Developer Parry Frames Studio has announced Stray Dog: Nobody Cares, a new soulslike game that draws inspiration from one of Dark Souls' most poignant boss encounters: the Great Grey Wolf Sif. The game reimagines the classic soulslike formula by casting players as a canine protagonist on a quest to find and free its captured knight master.
Stray Dog follows a familiar dark fantasy setting, featuring crumbling ruins, undead adversaries, and the series' characteristic bonfires and challenging boss fights. The game's protagonist, a hound, wields a sword in its mouth, mirroring Sif's combat style with acrobatic sweeps and pirouettes. Players will have the opportunity to learn multiple combat styles, with mechanics such as parrying, backstabbing, and performing deathblows against enemies, all hallmarks of the soulslike genre.
Stealth elements are also planned for Stray Dog, though details on their implementation remain scarce. The game's announcement gained unexpected traction on social media platform X, surprising the developers at Parry Frames Studio. This sudden popularity followed the studio's posting of early test footage.
Parry Frames Studio previously released Crimson Oath earlier this year, a soulslike that was in development for eight years and received partial funding from an Epic Megagrant. Crimson Oath currently holds a 'very positive' rating on Steam, with players noting its resemblance to FromSoftware's earlier titles, as well as comparisons to Sekiro and Gothic. This previous project suggests Parry Frames Studio possesses a solid understanding of the genre's core mechanics.
Given the recent release of Crimson Oath, Stray Dog: Nobody Cares is not expected to launch in the near future. However, Parry Frames has confirmed the completion of the game's combat framework, which appears robust in the available footage. The unique premise of playing as a loyal wolf companion promises a distinct take on the soulslike experience.