This Nostalgic Toy from the 2000s Is Trending Again, and It’s the Comfort Hobby You Need Right Now

Some of the most fundamental toys I remember from my childhood are my Webkinz. I had the Pink Pony, Persian Cat, Holland Lop Bunny, Cotton Candy Puppy, and FrooFroo Fox. I don’t remember most of their names (except for the Holland Lop Bunny who went by Nutmeg), but I do remember the hours upon hours I spent playing with them, and how much fun I had. 

Recently, to my joy and surprise, I’ve noticed them trending again on TikTok. I keep seeing videos about Arte Fact, the dog that owned the curio shop, and every time I hear his voice, it’s like a lightning bolt of nostalgia. It makes me think about the good old days when all I cared about was logging onto my online Webkinz account to feed my pets every day after school; what if an old-school game is just the dose of unserious joy I need in my life as a stressed-out college student? 

The idea behind Webkinz is that you buy an adorable stuffed animal that comes with a code that connects to a website, which opens up a virtual world where you can bring your animal to life. You can decorate a house, play games, get an outfit, and you can even talk to other players! I’m an only child, so I was often very lonely growing up, and playing Webkinz let me be social even from home. My Webkinz were my friends, and so were the other players online.

Since seeing them trending, I’ve been finding myself wanting to log in again, especially since I’ve had a desperate longing for my childhood lately. It might be because I’m graduating from college this year, and anticipating entering the “real world” and growing up in a whole new way.  Somehow, I think reopening Webkinz.com might be just the healing blast from the past my inner child is craving. 

Webkinz are so back! Many creators are posting about the website being restored to its former glory, buying stuffed animals for the first time in forever, or simply reminiscing on their memories of OG Webkinz. TikTok user Natasha Brake (@natasha_brake) posted a video about her trip to the store to buy a Webkinz this year. You can clearly see her excitement about picking out a new toy; it’s like she’s a kid again. 

Even popular YouTuber and makeup artist James Charles shared his collection in a recent TikTok, which his mom found when cleaning their house. His family of Webkinz is huge, including a dragon, a pug, and an elephant. Someone commented, “Those are the OG Jellycats,” and I totally agree. 

My favorite video is this one by Maya (@mayascrafts), where she shows slides of iconic Webkinz website screens (think: the hospital, the principal’s office, and, of course, the curio shop) with the text: “not my house but I’d know my way around.”  When I saw it, I immediately had to send it to my childhood friends. 

The classic browser version of Webkinz that I grew up with went away when Adobe Flash Player was discontinued in 2020. A new version called Webkinz Next was developed, but it just wasn’t the same. Flash forward to October 2025, when Webkinz announced that the classic version of the game would be coming back to the browser, giving me even more incentive to log back on. While Webkinz Classic is available to play online now, they’ll still be rolling out new features and fixing potential bugs in the months to come. 

People on the Webkinz Subreddit are rejoicing in this news. “Beyond excited!!!” one person posted. It’s clear the demand is still alive.

This October, the brand also announced the release of 12 new Webkinz pets, from a fluffy white poodle to a super cute calico cat. It’s unclear if these plush Webkinz are currently available to buy, but you can keep an eye out for them as you rekindle your love for the game.

If you’re looking to unlock some mid-2000s memories or live out your childhood dreams, you can still buy Webkinz online and from several stores.

• Ebay: Here you can find rare originals, but they’re likely to cost you a pretty penny. Some are even priced as high as $300, so prepare to get in a bidding war..
• Amazon: Amazon’s great for buying brand-new plush pets like the Pride Lion for $29.99 or the White Bunny for the same price. 
• Walmart: Walmart also sells Webkinz, like the Siamese Cat for $19.99 or the Boston Terrier for $39.95.

Webkinz is also awesome because they have a store locator, which you can use to find a store that carries Webkinz near you!