Grab your scrunchies, clearfiles, and school backpack - Tamagotchi are officially back in fashion. What’s even better? They now come with brand new features including Wi-Fi and more functionality. My 9-year-old self is screaming.
Tamagotchi sales have “more than doubled between 2022 and 2023” thanks to Gen Z discovering them for the first time while Millennials yearn to get in touch with their childhood self again.
The brand has even announced a new Tamagotchi store will be opening up in London with an upgraded version of the device which lets you “connect with friends” and allows downloads. How epic?
The popular kid’s toy created by Japanese brand Bandai Namco was all the rage back in the 90s and 2000s. A Tamagotchi device is home to a virtual pet you would have to feed, play with, and clean up after.
These devices caused SO much chaos my primary school ended up imposing a ban on them after deciding everyone’s backpacks beeping 24/7 was ‘distracting’. .
For most of us, this was our first realisation that being a parent might be hard work.
Before you start worrying you might be ‘too old’ to own a virtual pet, and sense the resentment kicking in, don’t fret. The relaunch of the product was “millennial-focused”, according to the brand, but they’ve now noticed players from all generations are picking up these toys.
So yes, it’s socially acceptable to rock one of these bad boys again.
Struggling to incorporate the device into your fit as an adult? There’s a trend on TikTok where people have created necklaces and other accessories using the Tamagotchi device. You can be a nostalgic trendsetter and a great (virtual) pet parent as well.
It feels like all my nostalgic dreams are finally becoming reality... I'm just waiting for One Direction to make a comeback.
