
Updated with the adorable Stray. Enjoy!
Everybody wants to be a cat. Because a cat's the only cat who knows where it's at. Everybody's picking up on that feline beat, because everything else is obsolete.
And in short, that's why we've put together this list of the very finest and felinest of games that you can play on the Nintendo Switch — so you can be a cat. Or own a cat. Or look at cats. Cats!
While you can check out our reviews for more details about many of the games below, there are several that we can't personally vouch for. We've included them anyway as they contain cats prominently (so how bad can they be?!), but as always we recommend approaching unknown kitties with caution.

Here are the best cat games available on Nintendo Switch...
On this page: Best Cat Games On Nintendo Switch
Best Cat Games on Nintendo Switch
Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury (Switch)
Bowser's Fury is the cat-star of this polished re-release of Super Mario 3D World. The story goes that Bowser has somehow turned into this new Fury Bowser alter-ego, and only the power of the Giga Bells can stop him.
These bells are out of action, though, and you’ll need the power of the Cat Shines to make them work again. As Cat Mario, you'll get to climb walls, roll around, and presumably knock expensive items off of high tables.
Please note that some external links on this page are affiliate links, which means if you click them and make a purchase we may receive a small percentage of the sale. Please read our FTC Disclosure for more information.
Gato Roboto (Switch eShop)
Cats are remarkable creatures, aren't they? One moment they could be curled up on your lap, peacefully dozing the day away, and the next they're donning a high-tech mecha suit and exploring vast caverns filled with monstrous creatures. At least, that's what Gato Roboto - Doinksoft's charming 'Metroidvania' - would have you believe.
Joining the ranks of the Switch’s superb range of Metroidvania titles - including Hollow Knight, The Messenger and Axiom Verge - Gato Roboto is a minimal, faithful homage to Samus’s own Metroid series whilst also managing to project its own unique voice.
Calico (Switch eShop)
As part of the "wholesome games" trend, Calico promises quite a few of the hallmarks of the genre: cats, cafés, gentle music, soft colours, cooking, and befriending fluffy animals.
The gameplay is unchallenging, but it's meant to be that way; your in-game avatar – a magical girl you design yourself with a fairly in-depth character creator – will spend most of her time performing good deeds for the townsfolk that live on the same star-shaped island.
Catlateral Damage: Remeowstered (Switch eShop)
See the world through the eyes of a cat in Catlateral Damage: Remeowstered! That extremely punny title is very hard to say out loud.
Run around the house, topple neatly organized books, shatter vases, meow at nothing, tear up curtains, nap in obscure places, and all the things cats love to do to make your life hell!
Cat Café Manager (Switch eShop)
Restore Granny’s café to its former glory, adopt Caterwaul’s four-legged residents, and befriend regulars in this wholesome game that's exactly what it says on the tin.
Do you want to wait on cats hand and paw? Then Cat Café Manager is the game for you!
Pokémon Sword and Shield (Switch)
For a game that's all about catching and owning animals, Pokémon has surprisingly few cats — and Sword and Shield has just seven in total, not counting Eevee (because Eevee is a confusing hybrid of dog/cat/fox and we don't want to start arguments).
Two of those cats, however, are unique to Sword and Shield: Galarian Meowth, and Purrserker, the Galarian evolution of Meowth, who has a beard. Sure, why not! Perhaps every Pokémom game on Switch can sit here?
Cat Quest II (Switch eShop)
The strong focus on cats and endless supply of cat puns in Cat Quest 2 is obviously not a world everyone will want to immerse themselves in – especially if you are a dog lover.
However, if you are REALLY into cats (which you must be, since you're reading this), the game offers a simple yet enjoyable RPG romp. Of course, don't forget about the first game, or the third game!
Cattails (Switch eShop)
When you’re not being catty with the competition and tussling over who holds political sway in Cattails, you’ll be picking fragrant flowers, collecting trinkets and building relationships – there’s even romance in the air if you’re into that sort of thing.
Imagine Animal Crossing-lite with EXP and different factions competing to dominate a larger territory and you’re in the ballpark.
