In The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon, Cynder is playable in co-op alongside Spyro.
Released in 2008, Dawn of the Dragon is the third and final installment of The Legend of Spyro trilogy. The story begins after Spyro and Cynder have spent three years trapped in crystal. They are freed by mysterious Grublins but remain connected by a magical green chain, forcing them to cooperate as they confront the Dark Master, Malefor.
The co-op mode allows a second player to control Cynder while another controls Spyro, and players can switch between the two dragons. Their abilities are deliberately different: Spyro uses fire, electricity, ice, and earth, while Cynder commands poison, fear, wind, and shadow. This makes the pair complementary rather than interchangeable.
Cynder is also central to the plot, not merely an additional playable character. She was previously controlled by Malefor, and the adventure explores her struggle to escape that influence. Ignitus, Bianca, Ember, and Hunter are important characters in the wider Spyro universe, but they are not the co-op dragon in Dawn of the Dragon.