What Makes a Dog Game Worth Playing?

Cats have dominated internet culture for over a decade. From viral videos to endless memes, they’ve carved out a permanent spot in people’s screens - and now, increasingly, in their video games. Titles like Stray, Little Kitty, Big City, and Cat Quest have turned felines into beloved protagonists. Even those who don’t consider themselves cat people often find themselves charmed by these games.

But where does that leave dogs?

As a lifelong dog lover, I can’t help but notice the imbalance. While cats star in cozy, emotionally resonant games that let them be curious, mischievous, and sometimes even profound, dogs are usually relegated to the sidelines. Worse, they’re often portrayed as enemies - snarling hounds in horror games or attack dogs in military shooters. It’s a trend that feels increasingly outdated and, honestly, like a missed opportunity.

Stray

What Makes a Dog Game Worth Playing?

A good dog game doesn’t have to be complex. Look at Little Kitty, Big City - its charm lies in its simplicity. You explore, you cause chaos, and you look cute doing it. Dogs could easily carry a game like that. Imagine a scruffy pup navigating a big city, digging through trash cans, rolling in mud, and occasionally getting into places he definitely shouldn’t be. Add in a few heartfelt moments - maybe he’s lost and looking for his way home - and you’ve got something with real emotional weight.

The emotional bond between dogs and humans is rich storytelling material. Anyone who’s ever had a dog knows the feeling of that connection - the loyalty, the joy, the heartbreak. A game that taps into that, like Stray did with its themes of loneliness and connection, could hit hard in all the right ways.

And really, where is the game that lets me chase a squirrel at full speed, get the zoomies after a satisfying bathroom break, or destroy a pair of socks just for fun? Where’s the snuggle button? That’s the kind of interactivity dog lovers are waiting for.

Little Kitty, Big City

A Few Bright Spots, But Not Enough

That’s not to say there are zero dog games out there. Okami is often mentioned in this conversation, and rightfully so - it’s a beautiful game, though it leans more mythological than personal. In Baldur’s Gate 3, you can adopt Scratch, a very good boy who adds some light-hearted relief to the story. And games like Neva, with its wolf companion, show that there’s space for emotional storytelling with canines.

But these aren’t really dog games in the way Stray or Little Kitty, Big City are cat games. The dog isn’t the lens - it’s just part of the world.

That’s starting to change, slowly. Farewell North, which released last year, is a quiet, meditative game where you play as a border collie trying to restore color to a bleak world. It nails the kind of emotional pacing a great dog game needs. I’ve also got my eye on Ikuma, a climbing-dog hybrid game due in 2026 that sounds weird and wonderful. And Haunted Paws, a cozy co-op horror game where you and a friend play as two pups, looks like the kind of oddball concept that could really work.

Baldur’s Gate 3 Adopt Scratch

The Market Is There, So Where Are the Games?

The audience for dog games exists - and it’s not small. Just as Stray won over cat lovers and non-cat lovers alike, a well-made dog game could easily find its place in the market. Indie developers, in particular, are well-positioned to take this on. They’ve already shown they can build emotional, offbeat games that stick with people. The world doesn’t need another gritty war shooter - it needs more games about digging holes and making human friends through sheer force of cuteness.

So to developers wondering what to make next: the world doesn’t need another cat game. It needs Dog Quest. It needs From Shelter to Forever Home. It needs chaos, snuggles, and one very good boy finding his way through a very strange world.

Let the dog games begin.