Best Friend Forever

Best Friend Forever has an enjoyable, light-hearted storyline, for an easy relaxed gaming session. Dating Sims can be very hit or miss, and despite being short and having some unfortunate dialogue, I would very much consider this one a hit. The “adopt, don’t shop” message, as well as the inclusion of dog breeds that are considered unpopular only added my enjoyment of the game. Oh, and yes, you can pet the dog.

You’ve been visited by the Dog Wizard. You are tempted, nay, compelled, to pack up your life and move to the queerest city you can find and adopt a gorgeous puppy. You will meet a bunch of dog-obsessed human hotties, and make passionate love to some of them. And you will be able to afford your own apartment despite being a funemployed artist. Yes, it’s the millennial dream – and in New Zealand developer Starcolt’s Best Friend Forever, it is your reality.

Best Friend Forever is cute, and you’re bound to get some smiles out of it if you’re a pet-lover. Unfortunately, the rest of it ends up feeling half-hearted. It doesn’t have a great deal of depth as a simulation game, and the visual novel aspect isn’t compelling either. The dogs are the highlight, though, and at least it really does come across as a celebration of dogs and dog owners.

It’s quite telling that caring for your pooch is generally more fun than the visual novel side of the game, but even this can get repetitive and monotonous after a while. Best Friend Forever is an admirable hybrid of two seemingly disparate genres, but both sides of the game suffer from a lack of variety as a result.

Looking for a wholesome dog raising sim? You're barking up the wrong tree.