel like I am about to break it while transforming.-kuhlio
Swoop. Great figure, solid in both modes -Bounti76
Best Transformers One Toy
(can include SS releases)
(can include SS releases)
Deluxe Sentinel Prime (from the movie line) is one of those perfect transformers toys. I just love how sleek it is in both modes and has a fun and pleasant transformation. It tells me that there is indeed lots of originality left in this franchise from a design perspective. -William-james88
Takara's Brave Commander Optimus Prime. I almost chose the Quintesson out of spite and total OP burnout, but the Brave Commander version of TF One Optimus is too fun for me to go and be that way. A fully featured and nice toy in a way that no other TF One entry is.-ScottyP
Studio Series D16/Megatron -kuhlio
Mainline Sentinel Prime. Fun, easy transformation, great looking in both modes -Bounti76
Best non mainline toy
(MP, Exclusive, crossover, ect)
(MP, Exclusive, crossover, ect)
Star Raiders Filch was a pleasant surprise. I thought I had gotten everything possible from that Airazor mold, but Filch proved there could still be originality found in one more retool/redeco -William-james88
Agent Knight. This was a hard category to choose being as broad as it is, but I'm giving him the nod over Lunar Cruiser Prime for not being Optimus Prime. Take the 1980s crossover IP window dressing away and Agent Knight is precisely what Transformers needs more of, which is fun new designs and characters that stay true to the soul of Transformers while managing to be well built products that are fun to transform back and forth from mode to mode.-ScottyP
EarthSpark Aftermath or Agent Night- Both because they were something different and stand out as great new toys! -kuhlio
Tie between Selects Pathfinder and Amazon exclusive Barrage. Fantastic deco and figure for a very obscure fembot toy (2003 eHobby release), or the best use of the Insecticon mold (butterfly joints in the arms!) for a character that hasn't had a Deluxe or bigger toy since his first one 39 years ago. -Bounti76
Best TF Media
Transformers One was an excellent Transformers film. Easily my favorite Transformers film and seeing the passion for this franchise from the creators was a treat to behold. -William-james88
Studio Trigger's 40th Anniversary PV -ScottyP
Transformers One movie -kuhlio
Transformers One. Such a good movie, I'm hoping for a sequel of some sort. -Bounti76
What we are looking forward to most next year
The thirteen Primes! I remember this being practically an unobtainable dream once, to the point where Hasbro's compromise was a series of titan masters. But now it's happening and it will be glorious.
-William-james88
It's going to be awhile before it happens, but assuming there's no break in the monthly publication schedule, there's allegedly a new writer for the Skybound comics starting in October. I am extremely ready for that. Dare I unironically suggest Shane McCarthy?-ScottyP
A new batch of Blokees. -kuhlio
Seeing what Age of the Primes brings. While not totally sold on the toys we've seen so far (I'm looking at you, Prima), I love that the line seems to be doing something fun and innovative by creating altmodes for the Primes, and tying existing characters to a Prime's lineage. -Bounti76
