Canine: The Horror Game Everyone’s Talking About — And It’s All About a Lost Dog
Imagine stepping into the shoes of a young boy determined to rescue his four-legged companion, kidnapped by a sinister corporation conducting horrific experiments on animals. Released quietly last July, Canine lands like a punch in the survival horror scene, delivering a terrifying experience where your only weapon is… a tennis ball. Welcome to one of the most original and unsettling horror games of the year!
The horror landscape is crowded with titles, but few manage to build such a suffocating atmosphere with such minimal means. Inspired by genre classics like Resident Evil and Silent Hill, Canine relies entirely on psychological tension and raw emotion to deliver an unforgettable experience. Since its launch on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch on July 11, 2025, this indie gem has been shaking even the most battle-hardened players.
Image credit: Dolores Entertainment
A 32-Bit Nightmare
In Canine, you play as a child searching for his dog Tommy, abducted by a mysterious organization. Visually, the game makes the bold choice of a 32-bit art style, paying homage to the PlayStation’s early days. But this is more than nostalgia—it amplifies the game’s oppressive mood. Dark corridors, flickering lights, and pixelated textures weave a unique atmosphere perfectly suited to the disturbing laboratory setting.
The sound design also deserves praise. Every creak, every echoing footstep, every distant growl builds an atmosphere of constant claustrophobia. The absence of music in many sections only deepens the sense of isolation.
Weaponless Gameplay
What makes Canine stand out is its radically different take on survival horror. Forget guns and epic boss fights: your only survival tool is Tommy’s tennis ball. This mechanic, simple yet brilliant, turns every encounter into a genuine survival puzzle. The gameplay rests on three core pillars:
- Stealth: avoiding the hybrid creatures patrolling the halls
- Distraction: tossing the ball to divert enemies’ attention
- Strategy: analyzing environments to find the safest hiding spots
This minimalist approach creates constant tension, keeping players on edge. Every step, every breath matters—and one mistake can cost you everything.
A Challenge for Hardcore Players
Canine doesn’t just scare—it challenges. The game includes a ranking system based on performance, encouraging multiple playthroughs to improve your score. But the real trial comes with Hardcore Mode, unlocked after earning four stars.
This mode changes everything: enemies are more aggressive, hiding places are harder to find, and every slip-up is lethal. With two different endings shaped by your choices and performance, Canine offers exceptional replay value for an indie game of this scale.
Beyond its terrifying gameplay, Canine taps into a universal fear: the loss of a beloved pet. The game masterfully plays on this primal dread every owner knows when facing the disappearance of a faithful companion. In real life, thankfully, finding a lost dog is far less dangerous than in Dolores Entertainment’s nightmare. Usually, it’s a matter of following proper steps: reporting to I-CAD, alerting the authorities, rallying the neighborhood… But in Canine’s suffocating world, only your courage and instinct to rescue will bring Tommy home.
At a time when the gaming industry often chases spectacle and technical one-upmanship, Canine proves it’s still possible to craft unforgettable experiences with limited means and a strong artistic vision. This small horror masterpiece absolutely deserves a place in any fan’s library—if you’re ready to endure raw, nerve-wracking emotion to save man’s best friend.
