If your child has told you they want “the new Tamagotchi,” start with a different question: what do they actually want to do with it? The answer points to a different product.
- If they want to raise and care for a virtual pet, look at “Tamagotchi Paradise – Neon Planets.”
- If they want to meet, research and collect as many Tamagotchi characters as they can, look at “Tamagotchi Paradise – My Lab Tamagotchi.”
- If they want to layer and decorate with stickers, look at “Tamamori stickers.”
My Lab can be played on its own, so there is no need to buy both devices.
This guide compares these products, all scheduled for release in Japan in November 2026, by the kind of play your child wants, by what your family already owns, and by what you need to know before buying.
This is a guide to the products’ announced November 2026 releases in Japan. It is based on official information, not hands-on testing, and the suggestions reflect the kind of play a child prefers.
Table of Contents
Choose the New Tamagotchi by the Kind of Play Your Child Wants
These products are all part of the Tamagotchi brand, but they offer different ways to play. Start with the basics: prices, release dates and what comes in the box.
Quick comparison
| Product | Main activities | Japan release date | Manufacturer’s suggested retail price (incl. tax) | Age | Included / sold separately |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neon Planets | Raising and caring for a virtual pet | November 21, 2026 | ¥6,380 | 6+ | Device, instruction manual, care guide / 2 AAA batteries sold separately |
| My Lab Tamagotchi | Meeting, recording and customizing characters | November 7, 2026 | ¥9,900 | 6+ | Device, research guide, instruction manual / 3 AAA batteries sold separately |
| Tamamori Sticker Refill 30th: Tamagotchi Mori Set 3 (one example of Tamamori stickers) |
Layering stickers | November 21, 2026 | ¥638 | 6+ | 1 sticker sheet, 1 base card, 1 instruction card |
| Tamamori Acce 30th Anniversary | Sticker play plus a carrying case | November 21, 2026 | See the official product page | 6+ | 1 sticker case, 1 Tamamori sticker, 1 base card (one randomly selected design out of 6) |
(Source: Neon Planets product page (Japanese) | Tamagotchi Official Website)
(Source: Bandai product announcement (Japanese) | @Press)
(Source: Tamamori Sticker Refill product page (Japanese) | Tamagotchi Official Website)
(Source: Tamamori Acce product page (Japanese) | BANDAI TOYS)
Editorial view: if you can’t decide, start with what’s easier to build on
If your child is equally interested in caring for a pet and collecting characters, Neon Planets is the lower-cost place to start. My Lab may be the better first choice if collecting characters and experimenting with combinations appeal to them more.
There is also a separate point for families thinking about linking devices. If you are choosing a Tamagotchi Paradise to pair with My Lab, choose Neon Planets: according to official information, it is the only Paradise device that supports all four linked features. Either way, we think “the play they most want right now” can matter more than price.
The price of Tamamori Acce is listed as ¥759 on the official product page and ¥760 in the official news release. Because the two official sources differ, we have not included a price in the table.
Prices in the table are manufacturer’s suggested retail prices. Actual prices in stores and online may differ.
“Ages 6+” is the manufacturer’s recommended age. It does not mean every six-year-old will be able to play independently. If this is your child’s first device, reading the manual or guide together at the start can help.
The three categories below are our editorial grouping, based on the official descriptions of each product. They are not a ranking.
For caring for a virtual pet: Neon Planets
Neon Planets is a virtual pet device. Children turn a zoom dial to move between levels, from cells up to the galaxy, while they look after their Tamagotchi. Everyday care includes:
- Feeding
- Cleaning up poop
- Treating sick cells
Using the Planet Switch feature, children can play on three planets: Cosmic Planet, New Tamagotchi Planet and Tamagotchi Planet. You start on Cosmic Planet and unlock the other two as you progress. On Tamagotchi Planet, children can raise characters from across the toy’s history.
(Source: Neon Planets product page (Japanese) | Tamagotchi Official Website)
(Source: Tamagotchi Paradise – Neon Planets | Bandai Namco Toys & Collectibles America)
For English-speaking families, language is worth checking at setup. According to the Tamagotchi Paradise FAQ on Japan’s official site, Paradise devices can be played in nine languages, including English and Japanese, but the language cannot be changed later without resetting the device. We could not confirm the language options for My Lab.
(Source: Tamagotchi Paradise FAQ (Japanese) | Tamagotchi Official Website)
For collecting, research and customizing: My Lab
My Lab is a larger device that the official Japanese site describes as a “dekatama,” a big Tamagotchi designed for play at home. It measures about 94mm wide and 115mm tall, larger than Neon Planets (about 73mm wide and 76mm tall).
The basic flow of play goes like this:
- Collect food in an egg-hunt game.
