# Pup-Petting Games 'Pet the Pup at the Party' is a Game That Addresses Social Anxiety By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2017-08-19 | Tech Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pet-the-pup References: [polygon](https://www.polygon.com/2017/8/16/16157104/pet-the-pup-at-the-party-free-game-download) & [grey2scale.itch.io](https://grey2scale.itch.io/pet-the-pup) 'Pet the Pup at the Party' is a game that is set at a house party, challenging players to avoid engaging in small talk with strangers in favor of [seeking out animals to interact with](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/catswe) instead. The downloadable game for Windows and macOS was created by Will Herring, which turns the challenges of dealing with social anxiety into a positive gameplay experience. In Pet the Pup at the Party, users are challenged to follow the sounds of barking to [locate the dogs within the house](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/interactive-canine-toy) and unlock as many of the "[radical and special pups](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/brightkins)" as they can within a time limit. A number of games have been released over the past few years that explore stories of compassion, empathy, empowerment and mental health issues over themes that include violence. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.2/10 - Popularity: 17% | Activity: 12% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/tech) > [Games](https://www.trendhunter.com/games) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Games for Mental Health:** 'Pet the Pup at the Party' reflects a trend in the gaming industry to address mental health issues through interactive experiences. - **Animal Interaction Games:** The game highlights a trend of games focusing on virtual interactions with animals to provide comfort and relaxation. - **Social Anxiety Gaming:** 'Pet the Pup at the Party' serves as an example of how games can help individuals with social anxiety cope and practice social skills in a safe environment. ### Where This Applies - **Gaming:** The gaming industry can explore the development of more games that promote mental health and well-being. - **Virtual Reality:** Virtual reality technology can be utilized in creating immersive animal interaction experiences for individuals seeking relaxation and comfort. - **Mental Health Services:** Mental health organizations can consider incorporating gaming as part of their therapy and treatment offerings to enhance engagement and improve outcomes. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Gamified Pet Metaverses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/petplate-park.md) - [Petting Booth Pop-Ups](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/petting-booth.md) - [Illuminating Mental Wellness Toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pawz-the-calming-pup.md) - [Gamified Pet Care Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gamified-pet-care.md) - [Gamified Stress Reduction Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mental-health-gaming-app.md) - [Virtual Pet Races](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/purina-arena-pet-racing.md) - [Childrens TV Show Games](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/paw-patrol-game.md) - [Cozy Talking Animal Games](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/my-talking-tom-friends-2.md) - [Virtual Pet Metaverses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/my-talking-hank-islands.md)