Animals in games are a dime a dozen, though finding a pet companion is usually a bit rarer. They come in all shapes, sizes, and species. They also often directly serve a purpose for the game's protagonist by providing them with advice, health, storage, or protection.

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What makes a solid pet companion is normally what makes a solid human companion - being helpful and brave. Sometimes though, a favorite pet is a favorite pet, even if they sit there and just look pretty.

10 Dog - Fable II

Hero_with_Dog giving paw

Pretty early on in Fable II, you come across a dog, though he isn’t yours right away. You’ll find him being mistreated and, like any good person, you save him. After this, the dog pays you back by helping you with your next goal. From there you’re pretty much inseparable. He’ll help try to protect you in combat and you can reward him, teach him tricks, and comfort him when he’s upset. Fable 2's dog is not only a good boy, but the best boy. Now why doesn't it get a name?

9 Snapping Turtle - Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Animal Crossing New Horizons How to Catch the Reptilian Snapping Turtle (1)

The snapping turtle might seem like a weird choice considering that it doesn't have any real purpose in Animal Crossing. However, the snapping turtle is difficult to catch and forces you to make a tough decision if you manage to find one: sell him to Blathers, or keep him in your house to lovingly check in on in between loot drops.

The snapping turtle is worth a smooth 5,000 Bells, sure, but you can't put a price on Raphael (or whatever other Ninja Turtle you name them after).

8 Laughing Dog - Duck Hunt

Duck Hunt Dog laughing... always laughing...

Duck Hunt on the NES is exactly what it says on the tin- you hunt ducks. In the grassy field ahead of you is your hunting dog, ready to catch the ducks you shoot out of the sky. Infamously, most of the time the dog was actually laughing at you (hence his name) and letting you know you missed your mark.

Could he have helped you out and snagged a few ducks instead of giggling? Sure, but at least he's a pretty realistic representation of a pet - come on, they're all laughing at us really.

7 Grumblerush - Elder Scrolls Online

Bristleneck-War-Boar-Side profile still

You can buy the Grumblerush in Elder Scrolls Online to add extra storage to your player- five slots on all characters for the entire account, specifically. Some players contest he’s a cheat because of his inventory expansion, but at 1,200 crowns, he’s a cheap pet to acquire.

The Grumblerush isn't just good for storage, though - he's also adorable as a giant pig wearing armor, lightly jogging about with you on missions. Technically, his species name in Elder Scrolls Online is Bristleneck War Boar, which is a fun name to refer to your companion with.

6 Epona - The Legend Of Zelda

link standing with malon and epona

Epona has been Link’s faithful companion since 1998 with her appearance as a foal in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. You can often find her with stable hands or being tended to by various other trainers and carers, but Malon is the who breaks her in for Link.

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Not only does Epona keep Link from being wounded as long as he’s riding her, she also comes whenever he sings Epona’s Song. Not only is she synonymous with the series, but she's also such a special girl that you can't rename her in Breath of the Wild because she's a "horse of legend".

5 Roach - The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

The Witcher 3 Geralt And Roach

Roach is a tricky pet to add to any "best pets" list because technically speaking, there isn’t one Roach. Geralt names all of his horses Roach, though he clearly bonds with all of them, which is why any and all Roach(es) count as one of the all-time best pets in games.

Beyond the emotional connection, Roach has several accessories that benefit Geralt, such as saddlebags that help carry excess inventory. If you’re a fan of the Witcher games and show, you’ll probably hold an even more special place for Roach in your heart after THAT scene in season two.

4 Yoshi - Super Mario

You’ll find Yoshi pretty much anywhere Mario and Luigi are ever since his first appearance in 1990. What really makes Yoshi stand out as a pet is that he’s a dinosaur (technically Yoshi is his species, but he’s a dinosaur the way Pluto is still a planet).

Like most real-life pets he has a ridiculously long name he doesn’t go by - T. Yoshisaur Munchakoopas. He also puts up with Mario riding around him over the course of several games, as well as creating his own legacy through his own adventures.

3 PolterPup - Luigi’s Mansion 3

Luigi asleep with PolterPup in bed

A literal ghost dog, PolterPup goes from enemy to friend in the Luigi’s Mansion storylines, and in the third installment, you find Luigi has mostly taken him on as a pet. PolterPup assists Luigi with gaining items for goals and granting access to certain areas, as well as acting like a training guide at the start of the game.

Ultimately, he’s a playful and loyal puppy- ghost or not- that brings depth to Luigi, who often falls flat in Mario’s shadow. Like a true pet, PolterPup brings life and love back to his owner.

2 Sir Lora (And Quercus) - Divinity: Original Sin 2

A pet companion with a pet of his own, Sir Lora is a squirrel who rides the skeletal remains of a cat as if it were a horse. He provides some items here and there along your way, and if you learn how to speak to animals, he has hilarious commentary.

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He’ll also attempt to help you out in fights, but only musters up about one percent damage. At least he's trying his best. If he dies during the course of the game, his spirit will still follow you, so he’s as faithful of a companion as he is a sarcastic sidekick.

1 Panda - Tekken

Panda looks worryingly at Xiaoyu as she prepares to leave for adventure (still taken from Panda's Tekken 6 story mode)

Tekken has actually had a lot of animals throughout the series, though Panda was the first female animal added to the roster. She serves as Ling Xiaoyu’s bodyguard during fights and, eventually, you get the chance to play as just Panda. Kuma (the bodyguard bear to Mishima) often tries to woo Panda, but she will have none of it, adding a fun sassy depth to her character.

If none of that impresses you, Panda is also pretty stylish, making her not only the best friend for Ling Xiaoyu, but the best pet companion, at least in the Tekken world. Just don't tell Kuma we said that.

NEXT: The Best Video Games You Can Pet The Dog In