Dark Virtual Pet Games

Summary

• Virtual pet games can have dark and disturbing themes hidden beneath their adorable appearance.
• Players may feel a sense of guilt or obligation to care for their virtual pets, even when facing sinister consequences.
• Some virtual pet games challenge players to face danger and darkness while caring for their digital companions.

Pets are a huge responsibility, even though many of us dream of being surrounded by all sorts of creatures for good company. If you’re not in the right place to have a pet in real life, you can always turn to video games. There’s a wide selection of titles that have you looking after all sorts of digital creatures, from the real to the bizarre.

We’ve come a long way from the keychain trend of Tamagotchis, but the path hasn’t always been an adorable one. The closer you look at some of these virtual pets, the more you realize that they hide a certain darkness.

8

Mr. Lupin

The Cheesy Hunger

Everything looks harmless enough, right? You’re in a room with a table that has a box on it, and inside the box is a creature. It’s called Mr. Lupin, and all it wants is to be fed some cheese, of which there is plenty. You’re in the shoes of a girl named Suzie, and only you can get the cheese that Mr. Lupin needs.

Of course, you’re not obligated to do anything; you can leave. But the longer you wait, the longer you think. The thoughts creep in about why you’re here, what Mr. Lupin is, and why all this cheese is around. It looks simple, but it’s anything but.

7

Pooky Pet

A Light In The Dark

Aw, you’ve got a little pixel pet on your handheld screen. It’s so cute, and it’s happy to see you, so you should give it the care it deserves. You can take it around the different rooms and interact with it to comfort it. You can feed Pooky Pet and ensure it gets plenty of rest to keep it happy.

The thing is that there’s only so much that you do… the darkness is inevitable. Your little pet is trapped in a world slowly being consumed by some haunting force. It’s distorting everything, and both you and your pet are powerless to stop it. How long will you fight the inevitable?

6

BitBuddy

Digital Dependence

Of all the virtual pet games, this one may have crossed your path a few times. That wouldn’t be surprising since it’s made by the same developer as the infamous Pony Island, so BitBuddy has that same feeling. The feeling that everything seems fine, but the longer you hang around, the more the cracks start to show.

You’re given a pet who’s happy to spend time with you, talking and interacting. The disturbing part comes whenever you want to step away, because closing the game means death for your buddy. There’s no way to keep the game running, so you’ll have to step away eventually as your buddy pleads for you to stay.

5

Creature Packets

Cooked To Existence

Biology is a complex subject, but many have a general idea of how creatures come into being through reproduction and evolution. It’s never as basic as just popping bags into a machine and then watching them pop out… oh wait. Welcome to Creature Packets. The revolutionary new technology that allows you to cook creatures into life by tossing packets of their DNA into a microwave.

These creatures are born in seconds, only to be quickly handed off for consumption. You’re not expected to be a caretaker to these pets, even though they’ll spend their whole time looking to you once created.

4

KinitoPET

The Binary Buddy Of Secrecy

The early days of computers tried their best to help us understand how they work and even created little characters to help us. This is where KinitoPET comes into the picture since it’s a desktop assistant from the old-school era. Once up and running, Kinito will roam around the screen and do many things, from browsing through apps to playing games with you.

It seems like a harmless virtual friend, but something is not right. Kinito seems to want more than you’d expect, and maybe you’re not ready to provide it. The real danger is whether you think Kinito will give you a choice.

3

Babette

Another Kind Of Cat

It’s possible there would be no virtual pets without the creation of Tamagotchis, the little handheld gadgets that each housed a different creature. Babette is just another one of those guys contained within their own digital house. You’ll be handling Babette’s needs within your home and seeing that it gets the best treatment.

This occurs in your bedroom, where Babette is happy to have all your attention. But the more time you give to Babette, the more you notice how greedy she is, and she soon won’t be satisfied with your behavior. She’ll find ways to bring her reality into yours, so be ready.

2

Tama-Get-Out

Escaping The Keychain

The thing about Tamagotchis is that we’re the ones who are always looking in; we’re the caretakers of them, and they depend on us. But what if it’s more complex than that? In Tama-Get-Out, the script gets flipped, and you can see what one Tamagotchi is going through.

Living in one of those devices, this virtual pet is contained within a minimal space and cannot do much for itself, completely reliant on a giant observer for survival. It can’t go on like this; it needs to find a way to escape, and you’ll have to help it or watch it meet its end.

1

Goodnight Meowmie

Nighttime Cat Care

Cats are often seen as independent creatures, but that doesn’t mean they don’t like to be pampered. In Goodnight Meowmie, you take on the role of a young girl caring for her cat at home. You’ll wander around the house looking for things to give your cat to keep its stats up and make everyone happy.

This is easier said than done, as the more you explore the house, the more you realize the danger you’re in. You’ll be risking your life to care for your cat by braving the darkness and the beasts within. How far will you go for your furball?