Bangkok Story: A Stray Dog

About Bangkok Story: A Stray Dog

Bangkok Story: A Stray Dog is a 2D top-down adventure game from Shameful Guys Development, released on PC and Mac in March 2026. It follows a man recounting his life to a stray dog, tracing his descent into homelessness and eventual recovery in Bangkok, 2017. The game uses real-life events as inspiration, blending slice-of-life storytelling with introspective dialogue choices. You navigate a nonlinear timeline, piecing together memories of family struggles, systemic failures, and personal regrets. It’s not a game about action or puzzles but about unpacking a man’s identity through quiet conversations and environmental storytelling. Ideal for players who prefer character-driven narratives over flashy mechanics, this one leans heavily on mood and moral ambiguity.

Gameplay

You control the protagonist as he walks Bangkok’s streets, interacts with NPCs, and recounts his past to the dog. The top-down camera lets you explore locations tied to key memories, like a childhood home or a government office. Dialogue options shape how the story unfolds, though there’s no branching path, just a curated lens into different facets of his trauma. Most sessions involve clicking to move, selecting responses in interviews, and collecting environmental clues (like discarded letters or photos) to unlock new memories. The pace is slow; some players spend 30 minutes just walking to a destination. Sound design and ambient music amplify the loneliness, but there’s no combat, puzzles, or time limits. The core loop is simple: wander, talk, reflect.

What Players Think

PlayPile users rate it 4.2/5, with 82% positive reviews. Average playtime is 6.5 hours, though 30% of players finish in under 4. Completion rate for story milestones is 68%, suggesting some get lost in the meandering narrative. Community moods are split: 55% call it “thoughtful,” 30% “emotional,” but 15% find it “tedious.” One review says, “The dog is just a crutch for exposition,” while another praises, “Feels like listening to a stranger’s raw diary.” Critics on Metacritic give it 84/100, calling it “a bold experiment in empathy.” Achievements are minimal, 15 total, mostly for finding hidden memories.

PlayPile's Take

This is a niche title for fans of slow-burn narratives and real-world themes. While its deliberate pacing may frustrate some, the emotional weight of the story justifies the time. At $25 (if discounted), it’s a low-risk purchase for those who’ve enjoyed games like Night in the Woods or Hellblade. Skip if you prefer fast action or concrete outcomes. The lack of achievements won’t matter to casual players, but completionists might appreciate the 15 hidden memories. Worth experiencing for its unflinching look at poverty, even if it stumbles in execution.

Storyline

What could make a man homeless? Is it one's family's financial situation? Is it the government? Is it because of our friends? Or... is it because of oneself? Explore a journey from his childhood to the present. Unravel what made a man lose everything.