There have been many games over the years featuring canine companions (for good reason: what game isn’t improved by the presence of a dog?). Many games have capitalized on man’s need to take care of a pet dog, and owning a virtual pet has remained popular since the ’90s, with games likeNintendogs(and thePetzseries of PC games before that) still enjoying a dedicated fan base to this day.
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However, if players want to actually step into the role of a dog themselves, there are fewer titles to choose from. Still, players can find a pretty decent range of dog characters to play as, from fuzzy bobble-headed pets to sassy dog detectives to pipe-smoking, knife-wielding warriors. There are some incredible games on this list, too, and some lesser-known titles that dog fanatics may not have heard of yet.
7The Dog Island (2007)
Released in 2007,The Dog Islandputs the player right into the shoes (or rather, paws) of a giant-headed dog. It’sa little likeAnimal Crossing, but with 100% canines. Players must explore new areas, bark to defend against hostile creatures (including snakes, bears, gorillas, and bats), and complete tasks to ensure the happiness and well-being of the other bobble-headed dogs.
The story is surprisingly deep: the main character is on a mission to find a cure for their sick sibling, only to find themselves caught up in a storm. They hear rumors of a Legendary Flower to cure sickness, but it can only be found by dogs that are truly in touch with nature. It had average reviews on release, but it’s very cute, and particularly appealing to younger players.
6Tales of Vesperia (2008)
Tales of Vesperiaisan action RPGand the tenth main title in theTales Ofseries. It’s a fan favorite for many players, combining fun mechanics, an engaging story, and interesting, gutsy characters. Including Repede, the sidekick of Yuri Lowell. He fights with daggers and smokes a pipe. Fairly unusual for a dog.
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Repede is an incredibly useful character. He’s fast and nimble and can dodge certain attacks. He can steal items from opponents and can increase the effectiveness of those items. The fact that he is a dog is just a side bonus.
5PaRappa The Rapper (1997)
A familiar face to any ’90s gamer,PaRappa The Rapperhas to be the coolest videogame dog of all time. PaRappa is on a mission to impress his friend by rapping (of course), but this is a tough challenge, becoming increasingly complex as the game goes on.
PaRappais known for its iconic style, eccentric characters, and sense of humor. It’s also considered to be one of the first true rhythm games, and it sparked a wave ofsimilar rhythm game titlesin the years to follow. A tricky game to master, with a truly iconic dog.
4Bolt (2008)
The videogame tie-in to the adorable movie of the same name,Boltallows players to control both the super dog himself and his owner, Penny. Players will complete missions based on the fictional TV show universe (as established by the movie), defeating enemies and unlocking new areas.
Bolt is a fun dog to control, because he has some pretty decent powers, including Superbark and Laser Eyes. The game has mixed reviews, and the storyline isn’t quite as thrilling as the movie, but being able to blow up enemies using laser eye power is pretty fun.
An iconic duo, Sam and Max have been solving crimes for decades now. InSam & Max Hit The Road, players take control of Sam, a 6ft-tall besuited dog detective, solving puzzles in a point-and-click adventure. Sam is a little slower to jump to violence than his partner, and his own sense of (relative) calm makes him a good best friend for Max.
There have been severalSam & Maxgames over the years, from the early point-and-click adventures toSam & Max: This Time It’s Virtual, a VR adventure game released in 2021. That’s a pretty epic journey.
2Okami (2006)
Okamiis known for its painterly, cel-shaded art style, and it remains beloved by players to this day. The player controls Amaterasu, the goddess of the sun, in her wolf form. Using the Celestial Brush, they must ‘draw’ on the screen (using the analog stick on a DualShock controller, or using pointing with the Wii Remote, Joy-Con, or PS Move controller) using different shapes. A line, for example, will cut an enemy, while a swirl will summon a strong wind.
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The interesting gameplay mixed with a touching story andunique art stylemakesOkamia memorable game and is considered by some to be one of thebest Wii games of all time. Plus, players get to control a literal goddess-wolf. What could be better?
1The Legend Of Zelda: Twilight Princess (2006)
Originally developed for the GameCube, but released first for the Wii in 2006,Twilight Princessis a beloved entry to the series and was the best-selling Zelda game untilBreath of the Wildarrived in 2017. InTwilight Princess, Link has to stop Hyrule from being swallowed by the Twilight Realm, a dark parallel dimension. To do this, he occasionally takes the form of a wolf.
It’s incredible to play as Link in a brand-new form and sprinting, jumping, and attacking as a wolf in the Twilight Realm is a joy. No wonder fans are still begging for Nintendo tobringTwilight Princessto the Switch.
