Toys - Non-transforming figures, kites, and other things that could be reasonably considered toys in their own right. Some of these do transform, like transforming pens, or chibis.
Games - Board games, figure games, puzzles and so forth.
Artifacts - Not a toy, but has Transformers stuff on it. Lunchboxes, backpacks, clothing, candy, etc.
Fast Food Premiums - A separate category, since there's so many of them. Also includes food tie-ins in general.
Convention/Club Exclusives - Stuff only available through conventions, clubs and other non-store deals.
Other Transformers - A few actual Transformers that transform, but for which I don't have a general category (like Commemorative Series reissues, keychains, etc). Might be worth spinning off Crossovers soon, though.

Toys

RotF Mini Clips: Eight 35-41mm tall plastic figures with ball chain loopse that turn them into backpack zipper pulls or cellphone charms, sold in two-packs. Decent sculpts, minimal paints.
Finger Boards: Six miniature skateboards with art taken from the Dreamwave archives and modded to look more "street".
Energon Kites: Five kites of different styles, all with Energon images. Now with flight test results!
Energon Optimus Prime Pen: Made by Stylus, pretty close to the actual toy.
Heroes of Cybertron - Reissues (with new paint jobs and glowing eyes) of the Japanese Act 1-? PVCs, sold on blister cards so you know which one you're getting. Only released to drugstores and a few smaller chains like Meijer. I'm limited to the ones I can find at the local Walgreens, since I don't feel it's worth paying reseller markup and postage for these.
- Wave 1: Starscream, Skywarp, Apex Armor Optimus Prime (God Ginrai), Optimus Prime, Megatron, Arcee.
- Wave 2: gold "Spark Attack" Apex Armor Prime, Paradron Medic (Arcee recolor), Ultra Magnus, Thundercracker and the versions of Optimus and Megatron with the energized melee weapon hands that were rare chase figures in the Japanese version.
Titanium Series: Spun off to its own page.
Angry Birds Transformers Wave 1: Telepods game acceossories crossed with Bot Shots-inspired transformations. Transformers with bird or pig heads, the Autobirds vs. Deceptihogs.
Alt-Modes wave 1: Hasbro gets into the blindbox chibis market directly, with bigger-than-Masterpiece heads atop WST-sized bodies. Not bad for $7, but probably not worth going completist on. Currently covers Nemesis Prime, Prowl, Megatron, and Ultra Magnus.
My Busy Book Transformers: No, I didn't put this here by mistake. It's more of a playset with decoy-like figures, with the board book a secondary aspect. Includes the first time I've seen Evergreen designs for Hot Rod and Soundwave on the shelf at any store. (In case you're reading this in the 2020s, "Evergreen" was supposed to be a set of designs that would be used in perpetuity for non-specific licensed material, not sure it'll stick.)
Jada Nano Hollywood Rides and Nano Metalfigs: Hollywood Rides are like MicroMachines, and Nano Metalfigs are basically die cast metal 40mm scale miniatures with mediocre paint jobs and lots of metallic colors. The Hollywood Rides three-pack has vehicle modes of G1 Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, and Starscream...and should probably not be opened. They look nice in the package, but are low quality and most of the wheels don't even roll. The Nano Metalfigs are cheap and cheap-looking, but worth a look. Especially if you're willing to soak them in acetone and repaint.
Nano Metalfigs Series 2: A lot of redecos, but the new molds include Beast Wars as well as G1. Still pretty sloppy paint jobs, and the price went up.
Jada R/C Optimus Prime: Okay, this does transform (automatically, even), but I wanted to keep the Jada reviews together. Not particularly recommended, although little kids might like it $70 worth.
Bayformer MicroMachines: Vehicle modes from the 2007 and 2009 movies, these reviews are of Amazon-only (AFAIK) 8-packs, but the same vehicles are available in 4-packs in brick and mortar stores.
Bayformer Micromachines wave 2: Sets 05 through 08, I found them individually at Target. They're in the review queue somewhere.

