Play Dogz Online

Dogz on the GBA is one of those weirdly charming pet sims where you pick from a bunch of goofy-looking pups (18 breeds, with different colors—I always went for the scruffy mutt). You walk them, throw little dog parties with neighbors, and enter competitions that feel like a chaotic dog park meetup. The better you care for them, the more stuff you unlock—toys, room decorations, all that.

The DS version adds voice commands (yelling "come here!" at your console never gets old) and touchscreen stuff like keeping a diary. You can even swap mini-games with friends, though good luck finding someone else who still has a copy. It’s janky in that early-2000s way, but there’s something weirdly satisfying about watching your pixel dog flop around.