Best Games That Let You Train Your Pets

Animal companions are not only a source of joy for many in real life, but they can also be super fun to bond with in video games. There are tons of games out there that incorporate animals and pets in some ways, but some of them go a step further by allowing the player to train and tame them. With this in mind, we’re going to be looking at some of the best games that allow the player to train their pets.

Keep in mind that we’re going to be a little loose with the difference between animal training and taming in video games. Taming animals in games usually means that the player can learn to control wild animals, but they pretty much become pets when they are tamed, so we’re still going to count that as 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 series spans all kinds of media, from anime shows to card games and - of course - video games. There are a lot of different Digimon video games, and some games put more of an emphasis on training your Digimon pets, such as the 2016 game Digimon World: Next Order.

In certain games - such as the aforementioned Next Order-, players have the chance to bond with their Digimon. They can do this by feeding them and praising them, but they can also scold them during the training process if necessary.

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

Horses are an important part of the Breath of the Wild game, as they are the primary means of transportation across the open world. Players find wild horses as they explore, and these horses can be tamed. Wild horses are the most basic mount in the game. Other kinds of horses are available, but they are tougher to find.

Players need to raise their bond with their horses, otherwise the game can become much trickier. If Link doesn't have a bond with his horse, they’ll be easily spooked and their stats will remain low. A bonded horse will be faster, stronger, and braver in a combat situation. Link can build this bond by feeding and petting them.

Although it doesn’t affect the bond, Link can also customize the gear of his horse, adding some additional personalization elements.

5 Monster Rancher

Monsters As Pets

Monster Rancher

Display card tags widget

Life Simulation

Display card system widget

Display card community and brand rating widget Display card open critics widget Display card main info widget Display card main info widget end Display card media widget start Display card media widget end

Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info

Display card community and brand rating widget

Released

November 24, 1997

Developer(s)

Tecmo

Platform(s)

PS1

Genre(s)

Life Simulation

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

Monsters in the Monster Rancher series can be trained in a multitude of ways, but they also have a certain life span, so the player's decisions will make a difference in their short lives. Monsters trained too hard and not cared for can die much sooner than monsters with a balanced training regime.

Monsters can become loyal pets in Monster Rancher, but they can also become stressed, lazy, and even fat if they are fed too much. The training elements within Monster Rancher are quite realistic in this way, with monsters relying on the player as their trainer to give them a long, happy, and well-balanced existence.

As well as this, players can also fight their monsters similarly to the Pokemon and Digimon games. Monsters can increase and max out stats, becoming formidable foes in battle as well as pets 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

For players looking for a wide range of animals to choose from as pets that can be trained, World of Warcraft Classic is a great choice. The following animals are trainable pets for those who pick the Hunter class in WoW Classic:

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

Taming and training pets are important and well-known elements of the Hunter class, as each animal type has certain skills, preferences, and foods that they consume. Pets can also have different appearances, categories, and abilities (though not all pet families have a special ability).

Keeping your pet happy and well-fed in WoW Classic will increase the damage that it deals as well as players level it up and make it more loyal to you, making for a versatile animal taming and training system.

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

Nintendogs is a cute Nintendo DS game that allows players to pick out a puppy and then care for them. Players can wash and feed their pups, but they can also train them to fetch, take them out for walks, buy them toys to play with, or even get them to compete in competitions. Players can customize their pet’s look in Nintendogs as well, as there are plenty of adorable collars and outfit pieces to make them look particularly snazzy.

The game makes use of the DS’s microphone to allow players to communicate directly with their puppy. Players can teach them their name or various commands by speaking into the microphone, which was a pretty big deal at the time, seeing as the game came out in 2005.

Although the game is a simple pet simulator, Nintendogs was ahead of its time and implemented various features that are now par for the course in contemporary pet simulator 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.

The Sims 4 has several expansions that include pets, though the only trainable pets are cats, dogs, and horses. These pets can be trained to get rid of any negative behavior, such as cats climbing on kitchen counters or dogs peeing inside. Players will need to get their Sims to reprimand pets when they engage in bad behavior so that they learn to stop. However, they can also encourage them for good behavior, such as by rewarding them or giving them pets.

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Dogs in The Sims 4 can be trained to perform tricks, such as sitting, rolling over and even playing dead. When they are trained well enough, players can get their dogs to do agility courses or attack Sims they don’t like. The system works in the same way that teaching toddlers does in the game. It just needs some patience and repetition. The pet system in The Sims 4 is quite simplistic, but it works incredibly well and can make a Sim pet feel all the more real.

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 hard not to think of Pokemon when it comes to games that allow players to train pets. The behemoth of a franchise spans tons of video games, all of which implement the training and taming element in different ways.

Most of the games have the standard training structure that Pokemon games are known for. Players are given one Pokemon and are tasked with finding more in the wild. Wild Pokemon are collected via battles. Once caught, Pokemon can be trained and learn different skills to level up and evolve into a new, more powerful Pokemon.

Some games emphasize other elements of pet care too, such as the Let’s Go Pikachu and Eevee games which allow players to dress up their Pikachu and Eevee and give them lots of pets. However, the standard battle training is the iconic part of the Pokemon franchise. Developing bonds, leveling up, and battling Pokemon are all important elements of the series.

Although they are fictional creatures rather than real-life animals - though many of them have designs inspired by animals - Pokemon is by far the most iconic game series that implements this kind of pet training feature.

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