Games

Best Games Where You Play As A Dog

Published

3 months ago

October 12, 2024

Christoph Rediske

Key Takeaways

Play as a human’s loyal companion or a canine detective in these charming and adventurous dog-themed games.
From rapping superstar dogs to cute golfing canines, there’s a game for everyone who loves pups!
Embark on emotional journeys, solve puzzles, and swing through colorful worlds with dog heroes in captivating narratives.

When people say, “It’s a dog’s life,” they mean life is difficult or dull, but these games prove how wrong they are! These titles are full of adventure and puzzles with charming dog protagonists leading the way. Players can enjoy a cozy life as a human’s companion, take to the streets as a canine detective, and so much more.

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Whether exploring the Scottish countryside or battling against feline supremacy, these amazing dogs will keep players entertained for hours. Step into the paws of a canine hero and embark on an unforgettable adventure.

1 PaRappa The Rapper Remastered

The World’s Only Superstar Rapping Dog

an onion head man and a dog in a rap battle

Systems

Released: September 26, 1997
Developer: NanaOn-Sha

Superstar PaRappa is the Vanilla Ice of the dog world, popular but not the best rapper, and he is on a mission to change that. There are six songs to master in a classic rhythm game style, but getting a Good or Cool rating is harder than it looks! There’s no button-mashing here – a successful rap is all about timing and rhythm. This high-quality remastering also offers some bonus content, which is ideal for players who experienced it on the original PlayStation and might enjoy some extras.

It’s a lot of goofy fun being a two-dimensional rapping dog, especially for players who enjoyed this title the first time around. PaRappa is the kind of game to play to appreciate the origins of rhythm games. Whether they play PaRappa the Rapper for nostalgia and memories or just want to see what everyone is raving about, this is guaranteed fun.

2 Sam & Max Hit The Road

Crack The Toughest Cases As A Canine Detective

Sam & Max Hit The Road

Systems

Sam & Max Hit The Road is a classic 90s satirical game that still draws a crowd today. The game stars a dog in a trenchcoat and a sarcastic rabbit who, for some reason, doesn’t feel the need to wear clothes. This quirky pair of detectives are on the trail of a missing creature in this animated cult classic and during their adventure, they meet a host of interesting folk. The story is fun and diverting, and the interactive environments are full of mini-games to play.

Despite the colorful cartoon aesthetic of the game (think: Ren & Stimpy), it is not made for children. Sam & Max Hit The Road isn’t as adult as the comic books it’s based on, but the content is pretty bizarre in places, and it revels in gratuitous edgy humor. The script is smart and witty, but there are a lot of jokes that are not appropriate for young kids. It is one game highly recommended for teen and young adult fans of retro titles!

3 Dog Gone Golfing

Master The Art Of Dog Golfing

Platform(s): PC, PS4, Switch, Mobile, macOS
Released: August 25, 2017
Developers(s): Vagabond Dog
Genre(s): Sports

The perfect golf game for people who don’t like golf. The style of Dog Gone Golfing is reminiscent of old-school Worms with its pixel graphics and 2D view and has simple power-plus-trajectory gameplay. It has multiple modes, so players can enjoy a solo campaign or a pass-and-play co-op game with a friend. Dog Gone Golfing players must use a frustrating mix of luck and skill to succeed, making this a very addictive game!

Despite its name, there are no golf balls. Instead, Dog Gone Golfing players hit hockey pucks across the green, sliding them into tricky holes in an attempt to score the highest. The most fun to have in this game is playing against a friend for an added competitive edge. However, players without friends nearby can play against AI (in the form of Robotic K-9 units) or take on the endless mode of infinite randomly generated courses. There is something for everyone in this cute and casual canine arcade game.

4 Disney Bolt

A Nostalgic Adventure With A Canine Hero

a small white dog runs through the scene escaping meteors

Platform(s): PC, PS2, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, Nintendo DS
Released: November 18, 2008
Developer(s): Avalanche Software, Altron
Genre(s): Action-adventure, Platformer

Disney’s Bolt was originally available to play shortly after the release of the Disney movie, but there is no need to watch the movie before playing the game. The story is an exciting adventure of good versus evil, as one would expect from a superhero movie. Players take on the role of the two main characters: stealthy hacker Penny or super-strong superdog Bolt. As the game progresses, players unlock new superpowers, but Bolt’s fighting style is usually enough to take down even large groups of enemies.

While it is fun to play as the smart and skillful Penny, most players will likely enjoy the Bolt-centered levels most of all. There is something so charming and funny about the way Bolt launches himself at the enemy, snout first. The gameplay is cinematic and exciting, and despite being an older game, it still looks good and hasn’t lost any of its finesse. While Bolt is great for kids, it is thankfully challenging enough for adult gamers to enjoy too.

5 Okami HD

Take On The Role Of Wolf Goddess

a white wolf runs through a japanese village

Released: September 19, 2006
Developer(s): Capcom , Clover Studio

Okami looks and feels like no other adventure game. Set in a whimsical Japanese environment, players must defeat an eight-headed demon who has destroyed a once beautiful land. The animation is smooth and stylish and looks like it is lifted straight from the pages of a Japanese artist’s sketchbook. The controls are relatively easy to master and while combat is fun, players may find themselves wanting to just sprint around as the mystical white wolf for hours.

