8 Adorable Animal-Central Games
As much of a rush as it is to play a state-of-the-art AAA first-person shooter or action-adventure title, sometimes, you just need to kick back and engage in some chilled, ambient gameplay. The staggering mass popularity of cosy games such as Animal Crossing and Stardew Valley can be chalked up to numerous factors, one being their incredible stress-reducing properties.
It’s no coincidence that these cute, cosy games often feature charming protagonists and colourful NCPs from the animal kingdom. So let’s take a look at some animal-themed games that are as adorable as they are fun to play.
A Short Hike
This indie title is an open-world adventure game developed by Adam Robinson-Yu. Play as a bird named Claire, who has to take a hike to the top of Hawk Peak for reception to make a very important phone call. Take any path you wish to reach the mountain’s summit, acquiring collectables, meeting NCPs and unlocking trophies along the way. Although A Short Hike is a wonderfully cute and relaxing experience, the ending is deceptively bittersweet.
Cats & Soup
Do you like cats? Do you like soup? Then you’ll love Cats & Soup! Jokes aside, this utterly adorable App for Android does what it says on the tin. Assist a growing team of cats in creating sumptuous soups for your customers. Make money by fulfilling orders to grow and expand your business. Complete daily challenges and earn rewards to grant your feline fry cooks better working conditions as you unlock different facilities and increasingly complex recipes.
Teacup
Teacup is a wholesome narrative adventure game in which you play as a Teacup - an introverted young frog who is about to host a tea party until she discovers she’s all out of tea. Interact with a cast of colourful characters on your quest to help Teacup find all the ingredients she needs for a successful tea party in this visually stunning and charming indie title.
Frog Detective
Another one for frog fans, Frog Detective is a series of indie first-person comedy adventure games from developer Grace Bruxner. Simple and straightforward, you are a frog, who is a detective, and you need to solve some mysteries. There are three titles in the Frog Detective series so far; The Haunted Island, The Case of the Invisible Wizard and Corruption at Cowboy County - each a delightfully silly yet endearing hour-long adventure.
Calico
This long-awaited title from Whitethorn Games has one primary objective - rebuild and manage a charming cat café on a magical island. This day-in-the-life community sim features various inclusive townsfolk NPCs and a whole host of animal friends, including raccoons, bears and, of course, cats. Decorate your café with quirky furniture items and make a range of sweet treats with Calico’s unique cooking mechanic.
Stray
The roaring success of Stray was inevitable. Truly worth a high-quality graphics card, this remarkably beautiful 2022 adventure game, developed by BlueTwelve Studio, is available across a range of platforms and, since its release, has sold over two million copies on Steam alone. Play as an adorable ginger cat on an adventure through a dystopian underground city populated by robots and sentient machinery. Negotiate your surroundings by climbing and jumping your way through a fully interactive environment. Solve puzzles, complete quests and find your way to the surface to rejoin your feline family.
Cattails
Have you noticed a theme? Yes, _another _cat-central game. Cattails is one for those who used to read the Erin Hunter series _Warrior Cats. _Others have branded it ‘Stardew Valley with cats’, which isn’t entirely inaccurate. This simulation RPG from Falcon Development has the player taking on the role of a feral cat, exploring the wilderness, hunting for food and gathering herbs. Socialise with your fellow clan cats with whom you can get married and raise kittens.
Bunhouse
Bunhouse features neither cats nor frogs but, as the name suggests, a whole heap of bunnies. Manage your very own greenhouse and grow a variety of plants with your fellow bunny friends. Play alone or with a friend on co-op mode as you care for your vegetation and make upgrades to your greenhouse. Better yet, a portion of Bunhouse’s profits goes towards the House Rabbit Society - a nonprofit organisation dedicated to rabbit education and rescue.