If your parents refused to let you have a pet when you were a child in the late 90’s then you probably had the digital equivalent – a Tamagotchi. Tamagotchi’s were released in 1996 and quickly became the new phase of the late 90’s/early 00’s.

They were even banned in a large amount of schools in the UK due to their constant need for attention! So, let’s take a look back at why these toys were so great.

Tamagotchi History

The Tamagotchi was created by Akihiro Yokoi (WIZ) and Aku Maita (Bandai) in 1996, releasing in Japan that year and in 1997 around the world. The Tamagotchi was ultimately a game where you looked after a creature by feeding, playing and cleaning it.

It consisted of a small egg-shaped handheld toy that had a screen, a key chain and came in a variety of different colours. The screen showed a small creature, your pet, which you were tasked with looking after using the three buttons underneath. Ultimately, the aim of the game was to keep the Tamagotchi alive!

The pets came in different alien-like species and developed as time went on. They were first displayed as an egg that would hatch and then, if you looked after it properly, would continue to grow into an adult creature. You were tasked with feeding, cleaning and playing with your pet and the more you cared for it, the more they would grow.

If you neglected the Tamagotchi, they would become sick and could if not cared for, would die. Over 76 million Tamagotchi’s were sold worldwide as of 2010 with 44 different versions released becoming one of the most recognised toys of their generation.

Tamagotchi Through the Years

The original Tamagotchi’s, although fantastic at the time, were very basic. But as time went on the features became more and more advanced. In later models, including the Plus version, Tamagotchi used infrared to connect devices together – allowing pets to become friends, marry and even have babies! This was great for children whose friends all had the toy.

The models continued to progress and eventually in 2006 they were the first toy able to connect to a PC. This allowed the players to connect it to the ‘Tamagotchi Town’ and interact with other players, including playing games to earn ‘Gotchi Points’ to use in the shops. This lead onto the Tamagotchi 4U which allowed you to connect to smartphones and tablets to enjoy additional games and fun.

Today, you can get the Tamagotchi App which is solely played on your smartphone and works on the same story line of looking after a creature progressing through levels to unlock more games, food and toys to play with. The game involves being awarded with coins for completing an action which can then be spent on speeding activities up or to unlock additional games etc.

You can also take pictures of your pet, so you can look back at their development and milestones (and collect more coins!). Tamagotchi also have their own website where you can play games and watch videos without the need of the apps or physical toys. You can also get to know a wide range of different Tamagotchi creatures including performers, musicians and chefs!

The Comeback!

Guess what? The original handheld Tamagotchi’s are back for their 20^th Anniversary and were released in late 2017. They do not come with infrared or the ability to connect to your PC – they are back to the original old-school format! Yippee! The main difference is that they are 60% smaller than the original and therefore named “Mini Tamagotchi.”

There are available in some stores in the UK today so why not take a trip down memory lane for a bargain price of around £10!

Find your new toy today!