Of all the player companion archetypes that have appeared in video game history, one stands alone as the epitome of loyalty, trustworthiness, and unconditional love: the dog.
As graphics and artificial intelligence technologies continue to evolve, so does the quality of dogs in video games. Still, dogs have always been the pinnacle of any game they appear in, and they show no signs of slowing down. In game worlds where strangers can be underhanded, spiteful and even stab the player in the back, the unique radiant warmth of dogs is always welcome.
With D-Dog’s sharp face and eyepatch, he’s the spitting image of Metal Gear Solid V‘s Venom Snake. As one of the friends of the game, D-Dog is able to aid the player in open world stealth and reconnaissance missions as he can scout far beyond Snake’s eyesight and distract enemies. D-Dog can even be equipped with weapons, allowing him to stun or injure enemies.
With his unparalleled skills and variable equipment, D-Dog is undoubtedly one of the fiercest animal friends in video game history. That said, combat expertise doesn’t mean D-Dog shouldn’t have pets, as the wolf is still a puppy at heart.
Dragon Age: Origins’ Mabari War Hound Is Loyal
The member of the dog party in Dragon Age: Origins is a full-fledged warrior, loyal pet and gifted interlocutor. Unlike other group members in the game, the dog’s approval stat is maxed out once recruited, and cannot be lowered in any way. This makes him by far the most loyal companion in the game. He’s also no slouch when it comes to fighting, a necessary skill in the dangerous world of dragon era.
The dog can be named and equipped with various collars and war paint to improve both his stats and his appearance. He is also a feisty talker, participating in many interactions with the player and group members throughout the game with growls and barks, which makes him a great fighter, good boy and funny party member.
Wargroove’s Caesar is a capable commander
wargroove has many canine units, but none are as tough or tactically talented as Caesar, the Queen of Cherrystone’s personal watchdog. Caesar, aged four, is also the youngest commander ever in the Cherrystone Army, giving orders and inspiration to all of its soldiers. With a groove that can give allies two attacks in the same turn, Caesar is extremely valuable on the battlefield.
Perhaps the most independently successful dog in video game history, Caesar is fully capable of overthrowing enemy armies without a human commander to aid him, but he always values the company. His status even exceeds the limits of his own game, as he also appears in Rivals of Aether as a possible buddy.
Dogmeat is a fallout staple
Dog meat is a returning companion in the precipitation series. One of the few bright spots in the brutal open world, Dogmeat has been a fan favorite since its debut in the original precipitation game, but it really came into its own with the release of Fallout 4. Here, Dogmeat was finally made immortal – as all video game dogs should be. Players no longer have to go through every encounter for fear that their best friend might skip the bucket.
Just like the dog in Dragon Age: OriginsDogmeat is a loyal companion whose opinion of the player will never waver, no matter what decisions the player makes. A dog’s unconditional love is one of the few things that can make a wasteland fun precipitation habitable.
Pyre’s Rukey Greentail is the soul of the Nightwings
Rukey, the dog party member in Supergiant Games’ masterpiece party-based RPG and 3v3 sports game, pyre, is one of the most likeable characters in the game. Unlike most dogs on this list, Rukey is fully capable of speech. Known as ‘The Fast Talker’, Rukey’s smooth conversational skills aided him in his trading life before being banished to the Downside, a kind of purgatory where suspected criminals are sent.
His bubbly conversation isn’t the only thing he brings to the party, as Rukey’s extreme speed makes him one of the most powerful goalkeeper threats in the game. As one of the best characters in a criminally underrated game from the developers behind it HadesRukey Greentail earns a spot as one of video game’s greatest dogs.
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