Kids who grew up in the '90s played with a lot of cool toys. There was Game Boy, Furby, Polly Pocket, Barbie, Bop It. There was a whole slew of different gadgets we could choose from. But how come the one we probably remember most—and still play with—is Tamagotchi?
Whether it's the characters or the designs, we'll dive into why Tamagotchi is still standing strong among adults even decades later.
First Taste of Responsibility
For many kids born in the '90s and early 2000s, playing with Tamagotchi gave them their first taste of responsibility. You essentially had an actual pet in your hands: one you had to feed, clean, and play with. The earlier versions might have been simple enough, but as the toy became more advanced and Bandai released more iterations, the gameplay became more immersive, and included features that made the tiny pixel pet more lifelike.
Back then, there was even an interactive website you could log onto to play more games with your Tamagotchi: TamaTown. While the site eventually phased out, you may still be able to visit the address, although you'll now find a fan page in its stead.
Fun Characters and Collectible Designs
It wasn't just the gameplay that made this toy so beloved—the characters and the collectible designs you could get made the experience even more fun. No matter what your favorite color or pattern, you were bound to find one that matched your personality perfectly. You could even decorate your toy further with keychains and Tamagotchi-themed straps.
The characters your baby Tamagotchi could turn into also changed depending on several factors, meaning you weren't always stuck with the same pet. If you took good care of it, you would get a higher-tier character; if you gave it bad care, meaning you missed feeding or cleaning it, you would get a lower-tier character. However, every generation gave you a new opportunity to get a different character, which made the gameplay memorable.
There's another thing, too. Despite Tamagotchi being brought back by Bandai, with the latest being Tamagotchi Connection in 2024 (which is nearly identical to the original Tamagotchi Connection Version 3 that was released in 2006), some designs are different. This means that certain patterns were only available during the original release, which makes them more coveted by other players and collectors.
Pang of Nostalgia
It has already been nearly 30 years since the Tamagotchi was first released, and the fact that it's still being played by the adults who owned the originals as kids shows just how memorable this pixel toy really is. Despite the shift in trends and generations, as well as advancements in technology and toys, it takes a lot to be remembered even decades later.
Perhaps it's not the gameplay at all. Maybe it's just the pang of nostalgia adults get whenever we so much as see a Tamagotchi. They say that memories that are attached to strong emotions are more powerful, so maybe it's because this toy is associated with many of our childhoods that we find it so hard to let go. No matter what it is, though, don't be surprised if you see more adults playing these digital pets—and don't be surprised if they make an even louder comeback.
