Ask someone in Singapore whether they remember Neopets and you might get a laugh, followed by a surprisingly detailed story about their old account. The pet they loved. The paint brush they could never afford. The hours spent playing games for what now seems like a painfully small number of Neopoints.

Then comes the question: “Wait, people still play?”

Yes. And Singapore has more of a connection to Neopia than you might expect.

How Neopets found its crowd in Singapore

Neopets had the right ingredients for an after-school obsession. You could play in a browser, getting started was free, and there was always something to compare with friends. Someone had a better pet colour. Someone knew a game that paid well. Someone seemed suspiciously good at making Neopoints.

That schoolyard connection shows up in local accounts of growing up with games. In a piece published by We Are Social Singapore, one contributor recalled getting into Neopets or MapleStory because everyone at school was playing. Sometimes, that was all the introduction a game needed.

Once you joined, looking after a pet was only the beginning. You could run a shop, collect avatars, join a guild or spend far too long deciding what to save for next. There was room for the competitive friend, the collector and the person who mainly wanted a cute Kacheek.

The Singapore connection makes sense

There’s an easy joke to make about Singaporeans and a game that rewards saving, comparing prices and collecting bank interest.

But honestly, checking the Shop Wizard before buying anything does have a familiar energy. Why pay more when another shop might have the exact same item for less?

For players who enjoy hunting down a bargain, Neopets gives that habit somewhere to go. A cheap purchase can feel like a small victory. So can finally reaching a savings target or finding the last item for a gallery.

The appeal goes beyond being careful with Neopoints, though. Neopets lets people be particular about things. Your shop layout, your pet’s name, your oddly specific collection of food items. None of it needs to be useful. You just have to like it.

That can be a welcome way to spend an evening when the rest of your day has involved deadlines, errands and crowded trains.

Is Neopets growing in Singapore again?

There are signs of renewed interest, although there isn’t a reliable public player count that tells us exactly how fast the Singapore community is growing.

What we do know is that Singapore matters to Neopets. In its 2023 convention announcement, the company described Singapore as one of its most engaged countries outside North America. Its appearance at gamescom asia gave local fans a chance to meet the team, pick up merchandise and see the game get some attention beyond their browser tabs.

The community has also taken that enthusiasm offline. An attendee’s account of Singapore’s 25th birthday celebration in November 2024 described an event organised by members of the local guild Timbre, with activities including real-life versions of Neopets games.

That says something about the people still playing. There’s enough affection here for fans to organise a gathering and spend an afternoon with others who understand the references.

Coming back feels different as an adult

The funny thing about returning to a childhood game is discovering which parts still matter to you.

Maybe you no longer care about beating a friend’s high score. Instead, you want to recover your original account and see the pet you named when you were ten. Even if the name is terrible. Especially if the name is terrible.

An old pet can become a surprisingly personal little time capsule. It reminds you of the computer you used, the friends you played with and the things you once considered worth saving for.

My take is that this is where Neopets still has something going for it in Singapore. A new game has to persuade you to care about its world. For returning players, Neopets already has years of memories attached.

You might only log in for a few minutes. Collect something, check your shop, admire a pet you finally managed to paint.

Then you spot another item you want, and suddenly you’re saving up again.