10 Heckin’ Good Games Where You Can Pet the Dog

10 Games That Let You Pet the Dog

10. Life is Strange: Before the Storm

While Pompidou is the better-known pooch in the Life is Strange series, players can actually stop to pet Delia the Pit Bull early on in Before the Storm’s first episode.

After Delia startles Chloe as she enters a punk club, players can go back over to her and give her some pets. Don’t worry; her heart is just as big as her bite.

9. Red Dead Redemption 2

Turns out even grizzled outlaws can’t resist rewarding good doggos.

From loyal companions like Cain or Rufus to a variety of breeds players meet in their travels, Red Dead Redemption 2 players can pet most every dog they come across so long as their civil and friendly.

There’s no limit to how long you can pet them either, with the animation able to continue indefinitely for as long as you have appreciation to show to your furry new friend.

8. Fable 3

While Fable 3 might not have stuck the landing fans had hoped for, most all were in agreement that it succeeded in allowing you to pet your dog.

Anywhere at any time, you could stop to show your stalwart companion you were proud of them, patting their noggin and reminding them they’re a good boy.

This remained true even if you chose to swap them out for a mechanized counterpart which, while less furry, was still an excellent doggo.

7. Uncharted 4

Uncharted 4 wraps up the series with a charming epilogue showing their ideal life after years of adventuring. As such, it’s little surprise they have a lovable dog available to pet.

Vicky, a Labrador Retriever, can be found running around the couple’s beachside home while their daughter, Cassie, tries to find them.

While searching, she can follow Vicky to the end of the property’s dock and pet her, rewarding the loyal canine for sticking around to keep an eye on her while her parents are off doing god knows what for plot reasons.

6. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey

A quick note: It is never ok to hit a doggo, even in the name of training and taming them. But, seeing as how Assassin’s Creed Odyssey takes place in a wilder, more violent time period, we’ll let it slide this time.

Accomplished by unlocking the Beast Master skill and then giving enemy wolves a good thumping, players can pet the doggo’s ancient ancestor by crouching near them after they’ve been tamed.

After a few seconds, the player’s character will admonish their former enemy with some pets and neck scratches to show all is forgiven.

5. Until Dawn

Until Dawn is an experience fraught with thrills, chills and violent deaths, so thank god for this surprisingly friendly wild dog.

Found in the Sanitorium section of the game, the wolf is actually a potential companion the player can enlist so long as they don’t attack it as soon as they see it. 

Should players show restraint, they can then go over and pet the wild canine, easing its suspicions of why they’re there and sparking an unlikely friendship in the process.

4. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain

One of The Boss’ most loyal soldiers, D-Dog is more than deserving of a pet or two during his time on the battlefield, and the player can give them to him whenever they’d like.

By interacting with him, the player can give the deadly doggo a nice pet whether they’re in the middle of enemy territory or taking in the beautiful scenery around them.

Players will know D-Dog appreciates it too, as the normally stoic soldier won’t be able to resist wagging his tail.

3. The Last of Us

Even in the soul-crushing, post-apocalyptic world of The Ladt of Us, petting a good boy can lift people’s spirits and serve a greater purpose. Case in point: Buckley, the lovable guard dog of the Hydroelectric Dam.

Though more of a lover than a fighter, and as a result not much of a guard dog, Buckley is open to any and all pets from the settlement’s inhabitants.

This includes the player, who can give him a pet while touring the facility with Joel’s brother Tommy.

2. Far Cry 5

Easily a main attraction of Far Cry 5, getting to pet the Fang for Hire Boomer is an absolute treat.

Not only does it reward the doggo for dutifully watching the player’s back, but it fills his heart with love and affection after Joseph  Seed’s men so ruthlessly cut down his family.

So don’t be shy. Give this heckin’ good boy all of the pats you can muster.

1. Mass Effect 2

Sure, Urz the Varren from Mass Effect 2 might be a bit more alien than other good boys on this list, but that doesn’t mean he’s any less deserving of love and affection.

Found in Ratch’s shop on Tuchanka, Urz is one of the friendliest and most docile Varren players can encounter in the series. He’ll happily greet Shepard and his party with a yarl, and won’t devour their limbs when they draw close to him.

To that end, most players would be remiss not to pet the lovable creature whenever the prompt comes up.

Know of some other good boys you can pet in games? Mention them in the comments below. For more dog loving content, check out our breakdown of all the reasons Far Cry 5 players should protect Boomer at all costs.

Likewise, consider keeping up with the Can You Pet the Dog? Twitter account, which was an obvious inspiration for this list and continues to do admirable work in advertising pro-dog petting games.