Default Site Themes
Neopets Basic || Neopets Blue || Neopets Green || Neopets Red || Neopets Yellow

Non-premium Secret Site Themes
Altador Cup || Altadorian Constellations || Curse of Maraqua * || Cyodrake's Gaze * || Happy Birthday
Haunted Woods || Neopets Purple || Qasalan * || Tale of Woe * || Valentine's Day || Winter Holiday
An asterisk indicates that a site theme can now only be unlocked with prior participation in a Neopets.com plot or event.

Further Information
News || Page Information
Unlocking and Using Site Themes || A History of Site Themes || Future Site Theme Speculation

Key:

New Features page

The Neopian Times

News

19th September, 2007

The new Altador Cup prize shop has been added to the site, giving another chance to unlock the Altador Cup site theme. To do so, a player must visit the shop, having submitted a score for any team during any Altador Cup. This appears to suggest that the Altador Cup theme will be available every year following an annual Altador Cup competition and is thus available to all players, even those who missed this year and last year's tournaments.

19th August, 2007

Taking everyone by surprise, Purple Day on 15th August saw the release of a new site theme: Neopets Purple. A variation on the default Neopets Basic layout, the purple theme is by far the easiest site theme to unlock. Perhaps it is the first of themed day-related site themes which can be added more frequently, without waiting for the end of site plots. It may, of course, just have been released to break the long gap since the last new theme.

I am looking for a Neopets player who has a purple pet with a purple petpet attached to feature on this page. Although I have such a pet listed in the Neopets Purple site theme section below, I would much rather name the pet of a user of this page who has contacted me. This page receives a lot of hits and this opportunity would be perfect for a player eager to raise popular awareness of his or her pet. If you have such a pet (and do not intend to paint it or change its petpet), please Neomail me.

11th June, 2007

The Tale of Woe plot prize shop has been added to the site, but a site theme was not included in the prize, either by default or as a buyable reward. Note that a trophy is added to a player's user lookup page only when that player purchases a prize.

With the return of the Altador Cup will presumably come a second chance to unlock the Altador Cup site theme. If this is the case, the criterion required to gain the theme will likely be the same as last year: having sent one score in support of any team during the competition.

5th May, 2007

LordMule's Site Theme Page, the successor to LordMule's Sidebar Page, has been launched. As well as now displaying the new site themes in place of the old sidebars, I have taken the opportunity to clean up the page and add new sections, such as this "What's New?" area and a comprehensive history of sidebars and site themes. Also, the page has been broken up for easier viewing using dividing rules across the page.

There are a few points of note in the changes from sidebars to site themes.
1. The main difference is that, because of the arrangement of the new layout, it is no longer logical to call the custom themes "sidebars": they are now referred to as "site themes".
2. There are now five site themes which are unlocked for all players, each a variation on the default theme.
3. The colour of links around the site is now based upon the selected site theme.
4. The Happy Valentine's Day! theme is now called simply Valentine's Day.

Unlocking and Using New Site Themes

Whenever a new site theme is unlocked, an event will appear to inform you.

You can choose which of your currently-unlocked site themes is used via the drop-down menu at the foot of the preferences page. This can be accessed from the "my account" menu at the top of most Neopets.com pages.

The number of site themes that a player has unlocked is displayed on his or her user lookup page in the "Collections" tab.

A History of Site Themes

Ever since Neopets.com was launched, the recognisable yellow starred sidebar has been an integral feature of the website, easily providing links to key areas needed to play effectively. For many years it remained unchanged, until in 2004 the yellow bar was redrawn in accordance with the general updating and modernising of images around the site. This acclaimed change brought with it a hint that there was more to come.

163	I love the new yellow bar. My compliments to all of you Neopets staff. Are you planning any other fashionable, new updates?
	Thank you! We know its a big change considering we really haven't touched the side bar since we started. Yes we have a few extra surprises planned but I can't say anything right now or it will spoil the surprise.

The following week brought with it the announcement that a series of new, themed sidebars would be released for use with the site.

