When Nintendogs first launched on the Nintendo DS, it quickly became one of the most beloved pet simulation games ever made.
You could adopt puppies, train them with voice commands, compete in agility contests, and take them on walks to build a bond that felt surprisingly real. Even years later, many players are still searching for games that capture that same nostalgic experience. Whether you want to raise a puppy like in the original game, run your own pet sanctuary or animal shelter, there are plenty of modern alternatives.
Here are the best games like Nintendogs on Switch, PC, and console that let you adopt, train, and care for adorable virtual pets.
If you’re into other forms of escapism, check these out:
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1. Little Friends: Puppy Island
Little Friends: Puppy Island expands the idea of virtual pet care into a colorful open island to explore with your dog companion. You’ll discover hidden treasures, complete activities together, and build a deeper relationship with your puppy as you adventure across beaches, forests, and parks. It blends pet care with light exploration, making it a great modern option for Nintendogs fans.
2. Little Friends: Dogs & Cats
In the same series as Puppy Island, this cozy pet simulation lets you adopt and care for a variety of adorable puppies and kittens. You’ll feed them, dress them up, take them on walks, and play mini games to strengthen your bond. With plenty of outfits and toys to discover, it captures much of the relaxing virtual pet experience people loved in Nintendogs.
3. Puppy Park
Puppy Park is an adorable multiplayer game where players control puppies and take part in various mini games. While it focuses more on party style gameplay than pet care, the silly physics and cute dog antics make it perfect for players who simply want to enjoy a lighthearted and somewhat idle game full of dogs.
4. Animal Shelter Simulator
In this management focused game, you run your own animal shelter and care for pets until they find their forever homes. You’ll feed, clean, groom, and treat animals while matching them with the right adopters. The gameplay focuses on compassion and responsibility, giving you a meaningful way to interact with virtual pets.
5. Animal Shelter Simulator 2
This sequel builds on the original shelter management concept with improved graphics, expanded animal behaviors, and more detailed care systems. You can rescue pets, rehabilitate them, and help them get adopted while managing the daily operations of a growing shelter. It’s a deeper and more immersive experience for you if you love caring for animals.
6. House Flipper Pets DLC
The Pets DLC for House Flipper introduces adoptable animals and a surprisingly robust amount of pet related furniture and toys. You can design cozy spaces for dogs, cats, and other animals (even rabbits!) while renovating homes. It’s a fun mix of decorating and pet companionship that adds a new layer of charm to the game.
7. Stay: Forever Home
Designed for VR, this game lets you build a genuine emotional bond with your digital pet companion. Your dog reacts to your voice, actions, and attention, making interactions feel surprisingly real. The VR environment helps create the feeling of truly sharing your home with a loyal friend.
8. Viva Pinata
Rather than traditional pets, this game focuses on attracting living pinata creatures to your garden. By planting the right plants and creating the perfect environment, you’ll lure dozens of unique creatures to live around you. The collection aspect and creature care systems make it surprisingly similar to raising pets and it’s an incredibly well rated game that people still bring up to this day.
9. Best Friend Forever
Best Friend Forever combines dog care mechanics with a visual novel dating story. Players adopt and train their own dog while meeting new people in a town full of other dog-loving humans. Balancing your dog’s training, happiness, and social life creates a unique twist on the traditional pet simulation formula.
10. Wobbledogs
Wobbledogs is a (bizarre) fun pet simulation game where you raise strange, wobbly dogs with changing genetics. As you care for them, their bodies mutate in hilarious and unpredictable ways. The sandbox style of gameplay encourages experimentation and discovery as you build your own ecosystem.
11. The Sims 4 Cats & Dogs
This expansion for The Sims 4 allows you to adopt and customize pets that can live alongside your Sims. You can train dogs, take them on walks, and even run your own veterinary clinic. It offers one of the deepest pet simulation systems within a life sim game.
12. Ranch of Rivershine
Ranch of Rivershine focuses on caring for horses and building a life on your ranch. You’ll train horses, explore trails, and compete in riding events while developing strong bonds with your horses. We also called it the best horse game of the last decade.