By Liz O’connell
Copyright newsweek
A woman taking a trip down memory lane began playing with her old Nintendo DS, but what she found on the device caused the internet to sob.
Nintendo released the Nintendo DS in 2004. The dual-screen handheld device with touch screen technology became the most popular portable console in the gaming world by 2006, according to the Nintendo website. One version of the DS, released internationally in 2009, featured a camera that allowed users to capture and store their own photos, which has since turned into a digital time capsule for many.
Fast forward to today, and people are powering on their old devices and rediscovering once-forgotten memories. TikTok user @cooperandolivechomps shared a video on October 4 of nostalgic photos she found on her Nintendo DS. A flood of emotion took over as she scrolled through the slideshow of her childhood dogs.
The photo quality appears grainy by today’s standards, but her memories came back crystal clear. She snapped pictures of her canines all around the house: in their doggy beds, on the couch, greeting her at the door. Then, of course, the pre-phone selfies showed her posing with her dogs.
Newsweek reached out to @cooperandolivechomps via TikTok for comment.
Screenshots from an October 4 TikTok video of a woman discovering old photos of her childhood dog on her Nintendo DS.
The Power of Photos
Reflecting on these happy memories with her canines brought her to tears.
Researchers have discovered that nostalgia is more than just a sentiment. Nostalgia helps alleviate psychological pain.
A 2025 study published in Nature Portfolio found that nostalgia and reflecting on fond memories, such as those involving meaningful people, pets, or childhood experiences, can reduce self-reported psychological pain, including distress from social exclusion, and increase physical pain tolerance. Nostalgia stimulates positive emotional experiences, as well as improving an individual’s self-esteem.
Viewer Reactions
For many, the discovery struck a chord—a reminder of how old technology can hold the snapshots of our most cherished moments. The TikTok video reached over 265,600 views, 53,600 likes and 316 comments as of Wednesday.
“This would break me,” wrote a viewer.
“I wish I had my old DS. I took loads of pics of my childhood pooches,” another person commented.
“This happened to me, and I cried so hard. She looked so young,” one commenter shared.
“I open my DS once in a while to look at their photos. It feels like it was just yesterday,” a fourth person commented.
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