Dog Man: Bark in Action Review (Xbox)

There are plenty of licensed children's games that feel like little more than a quick cash-in on a popular brand. Thankfully, Dog Man: Bark in Action lands on the right side of that divide. Developed by Floor 84 and based on Dav Pilkey's hugely successful Dog Man comic series, this colourful platforming adventure captures the books' chaotic humour and energetic spirit while delivering a surprisingly enjoyable co-op action game.

The story sees the villainous Dr. Scum using Hypno Screens to brainwash the city's citizens, leaving Dog Man and his Supa Buddies to save the day. It's exactly the kind of delightfully silly premise fans of the books would expect, and the game's comic-book presentation helps make the entire adventure feel like a playable Dog Man graphic novel.

What surprised me most was how much variety Floor 84 has squeezed into the campaign. Across 60 levels, you'll explore familiar locations from the comics, including Cat Jail and Robo-Time Industries, while tackling platforming challenges, enemy-filled stages, boss encounters, time trials, and hidden mystery levels. The pacing rarely stagnates because the game is constantly introducing new obstacles, gadgets, or character abilities.

A major part of the experience revolves around switching between different members of the Supa Buddies. Dog Man, Li'l Petey, 80-HD and several other characters all bring unique abilities to the table, encouraging you to think about who's best suited for a particular obstacle or puzzle. By the end, there are ten playable characters available, giving the adventure a welcome sense of progression and variety.

Combat is deliberately simple, making the game approachable for younger players, but there's enough action to keep things engaging. Boss fights are generally the highlights, asking players to use character abilities and teamwork rather than simply button-mashing their way to victory. The unlockable gadgets and outfits add an additional layer of motivation, rewarding exploration with both cosmetic and gameplay-focused upgrades.

The real star of the show, however, is local co-op. The game supports two-player couch co-op throughout the campaign, and it feels tailor-made for parents playing alongside younger children. Drop-in teamwork, forgiving difficulty, and accessible controls make it easy for almost anyone to jump in and have fun. While experienced platforming fans won't find much challenge here, that's clearly not the target audience.

Visually, Dog Man: Bark in Action does an excellent job translating Pilkey's distinctive art style into motion. Bright colours, exaggerated animations, and comic-inspired presentation give the game a strong identity, helping it stand apart from the many generic licensed platformers aimed at children. The world feels vibrant and playful from start to finish, and fans of the books will immediately recognise its characters and locations.

The game's biggest limitation is that it rarely pushes beyond being a straightforward family platformer. Combat can become repetitive, puzzles are generally quite basic, and older players may find the challenge level a little too gentle. Yet those design choices also make it welcoming for the audience it's primarily built for.

Pros

• Faithful recreation of the Dog Man universe

• 10 playable characters with unique abilities

• Excellent local co-op play

• Bright comic-book presentation

• Plenty of levels and unlockables

Cons

• Limited challenge for experienced players

• Combat becomes repetitive

• Simple puzzles throughout

• Gameplay rarely evolves beyond its core ideas

Dog Man: Bark in Action isn't trying to compete with the genre's biggest platformers, nor does it need to. Instead, it focuses on delivering a fun, accessible adventure that captures the charm, humour, and imagination that made Dav Pilkey's books such a hit in the first place. While the gameplay can feel simplistic at times, especially for older players, the combination of varied levels, lovable characters, and enjoyable co-op makes it an easy recommendation for families and younger fans. More importantly, it feels like it was made with genuine affection for the source material rather than simply using the licence as a selling point. For Dog Man fans, this is a faithful and entertaining adaptation that successfully brings the comic's world to life on Xbox.

XPN Rating: 3.5 out of 5 (SILVER)

Dog Man: Bark in Action is available now!