Active Alternatives to Club Penguin
Animal Jam Animal Jam is probably the best Club Penguin clone currently on the market. It’s a kid-friendly game, partially funded by National Geographic, where players select an animal avatar and explore different environments. There are also tons of different minigames to keep you occupied, as well as an open chat system and pet adoption element, so it’s as close to Club Penguin as you’re going to get. Where to play the game: You can download the game here for iOS, Android, Chromebook, PC, Mac, or Amazon.
Hedgehog Creek Hedgehog Creek is a profoundly beloved game with a huge online community. Like Club Penguin, it features an open world with a big social component. The world has peak cozy game energy—the game really encourages you to do whatever you feel like spending your time on. You play as a hedgehog. You’re cute. You dress up. You play minigames. You meet fun players! The art style for Hedgehog Creek is a little bit different from the style you might recognize in games like Club Penguin. It’s a little bit flatter and more isometric. Where to play the game: Sign up to play online in your browser here.
Party Parrot World The creator of Party Parrot World was motivated to recreate the spirit and gameplay of Club Penguin in a new and updated environment. The gameplay is functionally identical, so if you’re seeking out some Club Penguin nostalgia vibes, this is the game for you. Where to play the game: You must download the Hideaway client and make an account to join the Party Parrot World app, which is available on Windows or Android.
Pony Town Do you want to be a pony? Do you want to build a town? If so, Pony Town is your game. The pixel-art My Little Pony vibes give this game a unique texture and feel that you won’t find elsewhere on this list. It also has a more streamlined focus than other Penguin-likes, but it is a fun, social MMO. Where to play the game: Join the party here! The game is available on iOS, Android, or the web.
Woozworld Woozworld is a fashion-focused life simulator with a big social component. The whole game hinges on the clothing competitions, runway events, collectibles, and minigames. Basically, if you enjoy fashion, this is going to be your jam. Where to play the game: Sign up for Woozworld on your Android or iOS device with this link.
Poptropica This browser-only game is a little janky and outdated, but if you’re looking for a streamlined, simple adventure with a big MMO flair, Poptropica is worth checking out. You’re immediately tasked with running down a thief who took off with a statue, which is more direction than a lot of Club Penguin clones. Poptropica is more focused on action and movement than a lot of the other games on this list, so if you’re looking for more of a challenge than the other games have provided, give this a shot. Where to play the game: Play in your online browser here.
Habbo Also known as Habbo Hotel, this virtual world builder really emphasizes the social aspect of its gameplay. There’s a core hotel you visit with your avatar, and this is where you explore, interact with people, and find items to collect. It’s peak cozy game vibes, and it has a very active player base. There are also three different variations of the game depending on how many features you want. Where to play the game: Visit Habbo’s website to play in your web browser.
Bin Weevils Rewritten Bin Weevils was a beloved game from the aughts and 2010s that shut down around the same time as Club Penguin. In this beloved MMO, you play a weevil—a fun little harmless bug with a cute snout. Gameplay consists of exploring, making friends, collecting goods, and trying to become a secret agent. Frankly, it’s a blast. Where to play the game: Check it out online here. Unfortunately, it’s only available on PC or Mac.
Toca Boca World Toca Boca World is closer to a storytelling machine than a traditional game, but it absolutely hits the Club Penguin notes when it comes to tone, energy, and freedom. With 90 different maps and over 500 characters to play with, Toca Boca World is the ultimate sandbox for players to express themselves. Where to play the game: There’s no browser version, but you’ll find links to the app store here.
Frog Paradise Frog Paradise is still being developed, and they don’t have the biggest online community yet, but it does have big Club Penguin vibes. It’s also unique on this list because it’s a more foreboding and challenging game. There’s a big overarching mystery to solve, and the game isn’t big on tutorials, so there’s a lot of exploring to do. Where to play the game: You can sign up to play using email or Discord here. The game is only available on your browser.
Neopets Neopets isn’t particularly similar to Club Penguin when it comes to gameplay, but if there were one game on this list with a similar pedigree, vibe, and popularity among nostalgia-seekers, it’s Neopets. Where to play the game: Check out this classic game on the updated Neopets website. There’s an open beta for their new mobile app if you want to check that out instead.
Minecraft As iconic as it is popular, Minecraft is probably the “next level” of Club Penguin-style gameplay. At first, this might seem like a weird comparison. But both Club Penguin and Minecraft are open-world MMOs with basically zero objectives. You just sort of find your own fun! Where to play the game: Minecraft is available on every platform, but you can download the PC Minecraft client here.
