Domestic Dog Simulator
- April 10, 2015
- Sean Davy
- 4h median play time
Get on SteamIn Domestic Dog, players care for and train a virtual puppy, shaping its behavior through positive reinforcement. With various customization options and activities, the game encourages responsible pet ownership and genuine bonding with the dog. As the dog grows and learns, players unlock new challenges and rewards, strengthening their connection in this wholesome simulation. If you found this summary helpful, I'd be grateful if you could leave a thumbs up or an upvote for me. Thank you!
Reviews
- The game is quirky and offers a unique, humorous experience that can be surprisingly enjoyable for those who appreciate its absurdity.
- It features a variety of dogs and fun mini-games, making it a light-hearted way to pass the time.
- The pixel art style and nostalgic music contribute to a charming atmosphere, appealing to fans of retro games.
- The gameplay can become repetitive quickly, with limited content and no save function, leading to frustration.
- Many players find the mechanics tedious, as they require constant attention to various stats, detracting from the fun.
- The lack of a tutorial or clear instructions can leave players confused about how to progress or fully enjoy the game.
- humor25 mentions
- 96 % positive mentions
- -8 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The game's humor is characterized by imaginative and goofy elements, appealing particularly to dog lovers and fans of colorful pixel graphics. While many players find the humor delightful and entertaining, opinions vary, with some considering it subjective and potentially off-putting for those with different tastes. Overall, it offers a lighthearted and silly experience, perfect for those seeking easy, humorous entertainment.
“If you like dogs, dog puns, colorful pixel graphics, and goofy humor, you'll certainly enjoy this game.”
“The game's humor is impressively imaginative, and generally doesn't fall back on dried up memes to pull a laugh out of the player.”
“In order to play this game you need to turn your mind off and just enjoy the humor and silliness.”
“The jokes fall flat and feel forced.”
“I expected more clever humor, but it just didn't land.”
“The attempts at comedy are cringeworthy and miss the mark.”
- music12 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The music in the game elicits mixed reactions from players; while some find it nostalgic, calming, and well-made, others describe it as boring or unremarkable. Comparisons to the soundtracks of games like Hotline Miami highlight its quirky and fun aspects, but not all players appreciate the execution. Overall, the music contributes to the game's endearing atmosphere, though opinions on its enjoyment vary significantly.
“The various settings and house customization options really give Domestic Dog a very endearing atmosphere, and the music is both calming and well-made.”
“Honestly, this game is a lot of fun if you enjoy weird little games with weird soundtracks.”
“The music is very well done and the game is more than great for its price tag.”
“Music isn't really enjoyable either; got a few tracks to choose from, unsure if there's more you unlock... a cute concept with a boring execution.”
“There are no words to explain how bad this game is... right as soon as I started it and heard the music.”
- graphics11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game evoke nostalgia with their colorful pixel art and simplistic design, appealing to fans of retro aesthetics and casual gameplay. While some players appreciate the cute and goofy visuals, others criticize them as overly simplistic or reminiscent of low-quality indie titles. Overall, the graphics are charming for those who enjoy old-school styles, but may not satisfy players seeking more polished visuals.
“It's graphics bring a lot of nostalgia and so does the music.”
“If you like dogs, dog puns, colorful pixel graphics, and goofy humor, you'll certainly enjoy this game.”
“The graphics are great and super cute; I love the goofy music and how funny some of the dogs come out.”
“The graphics are like they were drawn by a 12-year-old.”
“Imagine Goat Simulator with 1/100 of the map, 2D crappy graphics, and 1/1000th of things to do, and you would have this mess.”
“It's an interesting concept and I like the retro graphics, but it seems really lacking.”
- gameplay7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a mix of quirky mechanics, such as the ability to interact with the environment in unconventional ways, reminiscent of games like Postal 2 and Hotline Miami. While some players appreciate the exploration and achievement farming aspects, others criticize the lack of save functionality, suggesting it detracts from the overall experience. Despite these issues, many find the game enjoyable and worth the low price, particularly for its secrets and mechanics.
“Stylistically and musically, it reminds me of Hotline Miami, and the gameplay and complexity remind me of the complete opposite of Skyrim.”
“A great game to farm achievements on, decent sim mechanics, nice aesthetic even for the typical indie pixel game.”
“I've wasted some hours on this game today and have really had some fun figuring out the mechanics and finding secrets.”
“If peeing on things is that important to you, play Postal 2; it's a decent game and that's a game mechanic.”
“Stylistically and musically, it reminds me of Hotline Miami, but the gameplay and complexity are the complete opposite of Skyrim.”
“Are the mechanics innovative?”
- story5 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate a lack of a coherent or engaging storyline, with some users sharing personal anecdotes instead of a structured narrative. Overall, the consensus is that the game fails to deliver a meaningful or compelling story.
“My story is my rise and downfall.”
“No real storyline.”
“No story line.”
“Our story begins with me being born.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, with repetitive mini-games and a lack of clear guidance leading to a sense of aimlessness. While some enjoy the underlying mechanics, many feel that the fast-paced day/night cycle exacerbates the grind, making certain actions feel frustratingly slow.
“It's a Tamagotchi with a randomized dog you can't even save as far as I'm aware. The game doesn't really explain anything to you, and you just wander, play some tedious mini-games, and upgrade your house's appliances.”
“On the other hand, underneath the skin of the dog sim is a bunch of tedious bullshit.”
“It's simply a little tedious at times, and the day/night cycle goes so fast that I feel like other certain actions, like digging, need the same speed up.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Overall, players highlight a significant range of replayability in the game, with some estimating hundreds to thousands of hours, while others express uncertainty about its long-term appeal. The enjoyment of quirky, gimmicky games suggests that a solid foundation of replay value exists beneath the surface silliness.
“My 20 hours may seem like a lot when compared to other simulators on the market, but this masterpiece has hundreds, if not thousands, of hours of replayability.”
“I had quite a bit of fun with this initially, but I'm not sure about the replay value, though.”
“People enjoy quirky, gimmicky games like Goat Simulator and I Am Bread because there's something substantial and replayable behind the silly premise.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by its charming settings and customizable houses, which create an endearing environment, complemented by calming and well-crafted music.
“The various settings and house customization options really give Domestic Dog a very endearing atmosphere, and the music is both calming and well-made.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Many users perceive the monetization strategy as overly aggressive, suggesting that the developers prioritize quick profits over player experience, leading to a sentiment of it being a "cash grab."
“The monetization strategy feels like a blatant cash grab, prioritizing profits over player experience.”
“It's frustrating to see so many features locked behind paywalls, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
“The constant push for in-game purchases detracts from the overall enjoyment and immersion of the game.”
