Best Animal Games to Play in 2025

Patrick_Yu

Looking for the best animal games in 2025? Whether you're into games where you play as an animal, or you're simply curious about the growing popularity of animals and games, this year's lineup offers something for everyone. From photorealistic wildlife simulators to heartwarming games about dogs and cats, developers are leaning into the charm and personality of our furry (or feathery) friends. If you've been searching for standout video games about dogs or quirky games about cats, you're in the right place—we’ve rounded up the top titles that let you step into paws, claws, or even hooves.

1. Stray

One of the standout games where you play as an animal is Stray (2022), developed by BlueTwelve Studio. This beautifully crafted adventure puts you in the paws of a regular housecat exploring a neon-lit cyberpunk city inhabited by sentient robots. You’re not a magical or mutated creature—just a lost cat trying to find your way home. The game blends light puzzle-solving, exploration, and item collection with charming feline behaviors like meowing, scratching, and knocking things off ledges. Stray turns those small moments into something meaningful, making it one of the most memorable games about cats in recent years. The story is short but impactful, with a unique setting and a surprisingly emotional tone that sets it apart in the world of animal games.

2. Untitled Goose Game

For those who prefer their animal games with a dose of chaos and comedy, Untitled Goose Game (2019), developed by House House, is a must-play. In this offbeat stealth-puzzle title, you play as a honking, wing-flapping menace of a goose terrorizing a quiet English village. The concept is simple: you are a regular goose with a not-so-regular to-do list of mischief. From stealing keys to dropping rakes in lakes, every task is designed to let you cause as much playful mayhem as possible. It is not only one of the funniest games where you play as an animal, but also a clever take on open-ended gameplay that rewards creativity and timing. If you are looking for lighthearted video games about animals, this one stands out for all the right reasons.

3. Maneater

If you’ve ever wanted to play as the ocean’s most infamous predator, Maneater (2020), developed by Tripwire Interactive, delivers exactly that. In this over-the-top animal game, you take control of a bull shark as it grows from a pup to a megashark, devouring everything from fish to unsuspecting beachgoers. The game is equal parts satire and chaos, with a ridiculous upgrade system that lets you mutate your shark with bio-electric powers and bone armor. While the combat and objectives can get repetitive, the open-world setting is filled with quirky landmarks, underwater secrets, and absurd moments that keep things fun. It’s not your typical video game about animals, but for players looking for something wild, weird, and a little bit bloody, Maneater is a toothy thrill.

4. Goat Simulator 3

Goat Simulator 3 (2022), developed by Coffee Stain North, takes absurdity to new heights as one of the most chaotic animal games ever made. You play as a goat turned agent of destruction, let loose in a sprawling open world filled with strange secrets, bizarre missions, and unpredictable physics. From launching yourself into traffic to dragging civilians into voting booths with your tongue, the game constantly throws ridiculous scenarios at you. It also features four-player co-op, allowing friends to wreak havoc together or sabotage one another in equal measure. With tons of pop culture references, outrageous cosmetics like rocket backpacks and shark skins, and no real consequences for failure, Goat Simulator 3 is a loud, dumb, and genuinely fun entry in the world of games where you play as an animal.

5. Lost Ember

Lost Ember (2019), developed by Mooneye Studios, is one of the most tranquil and emotionally resonant games where you play as an animal. You begin as a wolf, guided by a spirit through the remnants of a lost civilization, uncovering your past life through quiet exploration and reflection. The standout feature is the ability to possess other animals, each with their own unique movement and perspective. Whether you’re soaring as a parrot, diving as a fish, or rolling around as a wombat, each transformation brings a new layer of interaction with the world. With no combat, no real danger, and a story that unfolds with a gentle emotional touch, Lost Ember offers a peaceful, almost meditative experience that celebrates nature and self-discovery.

