A Definitive Ranking of 2000s and 2010s Virtual Worlds
Growing up in the late 2000s and early 2010s was amazing because virtual worlds were booming online. There was something that was so exhilarating about running home from school to enter a new realm of socialization, as a fairy or penguin or anything between to chat with your online friends.
Sadly, most of these websites have closed down—with a select few that have "rewritten" reboots, which are new servers run by fans, not corporations. Some of them are great, like Club Penguin's and Toontown's, and I'll happily admit they got me through the pandemic.
Keep reading to take a trip down memory lane with our definitive ranking of the virtual worlds I played over a decade ago.
10. Pixie Hollow
I couldn't get enough of the Tinker Bell franchise during childhood, so I would have assumed Pixie Hollow would be my favorite virtual world. You literally become a (customized) fairy to enter the eponymous enchanted land to meet other fans and play themed mini-games.
For some reason, this game fell flat for me. It was desolate, and the games weren't that fun. I revisited the rewritten version, We the Pixies, and although it was very well-made, it still didn't hit for me. There's not enough action!
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9. Build-a-Bearville
I had a passionate Build-a-Bear phase, and I made the most of it by playing Build-a-Bearville. You got to carry your furry friend in a backpack using a code from purchasing one of their stuffed animals in real life. My Hannah Montana Bear and I conquered Bearville for years.
This game was short-lived for me. I liked it at the time, but it was less impactful than other games on this list. However, as I'm writing this, I've discovered they have a rewritten version, so I will be playing.
8. Webkinz
I'm pretty sure Webkinz jumpstarted my adult appreciation of Squishmallows. This game took so much of my parents' money in the 2000s because you had to buy stuffed animals to play the game. And I was determined to have a giant house with over 20 animals.
I really enjoyed this game, from decorating each pet's themed room to heading to the Curio Shop. The only reason I'm ranking this low is because Webkinz has the worst policy with keeping legacy accounts active, and I'm a part of the unlucky group who had years of investment deleted despite multiple attempts to save it.
7. OurWorld
Honestly, I can't remember anything I did on OurWorld other than dressing up my character and walking around. However, I do remember how much I loved the game's art style and making creative new looks for my character.
Just like Pixie Hollow, this game was too slow-paced. If I wanted a chat room, it would be a go-to, but otherwise not one I'd gravitate toward.
6. Gaia Online
Gaia Online is the most relaxed game on this list. It, essentially, was a giant chat room with online forums. While I was heavily into the forums, I also loved the adrenaline of collecting their "rare" and highly sought-after items. People spent a lot of money on this game, and I probably would've enjoyed it more if I had the funds to invest in it as a kid. Aside from its expensive nature, it had a few addicting mini-games, like jigsaw and pinball.
5. Barbie Girls
There was such an indescribable feeling when I bought my first Barbie MP3 player and could log on to join Barbie Girls. It was the epitome of my girlhood, burning music from Disney shows and being able to turn the device into a virtual character with hundreds of Y2K outfits.
Barbie Girls has a rewritten mode coming soon, too—hopefully, it's right around the corner!
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4. Poptropica
Before I graduated to games that emphasized socialization, I played Poptropica. While you could chat with friends using drop-down menus, the priority of the game was working with the NPCs to solve the missions on each island. We all had our favorites—mine was Reality TV Island.
I'm very disappointed that almost all the classic islands from Poptropica have now been replaced. I would give a lot to experience those levels again.
3. Club Penguin
Club Penguin was the game Disney invested the most money in, and you could tell. There were frequent new updates, so there was always something to do. And if you need any more proof of how grand this game was, it was the only one that expanded past the computer. There was also a Wii and DS game.
I had certain parts of this game that I had trouble putting down, like Card-Jitsu. I have to say, this game had some of the best mini-games of any virtual world. Ice fishing, anyone?
2. Fantage
If you didn't play Fantage as a kid, you missed out. There was an endless amount of activities, from fashion shows (my absolute favorite) to mini-games. There was even a virtual world inside the virtual world where you could turn into an animal.
Overall, Fantage might have had my favorite aesthetics of any game. The chibi-inspired avatars never get old.
It makes me sad that this game has no multiplayer rewritten version! Perhaps it's a good thing because I would probably get nothing done during my day if it did.
1. Toontown
Oh, the irony of Disney making a game about the terror of capitalism. Toontown was the epitome of my youth—and my obsession with it ran deep. I probably spent thousands of hours on it and eventually ended up on some of the (now defunct) forums.
Toontown had the perfect balance of socialization and action for me. I had a group of online friends from the game that I could chat with when I wanted, but I also could work to level up my toon if I was feeling productive. And there were many chaotic moments in the cultural history of it during its end—if you know, you know.
It is a very loved game that still has a lively fanbase today, thanks to its reboots, Toontown Rewritten and Corporate Clash. We played the former a lot during the start of the pandemic.
For more on our favorite video games, read HERE to hear our honest review of Fae Farm, the cozy RPG that brings the action and storyline most farming simulations are missing.