Games

Beast Wars Card Game: Released by Parker Brothers in mid-1997, it pretty much vanished from store shelves by mid-1998. Click here for a review of the game. Some number crunching on the character cards can be found here.
Battle for Cybertron Game: Based on the Jedi Duels game from 2001, it includes painted Armada decoys, woot. Later comments from those who have had more chance to play the game indicate that Hot Shot and Demolishor are actually the best pieces in the game due to their cards, and Red Alert is the worst, useless in solo play.
Armada Puzzles: 100-piece, 50-piece and 70-piece with stickers. Okay, these are made of paper, but the "Paper" section is really just for books.
Attacktix - A mix of fixed "starter" sets and blind packed boosters. The system started with Star Wars, and is expected to expand to several other properties. Repainted figures among other stuff.
- Rules booklet review - An overview of the rulebook that came with Intergalactic Showdown. Includes a report on my first time playing. Updated 8/5/06.
- House Rules - Partly this is a clarification of the official rules, with some spackling over of gaps. But it also adds house rules for multiplayer games and the use of terrain. Updated 8/5/06.
- Intergalactic Showdown - Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker and an Ep3 Scout Walker versus Cybertron Optimus Prime, Cybertron Megatron and Omega Sentinel.
- Wave 1 starter - Overhaul, Dirtboss, Skyblast in both modes. A bonus pack variant with a repainted Decepticlone exists as a Wal-Mart exclusive, and the review has been updated to include it on 9/2/06.
- Wave 1 boosters - 18 figures, randomly packed. 8 are "rare" and 10 are "super rare". Updated: 8/9/06 - Set completed
- Wave 2 Starter - Well, despite the game seeming to be dead, a few of the new starters got made, at least. G1 Prime and Megatron, Cybertron Skywarp and Energon Landquake.
- Wave 2 boosters - 18 figures, 10 are recolors. Same rarity scheme. Updated: 1/12/07 - Preview images are up, framework set up. (One year later it's still not out, and unlikely ever to come out)
- Wave 1 Battle Masters - Omega Supreme and Crumplezone. Crumplezone is normal sized. Omega Supreme and Omega Sentinel don't have exactly the same mold, as Omega Supreme's right arm is a lifter claw and not a missile firing weapon. Not a set worth chasing after.
Transformers 3D Battlecard Game: A game where you punch out pieces of plasticard to make a model, which can be in either vehicle or robot mode, and then play a game with it. :) 1/28/08: Got some trades in, updated the file.
TF 3D Battlecards: Energon Wars: First expansion set, a few new "molds" and a lot more recolors. A mix of characters from various eras, many of whom get movie-style redesigns. 1/30/08: Got Quickstrike in a trade.
Transformers Monopoly: One of a bazillion special edition Monopoly games. Has pewter playing pieces of Megatron, Soundwave, Starscream, Optimus Prime, Jazz and Bumblebee, which I expect to be its main selling point. Also has some minor TF-specific rules, but most of the changes are "chrome".
Transformers Battling Card Game: Modified "War" duelling game. Review also includes a simple "dumb" AI to allow solo play, good enough to get a feel for the game.
Transformers 1-on-1 Battling LCD Game: A pixel-based LCD handheld game that costs $15, meaning I paid about $40/hour for the amusement I got out of it.
Transformers Animated Game Collection: A cab-shaped box with a board game, a puzzle, and some lame checkers and tic-tac-toe stuff, a Wal-Mart exclusive for $20. Decent kiddiegame, and comes with some very nice minifigures.
Transformers Missile Mania: A RotF game. You slide a missile across the floor to try to hit the bases of your opponent's cardboard figures and flip them off the base. The missile has no moving parts, but is shaped differently on top and bottom to be optimized for either carpet or hard surfaces. Even the "advanced" game isn't much to talk about, adding a random dice element to allow movement and repair. Not really worth reviewing, much less buying, and there aren't even pieces you might want to use elsewhere.

