10 Best Action Figures of 2022

Note: This is an editorial ranking built for collectors and fans, not a resale-price guide or a “buy whatever is impossible to find” panic list. The goal here is simple: spotlight the figures that made 2022 feel like a very good year to have too many shelves and not enough self-control.

Action figures had a ridiculously strong year in 2022. The big brands came out swinging, premium collector lines kept getting sharper, and even old-school franchises suddenly looked like they’d been hitting the gym, learning anatomy, and taking advanced posing classes. Whether you were into Marvel, DC, G.I. Joe, Masters of the Universe, or comic-book weirdness with a dramatic cape and a detachable head, 2022 delivered.

And that is exactly what makes this list tricky. A “best action figures of 2022” roundup cannot just be a pile of famous characters with shiny packaging. A figure had to do something memorable. Maybe it nailed the sculpt. Maybe it came loaded with accessories. Maybe it captured a character so perfectly that collectors stopped nitpicking for five full minutes, which in toy world is basically a miracle. The best figures of 2022 were the ones that looked great, moved well, felt fun in hand, and made you think, “Yep, that one’s staying on display.”

How These Picks Were Chosen

This ranking weighs five things that matter to real collectors:

• Sculpt and likeness: Does the figure actually look like the character, or like their confused cousin?
• Articulation: Can it pose naturally, or is it destined to stand like it forgot its lower back?
• Accessories: Extra heads, hands, effects, gear, and display options all matter.
• Shelf presence: Some figures own the room. Others merely occupy it.
• Collector buzz: The best toys create conversation, photo shoots, reorders, and mild chaos.

With that out of the way, let’s get to the plastic glory.

The 10 Best Action Figures of 2022

10. Marvel Legends Amazing Fantasy Spider-Man

This figure felt like Hasbro taking a very good Spider-Man formula and tightening every screw. The Amazing Fantasy Spider-Man had a cleaner, more agile body language than a lot of earlier Spider-Man releases, and that mattered. Spider-Man is one of those characters who can expose a figure line’s weaknesses immediately. If he cannot crouch, twist, swing, and generally behave like a caffeinated acrobat, the illusion breaks fast.

Thankfully, this release brought the kind of posing collectors wanted. It looked lean, nimble, and expressive, which is exactly what a classic comic-book Spider-Man should be. It also had that sweet spot many collectors chase: premium-looking without drifting into “I need to explain this purchase to my bank” territory. On a shelf packed with web-heads, this one still managed to stand out.

Why it made the list: it reminded everyone that a standard-sized action figure can still feel special when the proportions and articulation are handled with care.

9. G.I. Joe Classified Series Zarana

Zarana is proof that personality can be just as important as engineering. The best action figures do not only pose well; they tell you who the character is before you even move them. Zarana had attitude baked into the sculpt, the styling, and the overall presentation. She looked dangerous, loud, and fully aware that she was cooler than most of the shelf.

In 2022, the G.I. Joe Classified line really started feeling confident about what kind of toy line it wanted to be. It was not simply modernizing old designs. It was translating them with just enough swagger to keep longtime fans happy while making the figures feel alive to newer collectors. Zarana was one of the releases that showed how well that formula could work when character design and toy design were pulling in the same direction.

If your collection needs one figure that says, “I came here to start problems and look fabulous doing it,” Zarana understood the assignment.

8. McFarlane Toys DC Multiverse The Batman (2022) Masked Batman

Movie tie-in figures are often a gamble. Sometimes you get a winner. Sometimes you get a plastic apology. This one landed on the winning side. McFarlane’s masked Batman from The Batman brought a brooding, armored, gritty look that matched the movie’s mood while still feeling like a toy meant to be handled, posed, and displayed.

It was a big, imposing 7-inch figure with that signature McFarlane silhouette, and the sculpt carried much of the appeal. The suit looked layered and tactical without becoming visually muddy. The cape helped the figure feel larger than life, and the grapnel accessory gave it just enough gear to complete the package. It did not need a mountain of extras. Batman himself was the event.

What made it memorable was the tone. This was not bright heroic Batman. This was “I listen to rain as a hobby” Batman. Collectors responded because the figure captured the movie’s world without losing the fun of a solid action figure.

7. G.I. Joe Classified Series Dr. Mindbender

Dr. Mindbender is one of those characters who should not work nearly as well as he does. He is a mad scientist in a cape with the confidence of a man who has never once worried about looking ridiculous. Naturally, that makes him toy gold. In 2022, the Classified line gave him a release that felt like a proper event.

