Anyone who spent time on the internet in the early 2000s will likely have at least a passing familiarity with Habbo Hotel, the pixel-art social simulation MMO that localised its players, or guests as the case may be, onto regional servers to encourage a sense of community.
It was a pretty wild ride while it lasted and, some genuinely wild controversies aside, it was a game that millions of kids and adults played for a good few years, forming actual friendships that have lasted a lifetime.
In 2025, the game is very different and the halcyon days of player numbers crashing the servers have seemingly passed by. At least that was the case until now, with the game making a return over on Steam that should please those looking for a nostalgic experience.
Get Back in the Habbit
Habbo Hotel: Origins sees the original return with some all new bells and whistles that bring the game forward into the modern day.
In the developer’s own words, “Step back into a vibrant pixel universe where familiar faces and fresh surprises await. Remember that first rush of logging on, choosing your avatar’s hairstyle, then racing through crowded lobbies? You’ll feel it all over again—only bigger and with brand-new twists.”
If you’ve never played before, Habbo is all about simulating your own little life and building a corner of the world for yourself to live-in and socialise with others. In this edition, there’s a lot more customisation for your character initially, including hundreds of outfits to really make them look unique and individual. The associated fashion studio has also been revamped, so you never have to settle on just one aesthetic.
Building has also been expanded significantly, so you can build anything from a small lounge for you and your online friends, to an enormous hall for hundreds of players to join you in.
One of the cool things about Habbo is that it essentially leaves you to do whatever you want. That means you can spend all day improving your skills, or simply socialising with others and there won’t be any penalty to missing anything. It’s that relaxed atmosphere that made it appeal to so many in the first place, so if they’ve managed to recapture that, with the addition of a few extra features, then they are likely on to a winner.
The game is available to download for free via Steam right now, so if you do fancy it, then there’s very little risk to giving it a go.
