(Trust us, you won’t want to miss their tail-wagging animations!)
(Trust us, you won’t want to miss their tail-wagging animations!)
Header image courtesy of Pro Game Guides.
There are a lot of gameplay questions people will have when a game is first released. “Can you choose from branching dialogues?” “Are there multiple endings?” “What accessibility features does it have?”
All of these are, of course, valid questions, but there’s another very important question that people often ask:
“Can you pet the dog?”
Dog-petting mechanics have existed in games for ages, of course – but they’re not everywhere. Because of this, one then-Twitter user back in 2019 made a “Can You Pet the Dog?” account cataloging pettable animals in games. Animal lovers have rejoiced, of course, because it’s just fun to pet animals, but it’s also an interesting look into verisimilitude and interactivity in video games.
For all you dog lovers out there, we’ve compiled 6 of the best games where you can pet the dog, including:
Is your tail wagging in anticipation yet? Well, then let’s get started!
Prince Zagreus is ready to hack and slash his way through the underworld to meet his mother – but of course, he’s going to need some emotional support along the way. While you’ll have plenty of friends (and even gods) rooting for you, really, where would you be without Cerberus’s support? This good boy is usually found hanging out by Hades’s desk, and is always down for some pets, complete with an adorable animation.
Mistria needs some help getting back on its feet – and that’s where you come in! As the new farmer in town, you can help your new home in all sorts of ways, but you’re not alone. Early on in the game, you’ll receive the option to have either a pet dog or a pet cat, both of which are pettable, and have unique animations (as do the rest of the livestock you’ll be able to buy, and the ones on Hayden’s farm). Also pettable is Juniper’s adorable dog, Dozy.
Fields of Mistria is currently in early access, with regular updates from the devs.
🎮 Buy Fields of Mistria on Steam
Hack and slash your way through the nightmare world of Cvstodia in search of redemption. The dog – the Pettable One, also known as Puppers of Albero – plays a small role, but it’s a very cute one. The dog’s spawn chance is only about 10% when you enter the map it spawns on, but when you pet it, it heals you. This cute pupper is actually the prototype of one of the devs’ old dogs. Even a game as dark as this has pettable dogs, and that’s why we go on.
Note that Blasphemous contains gore, and may not be suitable for all players.
Dogs bring happiness to us all – and in Farewell North, it’s a game mechanic. Play as a border collie bringing color back to your owner’s world, by herding animals, playing fetch, and exploring a gorgeous landscape inspired by the Scottish highlands. Take the game at your own pace, and unravel a beautiful story. Just be sure to have a box of tissues on hand, because you will cry.
Chosen by fate, players take on the role of a Grey Warden, chosen to unite the lands and slaughter the archdemon. Make tough choices, craft the perfect combat build, and explore a world with stunningly complex lore and characters – including an optional companion, a Mabari war hound. He counts as a full companion, participating in combat (quite competently, actually) and engaging in “dialogue,” and he’ll also occasionally bring you items.
And, of course, you can pet him.
🎮 Buy Dragon Age: Origins - Ultimate Edition on Steam
This game is all about the dogs – you can genetically mutate a hive of fun and freaky dogs, altering their gut flora through the foods they eat. Build enriching environments for them, and pet and play with them to your heart’s content. Your dogs also have unique personality traits, meaning each one will interact differently with both objects and the other dogs around them. This fun, relaxing sandbox is perfect for dog lovers of all ages.
That’s it today for our collection of games where you can pet the dog (for even more, check out this curated Steam list). Now get out there, and get busy petting!
