Whether you work from home or you spend a lot of time on the computer for any reason, the boring old desktop can quickly become stale. You can, of course, switch up your wallpaper or theme, but there is something else you can add if you want to perk up your desktop – a desktop buddy. 

Desktop buddies are cute little characters who run in the background and keep you company while you work and play. They don’t require interaction, although some of them do have features that encourage it from time to time, and some can even help to boost your productivity in ways you might not expect. 

Desktop buddies aren’t a new concept. If you’ve been witness to the evolution of the internet since the early 2000s, you’ll likely remember the spyware disaster that was BonziBuddy, which was initially released in 1999. You’ll be pleased to know that BonziBuddy cannot hurt you anymore, and we’ve come a long way since then. 

If you’re looking for some company while you work, here are six adorable desktop buddies to occupy the corner of your screen.

Bongo Cat

In all good conscience, I cannot kick this off without bringing up my good friend Bongo Cat. This adorable little slappy cat sits wherever you put him on screen with a counter that goes up whenever you type or click. As your interaction count increases, you unlock hats or skins for Bongo Cat that can be changed at any time, and if you get 10 or more duplicates, you can gamble them in the hopes of getting something new. 

I’ve had him installed and running on my desktop since release day on March 5, 2025, and his counter is up over 2.5 million, which I’m impressed with even if nobody else is. 

Sulo the Sidekick

Like Bongo Cat, Sulo runs in the background and gets productive while you do. Unlike Bongo Cat, Sulo isn’t content to slap bongos. He needs a job, a purpose in life, and honestly? I can relate. 

As he works, Sulo earns virtual money that can then be used to purchase new items such as a plant or a spiffy little top hat. You can also play games with Sulo, such as Catch a Ball, which, contrary to the name, sees you trying to keep the ball away from Sulo for as long as possible. It’s harder than it sounds. This little bear is surprisingly quick on his feet. 

The demo is available to play now, but a release date for the full version is still to be announced. 

Frog Pond

Frog Pond kind of bridges the gap between desktop buddies and idlers, because it has more interactive features than most buddies tend to have. It’s a small rock formation and pond that you can decorate to your tastes and attract a variety of frogs to, all of which squeak when you click on them and add to your Frog Journal. 

It is on the large side compared to most other desktop pets, which can be distracting, but there are options within the settings to hide it behind other windows while still having it running in the background. The desktop pet also features ambient water sounds that can be adjusted or turned off, depending on your preference. 

Frog Pond is available through itch.io, and you can pay as much or as little as you like before downloading. 

Weyrdlets 

Weyrdlets is another gap-bridger, as it works as both a desktop buddy and a fully fledged dedicated game. You crack open an egg, adopt a strange little critter, and then build a life for them in the game, including an entire house you can decorate and a fun world to explore. If you don’t want the game open, but still want to interact with your little pet, you can choose to have it running in desktop mode. 

Weyrdlets is a lot more involved than any other desktop buddy on this list. You’ll need to keep your adopted pet happy, and happy pets will dig and find items for you. You’ll also be able to purchase items for their house, and play mini games with them. There are also in-game events and goals, plus achievements to be earned. 

Peak

Not to be confused with the recently released climbing game of the same name, Peak is a desktop buddy featuring a small and determined would-be karate master who trains to improve his skills while you work on other things. You can unlock new moves and skills, eventually leading to your little buddy becoming the best he can possibly be. 

Peak is available to purchase now for a low cost, and the dev team at Three Hands Co is looking to add additional moves and features with updates in the future, all of which will be free. 

Desktop Fishing

If you’re the type of person who loves the fishing mini game in every cozy game you’ve ever played, you’ll love Desktop Fishing. If you’re not that kind of person, but you want a buddy on your desktop to keep you company, there’s a high chance you’ll like it too, because you don’t actually need to do anything.

The longer you have Desktop Fishing running, the more areas you’ll unlock in which to fish. Each are has specific fish, including rare ones with shiny and holo, with fifty types of fish to catch. There are also unique outfits that can potentially be hooked and reeled in, so there’s a lot of customization options for your little dude as well.