When I say “Tamagotchi”, you’ll either remember trying to keep them alive as a child or trying to keep them alive for your child while they were at school.
Whatever your experience, the news that the digital pets are making a comeback and are predicted to be one of the hottest toys this Christmas had us feeling nostalgic (and a little conflicted) here at GH HQ. Were we ready to take on the responsibility again?
What are Tamagotchis and how do they work?
Tamagotchis were first released in November 1996 by Japanese toy manufacturer, Bandai, and quickly became a global phenomenon. When you switched on the small handheld device, the screen greeted you with an egg – after 10 minutes, your little Tamagotchi was born, resembling a circular blob with eyes and a mouth.
Once you named your newborn pet, you then had to feed it, play with it and care for it as it grew from a baby, into a toddler, then a child and an adult, eventually becoming an old man or woman over the course of a few weeks. Forget to care for your pet though, and it would die. And many did, neglected in bedside drawers and school bags.
Tamagotchi released a few versions of the toy throughout the late 90s before upgrading it completely in 2004 with the Tamagotchi Connection. This version used infra-red to connect wirelessly with other Tamagotchi, opening up a whole new dimension of play. You could link up with friends by sending your pets on virtual play dates, exchanging gifts, and even planning your pet’s wedding (more on that later).
The Tamagotchi comeback
While there have been a few new designs since 2004, including the Tamagotchi Uni (a wearable version of the digital companion, it’s the Connection that has caught the interest of a new generation of Tamagotchi parents – Gen Z.
According to Bandai, global sales of Tamagotchis more than doubled between 2022 and 2023 and there’s even a dedicated physical store in London’s Camden Market. So, I decided to see if the needy digital pets were really as fun as I remembered, or whether the responsibility would still prove too much.
I recruited two GH colleagues who were willing to take on Tamagotchi parenting duties – here’s what happened when we looked after Taco, Beanie and Stan for three weeks.
Corin Ripley, junior fashion editor, and her Tamagotchi, Taco
The excitement of having a Tamagotchi again was crazy, I hadn’t touched one since childhood so I couldn’t wait for the egg to hatch. When he was born, he was just a cute blob, and I named him Taco.
I managed to keep him alive for three full weeks as I took him everywhere with me… to work, the pub, even on a night out. I loved taking care of the little guy and the nostalgia was strong – let’s not talk about the extreme panic that set in when I left him at home one day. I was terrified I’d be met with Taco wearing his angel wings when I got home.
Luckily, he survived and not long into his adult life, he met a visiting girl Tamagotchi, got married and had a baby – Chimichurri. Eventually, I even became a great grandparent, as each of my pets would get married, have a baby and then die, leaving me to take care of their kid – Chimichurri, turned into Jimmy.
I went home to visit family and unfortunately Jimmy perished in my jean pocket over the course of the weekend. RIP. I know my younger self would have been proud of how long I lasted. With a jam-packed grown-up schedule, I’m afraid my life is no longer as Tamagotchi friendly, but this is still a fun toy for those with a few less responsibilities!
Lifestyle writer, Maddie Evans, and her Tamagotchi, Beanie
Back in the day, Nintendogs and Tamagotchis sparked a very early awakening of my maternal instincts, and I absolutely jumped at the chance to relive the experience, now at the ripe old age of 25.
The nostalgia was real as I waited for my Tamagotchi egg to hatch. I remember feeling the same excitement years ago; how will my pet look, is it a girl or a boy, what should I call it? What I didn’t remember so clearly was the beeping sound each time you pressed the buttons (though I'm sure my mum would), but I was quick to find the mute for that...
It finally hatched and there I was with my own little “Beanie”. I made sure I entertained, fed, watered, and pooper-scooped for my little angel every time I had a spare moment. I was quite enthusiastic to begin with, but Beanie proved to be a little needy, and I was only able to give him attention when I had a spare moment on the commute or in between meetings – priorities.
Sadly, Beanie died after a week, but thanks to that handy little reset button, all was not lost, and Eggie was born. Endless fun! I really enjoyed the option to connect with other devices, and have actually since bought one as a Secret Santa gift for my friend.
I hooked it onto my bag, and it actually looked very cute alongside my other keyrings. I think it makes a great gift, and a nice change to doom-scrolling on the tube.
Homes writer, Megan Geall, and her Tamagotchi, Stan
When I heard that Tamagotchis were making a comeback, I was immediately transported to the early 2000s when my sister and I would sit for hours playing games and interacting with each other’s pets.
Thinking of a name for my newborn was actually pretty difficult (the blob doesn’t have much personality after all) but I ended up settling on Stan. I quickly became quite attached to my little guy; he sat in my coat pocket for over two weeks, and I’d check on him while on the tube, during my lunch hour, and chilling on the sofa at night.
Everything seemed exactly as I remembered it; there were even the classic games such as Bump and Flag to keep my Tamagotchi (and me) entertained. What I really liked was how it got me away from my phone – I swapped scrolling on TikTok and Instagram for feeding sushi and ice cream cones to Stan, which was much more therapeutic. Everyone I knew wanted to play with Stan too, including my mum, who quickly got sucked in to playing the games and getting him his dinner.
I was very invested for the first week but after that, Stan’s neediness got a bit much. If his happiness level dropped too much, it then took loads of game playing to bring it back up again – not ideal when I had actual adult tasks to be getting on with e.g. cooking dinner and cleaning. For younger children and teens though, it’s a good form of entertainment, which feels much more wholesome than social media.
Sadly, Stan died of old age after about two weeks. Together, we’d mastered Bump but failed the Heading game many times. I then passed my Tamagotchi onto my partner who was desperate to relive his youth too. His pet, Barry, only lasted a few days so I feel quite smug about my parenting skills.
The verdict on Tamagotchis
Currently priced at just £23, these egg-shaped toys make a fantastic small gift for Christmas that’s sure to bring hours of fun to players of any age. The toy is compact, making it easy to store away in your pocket or attach as a keyring to a bag, and it comes in a range of retro designs and different colourways.
For adults, it's all about nostalgia – cue lots of walks down memory lane with colleagues and friends – as well as helping you step away from your smartphone for a little while. For kids, it’s a safe, fun toy that teaches nurturing instincts and responsibility.
Whoever you’re gifting it to, it will keep them entertained for hours. Just make sure to turn the sound off once you’ve got it running (hold A and C and there should be the option to turn it off), unless you want to drive everyone around you (and probably yourself) insane.
Tamagotchi Connection is available to buy from Amazon and Argos.
Megan is the Good Housekeeping Institute’s senior homes and lifestyle writer. She loves diving into the latest product releases to find the very best buys on the market and has written hundreds of product reviews on everything from the best vacuum cleaners and coffee machines to the best ice cream makers and robot window cleaners.
When she’s not writing about the newest gadgets and gizmos for your home and garden, you’ll find her running every distance from 5km to 100km or relaxing at home with her cat – there really is no in between.
Megan has an MA in Magazine Journalism and has previously written for Stylist, Glamour, Women's Health, TimeOut, SquareMeal, and YOU magazine. You can find Megan on Instagram @meganlouisegeall.