Catie In MeowmeowLand (Switch eShop)
Definitely the most surreal cat game on this list, Catie In MeowmeowLand is an Alice-in-Wonderland-like where the white rabbit is replaced with a white cat.
It's a traditional point-and-click adventure game, other than all the terrifying, confusing cat visuals.
Kitaria Fables (Switch)
Playing Kitaria Fables feels like treading the boards of a café that you go to every day: it's comforting, warm, and reassuring.
If you like games that engage your brain with mindless-yet-enjoyable grinding interspersed with some extremely light farming and the occasional quest or new area to explore, then Kitaria Fables is perfect. Also, everyone is a cat.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Switch)
In the Hall of Internet Fame, there are a fair few cats — and one of them is Raymond, the Animal Crossing: New Horizon villager and internet meme superstar. We'd put ACNH on this list for Raymond alone, but there are in fact 23 cat villagers in the game, plus Rover!
It's a good game for cat fans, dog fans, and any animal fans. It's a shame you can't be a cat, but we can't have everything. It might take you a while to get all the cat villagers without amiibo cards, though.
Piffle (Switch eShop)
A standard mobile puzzler on the surface, Piffle has players lining up shots to clear blocks from the screen. You'll need to collect an army of 'Piffle Balls' to help you do just that, before flinging them across the screen to cause adorable mayhem.
There are plenty of different Piffle Balls to find and craft, as well as a selection of power-ups to collect. It's also heavily cat-themed, if you hadn't noticed.
Rain World (Switch eShop)
"You are a slug cat," reads the developer description of Rain World. What is a slug cat? It does not matter. It is cute, and it is the main character of this beloved survival-platformer game. And it has "cat" in its name. It's a cat.
This one's got a bit of a cult following — it initially got mixed reviews, but over time, has been praised and reappraised by many. It's also pretty brutal, so if you like your cute cat games with some cosiness, this probably isn't the one for you.
Monster Hunter Rise (Switch)
Alright, they're not cats, they're Palicos — but we know they're cats, really. Monster Hunter Rise introduces the Palamute, which is a rideable dog, but for those of us who prefer cats, it's Palicos all the way. They help you fight, they cook for you, and they're cute!
There are scarier big cats in Monster Hunter too, of course. For even cuter cats, we'll point you towards Monster Hunter Stories and the sequel. All very good games.
Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom (Switch)
It comes up surprisingly infrequently, but the tension at the source of Ni No Kuni II is a war between the treacherous mice-people and the royal cat-people. Even if you don't love kitties, it's a brilliant action RPG from the excellent Level-5.
You can build your own kingdom, explore the world, and dive into some fun combat. It's not super challenging either, meaning it's a great RPG to play with family. Or cats. Maybe don't give your cat the controller.
Inspector Waffles (Switch eShop)
In this old school detective adventure, step into the boots of whip-smart Inspector Waffles (who is a cat) and travel the city to track hidden clues, interrogate shady suspects, and unravel a dangerous mystery. But be warned: curiosity killed the cat...
Look, Waffles is a great name for a cat.
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl (Switch)
What puts Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl ahead of Smash Bros.? One simple fact: The former has cats. Well, one cat. Well, a CatDog. In most other ways, it certainly isn't Smash Bros. — but for fans of Smash, it's still a solid platform fighter. With a cat(dog).
There's All-Star Brawl 2 too, which is supposedly better, but it doesn't have CatDog. Darn!
Chicory: A Colorful Tale (Switch eShop)
Chicory: A Colorful Tale is about a dog and a rabbit, but there are plenty of cats — and you'll have to find them on your adventure, because they're all lost! 40 "Lost Kids" are hidden throughout the land, and you need to return them to the daycare owner, Beans. Let that name sink in a bit.
Okay, while Chicory is lovely and cute, it's also a tearjerker, so be warned. Maybe you could just... focus on painting and rescuing those kitty cats if you're worried about sobbing all the way through?
Night In The Woods (Switch eShop)
Night In The Woods seems to sneak onto every single list of Switch games we've ever made, occasionally under some technicality, and, well, the protagonist is technically a cat.
