Best Games That Let You Train Your Pets

Key Takeaways

Players can train Digimon to build a relationship and increase battle success.
Breath of the Wild allows taming and caring for horses, impacting gameplay.
In WoW Classic, the Hunter class can tame a variety of pets with different abilities.

As someone who’s spent countless hours nurturing digital pets over the years, I must say each of these games holds a special place in my heart. However, if we’re talking about the one that truly captivated me from the get-go, it has to be Pokemon!

In real life and in video games, animal companions bring happiness and can be a blast to interact with. There are numerous games featuring animals or pets, but some take it a step further by enabling players to teach and tame them. With this in mind, let’s explore some fantastic games where you can train your own pets.

In our discussion, let’s not get too hung up on the technical distinction between animal training and taming within video games. Typically, taming animals in these games implies that players can learn to manage wild creatures, and once tamed, they essentially function like pets. So for the sake of this conversation, we’ll consider it as a form of pet training.

7 Digimon

Digital Monsters As Pets

Players can train Digimon and build a relationship with them.
A better relationship increases the chance of winning battles.

The Digimon universe encompasses a variety of mediums, including television series, trading card games, and not forgetting video games. There’s quite a few Digimon video games, and some focus more on nurturing your virtual pets, like the 2016 title, Digimon World: Next Order, which emphasizes training your Digimon companions.

As a devoted fan, I’ve found myself forming unique connections with my Digimon in games like Next Order. These relationships can be nurtured through acts of care such as feeding them and offering praise, but when it comes to training, a firm correction is sometimes required too.

6 The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Horses As Pets And Other Animals As Mounts

Taming horses
Caring for horses
Customizing horses
Registering horses

In the game “Breath of the Wild”, horses play a significant role, serving as the main method for traversing the vast open world. As players venture through the landscape, they come across untamed horses which can be tamed. These basic horses form the starting point for mounts in the game. While there are other types of horses to find, they tend to be harder to locate.

Players should work on strengthening their relationship with their horses in the game; otherwise, it may become challenging or difficult. If Link doesn’t form a connection with his horse, it will be more likely to get scared easily, and its stats won’t improve much. A bonded horse, on the other hand, will run faster, have greater strength, and display bravery in combat. Link can create this bond by offering food and affection to the horse.

Even though it doesn’t impact their relationship, Link is able to customize the equipment of his horse too, incorporating extra personalization details for a unique touch.

5 Monster Rancher

Monsters As Pets

Players raise monsters and train them.
Monsters can raise their skills when trained.
Monsters have a lifespan.

In the world of “Monster Rancher”, the creatures you encounter can be nurtured and taught in various methods. However, these monsters have a set lifespan, implying that your choices significantly impact their brief existence. Monsters subjected to excessive training without proper care may not last as long as those given a balanced regime.

In the game called Monster Rancher, monsters can transform into affectionate house pets, but they may also turn out to be sluggish, overweight, or lethargic if they’re overfed. The training aspects in Monster Rancher are quite authentic, as monsters depend on their trainers – that’s you – to ensure they have a fulfilling, balanced, and long life.

Apart from that, players have the option to engage their creatures in combat much like they would in both Pokemon and Digimon games. These creatures can develop and reach their maximum potential, making them tough adversaries during battles and valuable companions for the player.

4 World of Warcraft Classic

A Range Of Animals As Pets, Including Wolves, Bears, And Hyenas

Unique for the Hunter class
Pets have different categories
Some pets have special abilities

If you’re a player seeking diverse options for pet companions that can be taught tricks, then World of Warcraft Classic could be an excellent selection for you. For characters choosing the Hunter class within WoW Classic, these are the trainable pets:

Bat
Bear
Boar
Carrion Bird
Cat
Crab
Crocolisk
Gorilla
Hyena
Owl
Raptor
Scorpid
Spider
Tallstrider
Turtle
Wind Serpent
Wolf

Managing and teaching domestic animals is a significant aspect for the Hunter character, since every animal species possesses unique talents, dietary preferences, and looks. Moreover, these pets may fall under various categories and come with distinct abilities (not every pet family necessarily has a special power).