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At first, Okami seems like a serious journey into a mythical Japanese story but soon it becomes clear that this game is more than that. It is full of warmth and humor, and a surprising amount of dog-related fun. As the sun goddess Amaterasu, players transform into a white wolf who not only fights enemies but also barks, digs up bones, and catches birds like any regular canine. Okami is truly something special and out of the ordinary, and a real feast for the eyes.

6 Chicory: A Colorful Tale

Step Into A Colorful World

a white dog walks through a colorful woodland

Chicory: A Colorful Tale

Released: June 10, 2021
Developer(s): Greg Lobanov

Chicory: A Colorful Tale invites players to step into a coloring book world in which all the color has mysteriously vanished. The usual master of the brush, Chicory, has disappeared too, and it is up to the player as their number one fan to help restore color to the world and find their hero.

Players can explore a cartoonish top-down world in solo or co-op mode, coloring as they go and solving tricky puzzles. At first, this may seem like a cutesy painting game but as players adventure on, it soon becomes obvious that something darker is at play in this world. What mysterious dark forces are at play? And what happened to Chicory? There are so many secrets to uncover, collectibles to find, and new brush styles and colors to unlock, making this the perfect game for completionists. The story is surprising and heartfelt, and overall, this is not a game to be underestimated.

7 Super Space Pug

Defend Against Fish-Flinging Felines

a space pug flies past planets and meteors

Platform(s): PC
Released: June 4, 2016
Developer(s): Digital Dawn Studios
Genre(s): Arcade shmup

Any player looking for a chaotic game that wouldn’t be out of place in an old-school arcade should check out Super Space Pug. In it, players take on the role of Demetrius the Third, a cute canine astronaut whose mission is to defeat the evil space cats. Super Space Pug drops players straight into an asteroid-filled space battle as soon as they click Play. This is not a game for players aiming to “win,” but more for those who want to see how long they can stay alive!

Like any good arcade game, Super Space Pug is full of non-stop fun and game-changing power-ups. Anyone who has played classic arcade games such as Moon Patrol or Exisus will recognize the frantic horizontal shoot-em-up gameplay. The action is non-stop and intense, whether players are using the Poop Cannon to clear meteors or flinging ninja stars at the nasty space cats. This is a super fun game for both solo players or to play against friends in the vastness of space.

8 Ninja Cats vs Samurai Dogs

Lead An Army Of Samurai Dogs

Platform(s): PC
Released: February 21, 2014
Developer(s): Eutechnyx
Genre(s): Strategy

Ninja Cats vs Samurai Dogs is an addictive combination of a real-time strategy game and tower defense fun! Players can choose to lead a clan of ninja cats or a platoon of Samurai puppies but, of course, dogs rule in this list. The gameplay is simple but engaging, and set in a Japanese watercolor cartoon world. The soundtrack is dreamy classical Japanese music, which complements the overall style.

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There are 65 fantastic levels in Ninja Cats vs Samurai Dogs, each increasing in difficulty as the player makes their way across the map. Strategy is key as the levels get harder, and players can choose to either make a beeline straight to the enemy stronghold or find a more varied route to the end. Players make each game their own by combining magic and martial arts as they try and stop the onslaught of furry enemies.

9 Grapple Dog

Swing Through A Cute Adventure

a colorful scene with a small dog swinging through

Platform(s): PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch
Released: February 10, 2022
Developer(s): Medallion Games
Genre(s): Action, Platformer

Grapple Dog is a fun and well-designed 2D, pixel art platform game inspired by retro platformers. Players take on the role of Pablo the Grapple Dog who discovers a powerful grappling hook that he can use to maneuver around each level. The gameplay is classic platform fun: avoid the deadly spikes, battle big bad bosses, and collect gems.

Pablo is an adorable protagonist who, after accidentally releasing the evil overlord Nul, must help defeat him once again. This exciting story drives the game and entices players to take on each challenging stage. The controls are smooth and intuitive, and the characters are cute and funny, making it a real pleasure to play.

10 Farewell North

An Emotional Journey In The Scottish Isles

a woman in a yellow jacket and a black and white collie dog

Farewell North

Released: August 16, 2024
Developer(s): Kyle Banks

Farewell North is a bewitching journey through one of the most thought-provoking story-driven games around. In this world, players take on the role of both Chesley, a sweet border collie, and their human companion. On land, Chesley takes the lead, exploring the land by paw, while the human is in charge of the canoe.

As the game progresses, the pair explore the stunning Scottish highlands, herding, playing fetch, and finding collectibles. The controls are relatively easy but may take some practice to master on water. The most joy, however, comes from exploring as Chesley and finding ways to restore color to the countryside. Farewell North is a semi-open world full of intriguing puzzles, but everything is discovered at the player’s own pace as they travel by boat or by paw.