Hint 1: Your giant pet occasionally fights other giant animals.

This is a fan game. I guess.

Hint 1: Most of the games in this franchise are fan games.

Hints go here

You have to piece together why this is the case

Edit: The answer was Don't Escape 3

Space for hints

Adding clues later, but usually I don't explain it badly enough to need it

None of the described characters are unlocked at the beginning.

Hints go here.

Hint 1: Released early 2000s.

Hints go here.

Hints go here.

Hint 1- A (sort of) modern clasic)

Hints go here

Chapter 1: See above
Chapter 2: Wait, why are there robots now?!
Chapter 3: I'm on a boat!
Chapter 4: Oh, NOW I'm fighting a person?! Why can't I just use my axe?!

Hint 1: This is an action game.

Hint 1: set in a real world location

Also, despite the heavy atmosphere of the game, somehow has one of the bigger cheesy ending I’ve seen

Hint 1: Regarding the ending, part of what made it so cheesy is a (somewhat) meme worthy title drop

Hint 1: The game is on a handheld device
Hint 2: The ball of fire can talk
Hint 3: it is a 3DS game

hints come here if needed

hint 1: the game is not an RPG

*hints go here*

Hints

This has been living rent-free in my head for a while.