What pushed this figure onto the list was the full package. The articulation was strong, the accessories were plentiful, and the overall presentation made him feel important. That matters for a character like Mindbender. He cannot just be “pretty good.” He has to feel theatrical, slightly absurd, and a little dangerous. This figure pulled that off while still fitting neatly into the modern Classified aesthetic.

Collectors love a release that balances play value with shelf drama, and Dr. Mindbender had both. He looked fantastic in action poses, but he also looked perfectly at home standing in the center of a Cobra lineup like the weirdest guy at the board meeting.

6. Masters of the Universe Masterverse Anniversary Edition He-Man

By 2022, the Masterverse line had become something more than a nostalgia play. It was turning into proof that classic toy properties can evolve without losing their soul. The Anniversary Edition He-Man captured that beautifully. He looked familiar enough to satisfy longtime fans, but upgraded enough to feel like a modern collector figure rather than a museum replica of your childhood floor battles.

The proportions were heroic, the sculpt had more texture and presence than vintage-inspired releases, and the whole thing carried the kind of polished “premium mass retail” energy that made Masterverse so interesting. This was Mattel saying that He-Man could still matter in a crowded collector market, and the line’s broader 2022 recognition only reinforced that point.

Most importantly, Anniversary He-Man felt celebratory without being lazy. It did not coast on brand recognition. It actually tried. In a year loaded with high-profile releases, effort still counts for a lot.

5. Marvel Legends 20th Anniversary Captain America

Captain America action figures have a tough job. They have to look classic, move cleanly, hold a shield convincingly, and somehow make “man in patriotic scales” look instantly cool instead of vaguely theatrical. This 20th Anniversary release pulled it off with confidence.

Collectors loved the combination of strong paint work, a detailed costume, multiple portraits, and shield effects that made the package feel more deluxe than an average Marvel Legends release. Better yet, the figure looked like a definitive comic-book Cap rather than a compromise. That is a big reason it still gets talked about so fondly. When a collector says, “That might be my favorite Cap,” they are not handing out compliments like Halloween candy.

What really sold it was balance. It had nostalgia, but it did not rely on nostalgia alone. It had display value, but it also begged to be posed. In a line with hundreds of characters and endless costume variations, standing out as a Captain America figure is no small feat.

4. Figura Obscura Headless Horseman

Now we get to the deliciously weird part of the list. The Figura Obscura Headless Horseman was not a mainstream mass-market release, and that is part of why it felt so exciting. It arrived like a collector secret that accidentally escaped into daylight. The concept was strong, the execution was bold, and the final figure looked like gothic Halloween magic turned into articulated plastic.

This release succeeded because it understood mood. Some figures win on articulation, some on likeness, but this one won on atmosphere. It felt mythic. It felt story-driven. It looked like the kind of figure you buy because it is beautiful, then keep because it makes everything around it look cooler. A great shelf presence can elevate an entire display, and the Headless Horseman absolutely did that.

It also stood out in 2022 because it offered something many collector lines do not: genuine surprise. No giant movie push. No endless convention campaign. Just a killer figure with unforgettable presence. Sometimes that hits harder than the biggest license in the room.

3. G.I. Joe Classified Series Sgt. Slaughter

Yes, the G.I. Joe Classified line shows up more than once on this list. No, I am not apologizing. In 2022, the line was cooking. Sgt. Slaughter was one of the clearest signs that Hasbro had found the groove. He had the oversized charisma, the old-school icon status, and the toy execution to make him feel essential instead of merely nostalgic.

This figure worked because it embraced what made the character fun in the first place. Sgt. Slaughter is not subtle. He is a walking action figure concept, and that is meant as praise. The Classified version leaned into the larger-than-life look while still keeping the articulation and modern detailing collectors expect. The result was a release that felt faithful and fresh at the same time.

Some figures are great because they are refined. Sgt. Slaughter was great because he was gloriously unapologetic. He stomped onto shelves like he owned the line, and honestly, for a minute there, he kind of did.

2. NECA Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin

The Last Ronin was always going to be a challenge. The comic has a heavier, darker, more tragic tone than the bright pizza-powered turtle chaos many fans grew up with. NECA met that challenge by delivering a figure that looked rougher, bulkier, and more battle-worn than the average TMNT release. It felt right immediately.

That is what made this release special. It was not just a turtle figure with moody branding. It actually captured the comic’s grit. The build, the accessories, the overall silhouette, and the attitude all worked together. This figure looked like it had been through things. Serious things. Not “my brother stole the last slice” things.

Collectors responded because NECA respected the source material and translated it into a toy that still felt fun to handle. It was dramatic without becoming stiff, detailed without becoming cluttered, and iconic without needing nostalgia to do all the work. In a year full of strong figures, The Last Ronin had that rare “instant centerpiece” quality.