"True" Artifacts

Stuff to Wear/Carry
- Armada Lunchbox: A rather nice plastic-canvas soft-side lunchbox with water bottle.
- Energon Backpack: Surprisingly sturdy for what's usually a "use for one year and toss" product. Comes with a zippered pencil case that can be detached and used separately. Updated 9/1/04 with the Powerlinx Hot Shot variant.
- Armada Shoes: Light-up shoes covered in Autobot symbols and logos an stuff. Only available in kiddie sizes, sigh. But they fit Unicron!
  - White: The original pair, with Prime's face on the sides, and LED's in his eyes!
  - Black: A later release, with less LEDs but a reversible "shield" showing various characters.
  - Energon Sandals: Blue and red sandals with an LED layer in the soles. They fit Unicron well.
- Energon Watches: A garish if functional sports watch, and a freakish giant Optimus Prime head on a strap.
- Optimus Prime Flashlight: A really nice 3" tall figure with posable arms and head...and it's also a flashlight keychain.
- Belt Buckle: Hot Topic has this item, made by Changes. Rectangular with a dark gunmetal finish, it's 6.9cm wide and 6.7cm tall. A central square (5.3cm on a side, 6mm thick) can spin on a vertical axis, letting you wear it as either an Autobot or a Decepticon buckle. The faction symbols are in "negative", with the outline being enameled in red or very dark purple. As belt buckles go, it's fairly tasteful, but I have too much overhang to want to wear it. It makes a nice spinny logo toy, though. :) $20
- Velcro Wallet: Another Hot Topic thing. Cheap-feeling kiddie wallet (not as cheap as the $1 ones at Wal-Mart, but still...) with a red-white-blue shaded Autobot logo on it. Not worth the $15 they wanted.
Candy
- Bubble Twist: It's soft bubble gum on one side, a Decoy-like toy hidden on the other! Mmmm, decoys....
- Armada Prime Spin-Pop: A Chupa-Chups spin-pop in the shape of Armada Optimus Prime. With a disturbing means of activation.
- Cybertron Spin-Pops: More Chupa-Chupping, but now with hand-cranked spinning action. Available in Optimus Prime and Megatron varieties.
- G1 Punching Pops, Pop-Toppers and Energon Cubes: CAP Candy released a bunch of G1-themed candy early in 2007. The main items are "Punching Pops" that are like Rock'em Sock'em robots, if weaker. Updated 4/28/07 with gummy TFs.
- Revenge of the Fallen Candy: Klik candy dispensers, M&Ms mailaway dispenser jar.
RiD Party Lights: A string of Christmas-tree-type lights with Optimus Prime, Megatron and Autobot symbol covers, sold in RiD style packaging.
G1 Head Knockers: Basically they're Bobbleheads, but without the license to that name. G1 Prime and Megatron, in Chibi style and disgusted by it.
Car Flags: Palisades Toys - These come rolled up on their staffs in a clear plastic bag with a cardstock topper, and in two varieties: Autobot and Decepticon. These are not cheapass plastic flags. They're made from at least three layers of what feels like a polyester or nylon fabric (there's no "ingredients list" or washing instructions), black with the relevant symbol on both sides in the correct colors. The flags are 11" (28cm) high and 15" (39cm) wide, with symbols 8" (20cm) tall. They're affixed to the staff by durable nylon mesh canvas. The staff is 19" (48cm) tall, with a cross- section of 2cm by 1cm, roughly. The top part is rounded so the flag can whip whichever way, while the bottom part is a squashed octagon cross-section. The clip part is 2.5" (6cm) wide and 2.25" (5.5cm) tall and has a foam pad to hold it more firmly on a window. Or, as is the case right now, the top of an iMac flatscreen. I can't speak to the long term durability, of course, nor am I really a car flag person (might strap 'em to my balcony, tho), but they seem pretty tough. Good quality all around. Recommended. $19.99 each.
- Update 11/11/04: Well, after having the flags on my balcony for several months of Kansas weather (and having the Autobot one stolen by some punk), here's a durability report. The nylon mesh connecting the flag to the staff has started to unravel after months of winds up to 40mph, and the black nylon has faded noticeably.
2007 Movie Bubble Bath: Bubble bath bottles topped with punching-action upper bodies of Prime and Megatron.
2007 Movie Optimus Prime Pillow: 35" tall plush and cuddly Optimus Prime.
2007 Movie Holiday Ornaments: Various rigid resin faction symbols or statues of Prime, Bumblebee or Megatron.
2008 Movie Easter Stuff: Egg decorating kits, treat containers, anything else I grab that strikes my fancy.

