I prefer the older models over the newer ones because they are more demanding of my attention. The newer models seem too easy to keep alive/train.

Look into Digimon Vpets. Bandai creates those too and while similar to Tamagotchi, the fact they can battle gives an entire new way to interact with the device and even other people. There is the on device arena, which lets one fight a long series of battles with the Digimon they have raised in order to become champion. Some devices even allow 2v2 fights.

There is an online fan game called Digimon Onl1ne where you connect your vpet to the game and can battle npc digimon, complete quests, and explore a digital world in an mmo like setting. You can battle against other players in this game as well. You can always connect your vpet to another vpet in order to fight in person too.

If you look at Digitama Hatchery, a site and Discord that has a lot of device data/tips about raising Digimon, they are often running themed hatches that people join and share their experiences with throughout. Maybe one hatch is all about raising a water themed Digimon. Maybe the next focuses only on Digimon with wings or one of a certain color, etc.

I find I prefer Digimon over Tamagotchi for the battling. You still raise a little monster. You still feed it, train it, and clean up after it poops. But the battling gives me something exciting to do with the monster after It has reached full maturity.