You'd think "cosy creature collector" and "metroidvania" would sit firmly at opposing ends of the video game spectrum, but Rover's Tale is here to marry the two in perfect, heartstring-tugging harmony.
Rover's Tale is set in a world where dogs live forever, their consciousness sent into space after they pass away to live on inside adorable little Rovers. After a human explorer is sent onto the remote alien planet of Terra II to investigate a detected anomaly, they accidentally awaken one of these dormant little robots, lovingly called Good Boy.
That's who you'll play as, journeying alongside your new human companion to learn more about the anomaly while discovering other Rovers and growing ever closer to the explorer. As you explore the mysteries of Terra II, you’ll begin to uncover more about the LAIKA programme and how it came to send the consciousness of departed dogs into space.
I am almost certain it's gonna be a real tearjerker, too. A warm, cosy journey exploring themes of companionship, nostalgia, and discovery as Good Boy and the human continue to dig into the lost secrets that lie across the immersive, visually striking world of Terra II. Every Rover you meet will have their own story, ones which will no doubt serve as a love letter to the pets in developer Observer Interactive's lives and resonate with those of us who have had pets come and go throughout our own.
You'll even be able to customise Good Boy, changing their name and appearance to your liking. Perhaps you can replicate your own pet, or come up with an original creation to become all too attached to.
And as you journey through Terra II, there'll be a whole host of little critters you can collect. They're vital to exploring everything this mysterious planet has to offer—engage in the catching mini-game and harness their unique abilities to open new areas to explore, or research them back at your base. No creatures were harmed in the collection process!
It's a game oozing with warmth—one that's low-stress and low-threat despite the scariness that can sometimes come with having that metroidvania tag attached. It isn't a world completely free of scary stuff, of course, but one that invites a cosy exploration opportunity as you grow closer to the world and your adorable Rover. And don't forget your ever-growing collection of critters!
Don't just take my word for it, though–Rover's Tale has a demo on Steam launching alongside its appearance at the Future Games Show on March 12. Additionally, Rover’s Tale will be coming to GOG, Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch 2. And if you like what you see, make sure to wishlist the game and keep up with all the updates in anticipation of its 2026 release.
