Anxiety Puppy

About

Anxiety Puppy is a single player casual simulation game. It was developed by 小狗工作室 and was released on December 9, 2025. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Anxiety Puppy is an emotion-driven visual novel following a young woman navigating the overwhelming pressures of daily life and work. As her anxiety intensifies, she is drawn into a surreal world where she embarks on a spiritual journey to confront and understand her emotions. This short, thoughtful narrative offers moments of calm and self-reflection through its hand-drawn style.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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97%

Audience ScoreBased on 38 reviews

story9 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game features beautiful hand-drawn artwork and a relaxing soundtrack that enhances the emotional experience.
Anxiety Puppy offers a relatable and heartfelt story about living with anxiety, encouraging players to accept and coexist with their feelings.
The gameplay is simple yet engaging, allowing players to focus on the narrative and emotional beats rather than complex mechanics.

The game is quite short, often completed in under two hours, which may leave some players wanting more content.
The English translation has several grammatical errors and awkward phrasing that can detract from the overall experience.
Some interactions can feel stiff or unresponsive, requiring multiple clicks to progress through dialogue or scenes.

story
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
64%
9%
The story of "Anxiety Puppy" is a heartfelt exploration of anxiety, focusing on themes of self-compassion and personal growth. Players engage with a poignant narrative that resonates deeply with those who have experienced similar struggles, enhanced by beautiful visuals and emotional storytelling. While the game is short and more akin to an interactive storybook than a traditional game, it effectively conveys its message without sensationalism, making it a meaningful experience for players seeking a cozy yet impactful narrative.
- “A wonderful little story about facing your fears, having compassion for yourself, and the courage to make changes that are best for you.”
- “This message resonates strongly, particularly for players who recognize their own experiences reflected in the story.”
- “The story is an exploration of the idea of anxiety as something that's trying to protect you but that can then end up limiting you or ruling your mindset.”
- “Definitely more of a short story/art piece than a video game.”
- “There’s only one choice per 'page' and I feel it could’ve been a short story as opposed to a game.”
- “Some of the English translation isn't absolutely perfect, but wasn't so distracting to take away from the story.”
emotional
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
"Anxiety Puppy" is a short yet profoundly emotional game that explores the complexities of living with anxiety through a touching narrative and beautiful visuals. Players find the experience relatable and introspective, as it reframes anxiety as a companion rather than an adversary, fostering a safe emotional space for reflection. The game's heartfelt storytelling, supported by a gentle soundtrack, creates an intimate atmosphere that resonates deeply, making it a standout example of emotional art in gaming.
- “An emotional journey that provokes thought with touches of healing and compassion.”
- “Anxiety Puppy is a gentle, emotionally focused experience that approaches anxiety not as a problem to be defeated, but as a feeling to be recognized, understood, and ultimately accepted.”
- “One of Anxiety Puppy’s greatest strengths is its emotional honesty.”
graphics
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
33%
20%
The game's graphics are widely praised for their beautiful hand-drawn artwork, which effectively conveys emotional storytelling and enhances the overall calming experience. Players appreciate the cute and captivating visuals that complement the game's themes of anxiety and reflection, creating an inviting atmosphere even during challenging moments. Overall, the art style is seen as a refreshing and integral part of the game's tone, with many hoping to see more titles adopt a similar aesthetic.
- “The visuals do an incredible amount of emotional storytelling on their own.”
- “What impressed me the most though were the gorgeous artworks and animations!”
- “The game’s gentle visuals, thoughtful pacing, and heartfelt approach turn a challenging emotion into a touching, reflective experience.”
- “Even during moments of distress or surreal dreamlike sequences, the artwork remains inviting rather than oppressive, reinforcing the idea that anxiety, while uncomfortable, is something that can be approached with kindness.”
- “The hand-drawn art style plays a vital role in shaping the game’s tone.”
music
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The music in the game is widely praised for its relaxing and calming qualities, featuring gentle melodies and ambient tones that enhance the emotional experience. Players appreciate the thoughtful use of music and silence, which allows for reflective moments throughout the gameplay. Overall, the soundtrack complements the beautiful hand-drawn art, creating a comforting atmosphere that resonates with players, although some find certain musical elements, like the piano mini-game, to be challenging.
- “The artwork is hand-crafted, which I find refreshing, and the music is overall relaxing and purposely slowed down to have a calming effect as you play.”
- “Paired with beautiful music, the game creates a space that feels safe and reflective.”
- “The soundtrack is understated, favoring gentle melodies and ambient tones that ebb and flow with the protagonist’s emotional state.”
- “Music and silence are used thoughtfully, allowing certain moments to breathe and giving players space to absorb what is unfolding.”
- “If you are anxious, insecure, not confident, I strongly recommend playing this game while reading through dialogues with the comforting background music.”
gameplay
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
55%
27%
The gameplay is characterized by its simplicity, primarily involving point-and-click interactions that foster a relaxing experience. It emphasizes narrative and emotional engagement over traditional mechanics, allowing players to explore themes of modern life through art and introspection. This approach creates an interactive storybook feel, inviting players to reflect on their own anxieties in a gentle and engaging manner.
- “By removing mechanical friction, the game allows players to focus entirely on emotional beats, visual storytelling, and introspection.”
- “Rather than relying on traditional gameplay systems or mechanical challenges, the game positions itself as an interactive storybook, using metaphor, art, and quiet reflection to explore the mental strain of modern life.”
- “Gameplay unfolds through simple point-and-click interactions, light exploration, and dialogue-driven progression.”
- “The gameplay is mainly pointing and clicking on items.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players looking for a challenging and engaging experience may find the game's replayability lacking, as it is perceived as too lightweight or passive for traditional gaming expectations.
- “Players seeking challenge, replayability, or traditional game systems may find the experience too lightweight or passive.”