Playing games with animals as the protagonists can give you a different perspective on the surrounding world.

It highlights instincts and natural responses and may frequently result in inventive gameplay mechanisms. Such games mostly focus on environmental storytelling, in which the player’s surroundings are an integral part of the tale and necessitate imaginative interpretation and interaction. Immersive worlds are tailored to the animal’s perspective and abilities.

Games with animal protagonists often feature distinct abilities, emotional storytelling, and creative gameplay mechanics. These elements combined create memorable and enchanting gaming experiences. Let’s go through some titles where the protagonists are actual animals, rather than animal-like anthropomorphic characters.

Games with Animal Protagonist
GameReleaseGenreDeveloper
Duck Detective The Secret Salami 2024-05-23 Indie Happy Broccoli Games
Cat Quest 2017-08-08 Adventure The Gentlebros
Cat Quest II 2019-09-24 Adventure The Gentlebros
Little Kitty Big City 2024-05-09 Indie Double Dagger Studio
Maneater 2021-05-25 Action Tripwire Interactive
Crash Bandicoot N Sane Trilogy 2018-06-29 Action Vicarious Visions
Tunic 2022-03-16 Adventure Andrew Shouldice
Untitled Goose Game 2020-09-23 Indie House House
Night In The Woods 2017-02-21 Action & Shooter Infinite Fall
Okami HD 2006-04-20 Adventure Clover Studio
Stray 2022-07-19 Indie BlueTwelve Studio
Seasons After Fall 2016-09-02 Adventure Swing Swing Submarine
Shelter 2 2015-03-09 Adventure Might and Delight
Shelter 3 2021-03-30 Adventure Might and Delight
Lost Ember 2019-11-22 Adventure Mooneye Studios
Squirrel With A Gun 2024-08-29 Action Daniel DeEntremont
Goat Simulator 2014-04-01 Adventure Coffee Stain Studios
Goat Simulator 3 2022-11-17 Adventure Coffee Stain Studios
Another Crabs Treasure 2024-04-25 Adventure Aggro Crab Games
I Am Fish 2021-09-16 Action Bossa Studios

Squirrel with a Gun

Release date:2024-08-29
Genre:Action
Developer:Daniel DeEntremont

Squirrel with a Gun is an action game full of grotesque humour. The production is maintained in the spirit of absurd simulators.

During the game, you take on the role of the titular squirrel, who runs through the estate with a gun in his paw and experiences various adventures. He helps the residents of the area or, on the contrary, makes their lives miserable in various ways. You perform missions, in return for which you receive various treats. You also have an environmental puzzle to solve from time to time.

What’s worth mentioning, the recoil of the pistols combined with the low weight of the squirrel allow covering considerable distances in the air. Although it requires a bit of dexterity and ingenuity, thanks to this ability, you can get to places inaccessible in other ways.

Key features
  • Variety of firearms
  • Humorous animations
  • Fast pace
  • Open world exploration

Goat Simulator

Release date:2014-04-01
Genre:Adventure
Developer:Coffee Stain Studios

It’s an ingenious arcade game created as a commercial extension of a joke by a Swedish studio. The video posted on YouTube aroused such great an interest that the developers had no choice but to refine the game and release it to the market.

You take on the role of a naughty goat named Pilgor and are tasked with causing as much damage as possible. The gameplay combines many absurd elements and is definitely humorous in nature.

It features bugs, such as the goat’s unnaturally stretching neck or the ability for the four-legged protagonist to climb a ladder, but they were intentionally left in by the creators claiming that it’s a valid feature.

Key features
  • Funny bugs
  • Extremely realistic graphics
  • Hilarity
  • Grabby tongue mechanic

Another Crabs Treasure

Release date:2024-04-25
Genre:Adventure
Developer:Aggro Crab Games

An action adventure game enriched with elements taken from the souls-like genre. The production was developed by the independent studio Aggro Crab, whose portfolio includes the very enthusiastically received game Going Under.

You are taken to the bottom of the ocean, which you explore as a hermit crab named Kril. As the protagonist, you perform tasks, fight opponents, and learn the dark secrets of the underwater world. The world presented is covered in garbage, which has brought a deadly danger to it in the form of the so-called goo – a mysterious infection threatening its existence.

During fights you must constantly be on your guard, carefully observe the movements of your opponents and discover their weak points in order to launch accurate and effective attacks in time. As you progress, you not only gain better equipment, but also learn various techniques and powerful attacks.

