Nostalgia Unplugged: The Timeless Allure of Retro Gadgets Captivating Gen Z and Millennials

It was a game originating from Japan that gained immense popularity in the 1990s, with individuals captivated by a circular device where they had to nourish, clean, and provide emotional care to a virtual pet they “hatched”, or it would perish.

Tamagotchi, both a game and “portable toy”, also created a sensation due to its disruptive nature, as participants became fixated on caring for a digital creature at every beep and alert from the vibrant and colorful apparatus, adversely affecting their education and other real-life engagements.

Many of the children and adults who engaged with Tamagotchi might have moved past it by now, but the game isn’t obsolete.

It has made a resurgence, enchanting a new generation of digital natives while rekindling the interest of some devoted fans who grew up with the game.

Ms. Rachel Liew, 34, a trainer in human resources, was among those who interacted with a Tamagotchi pet during her childhood. She expressed: “For me, Tamagotchi is more than just a toy. It resembles a companion.”

“It’s akin to a friend or a pet that is always by your side, providing that emotional encouragement.”

Ms. Liew began her collection of the toy in 2013 and currently owns 180 of them.

Several of her rare Tamagotchi units are even loaned to the National Museum of Singapore for an ongoing exhibition.

This weekend, In Pictures highlights some nostalgic gadgets from the 1990s owned by three collectors, to explore why some millennials (also recognized as Generation Y, born between 1981 and 1996) and Gen Zers (born from 1997 onwards) continue to keep them active.