Review: Little Friends: Puppy Island is filled to the brim with lovable companions and exploration

When I first saw images for Little Friends: Puppy Island, I was so sure that it was going to be no better than a Tamagotchi scenario where you just feed the puppies, play with them, and bathe them. It made me think of something familiar to the era of Dogz, but with a Nintendogs coat of paint.

I’m so glad that I put those reservations aside because it’s so much more than just caring for the pups. I didn’t expect to like the game half as much as I did. It’s simple enough for kids to play and engaging enough for adults to find enjoyment in it too.

Little Friends: Puppy Island Gameplay and Controls

Little Friends: Puppy Island is a fun adventure simulator where you arrive on an island that fully believes in the cat distribution system meme, but for dogs. You start with your initial dog, but while walking them, you find another, and then another, and then another. Soon enough, you’re drowning in dogs. 

You start with a Husky but soon find other puppies as you explore the trails. In total, there are 6 different trails that range from a forest environment to the beach, so you’re never bored of your surroundings. 

Along the way, you’ll encounter areas that require your puppy to have certain skills leveled up like obedience or agility. You can organically raise those skills in a number of ways like playing tug of war or keeping your pup from barking at animals. But, later in the game, you can also send them to a trainer who can help you raise their skills, off camera.

Once your pet is high enough in skill level, they’ll be able to get past the obstacle whether it be jumping over a log or hopping across rocks. During these moments, you’ll be given a little mini-game that you must complete to successfully bypass the obstacle.

Keeping a pet that has good stats around is a good idea, but you’ll find that you need to keep several puppies on hand with high-level skills because you’ll need them to help you build and man places like a ranger station or a lifeguard tower. I think this mechanic is a great feature that ensures that you’re not just playing with one puppy the whole time.

I wouldn’t worry about running out of puppies to complete work, though, because you acquire them rather quickly. 

There are 9 different dog breeds that you can find around the island, but you’re not limited to just the 9 dogs. Once you have all the different types, you’ll still find dogs that need homes around the island, but their coat patterns will differ from the puppy you already have of that breed. 

You may be wondering about the puppy breeds and, don’t worry, because I’ll tell you. You start with a Husky but will find these, in no particular order: Chihuahua, Shiba, Pug, Bulldog, Corgi, Dachshund, Dalmatian, and Labrador. I’m not sure if you’ll find more Huskies on the trails. I haven’t encountered any and I have 16 dogs so far. You, also, don’t appear to get an achievement for finding your first husky like the others give when you find that breed for the first time. 

If you’re like me, you’re drowning in pups with pastry/bakery names. Oh, you want to know their names? Thank you so much for asking, I’ll happily tell you. Strudel, Croissant, Eclair, Waffle, Doughnut, Cupcake, Bagel, Biscuit, Danish, Bearclaw, Cannoli, Baguette, Choux, Phyllo, Brioche, and Ciabatta.

I have no regrets. Nothing gave me as much joy as finding new baked goods names for these dogs.

Art and Sound

In the sound department, I didn’t find anything to hate or love about the music. I never turned it off to start my own playlist, so I think we can call it a win. As someone who isn’t musically inclined, I gauge if it’s good or not by how quickly I turn off the music if I do so at all.

As far as the art goes, I think it all works seamlessly. The trails are well-done and interesting and the puppies really shine in only having a few breeds. It gave them the freedom to get the base down while focusing on making sure all the clothing items fit and giving us different variations on the fur patterns.

I don’t really have complaints. Not that anyone can complain when you see puppies in all kinds of little outfits.

Coziness and Cons

As far as the chill factor goes, this game is certified cozy. You’re just building an island that caters to puppies while finding an endless supply of puppers that you can dress up and generally fawn over.

The various trails, secrets, and buildings keep the game feeling fresh even when it’s basically just repeating actions over and over. You want to hit the trail because you might find another dog to name (after a pastry) or a new area to build.

I didn’t think I’d enjoy the game quite as much as I have and it has been placed into my “to be finished” category on Steam. I wouldn’t call it a bingeable game, necessarily, but I think it’s a good game to pick up and put down as needed.

As far as cons go, there just really aren’t any. If you’re looking for a more immersive or in-depth gameplay experience, you might be disappointed. But, for me, I got far more than I was expecting, so I was pleasantly surprised.

Verdict

Little Friends: Puppy Island is an adorable game to get lost in. Not only is it a fun game for adults, but I think the skill level involved makes it perfect for children to enjoy as well. So, this would make a great game to have on your radar for the kids in your family (if not for yourself).

You can get Little Friends: Puppy Island for $39.99 over on Steam and if you see this review before January 4th, 2024, you can get it at 40% off for $23.99. It’s, also, available on Nintendo Switch for the same price and sale, but that one ends January 1st.

I really enjoyed the game and I am humbly requesting the devs to make a cat island – I’d name them after pastas.