The recently-released Stray may be strange in concept, but the game, which has players stepping into the paws of a cat in a futuristic world, was one of the first to centrally feature a playable feline. Their canine counterparts, however, have been headlining games for far longer.
There are lots of great dogs in video games. They run the full gamut from more obscure house dogs (like Bern from the indie title Unreal Life) to larger-than-life wolves from high-profile games (like Sif from Dark Souls). Some games make dogs intimate and essential parts of the experiences, though. These are the dogs that make up the core identity of the games they come from.
Hewie - Haunting Ground (2005)
Haunting Ground is one of the most underrated games Capcom ever put out. Players control Fiona, a young woman trapped in a foreboding castle. She's basically defenseless against the many evil pursuers that haunt the castle. She does have one weapon, though, and it's her canine companion.
Hewie is a dog Fiona befriends on the castle grounds. Hewie can be used for offense and retrieving items. He acts as Fiona's only real means of offense and defense throughout the game, and by the end players are likely very attached to him. Although players will have to train him for the early game, as he doesn't immediately listen to all commands, which can be frustrating.
Arcanine - Pokémon Red and Blue (1996)
There are plenty of great legendary Pokémon based on dogs. When it comes to the best dog Pokémon, however, a pseudo legendary takes the top spot. Arcanine has been with the franchise since the first generation. Its pre-evolution, Growlithe, is also popular due to being cute.
When it evolves it becomes much larger and more formidable. The anime did a large part to make Arcanine so iconic by using it as the go-to partner of the police. It's typing and move pool also gave it tons of utility in battle. While it's rarely used in competitive, it's still one od the most iconic of the original 151.
D-Dog - Metal Gear Solid V (2015)
The Metal Gear series has plenty of companions. Characters constantly chime in on the codec to help out the protagonists. In of canines, Metal Gear Rising has Blade Wolf, a robotic wolf with attitude. In of dogs, D-Dog from MGSV is definitely the one that takes the cake.
Also known as DD and Wild Puppy, D-Dog is an optional member of the crew that can be missed. Players should definitely seek him out, though, as not only does he bring some much-needed levity to Venom Snake's life, he also is great in gameplay. He can be used to distract and attack enemies and even has access to the Fulton system, so he can extract POWs. What a good boy he is.
Rush - Mega Man 3 (1990)
Rush, the robotic dog of Mega Man, debuted in the third entry of the series. Despite his late introduction, he ended up becoming a franchise staple. He plays on the "boy and his dog" imagery which fits given Mega Man's youthful nature. Of course, he isn't just a dog, having a variety of different utilities.
Most famous is his Rush Coil, which turns him into a spring that Mega Man can use to reach high places. He also has jet, sub, and drill forms as well. Arguably his most powerful utility is his Super Adapter forms, which fuses him with Mega Man for untold power. Rush is such an iconic dog that he even made it into Smash Bros alongside his owner.
Dogmeat - Fallout Series (1997 - )
Technically speaking, Dogmeat is not one dog. This name recurs throughout the will be one of Fallout's best companions.
Dogmeat will always protect his master unflinchingly. He's a protective companion that is nice to have while exploring out in the wasteland. In his Fallout 3 appearance, he's introduced seeking revenge for the death of his previous master. He really exemplifies the loyalty that makes dogs so special.
Parappa - PaRappa The Rapper (1996)
PaRappa the Rapper is one of the most bizarre games on the PlayStation one. It has a simple paper-like art style and a bizarre world full of talking animal and food characters. It's also one of the best rhythm games ever made. Part of this is due to the infectious energy of its titular canine stat.
Parappa is a dog boy living in a cartoon city. He has a crush on a literal flower girl named Sunny Funny and embarks on a quest to improve himself to win her over. He masters these new skills and pursuits by rapping the instructions given to him by his instructors. It's very strange, but it makes him one of the most charismatic dogs in gaming.
Isabelle - Animal Crossing: New Leaf (2012)
Being a franchise filled with cute animals, Animal Crossing was bound to have some great dogs. There are plenty of canine villagers that warm the hearts of players. Of course, there's also KK Slider, the musician dog who has been with the franchise since the beginning. There's one pooch who has eclipsed all of them, though, despite appearing well after the series began.
Isabelle first appeared as the mayor's assistant in Animal Crossing: New Leaf. As the player took on the role of Mayor in that game, it was essential to have a guide character who could walk them through it. Isabelle was more than just a tutorial, though, being extremely competent and relatable to players. This earned her continued roles and popularity in the games after New Leaf.
Missile - Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective (2010)
Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective is Ace Attorney. Dogs in both games are named Missile. While Ace Attorney's Shiba is cute, Ghost Trick's Pomeranian sits among the best dogs in all gaming history.
Missile is the pet dog of side characters Lynn and Kamila. Given the way that ghosts work, though, the player could talk to the little doggy, who had an energetic attitude and fierce loyalty to his owners. Later in the game, Missile even gained ghost abilities of his own. Using them, he was able to save the day, protecting his masters and fixing the game's emotional plot. What a good boy!
Dog - Fable II (2008)
Perhaps its fitting that a game with a generic name like Fable would give its dog a similarly generic name. Dog is perhaps the most memorable part of the Xbox classic Fable II, though. Dog is with the player character from the beginning of the game. They follow them around and defend them from encroaching enemies.
What really made Dog memorable was its sacrifice. During the boss fight with Lucien, the dog protects the hero from a bullet. It's a brave sacrifice that really exemplifies what the relationship truly means. At the end of the game the player can get one of three rewards, and it's telling that over wealth, most players chose to revive the dog.
Amaterasu - Okami (2006)
Whether wolves are technically dogs is a matter of debate. Whether the protagonist of Okami, Amaterasu, is a wolf or a dog also is debated, as she shows traits of both. One thing that is for certain is that she's one of the greatest video game canines to ever exist. She's a powerful Sun goddess who reincarnates into the body of a white wolf/dog and uses her immense power to save ancient Japan.
On her adventure, she acquires a variety of Celestial Brush techniques. These allow her to draw directly on the environment to change the very reality around her. Such power in the hands of a white canine allowed her to vanquish demon after demon. After everything, Amaterasu returned to the sky to look over the land she saved.
