Danny Gaines won a giant Sonic the Hedgehog stuffed animal for his grandson by playing shoot out the star. “ [It] was my first time after several years of trying,” Gaines said.

A stuffed animal is easy enough to understand, but if you’re picking out a hedgehog-inspired toy that isn’t a simple plush doll or animal figurine, consider what it’s designed to do.

For a high-quality hedgehog plush toy, the top choice is the Dilly Dudu Hedgehog Stuffed Animal. It maintains the appearance of a hedgehog curled up in a ball, but it’s far softer to the touch.

The Animal Bag is an oversized, plush bag that’s coveredwith large, zippered windows made out of transparent, durable mesh. Childrencan fill the bag with stuffed animals of all sizes, and then ...