Every once in a while, a game comes along that dares to ask the big questions. “What if petting dogs wasn’t just a side feature? What if it was the whole point?” Enter Game of Dog Petting, a medieval fantasy epic where your sole mission is to pet every good boy and girl across a war-torn kingdom. That’s it. No swordplay. No dragons. Just dogs. And petting.

You play as the mysterious Petter, a cloaked figure with a magical glove known only as “The Scratch.” Your quest? Journey across the realm of Barkonia, mending wounds—not with violence, but with gentle rubs behind the ears and perfectly timed belly scratches. And yes, the game takes this very seriously.

The mechanics are deceptively deep. Each breed has a different “affection curve,” and learning their preferences is crucial. A corgi might want rapid-fire pats, while a mastiff demands slow, deliberate strokes. Get it wrong, and the pupper loses trust. Get it right, and you unlock glowing hearts and occasionally… a happy dance.

The worldbuilding is absurdly rich for a game about petting. Villages are divided not by class or race, but by dog loyalty—The Pugstead Rebels, the Huskarl Nomads, the Shih Tzu Syndicate. You’ll travel through Caninopolis, Petton-on-Ruff, and the ominous Borkwood, meeting NPCs with tragic backstories and—yes—side quests involving dogs with trust issues. One particularly harrowing mission involves coaxing a retired war beagle out of emotional solitude with a squeaky toy and a series of increasingly heartfelt snuggles.

Visually, Game of Dog Petting is a mix of lush painterly backgrounds and lovingly animated doggos. There are over 300 unique canines, each with distinct personalities and reactions. The soundtrack? A soothing mix of lute music and the occasional excited bark. Genuinely relaxing—until you meet The Cerberuff, a three-headed doggo with abandonment trauma and a petting rhythm that nearly broke me.

The only downside? If you don’t love dogs, you might feel like you wandered into a cult. But if you do (and let’s be honest—you do), this is comfort gaming at its finest.

Verdict: Game of Dog Petting is heartfelt, hilarious, and secretly kind of brilliant. Who needs combat when you’ve got canines?

Rating: 9/10