Key features
  • Various difficulty options
  • Superb environmental design
  • Humour
  • Shell mechanics

Stray

Release date:2022-07-19
Genre:Adventure
Developer:BlueTwelve Studio

A TPP action adventure game, taking place in the distant future, in which you play as a cat moving around a cyberpunk city under a concrete dome, inhabited by robots. The protagonist must make his way from the very bottom to the top of the metropolis and get to the surface to return to his family.

During the gameplay, you alternate between linear levels and semi-open locations, where you interact with NPCs, collect items, and complete side mini-quests.

Controlling the cat gives you a lot of freedom of movement, and the path to the goal is often unclear and requires jumping on pipes, air conditioners, and other elements of the environment. In addition, the game world offers a wide range of interactions typical of a cat, such as scratching walls and couches, nuzzling up, or taking naps. There is also a dedicated button for meowing.

Key features
  • Drones
  • Cyberpunk aesthetic
  • environmental interaction
  • Meow button

Little Kitty, Big City

Release date:2024-05-09
Genre:Indie
Developer:Double Dagger Studio

A TPP arcade-adventure game in which you play as a cat. While travelling through the metropolis and looking for a way home, you get to know the animals living there, do some mischief, have fun.

You are the cat lost in the big city. Looking for a way home, you have the opportunity to meet new friends and create a bit of chaos wherever you appear. You traverse the streets, jump on elements of the environment and climb walls overgrown with vegetation, often getting to places where your presence is not necessarily desired.

The game has simple, yet colourful graphics in a cartoon style. The realistic animations of the four-legged hero, who squeezes through narrow gaps, chases his own tail and jumps with his front paws onto his prey like a real cat, definitely deserve your attention.

Key features
  • Cartoon style
  • Cat life simulation
  • Cute hats to customize the kitty with
  • Open world exploration

Untitled Goose Game

Release date:2020-09-23
Genre:Indie
Developer:House House

A humorous sandbox stealth game in which you play the role of a stubborn and malicious goose. Your task is to ruin the peaceful day of the inhabitants of a small village. Shortly after its premiere in late 2019, Untitled Goose Game became a hit among streamers, who contributed to the great commercial success of the title.

The game throws you onto a large three-dimensional sandbox map depicting a small village whose inhabitants enjoy their idyllic life. The goal of the game is to completely ruin their peaceful day as you go. By controlling the bird, you can interact with people and various objects.

During the gameplay, you often have to remain unnoticed, sneaking up to the target using various covers. In addition to playing alone, Untitled Goose Game also allows for multiplayer fun for two people.

Key features
  • Multiplayer mode option
  • Dedicated honk button
  • Interactive environment
  • Lots of laughs

Maneater

Release date:2021-05-25
Genre:Action
Developer:Tripwire Interactive

An open-world action RPG game in which you take on the role of the titular man-eating shark, orphaned by its mother and left for dead in the waters of the Gulf Coast. Your basic task is to make sure that the protagonist manages not only to survive, but also to stand at the top of the local food chain.

During the game, you explore the waters of the Gulf Coast, plundering sunken wrecks and nearby swamps, and searching the ocean floor for living organisms suitable for consumption.

The character development system in the game is dependent on food. In the course of the struggle, you devour not only fellow marine beings but also swimmers relaxing in the waters of the Gulf Coast and scuba divers investigating the secrets of this place.

Key features
  • Full day/night cycle
  • Evolution system
  • Fast-paced combat
  • Open world exploration

I am Fish

Release date:2021-09-16
Genre:Adventure
Developer:Bossa Studios

You play as four small fish that were separated against their will. Wanting to be together again, the brave protagonists must reach the ocean, experiencing various, more often than not, crazy adventures along the way.

The authors provide us with four fish that are diverse in terms of appearance, behaviour and skills. While the agile goldfish is a great swimmer, the slow pufferfish takes the air in and rolls on the ground like a ball. The piranha, on the other hand, moves chaotically and often uses its teeth. And the flying fish is the only one that can cover short distances in the air.

Since the adventure takes them not only through rivers and reservoirs, but also through streets and the interiors as well as roofs of buildings, the brave fish have to roll in their containers filled with water.

Key features
  • Physics-based gameplay
  • Diverse environments
  • Four characters to control
  • Heartwarming story

Taking part in games where animals are the main characters can be enjoyable and invigorating. Animal characters provide a novel perspective by letting you observe the world from their point of view. This may result in creative storylines and gameplay features.

Games featuring animal protagonists might make a great addition to your gaming library if you love to experiment with fresh concepts and gameplay mechanics. Not to mention, if you are simply a sucker for some cute creatures, furry or not.