If you’re a huge animal lover like me, you probably like to incorporate animals into as many areas of your life as possible. When I want to relax, I like to play video games, but I’m specifically drawn to the ones with cute characters, which usually involves animals. So, I wanted to share some of the best dog and cat video games so other animal lovers can have some fun in their free time too.
I’m only recommending games that I’ve actually played. So, this list may grow and change as I discover new games. If you have any dog and cat game recommendations that aren’t listed below, please contact me to share your video game recommendations!
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Best Cat Video Games
Even though I’m more of a dog person than a cat person (don’t get me wrong, I still love cats), I can’t deny that cat video games are on the rise. There’s something charming about causing mischief as a cat, and the following games are perfect for that.
Stray
Platforms: Playstation 5, Playstation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Windows, macOS, Nintendo Switch
Stray is one of my favorite games of all time, and I think a lot of animal lovers feel the same. In this game, you play as a cat navigating a world run by robots and other machines. It’s the perfect balance between cute and eerie. You can wander around and do silly cat things like knock over cans and cuddle with robots while also following an intense storyline. It’s a game that I think everyone can appreciate, no matter what your gaming preferences are.
Little Kitty, Big City
Platforms: Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Windows
Little Kitty, Big City is like a more wholesome and less stressful version of Stray. The controls are similar because you’re still playing as a cat who can cause chaos by knocking over paint cans and tripping people. One of my favorite things to do in the game is trip people, steal their phones, and accumulate as big of a pile of phones as I can. The plot of the game is that you’re trying to find your way home, so if you stick to the storyline, it’s a short game. But if you’re like me and enjoy messing around as a cat, you’ll probably get sidetracked a lot with random activities.
Cattails
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Windows, macOS
If you’ve read the Warriors book series, this is the perfect game for you. I was obsessed with Warriors as a kid, and I used to play a fan-made game on the computer called Untold Tales (it might still be downloadable, I’m not sure). Cattails is like a version of that with more things to do (it’s made by the same person as Untold Tales). The clans are different from the book, but it’s a very similar concept. You’re a cat living in a clan. There are various tasks you can do, and you can explore and befriend cats for fun. I always like to see if I can get the grumpiest cats to fall in love with me.
Best Dog Video Games
Since I love dogs so much, there are lots of awesome dog games that I love playing. Below are a few of my favorites.
To the Rescue
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Windows, macOS
This is one of my favorite games ever! I only downloaded it recently because, before its recent updates, it was supposedly a really buggy game. I haven’t run into any issues since I’ve played it (and I’ve put a lot of hours into it already). Essentially, it’s just a dog shelter simulator, which is such a cute concept to me. It could use some tweaks and additional features, but it’s such a cute little game to play whenever I have down time. Plus, part of the earnings from this game go to real animal shelters, which is amazing!
Pupperazzi
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Windows, macOS
If you’ve ever played Pokémon Snap, this game is like that but with dogs. You’re a humanoid camera that explores different areas while taking photos of dogs. You have various quests to complete, and you can unlock lots of different camera features. The dogs are so silly looking, and I can’t get over how cute the whole concept is. It only takes about six hours to complete everything, but it’s definitely worth it if you love dogs.
Scooby Doo! Night of 100 Frights
Platforms: Playstation 2, Xbox, GameCube
I know this isn’t what you would normally think of for a dog game, but Scooby Doo is a dog, so I added it. This was one of the first video games I played as a kid, and it’s still one of my favorites to this day. I have no idea how I played it as a kid because it’s still fairly challenging as an adult. You play as Scooby Doo exploring a haunted house, spooky docks, and a hedge maze. Despite being older, this game has a lot of content and it’s still fairly popular.
Little Friends Puppy Island
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Windows
This game is clearly designed for kids, but I played it all the way through as an adult and loved it. In this game, you are on an island with your dog, but as you explore the island, you keep finding stray puppies. You can bring the puppies home, take them for walks, and put them in cute outfits. Plus, it has a pretty detailed story, so there’s lots to do before you complete the game. It’s an adorable, peaceful game that I thought was fun even as an adult.
Petz Dogz 2
Platforms: Playstation 2, Wii, Nintendo DS, PC
Petz Dogz 2 was one of my favorite childhood games. People always assume it’s like Nintendogs, but it’s an adventure game that follows a story. You play as a dog, and you’re trying to protect your dog village from an evil wolf with magic powers. So, it’s a lot more intense than the cover makes it seem. As a kid, I thought it was challenging, but it was very easy when I replayed it as an adult. Even so, it’s still a sweet, enjoyable game to play. (There’s also a cat version of the game, but I’ve never played it).
Bonus: Best Frog Video Games
I initially only planned to write about dog and cat video games since those are the most popular pets, but I realized that I have a lot of favorite frog games too. So, if you’re someone who loves amphibians, here are some games to consider.
Frog Detective
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Playstation 5, Playstation 4, Steam
Frog Detective is a silly game that comes with three mysteries that you need to solve. The animation is so cute and simple, but in the best way possible. You go around talking to different animals to help you solve them mysteries. My boyfriend and I played it together, and we would come up with silly voices for the characters when reading their dialogue. If you finish all the mysteries, there’s also a fun skateboard mini game at the end. I hope they make more mysteries in the future because I love this game so much!
Kamaeru: A Frog Refuge
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X/S, Windows, macOS
This is a fairly new game, but I completed the story mode and had such a positive experience. Obviously, I love anything animal rescue related, so I was immediately drawn to this frog sanctuary game. Basically, you get to decorate a frog refuge, restore the wetlands, and collect a “Frogdex” of various colored frogs. I’m not always interested in cozy games like this, but it was so cute that I couldn’t resist. It’s the perfect game if you want to sit back and relax while looking at cute frogs.
Time on Frog Island
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Playstation 5, Playstation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Windows
It only took me about six hours to complete Time on Frog Island, but I would say it was well worth my time. You play as a person who’s stranded on an island full of human-like frogs. You have to explore the island to find items to help you rebuild your boat. The frogs only communicate with you using sounds and images, so it’s a bit of a puzzle to figure out what they’re asking sometimes, but I thought that made it unique. One of my favorite things to do is get as many of the dog-like tadpoles to follow me as possible because they’re so cute.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Dogs Play Video Games?
Yes, dogs can play video games, but not in the same way we can. Dog video games consist of movement that’s interesting to dogs, along with some tapping. For example, gophers might appear out of holes on the screen, and they only go away if your dog touches them with their nose or paw. Video games for dogs can be a great form of mental stimulation.
Can Cats Play Video Games?
Yes, cats can play video games in a similar way to dogs. Cat video games usually consist of a small animal crawling across the screen, and your cat needs to tap it with their paws to make it disappear. It’s a great way to keep your cat’s mind busy.
Is There a Warrior Cats Video Game?
Yes, there is an official Warriors video game on Roblox called Warrior Cats: Ultimate Edition. There are also plenty of fan-made Warriors video games, such as Cattails, which I mentioned earlier.
How Do You Make the Stray Cat a Tuxedo Cat in the Video Game?
Unfortunately, there isn’t a way to customize the cat’s appearance in Stray. So, he always appears as an orange cat and can’t be turned into a tuxedo cat. You may be able to use mods to change it, but there’s no official way to change it in the game.
Check Out Some Dog and Cat Video Games
I love video games with animals in them, so I highly recommend all the dog, cat, and frog video games listed above. As I mentioned earlier, I’m always eager to play more games featuring animals, so if you have any suggestions, please contact me.