Neopets dropped in late 1999 and basically became the internet’s first virtual pet obsession—you’d log in, adopt colorful creatures, feed them, play minigames, and grind for Neopoints to buy digital items. At its peak in the early 2000s, the site pulled millions of daily users, adding features like Battledome fights, customizable pet looks, and seasonal events that kept people checking in constantly. Over the years, it rolled out incremental updates, like the 2003 site redesign and 2007’s customizable pet clothing system, but the core loop stayed the same: keep your Neopets happy, rack up currency, and flex your rare items. For a lot of kids and teens, it was their first taste of online gaming, social trading, and that dopamine hit of digital ownership.