Roblox Roblox doesn’t have Club Penguin’s aesthetic or gameplay, but it’s sort of the Club Penguin of the current generation—a massively popular online-only MMO that focuses on variety in gameplay. There are thousands of different sub-games to choose from at any given time, so there’s something here for everyone. Where to play the game: Sign up for a Roblox account online before downloading the client to play. You can play on Xbox or PlayStation if you prefer.
Runescape Reading the word “Runescape” might throw you into a fit of nostalgia, or it may do nothing for you. If you’re in the latter category, this probably isn’t the game for you. If you used to be an avid player back in the day, it’s 100% worth revisiting Runescape. The community is stronger than ever, and the game’s original energy is still fresh and omnipresent. Where to play the game: Check out the old school version or try the updated variant here. You can play Runescape on Android if you’d like, but you’re not going to get the full experience without the mouse.
Club Penguin remakes If you’re really yearning for some penguin gameplay, check out one of the fan-made remakes! They aren’t a pure 1-for-1 copy of the original Club Penguin, but they certainly nail the tone, art, and most of the core elements of the game they’re paying homage to. There are a few projects floating around out there, but two stand out in particular: Club Penguin Legacy: This fan-made remake is the most popular. It seeks to completely recreate the original Club Penguin experience. Where to play the game: Check the game out here. Club Penguin Journey: Journey takes the original Club Penguin aesthetic and gameplay, and aims to improve upon everything else. By updating some of the gameplay loops, Journey aims to be a smoother, more enjoyable update. Where to play the game: The game is available here.
Retired Games like Club Penguin
Barbie Girls It wasn’t a dream—there really was a giant, thriving online community created around roleplaying as Barbies. While it was beloved as a safe online space for girls everywhere, it only existed from 2007-2011. Why did it disappear? Mattel, the owners of the Barbie IP, pulled the plug on the game seemingly out of nowhere. In fact, fans were so upset that there were petitions floating around to reopen the game years after it disappeared.
Buildabearville Buildabearville was a Build-a-Bear-themed game with a fascinating premise: players could recreate their IRL Build-a-Bear and go on adventures online. It was super popular with the younger generations, but the site shut down in 2020. At least Build-a-Bear turned the game into a web series you can check out if you want to relive the nostalgia. Why did it disappear? The COVID-19 pandemic killed the game after Build-a-Bear was forced to lay off a huge chunk of its staff to stay afloat.
Toontown Toontown might have been more popular than Club Penguin was. The Disney-owned MMO allowed players to live out their fantasies as their favorite Disney characters. If you do want to relive your glory days, there is a fan-made version you can play! Why did it disappear? Disney pulled the plug abruptly in 2013 and refused to explain why. Most former players suspect it was due to Disney’s attempt to funnel all cozy game players toward Club Penguin Island, but more on that later.
Webkinz Another corporate-sponsored game surrounding a toy you could buy IRL, Webkinz was a basic social game based around the titular Webkinz toys. It was an extremely basic game, but it did help shape the young lives of thousands of kids from the 90s. A version of the game does still exist, but it’s not the same. Why did it disappear? The original game was built on Flash, which Adobe discontinued and shut down in 2020.
Pirates of the Caribbean Online Like Toontown, Disney randomly decided to pull the plug on this beloved MMO in 2013. Players loved the ridiculous, whimsical tone, and roleplaying as a pirate is just about as fun as it gets. There is a fan-made remake that’s still being played today, but the vibes are admittedly different. Why did it disappear? This is part of why Toontown’s player base was conspiratorial about Club Penguin Island. Pirates was shut down abruptly around the same time. Disney has never explained why they pulled the plug, though.
Why was Club Penguin shut down?
Disney shut the game down to promote a different game. As a free game with zero in-game purchases, Club Penguin did not make a lot of money. Disney invented a new monetizable version of the game, Club Penguin Island, and tried to shut down the very free and beloved Club Penguin to try to incentivize players to move over to their new game. Players were (predictably) extremely annoyed, and Club Penguin Island ended up being a colossal failure. If you want an exceptionally thorough (and thoroughly entertaining) documentary covering the hilarious and dramatic downfall of Club Penguin, check out Izzzyzzz’s hour-long analysis. It’s seriously fun..
Is it possible to still play Club Penguin?
Not the original version, but there is a remake! Fans banded together recently to create Club Penguin Legacy—a game designed to emulate the original vibe and energy of the older game. It’s still in development and the game isn’t nearly as polished or popular as the original variation was, but it’s definitely worth checking out if you’re missing the game! There’s actually a second fan-made game: Club Penguin Journey. It appears that Legacy is the more popular variation, though. Legacy seeks to recreate the original game, while Journey has made a variety of changes to try and improve the original game.
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