Few games arrive with such obvious emotional intent as My Little Puppy, yet what initially looks like a straightforward pet-loss story quickly reveals itself to be something more thoughtful. Developed by Dreamotion and published by Dreamotion and KRAFTON, the game follows Bong-gu, a Welsh Corgi who leaves dog heaven after catching the scent of his beloved owner. The premise is undeniably sentimental, but it rarely feels manipulative. Instead of dwelling exclusively on grief, the narrative focuses on devotion, companionship and the hope of reunion, creating a journey that feels surprisingly uplifting despite its melancholy foundations. Along the way, the game explores not only the bond between people and their pets, but also broader themes surrounding abandonment, responsibility and loss.
One of My Little Puppy’s greatest achievements is how convincingly it presents the world through a dog’s perspective. Humans communicate largely through gestures and tone rather than understandable speech, while scent plays a central role in navigation and storytelling. The attention given to canine behaviour is remarkable, from excited tail wagging and playful rolling to the more specific social interactions that dog owners will immediately recognise. These details constantly reinforce Bong-gu’s identity and make him feel like more than a mascot. They also give the adventure an authenticity that elevates many of its emotional moments.
Gameplay is intentionally approachable, combining light platforming, environmental puzzles, stealth sequences, chase scenes, quick-time events and occasional minigames. The variety helps maintain momentum across the game’s relatively modest runtime, and several sections introduce fresh mechanics that keep individual chapters distinct. There are moments where the game briefly shifts genres entirely, and these transitions generally feel natural rather than forced. At the same time, the mechanical side of the experience rarely reaches the same heights as the storytelling. The frequent reliance on QTEs feels somewhat dated, while several gameplay ideas are introduced only briefly before disappearing again. The result is a game that remains engaging throughout, but seldom because of mechanical depth.
The controls can also be a mixed bag. Bong-gu’s short-legged movement has undeniable charm and cleverly reinforces the idea that he is a dog rather than a traditional video game hero. Yet that same commitment occasionally results in awkward platforming and imprecise jumps, particularly during more demanding traversal sequences. Certain environmental hazards and movement-heavy sections can feel less responsive than they should, creating moments of frustration that stand out because the rest of the game aims for such a relaxed pace. Fortunately, failure is rarely punished harshly, allowing the adventure to maintain its accessible nature even when the controls occasionally struggle to keep up.
Visually, My Little Puppy succeeds through warmth rather than technical spectacle. Its stylised presentation brings a storybook quality to the journey, with colorful deserts, snowy peaks, coastlines and forests each providing their own distinct atmosphere. Bong-gu himself is wonderfully animated, full of personality even when standing still, and the developers clearly understand how much emotional storytelling can be achieved through body language alone. The game’s art direction often compensates for its relatively simple visual technology, creating environments that feel inviting even when level layouts remain fairly linear.
The audio design follows a similar philosophy. A gentle soundtrack accompanies the adventure without overwhelming it, supporting both the lighter and heavier moments with equal restraint. Combined with the expressive animations, it helps create an atmosphere that remains sincere throughout. Not every narrative choice lands perfectly, however. Some of the fantasy elements feel underdeveloped compared to the grounded emotional core, and a few late-game developments push for dramatic spectacle in ways that can feel less convincing than the quieter character moments that precede them. The strongest scenes are often the simplest ones, built around memories, companionship and small acts of kindness rather than larger confrontations.
My Little Puppy may not be the most mechanically sophisticated adventure on PlayStation 5, but that ultimately feels beside the point. Dreamotion has created a heartfelt experience that understands exactly what it wants to say and delivers that message with considerable sincerity. Its repetitive gameplay loops, occasional control issues and uneven worldbuilding prevent it from reaching the very top tier of narrative adventures, yet the emotional honesty at its core remains difficult to dismiss. For dog lovers in particular, Bong-gu’s journey is likely to leave a lasting impression long after the credits roll, offering not just sadness, but comfort as well.
Score: 7.8/10