The best virtual pet games to play with friends are Chill Capy for simple playdates by QR code, Pokémon GO for walking a buddy Pokémon and trading with friends, and the Tamagotchi Uni or Connection if you’d rather carry a real device. Pou lets you visit friends’ pets, and Hello Kitty Island Adventure adds multiplayer to a caretaking-and-friendship game. Most pet games are still single-player at heart, so the social features differ a lot.
What counts as “playing with friends” in a pet game? #
Pet games do social play in very different ways. Before you pick, decide which of these you actually want:
| Type of social play | What it looks like | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Visits | Your pet meets a friend’s pet | Chill Capy playdates, Pou |
| Trading and gifts | Swap items or creatures | Pokémon GO |
| Connected devices | Toys that link up with each other | Tamagotchi Connection, Tamagotchi Uni |
| Multiplayer world | Play in the same space together | Hello Kitty Island Adventure |
| Shared routines | Same daily goals, compared with friends | Chill Capy daily quests |
If you want to hang out in real time, only a multiplayer game will do. If you just want a reason to text a friend each day, a lightweight visit system is often more fun.
5 virtual pet games with social features #
1. Chill Capy: playdates by QR code #
Chill Capy is a virtual pet about a capybara who lives in a hot spring. Its friend feature is the simplest on this list, and it doesn’t need an account. Your capybara becomes a QR code. Scan a friend’s, and your two capybaras soak together. If they’re far away, the same information works as a text code you can send through any messenger.
Each friend pays coins once a day, and the reward grows as your friendship climbs from one to five hearts. Everyone also gets the same three daily quests on the same day, which makes it easy to compare notes. Our playdates guide walks through the setup.
The limits: playdates aren’t live. You’re importing a snapshot of your friend’s capybara, so there’s no chat and no real-time visiting.
2. Pokémon GO: a buddy you walk with #
Pokémon GO launched in July 2016 on iOS and Android, and it added Buddy Pokémon that September. You pick a companion from your collection and walk with it to earn Candy, and each Pokémon needs a different distance. The game also has friends and trading features, which bring the social side: you can swap Pokémon with people you know.
The limits: it’s built around going outside, and it needs location access and a data connection. It’s a collection game with a pet feature, not a care sim. The publisher changed from Niantic to Scopely in 2025.
3. Tamagotchi Connection and Tamagotchi Uni #
If you want the social part to happen away from your phone, Bandai’s devices are the way. Bandai’s official site describes the Connection line as built around connecting with other players. The Tamagotchi Uni, released internationally in July 2023, was the first Tamagotchi with Wi-Fi. It’s shaped like a smartwatch and connects to an online space called Tamaverse. Our Tamagotchi explainer covers the full lineup.
The limits: each friend needs a compatible device, and these pets can still die from neglect.
4. Pou: visit friends’ pets #
Pou has been around since 2012, and it’s estimated at about 100 million downloads. Beyond feeding, bathing and mini-games, its App Store listing mentions visiting friends’ Pous. It’s a good choice if your friends already play, which, for a lot of people who grew up with it, they do.
The limits: the App Store version costs $1.99 as of September 2026, and it still has ads and in-app purchases.
5. Hello Kitty Island Adventure #
This is a cozy adventure more than a pet game, but caring for relationships is the core of it. You befriend Sanrio characters by giving them gifts each day, which opens up new quests, and the game supports multiplayer. It launched on Apple Arcade in July 2023 and later came to Nintendo Switch, PC and PlayStation 5.
The limits: on phones it needs an Apple Arcade subscription, so it’s iPhone and iPad only.
How to make a single-player pet game social #
Plenty of great pet games have no multiplayer at all. You can still share them:
- Start on the same day. Hatching or adopting pets together makes it easy to compare how they’re growing.
- Share screenshots or share cards. Chill Capy has a built-in card showing your capybara, level and streak.
- Compare streaks. A friendly streak race is the lowest-effort competition there is.
- Take turns babysitting. An old Tamagotchi trick still works with a physical device when someone’s away.
Which should you pick? #
- Friends who don’t want to make accounts: Chill Capy.
- Friends who like getting outside: Pokémon GO.
- Friends who want a physical toy: a Tamagotchi Uni or Connection.
- Friends who grew up on phone pets: Pou.
- Friends on Apple Arcade who want real multiplayer: Hello Kitty Island Adventure.
If you’re after an official Tamagotchi on your phone instead, see Tamagotchi app for iPhone and Android. For the full picture of the capybara game, read our capybara virtual pet game guide.
Frequently asked questions #
Is there a virtual pet game with multiplayer? #
Yes. Hello Kitty Island Adventure supports multiplayer, and Pokémon GO has friends and trading. Many classic pet games are single-player but add lighter social features like visits or gifts.
Can you play Chill Capy with friends? #
Yes, through playdates. You scan a friend’s QR code or paste their Capy Code, and your capybaras soak together. Each friend pays coins once a day, and friendship grows to five hearts.
Do Tamagotchis connect with each other? #
Some do. Bandai’s Connection line is built around connecting with other players, and the Tamagotchi Uni connects over Wi-Fi to the online space Tamaverse.
Do I need an account to play pet games with friends? #
It depends on the game. Pokémon GO needs an account. Chill Capy doesn’t, because playdates work phone to phone by QR code or a pasted text code.