The Ultimate List Of 15+ Video Games Where You Can Pet The Dog (Updated For 2025)

The simple, yet profound question of "Can You Pet The Dog?" has become one of the most important cultural touchstones in modern video game design, transcending a mere feature to become a symbol of a game's heart and attention to detail. As of December 2025, this wholesome phenomenon continues to grow, influencing developers from massive AAA studios to small indie teams who now understand that an interactive dog is a non-negotiable feature for many players.

What began as a niche curiosity has morphed into a viral movement, cataloged meticulously by a dedicated social media account, which now directly impacts game marketing and player immersion. We're diving deep into the history of this trend, the man who started it all, and the freshest list of 2024 and upcoming 2025 titles where you can finally give that digital canine a well-deserved scratch.

The Architect of Wholesome Gaming: Tristan Cooper's Profile

The entire "Can You Pet the Dog?" movement owes its existence to one person: Tristan Cooper.

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• Full Name: Tristan Cooper
• Role: Creator and Curator of the "Can You Pet the Dog?" Twitter account (@CanYouPetTheDog)
• Launch Date of Account: March 2019
• Initial Concept: To document whether dogs or other creatures within selected video games could be interacted with, specifically by petting.
• Cultural Impact: The account quickly grew into a "social media juggernaut," influencing player purchasing decisions and becoming a barometer for a game's perceived emotional depth.
• Notable Stance: Cooper publicly expressed disappointment and called it "a new low" when a game, *Hogwarts Legacy*, included animals that could be interacted with but specifically prevented players from petting the dogs.

Cooper’s work has essentially created a new, informal quality assurance checkpoint for game developers, proving that a small, seemingly insignificant mechanic can generate massive positive buzz and player goodwill.

The Definitive 2024-2025 List: New Games Where You Can Pet the Dog

The newest wave of video games demonstrates that the petting mechanic is no longer a surprise—it's an expectation. Here are some of the most notable recent and upcoming titles where you can show some love to a loyal digital companion, confirming the trend is alive and well in 2024 and beyond.

Recent and Highly-Anticipated Titles (2024/2025)

• Neva (2024): This gorgeous platformer, which is also a powerful metaphor for grief, explicitly allows players to pet the dog, a feature highlighted in multiple reviews as a key emotional element. Reviewers have called it "the loveliest video game of 2024," in part due to this interaction.
• Barkour (Upcoming): A new stealth game that puts players directly in the role of a sneaky, gadget-using dog. While the petting mechanic is less about the player petting an NPC dog and more about interacting as a dog, it speaks to the broader trend of canine integration in games.
• Alan Wake 2 (2023/2024): While not a 2024 release, the game features a notable, pettable canine: the dog mayor. This quirky inclusion shows developers are using the mechanic for humor and charm.

This commitment to including the simple joy of petting a dog proves that developers are listening to the community's demand for emotional connection and genuine, non-violent interactions within their worlds.

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Classic and Enduring 'Pettable' Games

The movement was built on the backs of games that understood the assignment early on. These titles remain the gold standard for dog-petting mechanics:

• Red Dead Redemption 2: A true pioneer, RDR2 allows players to interact with and pet all stray dogs, horses, and cats, setting a high bar for environmental interaction and immersion.
• Stray: While the main character is a cat, the game is a masterclass in animal-centric gameplay, showing the cultural appetite for non-human protagonists and detailed animal interactions.
• Tales of Symphonia: This classic RPG has a hidden, game-spanning sidequest that rewards the player for petting every dog in the world, demonstrating that the mechanic is a long-standing tradition in some genres.
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom: The ability to feed and interact with dogs for rewards (like finding treasure) is a key feature that makes the world feel more alive and rewarding.
• Cyberpunk 2077 (with Phantom Liberty): The introduction of a pettable dog, named Nibbles, in the player's apartment was a highly celebrated addition, often cited as a response to player demand.

Beyond the Paw: How 'Petting the Dog' Changed Game Design

The "Can You Pet the Dog?" phenomenon is far more than a cute meme; it represents a significant shift in game design philosophy and player expectation. The mechanic has become a powerful tool for developers, influencing everything from marketing to the core feeling of a game's world.

The Immersion and Empathy Factor

The ability to pet a dog serves a crucial narrative and psychological function. When a game allows for this simple, tender interaction, it instantly deepens the player’s connection to the world. It signals that the developer cares about the small details and wants to foster a sense of empathy and realism. The lack of the mechanic, conversely, can be "immersion breaking" for some players, creating a jarring disconnect in an otherwise detailed world.

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A Powerful Marketing Move

In the competitive landscape of video game releases, the "pet the dog" feature has become a low-cost, high-reward marketing opportunity. A simple, ten-second GIF of a player petting a dog can go viral, generating more positive press and goodwill than a costly trailer. Developers now actively include the mechanic as a way to generate buzz and demonstrate a game’s wholesome qualities. It is a brilliant example of product development aligning with marketing strategy.

The Technical Challenge and Triumph

While it seems simple, implementing a fluid and realistic petting mechanic is a technical challenge. It requires dedicated animation, scripting, and ensuring the interaction works smoothly with the game's physics. When a developer successfully integrates this feature, it's a quiet testament to their technical skill and commitment to polish, often requiring significant work to make the dog's reaction feel genuinely satisfying.

The Future of Canine Companions in Gaming

Looking ahead into 2025 and 2026, the trend is not slowing down. The demand for meaningful animal interaction is driving new game concepts, including titles where the player *is* the dog or where canine companions are central to the narrative and gameplay. The continued success of the "Can You Pet the Dog?" movement ensures that future games will be judged not only on their graphics and gameplay but also on their capacity for compassion and connection.

Ultimately, the question "Can You Pet The Dog?" has evolved from a simple query into a cultural shorthand for quality, empathy, and a developer's willingness to put a smile on a player's face. In a world of digital chaos, this small, wholesome action remains a powerful reminder of what truly matters in virtual worlds: connection.