- Head out and meet more than 150 kinds of Tamagotchi.
- Register the characters you meet in your research log.
Other features include:
- A simulation where you choose three registered characters and try out combinations
- More than 20 mini-games
- Earning points through mini-games, then using them to get materials and build play equipment or decoration items
- Designing your own garden
(Source: My Lab Tamagotchi announcement (Japanese) | Tamagotchi Official Website)
(Source: Bandai product announcement (Japanese) | @Press)
For children who enjoy filling in a character log or experimenting with combinations, My Lab may be a good fit.
For sticking and decorating: Tamamori stickers
Tamamori stickers are designed for “tamamori,” which means layering item stickers on top of Tamagotchi stickers to create your own arrangements. They are reusable puffy stickers that can be peeled off and repositioned, and they are not an electronic toy.
(Source: Tamamori stickers, third 30th-anniversary series (Japanese) | Tamagotchi Official Website)
How they differ from Tamamori Acce, which comes with a case, is covered in a later section.
What’s the Difference Between Neon Planets and My Lab?
Neon Planets focuses on virtual pet care; My Lab focuses on research and collecting
The difference between the two is less about which features each has and more about where the play is centered. Neon Planets also includes mini-games, shopping and a character log in its Lab Mode, but its focus is caring for and raising one Tamagotchi. My Lab focuses on meeting many characters, recording them and combining them.
(Source: Neon Planets product page (Japanese) | Tamagotchi Official Website)
My Lab costs more, but it is not an upgraded version of Neon Planets. The two are meant to be chosen according to how a child wants to play.
My Lab can be played on its own
Official information states that My Lab can be played on its own. Even without connecting to another device, it offers more than 150 characters to meet and more than 20 mini-games.
(Source: My Lab Tamagotchi announcement (Japanese) | Tamagotchi Official Website)
(Source: Bandai product announcement (Japanese) | @Press)
For a child interested in research and collecting, My Lab alone is a reasonable choice. It does not require Neon Planets.
What connecting the devices adds, and what it costs
Connecting My Lab and Neon Planets unlocks four additional features:
- Transferring original items made in My Lab
- Breeding with a Tamagotchi living in My Lab’s garden
- Transferring “special food” that may help your Tamagotchi grow into a form you simulated
- Releasing a Tamagotchi you raised into My Lab’s garden
Two of these terms need a little explanation:
- Breed: pairing Tamagotchi so that a new generation is born, inheriting their traits
- Release: sending a Tamagotchi raised on Neon Planets out into My Lab’s garden
(Source: Neon Planets product page (Japanese) | Tamagotchi Official Website)
(Source: Tamagotchi Paradise FAQ (Japanese) | Tamagotchi Official Website)
If you buy both, the costs are as follows:
| Combination | Total manufacturer’s suggested retail price (incl. tax) | Batteries sold separately |
|---|---|---|
| My Lab + Neon Planets | ¥16,280 | 5 AAA batteries in total |
| My Lab + Neon Planets Premium Set | ¥18,150 | 5 AAA batteries in total |
(Source: Bandai product announcement (Japanese) | @Press)
The Premium Set bundles Neon Planets with a dedicated Tamagotchi Paradise case (¥8,250 incl. tax).
In Japan, My Lab goes on sale on November 7 and Neon Planets on November 21, 2026. Pre-orders for Neon Planets are scheduled to open from 11 a.m. Japan Standard Time (UTC+9) on November 2, 2026, with timing varying by retailer.
Connecting the devices unlocks extra features, but it isn’t required. One option is to start with whichever device matches what your child wants to do, then consider the other once you’ve seen how they play.
If You Already Own a Tamagotchi Paradise, Check What Connects
Confirm the exact name of the device you have
Tamagotchi Paradise comes in several models, and the features that work with My Lab vary by model. Check the exact name of your child’s device on the original box, the receipt or your online order history.
The official My Lab information lists only Tamagotchi Paradise devices as connection partners. Separately, the Tamagotchi Paradise FAQ states that Paradise devices cannot communicate with Tamagotchi Uni, Original Tamagotchi, Tamagotchi Connection or earlier Tamagotchi releases.
(Source: My Lab Tamagotchi announcement (Japanese) | Tamagotchi Official Website)
(Source: Tamagotchi Paradise FAQ (Japanese) | Tamagotchi Official Website)
If your child’s Tamagotchi is from another series, do not count on it connecting to My Lab. Treat My Lab as a device to play with on its own.