164

... we will be launching the first of our themed side bars very soon. These special side bars may be available for all people on certain days, but are very hard to be able to have all the time, much in the same way avatars currently work. As well as looking pretty cool, each side bar as certain advantages and disadvantages. For example if you have a Faerieland side bar, you will win more on the Faerieland games, but will not be able to visit the Haunted Woods at all. Exactly what each side bar does will not be explained, that is something you will need to work out for yourself. There will also be special combo random events that you will get if you have a certain side bar that are better than the normal random events.

It is worth noting that only the first alternative sidebar released, Happy Birthday, carried with it advantages; there are no advantages or disadvantages of using any other sidebar. Similarly, random events are only affected by the Happy Birthday sidebar.

165	I think it's a great idea to make different sidebars that we can collect. Why not make a few of them available for everyone without having to unlock them? For example you could make a few in basic colors like green, red and blue.
	I am glad you like them. We will make some available to all on certain days, but we will probably not have ones that everyone has all the time.

It was true that, originally, only the default yellow sidebar was unlocked for everyone. The update to Neopets.com at the end of April 2007, however, brought with it four additional themes which were indeed "in basic [colours] like green, red and blue" [and yellow].

The first alternative sidebar was the Haunted Woods sidebar (often at the time called the "Hallowe'en sidebar"). It appeared to all players on 31st October 2004, but had to be unlocked for further use. It was confirmed to be one of many future releases.

166	I think the halloween side bar was really cool. I was also wondering if you were by any chance going to be adding a Christmas Theme side bar?
	Oh yes! There are MANY new sidebars planned

The Haunted Woods sidebar was released in more than one way. It was confirmed that there would be a number of methods for acquiring alternative themes, but usually there would only be one method for each.

172	When you have created some Themed Sidebars, will they be for everyone or will they be put as prizes for contests like this one contest in October and gave away the halloween sidebar?
	Some will be prizes, others will only be on certain days, and others will have a requirement that needs to be met in order to unlock them. For example scoring a certain amount in a game, beating a certain challenger in the Battledome, etc.

Again, it is interesting to note that elements of the original plans have never come to light: success in games or the Battledome have not yet yielded sidebars.

The second sidebar followed soon afterwards, released on 15th November 2004 to coincide with Neopets.com's birthday. This Happy Birthday theme remains the only theme that cannot be unlocked; it only appears on 15th November and a player's birthday. As stated above, it is the only sidebar to give advantages through use.

There was much speculation that the next sidebar after the Haunted Woods theme would be Christmas-themed, but it was over three months before the next appeared. The Winter Holiday sidebar was closely followed by the seasonal Happy Valentine's Day! sidebar, which would eventually be renamed as simply the Valentine's Day theme. The latter sidebar was the first to be unlocked in a manner other than a well-timed random event. It remains the only sidebar that requires an item to unlock.

179	I was wondering are you going to make a Maraqua sidebar?
	Oh yes! We are working on it right now and it looks quite spiffy!

The Curse of Maraqua sidebar was released as one of many prizes for taking part in the site plot of the same name, setting an important trend for the future: every sidebar from this one until the Tale of Woe sidebar has been awarded through participation in a site-wide plot or event. The Curse of Maraqua sidebar was the last to appear to every player for the duration of the day of its release; all subsequent sidebars could only be viewed once they were unlocked.

Each of the plots and events from June 2005 to March 2007 gave a sidebar as a prize for participation. All but one have been granted simply for taking part; the exception was the Cyodrake's Gaze theme. Plots which have rewarded players with a sidebar are: Curse of Maraqua; the Lost Desert Plot, which gave the Qasalan sidebar; the Altador Cup of 2006; the Cyodrake's Gaze; the Altador Plot, which gave the Altadorian Constellations sidebar; and the Haunted Woods plot, also known as the Tale of Woe. The Altador plot remains open, making it the only plot from which any player can continue to gain a site theme: all other plots are now closed.

