Animals have appeared in video games for decades. Video games have depicted animals as prey, untamed beasts, forms of transportation, and, the best form of all, companions. Even in everyday life, humans make companions out of animals with fur, feathers, and scales. Video games allow us to take that companionship one step further.
Animal companions are capable of so much. They can help players reach a destination, locate objectives, defeat enemies, and in some cases, crack a hilarious joke. Regardless of their job, players are happy to have them by our side.
10 Epona (Zelda Series)
This list would not be valid if it did not include the trusty steed of Link. Epona is a majestic horse that has appeared in a handful of games. Her latest appearance was in Breath of the Wild, where she was given handy abilities such as automatically avoiding obstacles.
She is only obtainable by scanning her amiibo rune. Her name cannot be changed nor her mane. If players try, then the stable hand will say she will not like the change. Epona is a majestic animal that only completes the look of Link.
9 Cats And Dogs (Sims Series)
The Sims series is the closest video game to reality. That said, it makes sense for the game to include pets. The series allows players to customize their avatars and their pets. You can have the perfect cat or dog in your Sims game. That reason alone makes them perfect animal companions.
The Sims 4 downloadable content, Cats and Dogs, gives players a chance to raise their own furry friends. Customize your own cat and dog, so it looks the way you want. Recreate your real furry friend in this expansion pack and live out your lives for eternity.
8 Machines (Horizon Zero Dawn)
Horizon Zero Dawn is full of living and breathing animals. Turkeys, foxes, and birds roam the forests and fields. However, the true animals of the Horizon Zero Dawn are the machines. The machines are technically animals because they behave like animals that came before.
There are birds, antelopes, buffalo, and large cat machines. Aloy is capable of hacking into these creatures to take them over. Once under her control, she can ride them, and they will fight alongside her. Who doesn't want a steel buffalo at their side?
7 Walt (Valiant Hearts)
Valiant Hearts is a side-scrolling action game set during World War I. The story follows several different characters in varying degrees of perspectives. One of the characters is a dog named Walt. Walt can be commanded by other playable characters, but there are times you play as him.
Walt is adorable and does his job well. He is used to help characters solve puzzles in the war-torn landscape. Walt even got his own comic book after the game's release, which shows how much of a good boy he is.
6 Ikaros (Assassin's Creed Odyssey)
The Assassin's Creed franchise has always given characters eagle vision, but Origins and Odyssey gave them true eagle vision. Odyssey features the most recent interpretation of the eagle vision, and it is certainly the best. Ikaros was found by Kassandra when she was a little girl. Kassandra raised Ikaros, and he stuck by her side.
Ikaros is capable of distracting enemies, killing animals, and locating important features nearby. Ikaros even inspired people of the Greek world to call Kassandra the "eagle bearer." Ikaros is an honorable companion for anyone.
5 Dogmeat (Fallout Series)
The Fallout series has given players one of the best dogs in video games. Dogmeat first appeared in the first Fallout game. He made cameos in later games but made his largest debut in Fallout 4. Dogmeat is one of the first companions you meet in Fallout 4.
The Fallout series is full of recognizable characters, but Dogmeat blows them all out of the water. Anyone who likes video games knows this canine. Dogmeat can fetch things for the player and start quests on his own. Players can also give Dogmeat items to carry.
4 Yoshi (Mario Series)
Yoshi first appeared in Super Mario World in 1990. The creators behind the Mario wanted to give the character a dinosaur companion in the original Mario game, but the technical limitations were too great. Yoshi was then later introduced.
Yoshi is an exceptional companion as he helps Mario with a wide variety of objectives. Furthermore, Yoshi and Mario can be considered a more iconic duo, then Mario and Luigi. Yoshi's ability to eat enemies and spit them back out makes him a formidable foe in the Mario universe.
3 Roach (The Witcher)
Roach is an essential companion in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Geralt requires the horse at his side to travel from objective to objective. The horse is also iconic in that his/her name is unique. Now, Roach in the books is female, but many believe the horse to be male.
The video game refers to roach as being male or female, so there is no defined answer. Regardless, this stallion is an essential part of Geralt's getup. Players in The Witcher 3 have plenty of opportunities to dress up roach to their preference.
2 Pokémon (Pokémon Series)
The Pokémon series has capitalized on the animal companion idea. The entire series is about the player finding the best Pokémon and using them to battle others. Pokémon Let's Go have maximized that companionship by allowing one Pokémon to follow you.
The most iconic Pokémon of the series is Pikachu, but the electric type is not everyone's favorite. So, Pokémon, in general, are some of the best companions out there. Players can choose from hundreds of these creatures, and each Pokémon is someone's favorite.
1 Daxter (Jak And Daxter Series)
The Jak and Daxter series is about two best friends going on an adventure to uncover the mysteries of the world. Early on, Jak and Daxter explore an island with a vat of dark eco. Daxter falls in and is shot out as an Ottel. Ottsels in the Jak and Daxter universe are a hybrid species between an otter and a weasel.
Daxter accompanies Jak on all of his adventures. He takes part in some combat but is always cracking jokes. Jak is the serious one, while Daxter breaks the tension in many scenes. His humorous and explosive behavior makes him the best animal companion in video games.