Dogpile just dropped its reveal trailer, and it’s exactly what gaming needed right now. Studio Folly and Toot Games created a roguelike deck builder where the entire goal is merging adorable puppies into progressively larger dogs with stacking traits and abilities. Think Suika Game meets Slay the Spire, except instead of fruit or cards, you’re building the ultimate canine combo machine. A demo is already available on Steam ahead of October’s Next Fest.
How Merging Dogs Actually Works
The core gameplay loop revolves around playing dog cards onto a board, watching them merge into bigger dogs when they touch, and managing the resulting chaos in your cluttered kennel. Each dog comes with traits like Barky, Sleepy, Timid, or Cool that affect gameplay in different ways. As dogs merge together, their traits stack and combine, creating opportunities for powerful synergies or complete disasters depending on how well players manage their pack.
Dog Tags serve as modifiers that boost certain traits and unlock new combo potential. The Dog Wash acts as an upgrade station where players can customize their dogs further between runs. The progression system pushes players toward one ultimate goal: creating the BIGGEST dogs possible through strategic merging and trait optimization. It’s simple enough to understand immediately but deep enough to support theorycrafting and optimization.
The Suika Game Connection
Players familiar with Suika Game will recognize the physics-based merging mechanics instantly. That Japanese puzzle game about combining fruit went viral in 2023 for its addictive simplicity, and Dogpile clearly draws inspiration from the same formula. The difference is adding roguelike deck-building elements, permanent upgrades, and meaningful decisions beyond just placement timing.
Reddit users immediately called out the Suika Game resemblance, with one commenter describing it as a roguelike deckbuilder Suika Game. That comparison isn’t criticism though. Taking a proven casual puzzle mechanic and layering complex strategic systems on top has worked brilliantly for games like Balatro, which turned poker hands into a roguelike sensation. Dogpile is betting the same approach works with cute merging dogs.
Who’s Behind the Project
Studio Folly previously released Gubbins and Real Bird Fake Bird, both quirky indie titles that prioritized creative gameplay hooks over massive budgets. Toot Games developed My Arms Are Longer Now, another absurdist indie game with a ridiculous premise executed well. Their combined sensibilities make perfect sense for a project about stacking dogs until they become comically enormous.
Publisher WINGS is handling the release, with audio design from A Shell in the Pit. The team size appears relatively small, which explains why the demo clocks in at only 200 megabytes despite initial reports of an 11 gigabyte bug that was quickly fixed. Early players are reporting crashes on launch, though some managed to get it running after multiple attempts and enjoyed what they experienced.
Combos, Chaos, and Canine Strategy
The real appeal comes from discovering game-breaking synergies. With dozens of traits, tags, and upgrade options, every run offers opportunities to experiment with different builds. Maybe one run focuses on Barky dogs that trigger abilities when merging. Another could stack Sleepy traits for passive bonuses. The customization depth rivals traditional deck builders despite the simple premise.
Managing kennel space adds strategic tension. Players can’t just spam dog cards endlessly since the board fills up quickly. Merging dogs clears space but also commits to certain trait combinations. Bad merges early can ruin entire runs, while perfect timing creates unstoppable momentum. That risk-reward calculation keeps decision-making engaging rather than letting players coast on autopilot.
The Streamer Appeal Factor
One Reddit commenter complained about the game checking every box for streamerbait, and honestly, they’re not wrong. Cute animals, physics-based chaos, randomized outcomes, and progression systems that encourage multiple runs all make for entertaining streaming content. Whether that’s a negative depends entirely on perspective. Games designed for watchability tend to be fun to actually play too.
The art style leans into bright colors and exaggerated animations that read clearly on stream. Dogs bouncing around the kennel and merging into increasingly ridiculous sizes creates natural highlight moments. Viewers can easily understand what’s happening even if they’ve never played, lowering the barrier for streamer adoption. Balatro proved this formula works spectacularly when executed well.
Demo Impressions and Technical Issues
The demo launched with some rough edges. Multiple players reported crashes on startup, requiring several attempts before the game actually ran. Steam Deck users experienced complete system freezes when starting new games, even when testing different Proton compatibility layers. The initial 11 gigabyte install size bug got fixed quickly, bringing the demo down to a reasonable 200 megabytes.
Players who got past the technical hurdles seem genuinely impressed. The merging mechanics feel satisfying, the trait system offers meaningful decisions, and the roguelike structure provides enough variety to justify multiple runs. Studio Folly and Toot Games have time to squash bugs before October’s Steam Next Fest, where thousands of players will download and test the demo during the event’s visibility boost.
Monetization and Release Plans
Dogpile is targeting PC via Steam with no announced console versions yet. The pricing model hasn’t been revealed, but Reddit users expressed hope that it avoids exploitative free-to-play mechanics common in mobile merge games. Given the indie pedigree of both studios and WINGS as publisher, a premium purchase price seems far more likely than gacha mechanics or energy systems.
No release date beyond coming soon to PC has been announced. The fact that a polished demo is already available suggests the game isn’t years away, but indie development timelines are notoriously unpredictable. Next Fest will provide valuable player feedback that could influence final features and balance before the full launch.
Why Dogs Though
The internet loves dogs. Cute dog content dominates social media, and gaming is no exception. Using dogs as the central hook immediately makes Dogpile more shareable and memorable than if it used generic fantasy creatures or abstract shapes. The trait names like Barky and Sleepy humanize the dogs just enough to create attachment without crossing into overly saccharine territory.
One Reddit user joked that the 11 gigabyte bug was actually 10 gigabytes of dog pictures, with another clarifying that gbs stands for good boys in this context. That kind of wholesome community response is exactly what developers hope for when building games around universally beloved subjects. Dogs sell, especially when they’re merging into comically oversized versions of themselves.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Dogpile?
Dogpile is a roguelike deck builder developed by Studio Folly and Toot Games where players merge cute dogs into bigger dogs by playing cards, customizing traits, and discovering powerful combos. It combines Suika Game merging mechanics with strategic deck-building elements.
When does Dogpile release?
No specific release date has been announced beyond coming soon to PC via Steam. A demo is currently available and will be featured during October 2025’s Steam Next Fest.
What platforms will Dogpile be on?
Dogpile is currently announced only for PC through Steam. No console or mobile versions have been confirmed.
Is the Dogpile demo available now?
Yes, the demo is available for download on Steam. Players have reported some crashes on launch and Steam Deck compatibility issues, though many successfully played after multiple attempts.
How much will Dogpile cost?
Pricing hasn’t been announced. Based on the indie studio background and premium demo experience, it will likely be a paid game rather than free-to-play with microtransactions.
Is Dogpile similar to Suika Game?
Yes, Dogpile uses physics-based merging mechanics similar to Suika Game but adds roguelike deck-building, trait customization, and strategic depth beyond simple puzzle gameplay.
Who developed Dogpile?
Studio Folly and Toot Games co-developed Dogpile, with publishing from WINGS and audio design by A Shell in the Pit. Studio Folly previously made Gubbins and Real Bird Fake Bird, while Toot Games created My Arms Are Longer Now.
Conclusion
Dogpile nails the indie game sweet spot of simple premise, deep mechanics, and universal appeal. Merging dogs into bigger dogs sells itself immediately, while the roguelike deck-building systems underneath provide enough complexity to justify dozens of hours chasing perfect runs. Whether it becomes the next Balatro-level sensation or just a solid niche hit depends on execution polish and word-of-mouth during Next Fest. Either way, the demo is free, the dogs are adorable, and stacking traits until chaos erupts sounds like a good time. What more could anyone want from a game about progressively larger good boys?