Finally, I’ve found a worthy successor to the popular 90s Tamagotchi character

In 1996, when Tamagotchis became the must-have toy, I was eight years old — the perfect target audience. I remember handing over my British £10 note to the good people at Toys R Us, shivering with anticipation. This was the most money I had ever spent in one go, but I knew that having one of the purple virtual pets would be worth it like all of my classmates.

Thirty years later in Consumer Electronics Show 2026 In Las Vegas, I have finally found a worthy successor to my dear companion. Sweekar is a Tamagotchi-inspired pocket pet, an AI companion that physically grows larger as it ages.

The Swikar begins its life as an eared egg. In the demo, he’s held in my hand, and I gently tap him three times on the head, making his yellow ears glow. The egg opens to reveal a screen displaying a cracked shell. A pair of sleepy eyes appear on the horizon.

At their Las Vegas showroom, Swikar was ready to go to my demo, but typically, the incubation phase can take up to two days. The egg rests on its base until the shell cracks, from which point the young Swikar will spend between five and seven days in the birth stage. The next stage is adolescence (21 to 45 days), followed by adulthood.

With each stage of life, Swikar grows up a little. Just like the original Tamagotchi game, each stage brings a series of new challenges for you as its owner. The early days mean high-frequency care with basic language learning. The teenage years bring greater intelligence and a more distinct personality. Eventually, you can progress towards having a pet that is independent, requires less care, but has more fun play options. And… the Swikar can also die if you neglect it.

In all these respects, it feels remarkably true to the spirit of the original Tamagotchi, but with AI technology that could ultimately provide a more rewarding experience in the long run. Hopefully it will inspire her owners to keep her alive longer than the many young Tamagotchi chicks that have perished due to lack of care.

If you want to get a Sweekar to bring some ’90s-inspired magic to a kid’s childhood (or if you’re just feeling nostalgic – I won’t judge), it will be available via Kickstarter later this year. However, you will need more than a £10 note to secure one. The Sweekar will be priced at a much higher price of $150.