6. Phogs!

Phogs! (2020), developed by Bit Loom Games, is a joyful puzzle adventure starring a stretchy two-headed dog navigating three surreal worlds themed around sleep, food, and play. Whether you're tethering one head to a water fountain or stretching across a chasm to reach a cookie lever, the game thrives on charming physics-based puzzles and lighthearted chaos. Each level introduces new mechanics, from freezing yourself into a bridge to heating up with chillis to melt obstacles, all while wrapped in a colorful, oversized cartoon world. Phogs! can be played solo or in co-op, though coordinating both ends of your dog can lead to hilarious frustration. With no real danger, a minimalist control scheme, and plenty of quirky surprises, it’s one of the most cheerful and imaginative animal games you can play and a perfect palate cleanser after the heavier titles on this list.

7. Grounded

No game captures the thrill of being tiny in a massive world quite like Grounded (2022), Obsidian Entertainment’s backyard-sized survival adventure. You’re not just battling bugs, you’re building bases among blades of grass, ziplining through jungle-sized hedges, and crafting gear from the remains of defeated insects. While the premise leans into absurdity, the systems are impressively robust, blending resource management, environmental hazards, and RPG-style progression. With each zone acting as its own unique biome, lava-like grills, toxic pesticide clouds, and a koi pond filled with lurking danger, the map feels huge despite its suburban scale. Add in a wacky sci-fi story, plenty of crafting depth, and co-op support, and Grounded turns a childhood daydream into one of the most creative and replayable survival games in years.

8. Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey

Few games are as bold and as brutally opaque as Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey (2019), developed by Panache Digital Games. Set ten million years ago in prehistoric Africa, you guide a lineage of early hominids through evolution by exploring, experimenting, and slowly uncovering how to survive in an unforgiving world. There are no tutorials, no clear objectives, and little mercy. You learn by doing, failing, and trying again. The game demands patience as you piece together survival mechanics, discover new tools, and cautiously expand your territory while avoiding predators. While repetition and lack of direction can wear thin, the sense of discovery is genuinely rewarding, and the animations and environments bring a tangible realism to your tribe’s journey. It’s a game about progress through persistence, and while it can be frustrating, it offers a unique and thoughtful take on survival from an animal perspective that most games never attempt.

9. Endling - Extinction Is Forever

Endling – Extinction Is Forever (2022), developed by Herobeat Studios, offers a rare and gut-wrenching perspective in gaming: survival as the last mother fox on Earth. Set in a world devastated by human impact, you’re tasked with keeping your four cubs alive, navigating collapsing ecosystems, hostile predators, and deadly humans. Every night brings new risks, whether it’s scavenging for scarce food, dodging hunters, or tracking down the scavenger who kidnapped one of your cubs. The game strikes a powerful emotional chord, showing the harsh realities of survival while still giving you moments of beauty and tenderness. Watching your cubs grow, learn new skills, and face an increasingly dangerous world makes every decision feel personal. It’s not always easy to play, but that’s what makes Endling unforgettable.

10. Okami HD

Ōkami HD (2012 re-release, originally 2006), developed by Clover Studio, is a masterpiece that blends classical action-adventure gameplay with timeless visual artistry. You play as Amaterasu, the Shinto sun goddess reborn as a white wolf, journeying through a mythic version of feudal Japan. The brushstroke-inspired art style isn't just stunning, it’s integral to gameplay, as you literally paint on the world using the Celestial Brush to solve puzzles, restore nature, and defeat evil. While it borrows elements from games like The Legend of Zelda, Ōkami stands apart with its distinct tone, elegant storytelling, and reverence for folklore. Amaterasu’s silent, divine presence adds emotional weight without a single word, and the game’s combination of humor, warmth, and mysticism creates a setting that feels both ancient and alive. Even with its slow pacing and hefty runtime, Ōkami HD remains a must-play for anyone who wants to experience a game where art, narrative, and design come together in perfect harmony.

Fans of the original will be glad to know that a full sequel is officially on the way. The upcoming Ōkami sequel is being developed in Capcom’s RE Engine, with Hideki Kamiya returning alongside talent from Machine Head Works and several ex-PlatinumGames developers. It will serve as a direct continuation of the original story, picking up where Ōkami left off. While the game is still in early development, the team has confirmed that Amaterasu is returning and that composer Rei Kondoh, who scored much of the original, is also involved. There’s no release date yet, but it’s clear the developers are aiming to honor the spirit of the original while finally delivering the long-awaited continuation fans have hoped for. Keep an eye out, this one’s worth the wait.