Pet Sites From the 2000s: Where Are They Now?

When I was growing up, the Internet was packed with safe spaces for children: simple games, educational websites and pet sites that invited you to create a digital companion. Today, most of those websites have disappeared. However, pet sites were so huge at their peak that they still linger in the public's consciousness--and with "y2k" aesthetic making a comeback, these games might have another shot in the limelight.

I hadn't played any of these games in years, so I decided to check in and see if these websites from my youth were still around. Surprisingly, most of the old pet sites are still kicking, although I've clearly missed a lot of changes in the past two decades. If you have starving pets on accounts that you abandoned a long time ago, this is your sign to check up on them.

Neopets

Neopets was the ultimate pet site. When I played Neopets in middle school, I just thought it was fun and had a crush on a male character named Jeran (yeah, I was deep in the closet.) Looking back, I can see how the vibrant character designs, elaborate plots and quirky British humor made Neopets a global phenomenon.

Grabbing a slice from the giant omelette, learning HTML to customize my pets' webpages, embarking on faerie (not "fairy") quests--these were all fun, creative touches that made Neopia feel like an immersive world. The site quickly became a hyperfixation, and I spent hours playing games, chatting with friends and trying to scrape together enough Neopoints to customize my pets--a goal that I never accomplished. (I never said I was good at this!)

While most pet sites were unknown to the general public, Neopets spawned a catalog of real-world merchandise, including Limited Too plushies, a McDonald's collaboration and a PlayStation 2 video game. Still, the game's popularity eventually started to wane--and when the site passed through multiple owners, I figured it would eventually go the way of Club Penguin.

But first: a little history. Contrary to a long-standing rumor, creators Donna and Adam Powell didn't build Neopets for bored college kids. In fact, they had no demographic in mind when they initially launched the site in 1999. After investors with a Scientology background took over in 2000, the game passed through multiple hands, including Viacom, JumpStart, NetDragon--and, finally, World of Neopia.

The constant regime changes didn't seem to bode well for the site, but once World of Neopia took over, Neopets' star began to rise again. To grab the general public's attention, the owners launched merchandise collaborations with various brands, including Hot Topic and Monopoly, and named John Legend as the "Neopets ambassador." The new management also implemented changes for players, such as making the fan-favorite Varwolf an adoptable pet.

Neopets still has its share of controversies--bots run rampant, staff members disappear without warning, the site pressures users to spend real money through the NC Mall--but Neopia is gaining relevance again, which is more than I can say for any other pet site. While the classic layout is gone, many items and activities still have the original images from the 2000s, making the game popular with nostalgia-seeking adults.

As for Donna and Adam, they've experienced multiple failed ventures, including a controversial game that operated on the blockchain and relied on AI-generated assets. At this point, it seems unlikely that the original creators will return. However, the game might have a lot of fun in store for future generations--and me, if I ever try to get my old account back.

Subeta

Subeta was the cooler, edgier version of Neopets that attracted teenagers and young adults. The site never reached Neopets' level of fame, but the high-quality artwork and mildly adult themes helped Subeta find a loyal audience. While you could adopt pets, you could also customize a human avatar with digital clothes--another benefit that Neopets didn't offer.

I joined Subeta in middle school and took part in regular pet site activities: earning Subeta Points (sP), customizing my avatar, participating in plots and chatting on the forums. Since Subeta had a smaller userbase, you had a better shot at grabbing items from the shops; on Neopets, everything disappeared in seconds.

Subeta was also one of the few pet sites that allowed queer content. I wasn't "out" to anyone yet, including myself, but hanging out with queer people helped me broaden my horizons and learn new perspectives that I definitely wouldn't get at home or school.

Keith Kurson launched Subeta in 2004 when he was still a teenager. I figured that he moved on a long time ago, but he still manages the website alongside his sister, Amber. Aside from that, information about the site is scarce--no Wikipedia page, and the subreddit is practically dead--but Subeta is still updating and accepting new members.

When I was active, popular topics included anime, Evanescence, digital art, emo music, Tim Burton and mall goth culture. I don't know if that's still the case, but while the site's layout is fairly simple, it's clear that the staff's commitment to quality artwork and character designs hasn't changed. Maybe I'll try to get into my old account one day--if it still exists.

MaraPets

MaraPets was another Neopets alternative that managed to build a decent following. I played from time to time, engaging in activities like customizing my pets' webpages, chatting on the forums and collecting items. Still, I never became a loyal player because it didn't offer much that you couldn't find in other games.

I always thought MaraPets borrowed a lot from Neopets, and sure enough: the game actually started as a Neopets guild called Maraqua. When staff members froze the guild, MaraPets' creators, Ian and Laimay, decided to launch their own pet site in 2004. MaraPets was an unlikely success, earning over two million users in just a few years.

I didn't think MaraPets would survive the death of the pet site craze, but to my surprise, it's still around and actively updating. The subreddit still gets regular posts, and the site may have hundreds of active users at any given moment. MaraPets even earned a mention in a 2008 Forbes article about Americans spending billions on online purchases.

It's not free from drama, with Redditors criticizing Ian for allegedly rude and entitled behavior, as well as the staff's decision to make the game increasingly adult-oriented. However, if you're feeling nostalgic, MaraPets offers a free way to kill some time. You'll also get a smaller, more tight-knit community, which could help you build relationships with other users.

Powerpets

I don't remember if I ever joined Powerpets--if I did, I didn't stay long--but the game's charmingly outdated layout makes it a nostalgia bomb for former players. You can adopt pets, earn powerbucks, visit virtual worlds and complete challenges to earn the Five Stones, which have a major role in the site's fictional lore.

Powerpets launched in 2002, allowing the site to catch the virtual pet craze right at its peak. Today, there's not much information available: the Fandom wiki has been mostly dead since 2012, and their Facebook page has only occasional updates. The game once ran a program called Pet Adopt World that helped raise funds for animal shelters, but it's not clear if this initiative is still ongoing.

Ultimately, if you want to know what's going on with Powerpets, signing up for an account is your best option. The game is still going after all these years, so it must have a dedicated community that's paying for the servers. Then again, the lone post on the Powerpets subreddit begs to differ: "They turned to using AI 'art'. Get outta here. The site has lost its soul many, many years ago. RIP powerpets."

Webkinz

I never played Webkinz, but I'm including this one because it seems to be one of the few remaining sites that provides a safe space for children. This is the rare pet site that requires a physical purchase: to play Webkinz, you buy a doll and use the code to get access to the site. Currently, you can choose from the nostalgic Webkinz Classic and the modern Webkinz Next.

Originally launched in 2005, Webkinz has experienced few controversies aside from a 2020 data breach. The site has an active subreddit for adult players and a webpage for parents looking for resources. With an undeniably "kiddish" style, Webkinz seems to attract players who want a relaxing, low-stakes gaming experience.

If this sounds like fun, you can buy a Webkinz doll in person or purchase one online. Once you get access to the site, you can dress your pet, design your virtual room, play educational games and explore the Webkinz universe. Just remember that you're on a children's site with strict moderation: no cursing or innuendo allowed.

Did you play any of these virtual pet games? If not, which online games were your favorites? Sound off in the comments.