Skip to main content

Grapple Dogs: Cosmic Canines

Grapple Dogs: Cosmic Canines is a delightful 2D platformer, with slick swinging gameplay and loads of lovely collectibles to gather.
Grapple Dogs: Cosmic Canines Game Cover
96%Game Brain Score
gameplay, music
story, grinding
99% User Score Based on 177 reviews
Critic Score 87%Based on 3 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchXbox Series X|SPCXboxSteam DeckWindows
Grapple Dogs: Cosmic Canines Game Cover

About

Grapple Dogs: Cosmic Canines is a single player arcade platformer game with a kids theme. It was developed by Medallion Games and was released on September 12, 2024. It received positive reviews from critics and overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

"Grapple Dogs: Cosmic Canines" is a fast-paced platforming game with swinging action, magnetic panels, and fire-dashing abilities. Explore multiple worlds filled with vibrant pixel art, hidden collectibles, and challenging boss battles, with an exhilarating soundtrack by Jazz Mickle. Join the adventure with the newcomer Luna and her weaponry, as you journey across dimensions to save everything.

Skip User Reviews

99%
Audience ScoreBased on 177 reviews
gameplay38 positive mentions
story3 negative mentions

  • A perfect sequel that improves on the original in every way, with enhanced graphics, sound, and gameplay mechanics.
  • The introduction of Luna adds variety to the gameplay, and her unique abilities provide a fresh take on the platforming experience.
  • The level design is vibrant and imaginative, with a great balance of challenge and fun, making it enjoyable for both casual and hardcore players.
  • Luna's gameplay can feel awkward and less satisfying compared to Pablo's, as aiming and shooting can disrupt the flow of platforming.
  • Some players feel that the game has been made easier compared to the original, with less challenging gold medal times and level design that can feel trivialized.
  • The removal of certain collectibles and the introduction of new ones can make 100% completion feel less rewarding and more tedious.
  • gameplay
    104 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay in "Grapple Dogs: Cosmic Canines" is a blend of fast-paced platforming and grapple mechanics, enhanced by the introduction of a second character, Luna, who offers a different playstyle focused on shooting and dashing. While many players appreciate the depth and satisfaction of the movement mechanics and level design, some find Luna's gameplay less intuitive compared to Pablo's, with occasional clunkiness in aiming and movement. Overall, the game successfully builds on its predecessor with new power-ups and challenges, maintaining a balance between complexity and accessibility for players.

    • “Pablo's stages are great fun, the momentum gameplay's back just as great as before, and the new gimmick power-ups are nice to play with; the grass sword is loads of fun.”
    • “This second entry in the Grapple Dog series manages to deliver more of the fun, fast-paced platforming which made the first game so successful, with the addition of a multitude of new weapons and gameplay mechanics which keep it fresh and engaging.”
    • “Level design is solid, gameplay and movement mechanics are expertly designed and very satisfying, and there's decent challenge to be had.”
    • “I think she's kind of a miss gameplay-wise - again, I love Luna as a character and I'm so glad she's here, I just wish her gimmick wasn't the guns.”
    • “I thought that gameplay mechanic from the first game was pretty satisfying, so it's a bit disappointing to see it removed here.”
    • “That, and the gameplay only evolved so much over the course of the game, outside of usually minor environment gimmicks and platforming difficulty.”
  • music
    65 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers highlighting its significant improvement over the original soundtrack. Players appreciate the variety and creativity in the music, which features a mix of funky, jazzy, and ethereal themes that enhance the gameplay experience. Overall, the soundtrack is described as an absolute standout, making it a memorable aspect of the game that players are eager to purchase.

    • “The music is great, absolutely my jam.”
    • “With an absolute banger soundtrack that tops the original, you'll be bobbing your head as you swing and shoot through beautiful environments and nasty enemies.”
    • “The themes are also more creative, taking a lot of ideas from the prequel's climax. Moreover, jazz continues to grace us with an outstanding, funky swing soundtrack.”
    • “The first game often lacked variety - you were stuck with the same music and stage theme for stages on end, especially if you were trying to 100% things before moving on.”
    • “The music does start to fade as you get close to the band, which sometimes helps you find them, but other times they're so far off the beaten path that it doesn't help at all.”
    • “While I was playing through, I kept calling the graphics 'gba/ds coded' and the music 'hideki naganuma coded' (the devs at least aren't shy about the latter being the case).”
  • graphics
    19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics are consistently praised for their vibrant and imaginative design, showcasing a fantastic variety across levels that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the charming aesthetics and detailed artwork, which contribute to the game's engaging world-building and atmosphere. The visuals, reminiscent of classic handheld styles, are complemented by a catchy soundtrack, making the game a standout in both graphics and audio.

