Stuff We Want: Tamagotchi Original, the Only Pet That Fits on Your Keychain and Still Judges You
The 1997 digital pet is back with its original Gen 2 programming, and it still needs you more than your group chat does.
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Somewhere in a junk drawer at your parents' house, there's a tiny egg-shaped tombstone. You know what you did. You went to soccer practice in 1998 and came back to a ghost.
Good news: you get a second chance. Bad news: it still poops.
The Tamagotchi Original is the same digital pet you neglected in middle school, back with the original generation 2 programming and characters. You feed it, turn its lights off at bedtime, play with it and flush after it uses the bathroom. And if it acts up when it's already fed, happy and clean, you get to discipline it. Finally, something in your life that listens.
It starts as an egg and grows from child to adult, and how well you take care of it decides which of 7 adult forms you end up with. So yes, there's a version of this where you raise a little legend, and a version where everyone can tell it was raised by you.
There's also a built-in Number game where you guess whether the next number is higher or lower. That's it. That's the game. It's still more fun than most apps on your phone, and it doesn't want your email address.
This one is the Starry Shower shell: a star pattern with a gold "Tamagotchi" logo and frame and light blue buttons. It comes on a chain so you can clip it to your bag and carry your responsibilities around in public. The CR2032 battery is included, so it's ready to hatch out of the box. The listing says ages 8 and up, which means you and your coworker both qualify.
Who it's for
- '90s kids who still owe a pixel pet an apology.
- Stocking stuffer shoppers who want something small that gets a real "NO WAY" on the morning it's opened.
- Anyone who wants a pet but whose landlord, schedule or attention span says absolutely not.
Who should skip it
- You need it to do more. It's the original: no app, no color screen, no Wi-Fi. That's kind of the point.
- You can't handle beeping. It will call you. During meetings. It does not care.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Original Gen 2 programming and characters, not a reboot with a new personality.
- Seven adult forms, so how you play changes how it turns out.
- Battery and chain included, ready to clip on.
Cons
- It will absolutely guilt-trip you.
- Your group chat will start sending pet status updates instead of memes.
Pros and cons are our read of the features on the listing, not a hands-on test.
How it compares
Want more '90s energy you can actually wear? The JLab Rewind 2 headphones bring back the retro on-ear look with Bluetooth. The Tamagotchi is the one that needs you to feed it.
FAQ
Is this the original version or a new one?
The listing says it's the Original Tamagotchi with the original generation 2 programming and characters.
Does it come with a battery?
Yes. A CR2032 battery is included and the what's-in-the-box list.
How many adult characters can it become?
Seven. Which one you get depends on how you take care of it.
Can I clip it to my bag?
Yes. It comes on a chain so it can go everywhere with you.
The verdict
The verdict: hand-picked because it's the rare gift that's nostalgic, tiny, and a little bit of a dare. Send it to the friend who swears they were a great Tamagotchi parent. They weren't.
#ad. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Hand-picked by The Deez List.