Connected features vary by model
Connecting with My Lab: compatibility by device
| Device | Item transfer | Special food transfer | Release into the garden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neon Planets | Supported | Supported | Supported |
| Earlier Paradise models (7)* | Supported | Not supported | Not supported |
*Pink Land, Blue Water, Purple Sky, Purple Sky Takeshita Paradise & Shinako Special Set, Jade Forest, Orange Tropics, White Glacier
(Source: My Lab Tamagotchi announcement (Japanese) | Tamagotchi Official Website)
(Source: Neon Planets product page (Japanese) | Tamagotchi Official Website)
About breeding
Breeding is not included in the table above. The official information lists the four connected features, then notes that the seven earlier models cannot use special food or release. Read that way, breeding is not listed as excluded, but we could not find information confirming breeding support model by model. If your child wants to breed between an earlier model and My Lab, check with the manufacturer’s customer support or the instruction manual before buying.
Earlier Paradise models can still receive original items made in My Lab. Special food and release, however, work only with Neon Planets.
Neon Planets adds more than 60 new items and five new mini-games, and Bandai describes it as offering new content even for people who already own a Tamagotchi Paradise.
(Source: Bandai product announcement (Japanese) | @Press)
Your child’s wishes make the decision easier. If receiving items on the device they already have is enough, My Lab fits. If they want to raise Tamagotchi again on new planets, Neon Planets fits.
Tamamori Stickers or Tamamori Acce with a Case: How to Choose
What is tamamori, played with stickers and a base card?
Tamamori stickers are a set of reusable puffy stickers: children layer item stickers onto Tamagotchi stickers or a base card to create their own arrangements. The official description covers play with stickers and base cards only and does not mention any electronic device. If your child only wants sticker play, there is no need to buy a Tamagotchi device.
The third series of 30th-anniversary designs, Tamamori Sticker Refill 30th, goes on sale in Japan in November in seven versions at ¥638 each (incl. tax). The designs are based on Tamagotchi devices from across the years.
(Source: Tamamori stickers, third 30th-anniversary series (Japanese) | Tamagotchi Official Website)
Some designs may look familiar to parents who played with earlier Tamagotchi models. They also connect with Japan’s “Heisei retro” trend, which revisits popular culture from the Heisei era (1989–2019).
Check what comes in the refill and the case set
Despite the name “refill,” each pack can be used on its own. Tamagotchi Mori Set 3, for example, includes one sticker sheet, one base card and one instruction card.
(Source: Tamamori Sticker Refill product page (Japanese) | Tamagotchi Official Website)
Tamamori Acce 30th Anniversary combines a heart-shaped case for carrying Tamamori stickers with a Tamamori sticker and a base card. The case is for carrying stickers, not for holding a Tamagotchi device. It is a different item from the dedicated Tamagotchi Paradise case included in the Neon Planets Premium Set.
(Source: Tamamori Acce product page (Japanese) | BANDAI TOYS)
Check whether you can choose a specific character
The seven versions of Tamamori Sticker Refill 30th are each sold under their own product name, and each set has different artwork. If your child has a favorite character, check the product images to make sure that character is included before choosing.
(Source: Tamamori stickers, third 30th-anniversary series (Japanese) | Tamagotchi Official Website)
Each Tamamori Acce pack contains one randomly selected design out of the following six:
- Mametchi
- Kuchipatchi
- Mimitchi
- Memetchi
- Lovelitchi
- Kuromametchi
The product page notes that the same design may come up more than once and that a complete set may be difficult to collect.
(Source: Tamamori Acce product page (Japanese) | BANDAI TOYS)
If you’re giving it as a present, letting your child know in advance that the design is a surprise can help avoid disappointment when it’s opened.
Five Things to Check Together Before You Buy
These checks help you avoid buying the wrong item or needing extras you didn’t expect.
- Does the product match the name or picture your child saw?
“Tamagotchi” or “Paradise” alone can refer to several products. Compare the picture your child saw with the product name on the official page. - Do they want virtual pet care, research and collecting, or stickers?
For pet care, start with Neon Planets; for research and collecting, My Lab; for sticking and decorating, Tamamori stickers. - Have you checked the age guidance and the device you already own?
All of these products are for ages 6+. If you own a Tamagotchi Paradise, the connected features depend on the model. - Have you checked what’s included and what’s sold separately, such as batteries and cases?
Neon Planets needs 2 AAA batteries and My Lab needs 3, sold separately. The dedicated Tamagotchi Paradise case comes with the Premium Set. - Can you choose the design, or is it a surprise? Are the price and release details up to date?
Each Tamamori Acce pack contains one randomly selected design. Release dates, prices and pre-order timing may change, so check the official information again just before buying.
Once you’ve gone through these five points, all that’s left is to choose the play your child most wants to try. When you’ve settled on a product, look at the official page together to confirm the product name and contents match what your child saw. Talking about what you’ll do with a new Tamagotchi can be part of the fun of choosing.
For an overview of what’s trending among elementary school children in Japan, see the article below.
