It might be hard for some to own a pet, but Best Friend Forever makes it a touch easier. While the game only lasts 15 in-game weeks, players are sure to enjoy taking care of a digital canine companion. This creature will slowly but surely become the player’s best friend in the span of the two-hour game. While it may be short, it has a lot of heart, and with plenty of love interests, multiple playthroughs are ready for those who wish to see the different endings. Now, some might be asking where finding true love comes into play. It’s interwoven into the gameplay, as everyone on the island, the character moves to has a pupper they love. Players will sign up for Woofr, a dating app for dog owners after being told to by a pair of disc jockeys and a town celebrity named Fox. This opening segment has full voice acting while the rest of the game has a few specks of voice acting.
Players will choose from three different characters to start. This game allows them to select their pronoun, blood type, and star sign too. I would have liked a character creator but the three characters and okay. There are two feminine characters and one masculine character but play whichever speaks to you. Players will then step off the bus and arrive at their apartment. After a meet-cute with a resident Sascha, players will learn about an adoption event coming up the next day. The player falls into a depressive state that night but wakes up magically the next day, ready to pick their new doggo. This change of mind is a testament to what dogs can bring to an owner’s life. Players will meet a few more characters as they fill out an adoption form and pick their dog. There are four breeds to choose from, each with starting stats. After the player bonds with their dog, the player should be familiar with the visual-novel aesthetic of the game. Players will then jump into the world of caring for a dog.
The game offers tutorials for its mechanics, which is pretty great for a first playthrough. Players will need to work on their dog’s stats by running through different activities. Depending on the dog, the stats will rise and fall at different rates. Players want to aim to be the best dog owner because, at points in the game, players will be up for scrutiny. These points in the game tend to come after events, so players should be ready. Maxing out stats is necessary because it shows the bond between owner and dog. The higher the stats, the higher the chance the dog will be crowned Valedictorian of the pup academy the player signs up for in the beginning. Players also get to take care of the dog, and it is short and sweet. Players can do three things for the dog in the ways of feeding them and tending to them. Check out the meters and select which actions to take on. It is pretty easy to keep the bars maxed, but it is up to the player to take care of the dog. Energy is the most important stat as it helps increase the judged stats like Manners or Smarts.
This game also has the dog interact with the world around it. The pup will bark at people and even try to bite them or poop. Players need to pull the dog away or clean up its poop to teach it not to do those things. These events are great because they keep the player focused on the story, and help increase the bond between the player and the dog. The dog is also rather animated, and I appreciate the emotion. As the player takes care of their dog, they will also interact with a few characters. Players can romance most of the characters in the game. Some of the characters provide background support. Players can spend time with their love interests or get bonus dog training time. It’s up to the player to balance these decisions. Will they spend time with the locals or make their dog even better? The love interests in the game will eventually go on dates with the players. These dates are windows into their lives. Players will learn different things about them and will often learn something rather dramatic. The characters are fleshed out, and I appreciate the time it must have taken. I was fond of Robin, a somewhat brusque nurse who moonlights as a streamer. It’s cool; to feel a connection to a character in a short period, and this game delivers on that. The writing in this game is also fairly modern. It is well written, but players will see phrases we use now. The wordage might date the game later on, but for now, it works as a tongue-in-cheek joke. The game is cheesy enough that this vernacular doesn’t bother me, and it is aesthetically pleasing when paired with pup training.
Best Friend Forever is an awesome: albeit short game. Players might find love for their character, but the doggo comes first. It’s great to see an indie game with more emphasis on the story. I’m a big fan of visual-novels, so I did enjoy this a lot. Plus, the dog is so cute and so vividly alive for an in-game dog. Best Friend Forever might not last forever, but this pup is sure to brighten anyone’s day. There’s an island of love and dogs just over the sightline, will the player head there and make it their home?
Disclaimer: A review key was provided