Play Nintendogs - Shiba & Friends (v01) (J) Online

Game Overview

Nintendogs: Shiba & Friends is basically the reason I still keep my old DS charged. You start by picking out a puppy—I always go for the Shiba Inu with the little tan eyebrows—and suddenly you're fully responsible for this tiny digital dog. The touchscreen makes it weirdly personal; you'll scratch behind their ears with the stylus, throw frisbees by flicking it across the screen, and panic when they start whimpering because you forgot to walk them.

What surprised me is how much personality they have. My first dog would tilt its head whenever I talked into the mic, then completely ignore commands until I bribed it with treats. The competitions feel silly at first (watching a pixel pup balance a biscuit on its nose shouldn't be this tense), but somehow you end up practicing "play dead" for twenty minutes straight. Just don't leave the game unpaused—I came back once to find mine had chewed up all my in-game furniture.

It's one of those games where nothing really "happens," but you keep checking in just to see your dog wag its tail when you boot up the game.