237	TNT, When I go to my user prefs page, it says it gives me the option to change my sidebar. When I click on the drop-down menu, it only gives me the choice of Neopets Yellow sidebar. Is it possible to change your sidebar?
	You need to unlock sidebars before you can use them. Some are randomly given out on specific days of the year, while others are earned as rewards for participating in plots or earning other achievements.

In April 2007, the entire Neopets.com website was modernised with an entirely new layout. There was no longer a bar at the side of each page, but each theme was redrawn for use with the updated site. As there was no sidebar, a nominal change was in order: the themes are now called simply "site themes". To ring in the changes, four themes were added that were available to all players without the need to first unlock them. Each was a different colourisation of the default Neopets Basic theme.

Surprisingly, the Journey to the Lost Isle plot did not yield a site theme as a prize, breaking the pattern set as far back as mid-2005. The first theme which needed to be unlocked before use after the layout alteration was instead a fifth 'coloured' version of the Neopets Basic site theme. Neopets Purple could be unlocked simply by visiting a relevant pet lookup, making it by far the easiest secret site theme to unlock to date: it does not require plot or event participation, does not require an item and a player may unlock it at any time on any day. This may suggest that some future site themes will be easier to acquire; it also hints that more frequent additions to the site theme list may occur.

307	How many site themes are currently available?
	There are 17 themes total, if you count default themes. 11 of these must be unlocked. One is currently available from an open plot. One is currently available if you know where to look. Four are only available annually. One only appears if it's Neopet's or your own birthday. Three were plot related and now retired. One is only available through Premium.

This helpful summary lists all the site themes available as of August, 2007, although it does contain an error: there are only five default themes, so twelve must be unlocked. There are four retired plot-related site themes.
Currently available from an open plot: Altadorian Constellations
Currently available if you know where to look: Neopets Purple
Only available annually: Altador Cup; Haunted Woods; Valentine's Day; Winter Holiday
Only appears if it's Neopets.com's or your own birthday: Happy Birthday
Plot-related and now retired: Curse of Maraqua; Cyodrake's Gaze; Qasalan; Tale of Woe
The premium site theme is not catered for by this non-premium site theme guide.

Future Site Theme Speculation

In line with the Neopets Purple site theme released on Purple Day in 2007, future themes may be tied into the topic of the New Features page on a specific day.

As always, it is very likely that the next site-wide plot or event will yield a site theme as a participation prize.

Default Site Themes

Five site themes are available to all players, regardless of experience or plot participation. Each is a variation on the basic theme.

Secret Site Themes

These site themes are not automatically available for use, but may be unlocked via achievements by a player on Neopets.com.

Altador Cup || Altadorian Constellations || Happy Birthday || Haunted Woods || Neopets Purple || Valentine's Day || Winter Holiday

The above secret themes are still available to any player without prior plot- or event-participation; the themes below require that a player has already taken part in such activities.

Curse of Maraqua || Cyodrake's Gaze || Qasalan || Tale of Woe

This theme can be unlocked by visiting the Altador Cup Prize Shop if you won at least one game for any team in any Altador Cup.

This theme can be unlocked by visiting King Altador in the Council Chambers after completing the Altador Plot.

Unlike previous plots which have closed upon the release of prizes, the Altador Plot has remained open. This means that this theme will continue to be available even to all players, even if they have not yet started the plot.

261	Just wondering, how long do I have to complete the Altador Quest before it closes? ...
	The Altador Plot is open indefinitely, which means that, for now, we don't have any intention of closing it (but that may change in the future). Rest assured that, if we were to close it, we would announce it in New Features first to give anyone in the middle of the plot some time to complete it...

This theme can be unlocked by visiting the Curse of Maraqua War Prize Shop and purchasing it for one plot point. Plot points were awarded for participation in the 2005 Curse of Maraqua plot.

179	I was wondering are you going to make a Maraqua sidebar?
	Oh yes! We are working on it right now and it looks quite spiffy!