    • “The graphics remain vibrant and imaginative, and the new dimensions you explore are fascinating. The music's nice, and I'm definitely going to buy the soundtrack.”
    • “The stakes and spectacle are increased, and the already great artwork seems even better this time.”
    • “Fantastic variety in the level artwork and music so far, along with more funny writing in the little NPCs you encounter.”
    • “While I was playing through, I kept calling the graphics 'GBA/DS coded' and the music 'Hideki Naganuma coded' (the devs at least aren't shy about the latter being the case).”
    • “The graphics remain vibrant and imaginative, the new dimensions you explore are fascinating (though I felt a little weird about how in this whole multiverse thing the frogs universe gets so much focus; if it's about how many universes there are, why repeat so many levels?).”
    • “Kind of a sleeper hit, which, despite its cute/silly aesthetics (which I love), is a really competent platformer!”
  • story
    15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story in the game has seen significant improvements in pacing and complexity compared to its predecessor, with a more engaging structure that avoids repetitive themes. Players appreciate the charm and momentum of the narrative, expressing a desire for even more content to enjoy. Overall, the story exceeds expectations for a game titled "Grapple Dogs," adding depth to the gameplay experience.

    • “The pacing is much improved from the first game; it feels like they took the themed level approach from the first game and just scattered them throughout the story, which really helps reduce the tedium of going through a world with the same theme throughout with the same song playing.”
    • “In case you're hesitant to trust that cosmic canines can live up to its predecessor, the original charm is as strong as ever here, and your momentum (literally and figuratively) just keeps building as you work your way through the story.”
    • “Not a huge loss, but still - it says something when my biggest issue with the story is that I wish there was more of it to enjoy.”
    • “The story is a bit more complex than the first game.”
    • “There's no necessary story or anything stuck in that game, just jump into this one.”
  • grinding
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players appreciate the shift to using berries as a currency for cosmetic items, making the collection feel less tedious than previous mechanics. However, many noted that achieving 100% completion requires about an hour of grinding, which can feel excessive, especially due to the obscure locations of certain collectibles and the slow, tedious methods needed to obtain them. Overall, while the game encourages exploration and is enjoyable, the grinding aspect could benefit from better balance in pricing and accessibility.

    • “The writing still has a lot of heart and charm, and it was a joy to 100% outside of the final hour of berry grinding.”
    • “You can even use the dashes and gun hovering to jankily climb a vertical wall, but it's slow and tedious—which would be fine if it were never actually needed, but 100%ing the game does require it.”
    • “I enjoyed the move to make the berries an actual currency to buy skins rather than another thing to collect to progress; however, I still needed about an hour of grinding to get everything, so I kind of wish the prices were adjusted a bit towards the higher end.”
  • humor
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is characterized by sharp and hilarious writing, particularly in the interactions with NPCs, which adds a charming quality to the adventure. However, the main character, Luna, is often perceived as humorless and mean-spirited, detracting from the overall comedic experience. Despite this, players appreciate the variety in humor, ranging from funny to wholesome moments throughout the game.

    • “Fantastic variety in the level artwork and music so far, and more funny writing in little NPCs you encounter.”
    • “The writing is again sharp (if not sharper!) and hilarious.”
    • “The writing is always either funny or wholesome in a way that makes the entire adventure ridiculously charming.”
  • atmosphere
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere in the game is enhanced by a reduction in voice samples, allowing for a greater focus on atmospheric tracks that complement the new moody stage themes effectively. This creates a more immersive and engaging experience for players.

    • “There's less overuse of voice samples and more atmospheric tracks, which combine nicely with some of the new moody stage themes.”
  • replayability
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players appreciate the new additions, such as a new playable character, which enhance replayability, although these characters are limited to specific levels. This feature encourages players to revisit certain sections of the game for a fresh experience.

  • emotional
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by its charming writing, which balances humor and wholesomeness, creating an engaging and delightful adventure for players.

    • “The writing is always either funny or wholesome in a way that makes the entire adventure ridiculously charming.”
Skip Critic Reviews
Skip Game Offers

Buy Grapple Dogs: Cosmic Canines

Skip Videos

Videos

Skip Games Like Grapple Dogs: Cosmic Canines

Games Like Grapple Dogs: Cosmic Canines

Grapple Dog Image
Spark the Electric Jester 3 Image
Kaze and the Wild Masks Image
Garbanzo Quest Image
Ghost 1.0 Image
Skip FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Grapple Dogs: Cosmic Canines is a arcade platformer game with kids theme.

Grapple Dogs: Cosmic Canines is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Steam Deck and others.

Grapple Dogs: Cosmic Canines was released on September 12, 2024.

Grapple Dogs: Cosmic Canines was developed by Medallion Games.

Grapple Dogs: Cosmic Canines has received positive reviews from players and positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its story.

Grapple Dogs: Cosmic Canines is a single player game.

Similar games include Grapple Dog, Spark the Electric Jester 3, Kaze and the Wild Masks, Garbanzo Quest, Ghost 1.0 and others.