A Walk With My Dog issues heartbreaking update in the ultimate 'Can you pet the dog?' indie

They don't call them man's best friend for nothing, and with dogs being our loyal pals until the end, it's no surprise that the video game industry is full of good boys (and girls).

While the title of the 'best' dog in video games will surely go to Fallout's Dogmeat, we have to give honourable mentions to Luigi Mansion 3's Polterpup, The Last of Us Part II's Alice, and Metal Gear Solid V's Diamond Dog.

Yes, we'll even give Animal Crossing's K.K. Slider the nod here.

There's a whole Can You Pet the Dog? account on X and Bluesky, but when it comes to Steam outings, A Walk With My Dog, we might've found the ultimate dog game.

A Walk With My Dog goes viral for heartbreaking reason

Released in October 2022, A Walk With My Dog is the brainchild of solo dev Nikodem Lokatelj. Billed as a short and wholesome walking simulator indie game that's built with relaxation in mind, A Walk With My Dog is a heartwarming love letter to Lokatelj's actual dog, Ezio.

The game's description reads: "Join me and Ezio the dog for a peaceful day in the woods. Play fetch, hunt for hidden treasures, solve cozy puzzles, and enjoy the calming sounds of nature."

More than just the calming sounds of nature, Lokatelj used Ezio's actual barking and panting to make things even more realistic.

Despite only having 20 reviews, they're all positive, and at £1.49, A Walk With My Dog isn't exactly breaking the bank.

Sadly, an August 12 update confirmed the tragic news that Ezio has passed away.

Nikodem Lokatelj

Pouring his heart out to fellow gamers, Lokatelj wrote: "He was my best friend and constant companion. I miss him dearly. 😢 Thank you for walking Ezio with me. ❤️ I'm preparing a last update for the game where you will be able to find new video memories of Ezio and say goodbye at his memorial."

That update landed on August 13, with A Walk With My Dog adding an in-game statue honouring Ezio. Alongside this, Lokatelj has inserted 20 video memories into the walking sim and increased the speed for faster exploration.

Having done what he came here to do, he signed off: "Thank you to everyone who played the game and took a walk with us. Ezio's memory will live on through this game. ❤️"

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Hug your pets

When the news was shared by @IndieGameJoe on X, we were reminded of Lokatelj’s words, telling us: "Hug your pets, you never know how much time you have left with them." Jeez, there's not a dry eye in the house.

Even though A Walk With My Dog is a relative unknown on the indie scene, there was an immediate outpouring of support. As well as @IndieGameJoe saying he's bought 10 copies to give to his friends, others said they were flocking to the title and buying it in memory of Ezio.

Someone else wrote: "I lost my dog recently, too. I'm going to buy this when the sale ends to support better. Wish Steam had an option to bypass the sales. Thanks for posting. RIP Ezio."

Another added: "This hit me right in the feels. RIP Ezio, may you live on forever, digitally."

A third concluded: "This is so heartbreaking. Immortalizing our pets through games is truly special. Rest in peace, Ezio."

While it's a grim reminder of how we often outlive our pets, at least Ezio's memory can live on in video game form.