This theme can be unlocked by visiting the Guess Who Did It page from the 2006 Cyodrake's Gaze puzzle if you submitted at least two correct answer sduring the guessing period. As the final question had only one option, this means in effect that the theme will be unlocked if you correctly deduced any one of the four possible points.

257	Dear TNT, I loved the way you introduced the new world, Shenkuu... Thank you very much for the new avatar and sidebar!!! I love them both...
	Why, thank you! ... We're glad someone got the point behind the logic puzzle.

This theme appears on 15th November, the birthday of Neopets.com. It also appears on each Neopets player's birthday, according to the date of birth given when signing up to the website. This theme cannot be unlocked for general use on any day of the year.

Whilst this site theme is in use, advert banners do not display at the top of Neopets.com pages and there is an increased chance of encountering random events.

167	My birthday is December 25th and I dont want the b-day sidebar to show because I want to see the xmas sidebar. What will happen? [Note: It later transpired that there would not be a Christmas sidebar. The response may, however, be referring to the Winter Holiday sidebar, and is nonetheless interesting as it gives an insight into which sidebar overrides others.]
	That is a really good question, after asking around it seems the Birthday bar will over-ride any other themed bars, but you will still have the chance to get the special theme bar as a permanent option (not the Birthday one though, that will only appear on your birthday).

167	It was my cousins b'day and she didn't have the side bar that was told she was going to get. My birthday is a week after hers (november 25th) and I hope this doesn't happen to me
	Ack! Someone is getting fired out of a cannon for that! I am so sorry. It should have been set up weeks ago but it seemed to have been forgotten about. It has now been done so if it is your birthday from now on it will appear.

173	It was my birthday, and I got the Happy Birthday Sidebar. The sidebar made the top advertisement go away. Is there suppose to be no ads as a Birthday Present of is there something wrong with my computer
	On your birthday, not only do you get the snazzy sidebar, but you get zero adverts at the top, Its just a nice little added bonus.

224	Does Neopets.com do anything special on Birthdays?
	Yes, once a year on your birthday you will have the special Neopets birthday sidebar for the day... This sidebar gives you some special benefits around the site, but if we told you what they were, it wouldn't be a surprise!

241	I've heard that by donating to the money tree, your can increase your chances of a random event. Is this true?
	... Random events are just that... random. :) The ONLY way your chances of receiving Random Events is increased is when you're using the Birthday sidebar theme, and that's only available on your or Neopets' birthday.

276	... Is it true that you can get any paint brush on your birthday?
	Sorry, this isn't true. However, each year on your birthday your account will display our special birthday sidebar, which increases Random Events, so your odds are better...

This theme can be unlocked by visiting any Neopets.com page between 11.59pm and midnight on 31st October.

Access to this theme was also given as a prize in the first random contest.

This site theme displays automatically for every player, regardless of whether it has been unlocked, on 31st October and cannot be over-ridden.

164	Even though Halloween falls on a Sunday this year, will you still celebrate Halloween on the site on Sunday?
	Well most of the Halloween news has gone up today, but there will be something rather special happening on Sunday

165	I really liked the Halloween sidebar that you guys put up for Halloween. I thought it was a one time thing but people are saying that they got it as a random event on Halloween night and now they can use it whenever they want. Is this true? Is there any way for people who weren't online Halloween night to be able to use the sidebar as well?...
	Some people did manage to unlock the Halloween sidebar by getting a special random event on Halloween.

This theme was released on Purple Day in 2007.

It can be unlocked by visiting the lookup page of any purple pet which has a purple petpet attached. One such pet is Trixie_3O3.

This theme can be unlocked by visiting the Gift Shop of 1,000 Rewards if you have at least one point from the 2005 Lost Desert Plot.

209	Are you going to release a sidebar with the Lost Desert Plot?
	Erm... sidebar? What gave you that idea? Yes, we are hoping to! It's still in the works though, so no promises as of yet, but it is our intention to release one if we can. Shhh...

