10 Best Games Where You’re An Animal

When it comes to realism, certain video games cannot be possible with human characters.

Be it their mechanics or worlds, these titles put you into the paws, fins, or wings of a creature to get the job done.

Depending on its type, playing an animal protagonist adds a unique perspective to the game without any human limits or hassles of mundane life.

From their walking styles to primal instincts, playable animal characters’ actions and body language, rather than forced monologues, bring authenticity to the titles.

These titles offer an emotional depth to the story that feels more compelling and grounded in nature, proving you don’t always need a human character to save the day.

10 Aka

I Have No Enemies

Starting off the list is Aka, a slow-paced platformer set in a small yet gorgeous handcrafted open world that gives off major Studio Ghibli vibes.

The title follows the relaxing adventures of a red panda on a quest for inner peace after retiring from a war-ridden past, now focused on helping others and turning his life around.

Offering a combat-free, heartfelt premise with no sense of urgency, you can wander and take in the stunning visuals of its world.

Every character you meet in this indie title is distinctively cute, complementing its bright, colorful art style that I can’t help but appreciate.

However, the lack of controller precision, long loading screen time, and short content can disrupt your peaceful adventures with the charming panda protagonist.

9 Maneater

Killer Shark Bent On Vengeance

Maneater is an open-world action RPG where you take control of a menacing female bull shark, unlike video games with harmless and cuddly animal protagonists.

Playing as a shark pup, you must take revenge on a fisherman named Scaly Pete for killing your mother and surviving the harsh environmental hazards all over the ocean.

Eventually, you grow into a megashark wreaking havoc on the land and sea. The game doesn’t hesitate to showcase detailed violence and gore with its unique storytelling.

Except for its repetitive missions, Maneater is worth playing for its balanced exploration, visceral combat, and colorful art style, reminding you of classic B movies.

8 Squirrel with a Gun

Nutty Wackiness Personified

Squirrel with a Gun is an action platformer that follows the adventures of an average squirrel as it barges into an underground secret facility and mistakenly eats an acorn-shaped hard drive, enhancing its intelligence.

With several agents chasing an ordinary squirrel, it uses a dropped gun to escape the facility, wreaking mayhem in the residential neighborhood.

Using a variety of weapons, you must take down the agents and solve numerous platforming puzzles along the way.

Despite its satisfyingly goofy premise, Squirrel with a Gun‘s runtime left me wanting more of its two-legged fluffy killer protagonist.

7 Okami

Why Be A God When You Can Be A Wolf-artist?

Okami is an action-adventure game set in feudal Japan where you play as a white wolf who’s an embodiment of Okami Amaterasu, the goddess of the sun.

Influenced by traditional Japanese and Chinese art, the game features a stunning animated art style with a combination of Sumi-e ink and ukiyo-e ink illustrations that you don’t often see in video games.

As Amaterasu, you can wield the celestial brush to control time and confront mythic bosses, challenging puzzles, and environmental dungeons.

Okami‘s gameplay takes major inspiration from the Zelda series and Japanese mythology, backed up by a classical Japanese-inspired soundtrack, characters, and an extensive open world.

With the reveal of Okami‘s sequel in the works, it’s the perfect time to play this underrated title, even for its dated graphics and clunky mechanics.

6 Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey

Aping Out With Others Never Felt This Good

Spanning roughly 10 million years of evolutionary cycles, Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey is an open-world action survival game where you begin as a tribal clan of ancestral hominin species.

You must survive, expand, and explore the lush jungles of pre-historic Africa to facilitate the evolution from the extinct chimpanzee-like hominin species to modern-day humans.

The goal is simple; you must ensure the clan’s survival and drive the evolutionary process.

I can’t move past how incredibly authentic tree-climbing and walking like a primitive ape feels. That said, interacting with other apes and ensuring the clan’s survival made me feel like leading through the history of evolution.

Ancestors employs minimal handholding while allowing you to figure out things by yourself, subtly intensifying the game’s enthralling and immersive narrative.

5 Lost Ember

It’s Not The Destination, But The Journey

Not all games require combat; some, like Lost Ember, go the extra mile for an engaging story, immersive environment, and beautifully minimalist graphics.

You are an amnesiac black wolf, guided by a wandering and lost soul as you unlock the memories of your past lives and uncover the secrets of a forgotten civilization in ruins without humanity.

Considering it’s an adventure walking simulator, there are no difficult puzzles or enemies to fight against, as the title focuses solely on its mesmerizing world setting and gripping narrative.

From the lens of possessing different animals and birds, Lost Ember feels deeply connected to nature due to its emotionally bittersweet story.

4 Untitled Goose Game

Honking Chaos

If you are looking for an indie title that lets you be a menace to society and humans, you have found it in a loose goose, no kidding.

As someone who loves a good game that encourages pointless chaos, I adore Untitled Goose Game for its hilarious comic timing and infinite replay value.

All you need to do is complete the tasks on your to-do list, such as stealing objects or tricking humans to do certain things. The more tasks you complete, the more areas you will unlock.

Despite its short playtime, this title will win your heart with its charming mischief and cartoony art style.

3 Stray

Four Paws, Nine Lives

Stray is an indie adventure game where you play a stray ginger cat trapped within the walls of an unpopulated cyberpunk city as you get separated from your feline friends.

To find a way out, you must solve numerous platforming puzzles while navigating through the visually stunning and charming neon-lit world alongside your robot companion, B-12.

Whether you are leaping onto surfaces or clawing up carpets and walls, Stray makes you fall for its cute feline idiosyncrasies throughout the progression.

With an average furry protagonist, this popular indie title delivers an enthralling story has a phenomenal soundtrack that blends perfectly with the futuristic setting.

2 Endling – Extinction Is Forever

Grab Your Tissue Boxes!

Endling – Extinction is Forever follows the journey of a fox mother and her four young cubs, the last of their species, in a post-apocalyptic world ravaged due to disasters caused by humans.

This side-scrolling survival adventure game pits you against numerous threats, including predators, owls, and the most brutal of all—the potential loss of one of your cubs.

It would be a lie to say I could bear letting go of any remaining cubs throughout the multiple playthroughs. Speaking of which, the ending scene can vary significantly depending on your choices.

Endling is an emotional rollercoaster, thanks to the game’s story and gorgeous art style, making it both heartwarming and heartbreaking.

Showcasing no dialogues, this emotionally compelling indie title speaks louder than words.

1 Black Myth: Wukong

Be A Monkey King!

While fans and developers were disappointed when Black Myth: Wukong missed out on the GOTY award, the iconic title rightfully secures the top spot on this list.

Stepping into the shoes of a legendary monkey god, Sun Wukong, you duel numerous bosses, from warriors to formidable gods, throughout the progression.

Black Myth: Wukong is a masterpiece for its challenging boss fights, fleshed-out characters, stunning visuals, and fast-paced combat system.

Nevertheless, what sets it apart is its renegade protagonist, beautiful world setting, and extensive lore inspired by a popular classical Chinese novel, Journey to the West.