Do You Want Fries With That?

Skechers Supercharger: Subway kidsmeal toy. Not a Transformer per se, but it is a transforming shoebot.
2007 Movie Tie-Ins: Various food items that joined in on the marketing blitz for the 2007 Transformers movie. This will only be ones I bought and felt worth reviewing, there were definitely more. Also includes Kids' Meal toys.
- Lunchables: A variety of packaging and premiums for different sub-lines within this pre-packaged foodlike product line. Updated 8/4/07 with all the toy surprises, codes, etc.
- Optimus Prime Cake Kit: A little transforming Optimus Prime and plastic placard to go along with cakes available at Wal-Mart, but you may be able to buy a set separately.
Burger King Kids' Meal Toys:
- Cybertron: Jetfire, Optimus Prime, Megatron, Red Alert. 8/25/05: Updated with Megatron and the Adventures magazine. A Meeting Of The Mangled.
- Movie: Optimus Prime, Starscream, Ironhide, Blackout, Autobot Ratchet, Scorponok, Bumblebee, Megatron. 7/16/07: Review complete.
Rally's/Checkers Rhinox: Oh, Primus, the pain.... Review and a picture.
McDonald's Happy Meal Toys:
- Beast Wars: Manta Ray, Beetle, Panther, Rhino, Under-3 Prime, Boxes
- Transmetals: Packaging, Scorponok, Dinobot, Blackarachnia
- Beast Machines: Cheetor, Optimus Primal, Megatron, Jetstorm, Rattrap, Blackarachnia, Thrust, Nightscream, Tankor
- Armada: Optimus Prime, Hot Shot, Starscream, Cyclonus, Smokescreen, Red Alert, Megatron, Demolishor, Mighty Robot, Mighty Vehicle (combined forms)
- Transformers Animated: Optimus Prime, Megatron, Bumblebee, Starscream, Ratchet, Lugnut.

Convention Sales/Club Exclusives

TFCC Exclusives: The TFCC had one figure that comes with the year's membership, and an ever-increasing number available at BotCon, through the club store, etc.
- 2005 - Skyfall: Recolor of Terradive (A3). In an ambitious five year plan, the Transformers Collectors' Club run by MasterCollector is doing one part of a combiner each year, culminating in the torso unit. I didn't stay with the club and didn't get the other four to make Nexus Prime.
- 2012 - Runamuck: Retool of Generations Wheeljack. Bonus review: 2010's Dion, a redeco of Universe 2 Hot Shot that I got on clearance when I joined up for 2012.
Unicron.com Accessory Pack: Originally available at Unicron.com, this is an accessory pack to make some of your Beast Machines toys a little niftier. It includes stands for Thrust and Blackarachnia so they can stand in "show modes," a set of swords for Mega Cheetor, and a Key to Vector Sigma of your very own! Launched at BotCon 2000, and something of a herald of all the Third Party Add-Ons to come.
BotCon 97 Two-Pack: A special two-pack of recolored toys was made for BotCon 97. Fractyl and Packrat, as well as of the special comic by Furman and Wildman starring these characters. I didn't attend, but I got a non-attendee pack.
BotCon 98 Exclusive Vice Grip: There were two exclusive toys for BotCon 98. Antagony, a black recolor of Inferno, and Vice Grip, a blue and grey recolor of Powerpinch. I only got Vice Grip, because I couldn't afford Antagony. (Antagony finally entered the canon, briefly, in the IDW comics.)
SDCC 2016 exclusive Soundwave: Soundwave turns into a trademark-filed-off Xiaomi MiPad 2, and doesn't just do it "well for that altmode" but well in general.
Power Bank Optimus Prime: An exclusive at HasCon, later available on HasbroToyShop.com, this is a companion to the Xiaomi MiPad Soundwave. Unlike Soundwave, who merely looks like a tablet, this is a working power bank. (Note: the HasCon and NYCC exclusive Titans Return figures can be found on the Generations page.)

