Don't you hate it when you see a dog that you're not allowed to pet? Well, that isn't the case with these
games.
It doesn't always amount to much, and might even be a tad trivial, but petting dogs in
video games just feels right.
Before you go, check out:
The Odd History of Gaming Tournaments
1
Humans and dogs have long been companions and so our urge to pet them in real-life and in video-games remains strong. Though just like in real life, not all dogs are pet-able, be it because their owner is up-tight or the developers were rushed, but in case you were wondering, here is a shortlist of games that let you pet the dog. Zelda Breathe of the Wild, however, is not one of them.
2
Humans and dogs have long been companions and so or urge to pet them in real-life and video-games remains strong. Though just like in real life, not all dogs are pet-able, be it because their owner is up-tight or the developers were rushed, but in case you were wondering, here is a shortlist of games that let you pet the dog.
3
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain — Starting off with a personal favorite, Metal Gear Solid V gives you a dog buddy, named D.D., who you can pet while in the field. Don’t hit the wrong button, though, or you’ll accidentally hit or worse, shoot, D.D., which is heartbreaking.
4
Hades — Even though the vanilla game didn’t let players pet the “dog,” an update now allows players to pet the dog...which happens to be the Cerberus. Unfortunately, you can only pet one of the three heads, but it’s better than nothing.
5
Dauntless —Epic Games’ giant monster hunting title also features a hub world full of regular-sized animals to interact with. Yes, you can pet the dog, but you can also bash heads with the ram! (Please don’t try to “bond” with your ram like this at home.)
6
Guilty Gear: Strive — The newest game on our list technically isn’t even out yet — but we’ve still proven that you can pet the dog! The character Giovanna is followed by a wolf spirit named Rei and her taunt allows you to give the good boy some well-earned scratchies.
7
The Last Guardian — While we’re not sure what Trico is actually supposed to be, it’s technically “man’s best friend,” which is what dogs are, so it counts. Trico kind of looks like a dog if you squint, anyway. But none-the-less a furry creature you can pet.
8
Pretty much every Assassin’s Creed game — Say what you will about Ubisoft, they know how to give the people what they want every once in a while. Most Assassin’s Creed games allow you to pet a dog in one way or another. At least you can have some fun before you encounter a game-breaking glitch and crash.
9
Don’t Starve Together — Even indie games have started to get in on the dog-petting madness. With 'Don't Starve Together' you find it a challenge to find the time to pet a nice doggo while you try to survive the hellscape put in front of you.
10
Okami — Nobody said you had to be the one petting the dogs, did they? In Okami, you can inspire others to pet you, the magical sun dog. Which is a nice twist on the idea.
11
Watch Dogs 2 — It’d be pretty disappointing if there were no pettable dogs in a game with “Dogs” in the title, wouldn’t it? Again, Ubisoft knows how to give the people what they want. And in Watch Dogs 2 dog petting isn't just allowed it's encouraged.
12
Undertale — This indie 2D role-player game, created by developer Toby Fox, is sort of a cult favorite for letting fans pet the dog. The story follows a child who has fallen into the underworld, where they face off against monsters and beasts, though petting the dog, which is what makes this title a favorite among animal loves.
13
Undertale —You can absolutely pet the dog in Undertale and nothing else. There is absolutely nothing else you can possibly do in this encounter other than pet the dog.
14
Pet the Pup at the Party — For the introvert in all of us, Pet the Pup at the Party lets you sit in the corner and play with a dog while you go around town attending parties. An od premise we must confess but it could be a real-world simulation for those of us who actually do this. How many dogs can you pet within the time limit?
15
Ghost of Tsushima — This breakout PlayStation exclusive is filled with dog petting. Along with petting real dogs, Jin can summon a spectral dog and pet it also. If I could have any superpower, this would be near the top of the list.
16
Crusader Kings 3 — In Crusader King 3 the dog petting, unfortunately, happens off-screen, but you do get a lengthy anecdote showing how happy it makes your dog. I think that’s totally worth the compromise.
17
Persona 4 Golden — Speaking of other not really dogs, you can, indeed, pet in video games is the ancestral fox spirit in Persona 4. It’s still a good boy, even if it's not a dog.
18
And finally, a game whose whole premise is petting the dog, 'You Can Pet the Dog VR', on Steam offers a fully immersive dog petting experience. Yes, this game exists. And yes you should totally buy it if you really miss petting dogs. Or you could, you know go out and adopt one!
