Nintendogs - Dachshund & Friends is basically the closest thing to having a real puppy without the chewed-up shoes. You start by picking out your little wiener dog (or one of the other breeds if you're feeling fancy), naming it something ridiculous, and then suddenly you're fully invested in its digital well-being.

The touchscreen makes it weirdly satisfying—you can scratch behind their ears, toss a frisbee, or watch them go nuts in the bath. The first time your pup actually learns to sit after like 20 tries feels like a parenting win. And yeah, the dog shows are silly but weirdly competitive once you realize your neighbor's virtual Shiba is scoring higher than yours.

It's one of those games where you'll absentmindedly check in just to see if your dog's hungry, then realize you've been playing for half an hour. The barking sounds are alarmingly realistic though—fair warning if you have actual dogs nearby.