A virtual pet is a digital animal or creature that you look after on a screen. You feed it, clean up after it and play with it, and its needs change over time, usually on a real clock that keeps running when you aren’t looking. The Tamagotchi made the idea famous in 1996. Today most virtual pets are phone apps, and many have dropped the old rule that a neglected pet dies.
Where did virtual pets come from? #
The idea is older than the name. Wikipedia’s virtual pet article traces the first known example to Neko, a cat that chased your mouse cursor around the screen. PF.Magic made computer pets popular with Dogz in 1995 and Catz in 1996, which became the Petz series.
Then came the handheld boom. Tamagotchi (1996) and Digimon (1997) turned into a craze across Japan, the United States and the United Kingdom in the late 1990s. Web communities like Neopets followed, where you played games to earn virtual money and spent it on your pet.
Phones took over from there. Pou arrived in 2012, My Talking Tom in 2013 and Neko Atsume in 2014, and the genre has kept splitting into new styles since.
What types of virtual pets are there? #
| Type | Examples | How you interact |
|---|---|---|
| Handheld toys | Tamagotchi | Buttons on a small device that runs around the clock |
| Computer software | Dogz, Catz | A pet that lives on your desktop |
| Web communities | Neopets | Play games for currency, spend it on your pet |
| Screen mates | Neko | Small animations that wander across your screen |
| Phone care games | Pou, My Talking Tom 2, Chill Capy | Feed, clean and play mini-games on your phone |
| Collection pets | Neko Atsume 2 | Put out food and toys, and animals come to visit |
| Self-care pets | Finch | The pet grows when you complete real-life self-care goals |
The phone care game is the direct descendant of the Tamagotchi and the type most people mean when they search for a virtual pet today.
How does a virtual pet work? #
Almost every virtual pet is built from the same four parts.
Needs that drain over time #
The pet has meters, usually for hunger, happiness, cleanliness and energy. They fall as time passes. Most modern pets use your device’s clock, so the meters keep dropping while the app is closed.
Actions that refill them #
Each need has a matching action: feed it, play with it, bathe it, put it to bed. This is the core loop, and good games make each action feel satisfying on its own.
A reason to come back #
Growth, levels, coins, outfits, room decorations and daily rewards give you something to look forward to beyond keeping the meters full. This is where phone pets differ most from the original toys, which mostly had growth.
Consequences for neglect #
This varies more than anything else. A Tamagotchi can get sick and die. The old Petz games didn’t let pets die but showed warning behavior when their needs weren’t met. Many phone pets now keep the meters and remove death completely.
Can a virtual pet die? #
Some can. As Wikipedia puts it, if a Tamagotchi is unattended long enough it will become “sick” and, if neglected further, “die.” We explain how fast that happens in do Tamagotchis die?.
Plenty of newer games don’t work that way. They show neglect with a sad face, a messy room or a smaller reward, and the pet is always there when you come back. If you’re shopping for one, check the store description for how the game handles missed days. It’s the design choice that most changes how the game feels.
Why do people get attached to virtual pets? #
A pet that needs you creates a small, steady routine, and routines are sticky. People even have a name for it: the Tamagotchi effect, the emotional attachment we form with machines and software characters. Researchers note possible upsides, like a sense of security, and concerns, like relying on a digital pet instead of people.
The rest comes down to personality. The best virtual pets react to you. They wiggle when poked, have favorite snacks and say silly things, so looking after them feels more like hanging out than doing chores.
Are virtual pets for kids or adults? #
Both. The 1990s craze was mostly kids, and plenty of pet apps still aim there. But a lot of adults now use virtual pets as a calm two-minute break during the day. Finch, for example, is rated 9+ on the App Store and ties its pet to journaling and breathing exercises.
If you’re choosing for a child, look at more than the age rating. Check whether the game has ads, how pushy its in-app purchases are, and whether it uses guilt to bring players back. If you want the official brand on a phone, our guide to the Tamagotchi app for iPhone and Android covers what’s actually available.
What a modern virtual pet looks like #
Chill Capy is a good example of where the genre has gone. You look after a capybara who lives in a hot spring. He has four meters (food, energy, clean and fun) that drift in real time, and his mood and facial expression follow from them. You feed him snacks, give him baths, let him soak in the onsen and turn off the lights so he can sleep.
The design rule is that he never dies, never leaves and never scolds you. Stat loss stops counting after 18 hours away, so a week off leaves him a bit scruffy and very happy to see you. Around the care loop there are three short mini-games, a wardrobe of hats, a hot spring that follows your real time of day, and playdates with friends’ capybaras by QR code. It’s free on iOS and Android, works offline and needs no account.
Frequently asked questions #
What was the first virtual pet? #
The earliest known example is Neko, a cat that chased the mouse cursor on computer screens. Dogz (1995) and Catz (1996) made computer pets popular, and the Tamagotchi (1996) made virtual pets a worldwide craze.
Do virtual pets keep going when the app is closed? #
Most do. Many phone pets use your device’s clock, so their meters keep changing while the app is closed. Some cap how much can change while you’re away so a long break doesn’t wreck your progress.
What’s the difference between a virtual pet and a cozy game? #
A virtual pet centers on looking after one creature. A cozy game is a broader label for relaxed, non-violent games, and it includes farming, decorating and collecting games too. Many modern virtual pets are also cozy games.
Are virtual pets free? #
Most phone pets are free to download and make money from ads, in-app purchases or subscriptions. Physical toys like the Tamagotchi and some apps cost money upfront. Apple Arcade games are included with the subscription.