Other TFs

Target 2007 Movie Exclusive: Transforming case, exclusive comic...oh, and the movie too.
Target Optimus Prime GiftCard: Yes, it's a GiftCard that transforms into a somewhat flat robot. And it's effectively free so long as you have a Target nearby to let you spend it (it also works on Target.com, but then it costs you shipping).
Powermaster Optimus Prime with Apex Armor: Since I don't plan to get many of the G1 reissues, I'm putting this review here rather than starting a new page. This reissue includes a renamed God Bomber, which was not originally available in the U.S.
Keychains - Fun4All (www.fun-4-all.com) has gotten a license to turn the G1 Minibots into keychains. So far, while other Fun4All stuff has made it to major chains like Target and Toys R Us, these are only available online or in mall stores like Hot Topic or Urban Outfitters (which is a "mall store" in spirit, if not fact).
- Bumblebee and Cliffjumper: first set, sold separately.
- I got Brawn and convention exclusive Rook (Windcharger recolor) but never reviewed them.
- Movie Optimus Prime and Bumblebee: Non-transforming, 3.5" poseable figures.
- Movie Barricade and Megatron: Another wave of the same, more boring paint-wise than the first set.
- Revenge of the Fallen Optimus Prime: A wave of four came out, but I only got one, as the rest were rather bad-looking. Even compared to Barricade and Megatron from the previous set.
Spychanger Tiny Tins: Eight Spychangers (no color mods, just the original RiD versions) with little metal boxes they can fit into for storage.
MasterShooter Third-party Targetmasters: Super-poseable updates of the Targetmaster partners of Cyclonus, Hot Rod, Kup and Blurr, with the serial numbers changed and a lot of dick jokes added. Good toys, bad bio notes.
WooBots AutoBus: A third-party toy that barely rips off Hasbro at all, making wooden robots that turn into old-fashioned-style wooden vehicles. I got the AutoBus from their KickStarter, but they plan to sell the toys at retail once all the KS's are fulfilled.
Ectotron: A heavy retool of the Combiner Wars Hot Shot mold that turns into the Ecto-1 from Ghostbusters. Not really an exclusive, but hard to find in any physical stores (GameStop reportedly got some). Packaged in G1-style, but not technically a "Commemorative Series" sort of thing, since it's a new toy. He also got to star in a 5-issue "Transformers/Ghostbusters" miniseries from IDW, more or less set in a version of the Real Ghostbusters cartoon continuity. (Note: a redeco of this based on the revival movie was sold with an extra ghost and #1 of the comic for $60 at Target in early 2021, hard pass.)
Gigawatt: A heavy retool of Siege Sideswipe that turns into the DeLorean (well, unlicensed, so some changes) time machine from Back to the Future. Another G1-style box, and accompanied by a five issue comic series that I didn't buy.
Ultimate X-Spanse: The name is horrible, but it suits the toy. From floppy 90s X-Men Blackbird jet to conceptual mess of a robot, it includes some sub-Dollar-Tree-level Wolverine and Sabertooth figures that can barely stand up. I got it at half off, and still think I was ripped off.
Universal Monsters Crossovers:
- Draculus: Dracula's 90th anniversary was celebrated in 2021 with a Collaborative toy that significantly retools Titans Return Mindwipe (no longer a Titan Master, but has a nifty cloak).
Jurassic Park Crossovers:
- Tyrannocon Rex (retool of Kingdom Beast Megatron) and JP93 (new mold Ford Explorer). Decent set, but not worth the licensing fee that bumps the MSRP to $105. Worth the $70 I spent on sale, though.
Note, I've moved Collaboratives over to their own page, along with all entries for stuff not yet reviewed here. I'll leave the existing Collaboratives up on this page for a while, just in case.