A Summer with the Shiba Inu (2019)

Developer: Quill Game Studios
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux
Genres: Adventure, Casual, Indie
Rating: 4.9 of 5, 41 player ratings
Typical playtime: about 4.3 hours
Where to get it: Steam

How it feels

A gentle, introspective visual novel where you guide a returning dog through choices that shape a quiet, bittersweet reunion with old friends and buried secrets.

peacefulbittersweetatmosphericstory-richchoice-drivenreflectivemysterious

What players say

Players are split on whether this is a cute dog game or a dark cyber-thriller, it is both. The visual novel runs about 70,000 words with multiple endings, and the bark button in the menu is a frequent highlight. Some find the story convoluted, but most are surprised by how deep and philosophical it gets.

Trailer

Screenshots

A Summer with the Shiba Inu screenshot 1

A Summer with the Shiba Inu screenshot 2

A Summer with the Shiba Inu screenshot 3

A Summer with the Shiba Inu screenshot 4

A Summer with the Shiba Inu screenshot 5

A Summer with the Shiba Inu screenshot 6

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LOST EMBER (2019)
Balthazar's Dream (2017)
An Airport for Aliens Currently Run by Dogs (2021)
My Little Dog Adventure (2020)

More by Quill Studios

Double Date - Yuri Visual Novel (2025)
Death Becomes You - Mystery Visual Novel (2021)
Autumn with the Shiba Inu (2025)
Death Becomes You: Yuri Onsen Vacation (2024)
Death Becomes You (2021)

This page is from Underplayed Gems, a catalog of older and overlooked games. Not quite it? Tell the Catbot what you feel like playing and it picks from the whole catalog, or browse by platform and genre.