As a dedicated player of WoW Classic, ensuring my pet’s happiness and full stomach not only strengthens our bond but also boosts its combat prowess. Leveling it up becomes easier, and its loyalty towards me grows. This dynamic pet management system offers a versatile experience in taming, training, and battling, making each creature a valuable asset on my adventures.

3 Nintendogs

Puppies As Pets

Kittens are also available with the Nintendogs + Cats sequel
Players can train, care for, play with, and dress up their puppies and kittens

The Nintendo DS game called Nintendogs offers a charming experience where you adopt and nurture a virtual puppy. In this game, players have the freedom to groom, feed, and even train their pets. Training can involve teaching them to fetch, taking them for walks, providing toys, or even entering them in competitions. What’s more, you can personalize your pet’s appearance with numerous stylish collars and outfits to make them stand out.

Back in 2005, I stumbled upon an innovative game that brought gaming to a whole new level. Instead of just controlling characters on screen, this game let me interact with my very own digital puppy using the DS’s microphone! I could chat with it and even train it by speaking its name or commands into the device. This feature was quite groundbreaking at the time, adding a unique personal touch to the gaming experience that I hadn’t seen before.

Despite being a basic pet simulator, Nintendogs actually paved the way for many modern features seen in current pet simulation games.

2 The Sims 4

Trainable Cats, Dogs, And Horses

Cats and dogs are available with the Cats & Dogs expansion.
Llamas, cows, chickens, and fox companions are available with the Cottage Living expansion.
Horses, mini goats, and sheep are available with the Horse Ranch expansion.

In The Sims 4, there are numerous expansions featuring pets, among which are cats, dogs, and horses that can be trained. These pets can be disciplined when they display unwanted actions like cats jumping on kitchen counters or dogs urinating indoors. To curb such behavior, players must instruct their Sims to scold the pets. On the positive side, good behavior can be reinforced through rewards or affectionate gestures.

In The Sims 4, dogs can be taught various tricks like sitting, rolling over, or even pretending to be dead. Once trained adequately, players can have their dogs participate in agility courses or, if they dislike certain Sims, command them to ‘attack’. This function operates similarly to teaching toddlers in the game, requiring a bit of patience and repetition. The pet system in The Sims 4 may be simple, but it effectively adds a touch of realism to Sim pets.

1 Pokemon

Pocket Monsters As Pets

Players train Pokemon to increase their stats and skills
Players build relationships with their Pokemon
Some games incorporate elements of care, such as dressing up their Pokemon or bathing them

It’s tough not to conjure up thoughts of Pokémon when discussing games centered around training pets. This massive franchise encompasses numerous video games, each offering unique approaches to the pet training and capturing concept.

In the typical format that makes Pokemon games famous, most games offer a standard training structure. Players start off with one Pokemon, their mission being to discover additional ones in the wild. These wild Pokemon are caught through battles. After capture, they can be trained and taught various abilities to progress, level up, and eventually transform into a stronger, evolved form of Pokemon.

As a dedicated Pokémon fan, I can’t help but appreciate how the “Pokémon Let’s Go, Pikachu!” and “Pokémon Let’s Go, Eevee!” games go beyond the traditional aspects of pet care. In these games, not only can you engage in exciting battles, but you also have the opportunity to style your Pikachu or Eevee with fun outfits and shower them with affectionate pets. However, it’s the classic battle training that truly encapsulates the essence of the Pokémon franchise. Building relationships, leveling up, and challenging Pokémon in battles are fundamental aspects that make the series so captivating.

As a devoted enthusiast, I must admit that no other game series comes close to the captivating allure of Pokémon when it comes to simulating the experience of nurturing and battling fantastical creatures reminiscent of our world’s animals.

2024-10-22 14:34