Why do people want to take care of Tamagotchis again?

While I feel tempted to say “Tamagotchi walked so Pou and My Talking Tom/Angela could run,” I have to admit they belong to different leagues. 

First off, the concept of a pet’s death in Tamagotchi already makes it very different. While most pet games opt not to inject the reality of dying – as most games are expected to be a form of escapism, I get it – Tamagotchi never shied away, showing a pixelated tombstone that haunts irresponsible owners in their sleep. Neglecting your pet in the food or happiness department would entail a permanent goodbye, not just a low score or a warning sign.

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In fact, it has been a running gag. It’s culture. I can’t count how many times my friends and I randomly remembered the existence of our Tamagotchis, and laughed about how we, as a society, left them in the 2D cold, thanks to growing up. But despite the changing times, Bandai never stopped producing Tamagotchis since 1996. Is 2026 the year we sign up (again) as responsible virtual pet parents?

Just a month ago, a BLACKPINK x Tamagotchi collaboration was announced, showcasing an actual limited edition version of the egg-shaped console. But get this: It’s just a “pre-launch product” to an extensive collaboration that’s yet to be unveiled.

Even UNIQLO couldn’t resist joining the party. Apart from adorable Tamagotchi shirts in their UT collection, this team-up involves an exclusive Tamagotchi Original shell to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the iconic toy. But the current Tamagotchi craze can’t possibly be chalked up to this commemoration alone. Before these enticing drops even happened, there had already been an undeniable demand. In 2024, the BBC reports that from 2022 to 2023, Tamagotchi sales across the world have more than doubled. And just in time for its third decade in the market, the pocket-sized Japanese toy has reportedly shipped more than 100 million units. 

You don’t even need to see the numbers to know the impact. Just take a look at the Roponggi Museum, Roblox, or even your Nintendo DS or Switch 2 consoles. Last holiday season, I caved in and gifted myself a Tamagotchi-inspired key ring I randomly spotted at my favorite mall. (But of course, I promise to resurrect my original Tamagotchi my parents gave me when I was in elementary school. I even adorned it with stickers.)

Experts have pointed out the “kidult” culture as one of the main fuels of this Tamagotchi renaissance. In recent years, adults have also been trying to “heal their inner child” by purchasing toys that remind them of their childhood, among other ways. Now that these adults have purchasing power, it’s no wonder that Tamagotchis are a hit. Moreover, in the bigger picture, retro gaming has been turning heads in some parts of the world. 

“You turn your console on at the top, you’re gaming. There’s no stress, there’s no internet, you’re not competing against the world. You’ve got yourself in a game, you feel a sense of achievement as you’re going and that was originally what you used to do,” said Luke Malpass, owner of vintage console repair shop RetroSix, in an article by The Guardian.

Given the internet’s almost-unified oath of living an analog life this year, it looks like the hype won’t die down anytime soon. Come to think of it, a Tamagotchi packs the components of an appealing analog hobby – it’s fun and entertaining, but doesn’t demand too much of your time. It may not bring dopamine hit after dopamine hit, nor the adrenaline rush of your go-to “stressful” games, but it can give you a sense of fulfillment. Who knows, it may even inspire you to practice being more mindful and less forgetful – traits that can come in handy with everyday responsibilities.

And oh, I’d take feeding a low-maintenance virtual pet over excessive AI companionship any day.

Ready to cave in? Here are some of the Tamagotchi variants you can buy:

🛒 Tamagotchi Pink Treasure Jewel

🛒 TinyTAN Tamagotchi in Purple

🛒 Jurassic World / Resurrection of the Earth Tamagotchi Mosasaurus ver. Tamagotchi Nano

🛒 Tamagotchi Uni

🛒 Tamagotchi Connection – Rainbow Sky

 – Rappler.com

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