Top 10 Millennial Things You Forgot Were AWESOME

#10: Invisible Ink Pens

They say the pen is mightier than the sword. Invisible ink pens were more than that. They were entry-level spy tools. The stuff of playground legends, these magical markers had tiny blacklight bulbs in the cap that revealed top-secret messages. It was the perfect tool for passing notes in class like covert agents, scribbling secrets about your crush, or pretending to be part of a secret organization. Half the fun was writing a message. The other was finding it. Add a pinch of imagination, and the messages, once revealed, would of course self-destruct. Long before password managers, invisible ink pens brought a whole lot of low-stakes espionage and encryption to the ordinary school kid.

#9: Game Boy Advance

Before we were glued to our Androids and iPhones, the Game Boy Advance was our escape to a portable paradise. Whether it was a road trip, lunch break, or under the covers at night with a flashlight, this compact console entertained an entire generation. All you had to do was punch in the game cartridge and watch the pixel-packed magic unfold on the screen. Whether it was battling in “Pokémon Ruby” and “Sapphire” or busting things up on the Super Circuit with “Mario Kart,” the Game Boy Advance changed portable gaming forever. Bonus nostalgia points if you had the transparent purple one.

#8: Disposable Cameras

Long before the rise of selfies and filters, the permanence and unpredictable magic of disposable cameras ruled the world. There was no way to tell what the camera had captured or to correct your mistakes. Instead, disposable cameras advocated for the chaotic nervousness and fun of spontaneous photography. Once the 24 shots were taken, you could drop off the film at a photo booth and hope that your thumb wasn't covering the lens. From school field trips to summer camp, these cameras were essential for capturing chaotic, blurry, and weirdly beautiful snapshots of millennial youth. No retakes. No previews. Just pure, unfiltered memories. That accidental double exposure? It’s art now.

#7: Skate Culture

In the early 2000s, skate culture wasn’t just a trend—it was an attitude. Rocking those Etnies and baggy jeans, skate culture introduced a new generation to an alternative and punk reality. Jamming to “Tony Hawk's Pro Skater” soundtracks or Avril Lavigne’s “Sk8er Boi” was the vibe. If you wanted to be cool, you had to be into skating. It didn’t matter if you had the tricks to back it up. All you needed was a board customized to your liking and flair. That made you part of the skate tribe. Let’s not forget the skatepark meetups and the dream of getting sponsored, even if the best trick you had in your arsenal was jumping a curb.

#6: Tamagotchis & Virtual Pets

Today, social media content creators are busy nurturing their Instagram and TikTok feeds. None of this compares to the needy pixelated blobs that we had to tend to in the 2000s. Tamagotchis, Nano Pets, Giga Pets, it didn’t matter what they were called. These digital pocket pets demanded constant feeding, cleaning, and playtime. All delivered through a tiny pixel screen and a few squishy buttons. These keychain critters taught responsibility, time management, and the crushing reality of heartbreak when they inevitably died during math class. You fed them, cleaned up after them, and mourned their passing. Kids loved them, teachers hated them, and parents didn’t understand them. Forget multitasking, trying to keep your virtual pet alive was peak millennial stress.

#5: Flip Phones

In an era where touchscreens are the trend, the idea of punching buttons on your phone may seem antiquated. But in the 2000s, flip phones were more than just communication devices. They were an experience. Being an owner of a flip phone meant you were a master of T9 texting. Add to that the quirky ringtones, and the satisfying snap followed by dramatically flipping your phone shut. It just felt futuristic and cool. There was also real estate for personalization, like a charm dangling from the hinge, a faceplate swap, or even bedazzling the whole lot. All to make it yours. Nothing spoke “mic drop” like slamming your Motorola Razr V3 shut after an argument.

#4: MSN Messenger

It could just as easily start from the screen name. That’s another word for today’s “profile,” and it better not be bland. More than just a chat app, MSN Messenger was the lifeline of the millennial internet era. It is the long-forgotten emotional battlefield where many millennial wars were waged. It was where friendships blossomed, romances sparked, passive-aggressive status messages reigned, and the infamous “appear offline, then online again” move became a classic. At its peak, there were nearly 330 million users online worldwide. MSN Messenger was the platform where the drama, friendship, and teen angst of the millennial era collided with a rapidly changing technological landscape in glorious chaos.

#3: Physical Game Instruction Manuals

Opening a new video game in the 2000s was a sacred ritual. Like an onion, you had to peel it layer by layer. There was the box followed by the fresh smell of paper. Then the crisp booklet nestled alongside the cartridge or disc. If the game was the final chapter, the booklet was the precursor. These booklets made you feel like you were entering another world, long before you even turned on your console. Packed with lore, world maps, hidden tips, and easter eggs, the booklets were part of the game’s storytelling. It was not just about gaming but also reading. Together, they promised an immersive experience. Today’s digital downloads are fast, but they just don’t hit the same mark.

#2: Walkmans & Discmans

Imagine having to carry your music physically, wherever you go. Sounds a bit tedious, unless you were in the 2000s, when Walkmans and Discmans were the trend. These portable music players made cassette tapes and CDs feel like sacred treasures. You could rewind your tapes using a pencil, fast-forward to your favorite part, or pray the anti-skip function worked. You could “burn” your CDs and have a CD wallet to protect them from scratches. It was part of the deal, and it was worth it. All to make that painstakingly curated mix tape or CD album for your crush. To top it off, you also got flimsy foam headphones that disintegrated after a few months. Clunky, analog, and glorious.

#1: Saturday Morning Cartoons

Saturday mornings in the 2000s were all about pajamas, cereal, and the TV. Whether it was reruns of classics like “Scooby-Doo” and “Dexter” or new series like “Pokémon” and “Recess,” you did not want to miss it. There was no scrolling or binging. You also had the regular toy commercials and hype trailers in between. Once that familiar theme song of your favorite show hit, it was time to buckle down and enter a completely different world. Streaming is now a 24/7 affair. However, for millennial kids, the feeling of waking up early on a Saturday morning, after a week of waiting, to laugh, dream, and snack while watching cartoons is a cherished memory.

Which of these forgotten gems do you still lowkey love? Let us know in the comments.