1. HasLab Marvel Legends Galactus

Some figures are toys. Some are statements. Galactus was a statement the size of a small landlord dispute. This was the kind of release that reminds collectors why big swings matter. Massive in scale and loaded with extras, Galactus was not trying to be sensible. He was trying to be unforgettable, and mission accomplished.

The figure came with additional characters, display pieces, alternate parts, and enough sheer presence to dominate a room before you even found the perfect shelf for him. That sense of abundance mattered. Galactus is not a character who should ever feel ordinary, and HasLab clearly understood that. This was excess deployed with purpose.

But scale alone did not make Galactus number one. Plenty of huge collectibles are impressive for ten seconds and boring forever. Galactus worked because the sculpt, articulation, expression options, and display flexibility all backed up the spectacle. He was enormous, yes, but he was also thoughtfully made. That combination is rare.

If you wanted one figure from 2022 that summed up just how ambitious modern action figures can be, Galactus was it. He was not only one of the best action figures of 2022. He was one of the most memorable collector releases of the year, full stop.

Why 2022 Was Such a Great Year for Action Figure Collectors

One of the best things about 2022 was the variety. It was not just a Marvel year or a movie year or a nostalgia year. It was all of those at once. Collectors could buy enormous premium showpieces, sharp comic-style releases, gritty movie figures, updated cartoon icons, and offbeat specialty pieces without feeling like the whole hobby was pulling in only one direction.

Another big reason the year stands out is that many toy lines finally seemed to understand the modern collector. People do not just want a recognizable character anymore. They want better sculpting, cleaner paint, useful accessories, expressive posing, and a figure that feels worth displaying for more than a week. In 2022, several companies delivered exactly that.

And let’s be honest: nostalgia also had a very good year. But the best figures on this list did not coast on old memories. They improved on them. They made familiar characters feel exciting again, which is much harder than simply slapping retro packaging on a box and calling it a day.

Collector Experiences: What It Felt Like to Chase the Best Action Figures of 2022

If you collected action figures in 2022, you probably remember the feeling. It was a weird mix of joy, strategy, impulse, and tiny bursts of chaos. One minute you were calmly telling yourself you were only buying one figure this month. The next minute you were comparing preorders, watching review videos at midnight, and explaining to yourself why a six-inch plastic super-soldier was obviously a necessary life expense.

That was part of the fun. The best action figures of 2022 did not just look good after you opened them. They created a whole experience around them. You would hear about a release, see the promo shots, shrug like a responsible adult, and then see in-hand photos a week later and suddenly your wallet was filing a missing persons report. Good figures do that. Great figures do that while also making you rearrange an entire shelf to “just test the vibe.”

There was also something especially satisfying about how different these releases felt in hand. Galactus was the giant event figure that made you laugh the first time you set him up because he was so absurdly massive. Captain America was the opposite kind of thrill: compact, polished, and surprisingly definitive. The Last Ronin had that darker, grittier presence that made a TMNT display look instantly more dramatic. Then you had characters like Zarana and Dr. Mindbender, who brought pure personality to the shelf. They did not just stand there. They performed.

For longtime collectors, 2022 also felt like validation. A lot of classic properties got updated in ways that finally respected both the original character designs and the expectations of modern collectors. You could see the engineering getting smarter. You could see the paint choices improving. You could feel that companies understood people were not only buying toys for kids or sealed-box investments. They were buying figures to pose, photograph, display, swap around, and enjoy repeatedly.

And then there was the community side of it. People compared favorites, argued over rankings, posted shelf shots, celebrated deliveries, and complained about availability like it was a sacred ritual. That social energy is part of what made 2022 memorable. A great figure does not live in isolation. It sparks conversation. It gives collectors something to obsess over in the most harmlessly ridiculous way possible.

Looking back, that is what the best action figures of 2022 really represent. They were not just products. They were moments. Little plastic landmarks in a year when collecting still felt exciting, surprising, and occasionally gloriously over-the-top. Which, frankly, is exactly how action figures should feel.

Final Thoughts

The best action figures of 2022 proved that the category was healthier than ever. The year gave collectors everything from gigantic premium spectacle to compact comic-book perfection. If your taste leans toward superheroes, horror, sci-fi, military, or fantasy, 2022 probably gave you at least one figure that made you grin like a kid and inspect paint apps like a tiny plastic detective.

If there is one big takeaway, it is this: the best action figures are not always the most expensive, the rarest, or the loudest. They are the ones that make you want to pick them up again. In 2022, these ten did exactly that.

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