226	I didn't get anything (trophy nor points) and i did at least a third of the plot... I even still have the pictures I saved from making a map so i could get around my tomb better so I was just wondering if there was any specific reason I didn't get anything. Thank you.
	As a general note to everyone, you need to go to the Gift Shop of 1,000 Rewards to pick up your plot points, trophy, and sidebar...

This theme can be unlocked by visiting Sophie's Shack, the Tale of Woe plot prize shop, if you have at least one plot point from the Tale of Woe plot.

281	Were there any prizes for the Tale of Woe plot? If there were, I didn't get any... or is there a place to get the prizes?
	You need to use the plot points you earned to purchase the prizes you would like. Just go here to check out all the cool prizes!

281	How long is the Prize Shop for the Tale of Woe open? Please answer this, oh mighty TNT! I'm desperate. There are too many things and too little time...
	Much like the Gift Shop of 1,000 Rewards (from the Lost Desert Plot), it should be open indefinitely, so take your time!

281	... I love the new plot prizes, sidebar, avatar, and trophy. You guys did an awesome job on them. Anyway, I was talking to someone on the Neoboards and they said that plot prizes sell out. Is this true? ...
	No, they do not sell out. The TOW plot prizes will always be available to everyone when they decide to purchase them with their plot points.

This theme can be unlocked by sending A Mysterious Valentine's Card, which is an item, to another player on 14th February. It can also be unlocked by receiving A Mysterious Valentine's Card from another player in this way.

When A Mysterious Valentine's Card is send to another player on 14th February, it disappears and the site theme is granted to both the sender and receiver. On any other day, sending the card operates as normal and themes are not given.

The Gift Shop stocks A Mysterious Valentine's Card during the seven days before 14th February each year.

This site theme displays automatically for every player, regardless of whether it has been unlocked, on 14th February and cannot be over-ridden.

This theme was called "Happy Valentine's Day!" before the switch from sidebars to site themes.

227	I was just wondering... if a mysterious valentines day card was sent to a young player who plays neopets jr... would the sidebar be available to both the sender and receiver...? Thanks!
	Yup! Sidebars are available to anyone who plays Neopets, regardless of age... As long as the recipient is accepting items, both users will get the sidebar.

This site theme can be unlocked by visiting the Advent Calendar on 31st December if you have visited it every day since 1st December of the same year.

On the day of its release only, this theme was available via a winter random event from any of the three Terror Mountain map pages.

228

I know December is long gone but, how come on Decemember 31, 2005 only some people got the winter sidebar from the Advent Calendar? I thought everyone was supposed to get the same prizes from the Advent Calendar.

... Just like most of the other sidebars, there were certain requirements that had to be met in order to obtain the Winter Sidebar. If you met these requirements, you got it on the final day of the Advent Calendar. We can't tell you what those requirements were, of course, but it was certainly not a random giveaway. We'll give you a little hint however... the same requirements will need to be met next year, and the sidebar will again be given out on the final day of the Advent Calendar. You've got 10 months to figure it out!

270	I was thinking -- the way to unlock the winter sidebar ISN'T by staying up on Christmas Eve or Christmas night until midnight and refreshing at Terror Mountain... right?
	... Ah, since it is a once-in-a-year opportunity, we'll let you off the hook this time. If you are celebrating Christmas, please don't upset Santa by staying up to midnight on Neopets. Should you meet the requirements, you'll be able to collect the sidebar by visiting the Advent Calendar at ANY time on December 31st.

Page Information

LordMule's Site Theme Page has been built by willthehutt. He is always happy to receive Neomails concerning this page or site themes in general, and gratefully accepts any confirmations, corrections or suggestions. He can be Neomailed here.

Please note that all quotations from the new features page and The Neopian Times are cited exactly, and therefore original spelling and grammatical errors have not been corrected.

LordMule's Sidebar Page last updated:
2.30 p.m. B.S.T., Saturday, 22nd September, 2007

also by willthehutt

The following users are thanked for their help in giving information to further advance this page.
bluebelltink; keona000000000000000; shaneteen8; shimaira; south_scorpion_girl; ssj741852trunks; tu_ma_max2