In late 2023, a player in a gaming community asked, “Has anyone seen my ‘Doro dog’?” Little did anyone know that this expressionless pink-haired dog would become a cultural phenomenon over the next two years. From a venting doodle to an official mascot, from a meme to a symbol of cyber spirit, Doro’s rise is a remarkable story in the history of gaming memes.
In the popular game “Sword Star,” players can spot the cheeky pink-haired dog Doro running wildly through the city of Xiyong, dodging bullets with agile moves. When caught and attacked, Doro transforms into a fully anime-styled character.
With the addition of various mods on PC, Doro has enjoyed a resurgence in “Sword Star” mods. Beyond “Sword Star,” Doro-themed mods have appeared in other games such as “Monster Hunter” with the Doro Ranch, “Plants vs. Zombies” featuring Doro Catnip, and even the “Black Myth: Wukong” game where the Hound Tian appears influenced by Doro. Essentially, all dogs are fair game.
Doro’s origin traces back to 2023, inspired by the character Dorothy from “Goddess of Victory: Nikke,” recognizable by her pink hair and white stockings. The transformation into Doro began during the summer gacha event of 2023 when an artist, frustrated by unlucky draws, created a series of pink-haired dog images as a venting doodle, marking the birth of the original Doro.
Doro’s head is a creative reinterpretation of Dorothy’s image, but once combined with the dog body, the meme took on a life of its own, spreading wildly online. The meme’s flexibility allowed any body to be paired with Doro’s iconic pink-haired head, spawning countless creative variations including cosplay and themed merchandise.
The Doro phenomenon grew so influential that it sparked discussions online about the character Dorothy and the game itself. The official “Nikke” team noticed this trend and took action, securing copyrights for Doro’s head and body in April and October 2024 respectively. Doro then became the official promotional ambassador, turning the meme into an official icon.
By 2025, Doro’s popularity began to wane, but a poignant fan-made ending image circulated online, evoking sympathy and renewed interest. Fans rallied to keep Doro alive in the virtual world, creating happy and heartwarming depictions of the character.
Doro’s journey from an abstract doodle to a beloved independent character exemplifies the power of community creativity and meme culture in gaming. As Doro famously said to Dorothy, “Go out and don’t embarrass me,” the pink-haired dog has firmly established its place in gaming history.
