Neopets, the not so forgotten digital world of virtual pets and otherworldly fairies that lived on and made a name for itself in the early 2000s. The browser game that everyone and their sister was in on, playing all sorts of oddly fun games to earn money. And believe it or not, the community is still running and it has a pretty hardcore Reddit fanbase to boot. One YouTuber by the name of Billiam does a fantastic job of summarizing its history and when it peaked in popularity.

Neopets officially launched in 1999, but it didn’t take off until a couple years later once word went around of its existence. Though the public has mostly shoved its existence to the back of their minds (and never truly forgotten), this flash game continues to receive updates to this very day. New items, storyline additions, and characters are added somewhat regularly. In fact, there are mini-games that you may not even remember…including “Extreme Potato Counter”, which is self-explanatory. Although, it’s really not that intense as the adjective may allude.

One of the most surprising aspects of Neopets is its fluctuating market that has a economy that regularly decreases and increases. Or simply the fact that this game continues to thrive is a surprise in itself, despite the fact that the gaming industry has long since journeyed past the sole use of HTML and flash for game development. With that being said, Neopets didn’t remain completely stagnant; they’ve got an official Twitter account after all. Plus, their illustrations have improved a certain degree, but still maintains its adorable cherubic style.

Its continued legacy practically preserves a time of early flash gaming. Remember Kongregate, the free website that hosted all sorts of flash projects developed by curious, creative minds? That and particularly risqué dating simulators. For the particular demographic of people who may be reading this, you know exactly what I’m talking about.

Knowing this, are you tempted to head back into the void that is flash and fictional animal collecting? It’s not all too dissimilar from Pokemon and those of its likeness. Let us know what you think in the comments section below or start a conversation on DFTG Facebook page. To stay up to date on gaming news as it happens, follow us on Twitter!