In another installment of “toys that I will probably buy but never ever open,” is this lovely retro-overloaded Castle Grayskull straight out of the Masters of the Universe cartoon series. The Masters of the Universe Vintage Castle Grayskull Playset is not quite a replica of the original 80s toy you drooled over watching on TV commercials when you were a kid; it’s inspired by Mark Taylor’s prototype, featuring a gray exterior with mossy green accents. It does retain the classic features, though. Most notable is the vertical clamshell-style design that opens up for a two-sided play area and folds back up for easy carrying and storage.
In case you’re a youngling (i.e., Gen Z or Gen Alpha) and wondering… yes, we did lug our toys over to our friends’ houses back in the day. Anyways, I’m not going to be anal about it (about it not being green like the original toy). A vintage Fortress of Mystery and Power for He-Man and his allies is still a Fortress of Mystery and Power for He-Man and his allies. If you ask me, now that it’s gray, it’s actually more fitting with its namesake.
Anyhoo, this set comes with a Stygian Moat mat from the Taylor prototype, providing a visual foundation. Perfect for anyone who has trouble imagining a moat around it. Like any good castle, this fortress features a Jawbridge that opens and closes, an Elevator to connect the warriors to the upper level, and a Laser Blaster to blast would-be invaders into oblivion. Finally, there’s the good ’ol requisite Trap Door that drops straight into the Prisoner Cell.
Other features include two soft goods Banners, a Flag, a Ladder, four Weapons, two Weapon Racks, and a Combat Practice Stand. A sheet of six Stickers is included to add colorful touches. The set comes with one figure—a special edition Space Suit figure—so you’ll need to rope in your other 5.5-inch scale figures (like those MOTU Origins) to stage whatever battle you fancy.
The Masters of the Universe Vintage Castle Grayskull Playset with display mat and Spaceman figure is set to drop in January 2026 for US$107.99. Meanwhile, fans can pre-order it on Amazon with a savings pre-order price guarantee. Go check it out, fellow MOTU fans.
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Images: Mattel.
Hat tip via Instagram (@igndeals).
