The era of the Nintendo DS is one that many people look back on fondly. After combining all the different models released over the years, it's Nintendo's single highest-selling system, which is no surprise considering how many beloved classics call the Nintendo DS their home. Most of the DS' best-sellers are from well-known franchises, such as Pokémon and Mario, but a simple-yet-charming pet simulation game by the name of Nintendogs managed to beat out almost all of them, only being outsold by New Super Mario Bros.
At its core, Nintendogs is a simple pet-simulation game in which players adopt and care for anywhere between one and eight dogs, though only three can be kept in the player's home at any given time. Despite its simplicity, Nintendogs quickly hooked fans all around the globe, and there are plenty of things about the game that fans look back upon with fond nostalgia.
10 The Home Themes Available Are Gorgeous & Creative
When players begin their Nintendogs journey, their house is incredibly basic. If players want to upgrade their house, they'll have to purchase an entirely new design from the Interior Decorator. These rooms can get expensive, but they're well worth the price for everything they update.
There are a total of nine themes that players can choose from, ranging in price from 500 to 100,000 in-game dollars. There are simple themes like Designer Condo and Urban Living, all the way up to expensive, gorgeous themes like Seaside and Outer Space.
9 No Two Walks Play The Same
One of the most important aspects of owning a dog is taking them for walks and ensuring they can do their business and get proper exercise. Nintendogs adds an element of randomness to this process, with question marks containing random events spawning in different places each time.
This ensures that no two walks in Nintendogs will play out in the same way, keeping things from becoming stale. Question marks can contain either presents or encounters with other dog owners, who will give the player well-intentioned advice as their dogs interact.
8 Training For & Taking Part In Contests Is Serious Business
Competitions are one of the best ways to earn money in Nintendogs, but competing in them is no simple process. Players might be able to pass through the Junior Cup without training their dogs, but anything higher than that takes genuine commitment.
There are three kinds of contests in Nintendogs: Disc Competitions, Agility Trials, and Obedience Trials. Players spend time throwing frisbees at the park, walking their dogs through obstacle courses, or practicing tricks if they want to place first in all the contest tiers.
7 There Are Countless Cute Accessories To Dress Up Dogs With
While walking their dogs, players will come across presents that contain all manner of random loot. One of the things players can obtain through presents are accessories, which provide a ton of different ways to dress up and customize their dogs.
At the start, players can purchase two kinds of collars and two kinds of ribbons, but they'll have to unlock others by playing and randomly coming across them. There are a total of sixty accessories to collect across three different categories: Headgear, Eyewear, and Collars.
6 Archie & Ted Have Indisputable Chemistry
The part of contests that players look back on most fondly isn't the contests themselves, but instead, the chemistry between Ted and Archie. Ted Rumsworth serves as the announcer during contests, with Archie Hubbs acting as his associate.
They typically comment on how the competing dogs are doing, though they can also be seen complimenting one another at times. Archie comments at times that Ted makes him blush, whereas Ted comments that Archie makes him feel like a man. It's a small part of Nintendogs, but many players remember this representation fondly.
5 Bark Mode Lets Nearby Players Exchange Gifts & Play With Each Other's Dogs
Nintendo is known for experimenting with various local wireless features with their consoles, and Nintendogs features a mode of local play known as Bark Mode. By setting their device to Bark Mode, players could exchange gifts and play with the dogs of any other players they run into who also have Bark Mode enabled.
Players can play with each other's dogs for as long as they like and can add the other player to their Friend List if they so choose. Since this is a local feature, and not one that requires a wireless connection, Bark Mode is still usable despite the Nintendo DS' Wi-Fi support having been discontinued.
4 Teaching Dogs New Commands Is Challenging But Fulfilling
Much like real-life canine companions, dogs in Nintendogs can be taught all manner of tricks. Thanks to the DS' built-in microphone, players can then speak the names of these commands out loud, and their dogs will perform them in response.
Teaching dogs new tricks isn't easy, as players have to use their stylus to teach the dog what to do. For example, players who want to teach their dog to shake will have to raise their paw with the stylus multiple times, before moving on to having their pup attempt the trick themselves. It's a rewarding experience for those who put in the time, and players can show off their skills by competing in Obedience Trials.
3 Toys Keep Both The Players & Puppies Entertained
There are a total of eleven toys in Nintendogs, which improve the affection between players and their pups when used. Personalities play a factor in how much dogs enjoy certain toys, as the same toy can cause one dog to become excited, while another might run away in fear.
Though there aren't many toys to collect and play with, the ones that Nintendogs does include are charming. There are balloons that dogs can bounce around, bubble blowers that players use via their microphone, and several go-kart toys based on various characters from the Mario Kart franchise.
2 Nintendogs Provides Players With A Cozy, Familiar Routine
Having a comfortable, familiar routine is important for overall well-being, something that people have become much more aware of over the past few years. Nintendogs offers players a cozy routine of feeding, caring for, and training their pups, making meaningful progress while also relieving stress.
Dogs in Nintendogs can't pass away, but their mood and overall health will go down if they're left alone without proper care for too long. This makes it rewarding to continually check in on and care for them, without worrying about anything drastic happening if players' lives get too busy.
1 The Bond Between Players & Their Pups Feels Genuine
There are a lot of things Nintendogs gets right as one of the biggest pet-simulation games out there, and making sure that the bond between players and their virtual dogs feels genuine is one of the biggest. Many players end up feeling obligated to continue caring for and raising their pets, the same way they would with a real canine companion.
The simple yet satisfying gameplay loop of Nintendogs ensures that players feel connected to their pets through training, feeding, grooming, and walking them. Though players can own a total of eight dogs, most end up forming a special bond with their very first, viewing them as special.