It's a good game, so we're not complaining, especially because it has a special "Paws Mode" (like... pause? Yeah?) which lets you use Mae's mitts to move stuff around. Very cute.
Stray (Switch)
Come on — you are literally playing as a cat. Not only that, but the lead kitty in Stray feels so real and lifelike that, if you're looking for a pure cat game, this might be one of the best.
Stray is an unusual game — a small adventure set in a cyberpunk city where you have to solve traversal puzzles and sneak around. But there's a dedicated meow button, and the little stray is so cute, that any hangups you might have can be brushed aside.
In short: Cats.
Best Cat Games FAQ
Mewrning for more? (That was terrible. Sorry.) We can help you figure out what cat games, or animal games, you're looking for below.
Why cat games?
Because... they're cute?
People love cats, right? They're chaotic, adorable, fun — why wouldn't you want a cat in your video game? Plus, if you're allergic, digital cats mean you don't need to worry about the allergies.
What about dog games?
So, you're more of a dog person? (w)Oof. Don't worry, we've got you covered.
Or best Dog game list is pretty similar to this one, except there are dogs. Lots of them. There;s some crossover too, of course, but there are a few unique entries as well.
Is Nintendogs + Cats on Switch?
Sadly not! None of the Nintendogs games are on Switch, which means the ones that also feature cats aren't. Come on, Nintendo!
What's your favourite cat game? And when you get to name a cat in a game, what do you call it? Tell us in the comments.
Comments 55
This has got to be the most specific ranking yet
This list is cute, but I'm SUPER allergic to it. : (
Nyaa! 😻
If there isn't a new English language translated Switch game for the Tokyo Mew Mew ("Mew Mew Power" in the West) reboot coming out next month I'll be so annoyed. The PS1 and GBA games from the original series looked so cool but were never translated. Boo.
It would literally make the best RPG or 1v1 fighting / scrolling beat em up game. I'd even settle for a Puyo/Tetris style puzzle game with story elements.
[edit] In addition, cool list, some games I've enjoyed on there, some I've not heard of and are now on my radar. Thanks!
I’m just fed up of these tokenistic ‘cat’ games, pushing a pet agenda.
This comment section is gonna be spicy.
It will trigger the catphobes.
If you are a dog person we don’t need to know you don’t like cats.
I jest and I shouldn’t joke about the horrific response to the other list.
Please keep up the lists.
Lots of us here love your work.
Just because someone likes dogs doesn't mean they are catphobic. I don't understand why society wants to label us and put us in boxes! Its what the corporations and the billionaires want! Divide and conquer! They exploit our love of floofy friends for cynical profit while not supporting animal rights! I just want to be an ally to both cats and dogs, why am I being cancelled on Twitter?
Though thinking about it, the cats themselves would probably like being put in boxes.
This list is fun, I like cats so yeah I may check out some of these games that I don’t own.
did big cat pay you to write this
also, in Cat Quest II, there are plenty of dog puns — such as a village called Pound Town, which is incredible for (what ppl assume to be) a children's game
Now rank the best crab games 🦀🦀🦀
Battlecats maybe
@ChickenJoe The Cat Quest games are pun-tastic and whilst not my type of game to play solo (just a personal preference, if you like taht type of genre I'd recomend without hesitation), my partner played them through on stream and voice acted all the different characters and it was hilarious and so much fun.
Great writing. Or should I say "purrfect"? ...I'll get my coat.
@Munchlax I unironically love crabs and lobsters. I just find them cute and I can't put my finger on why. We need more in games, especially if they aren't the enemy, I don't want to attack them (not even "historically accurate" giant enemy crabs!). Justice for crustaceans!
Inspector Waffles is a great choice! No really, play it if you like point and click games, or just adventure games in general. It's on the easy side, but the story carries it. And don't tell anyone, but it's like 15 cents in the Argentinian eshop.
Senran Kagura peach ball!
Best game where one of the main characters starts turning into a cat
Removed - harassment
I think Astral Chain should be an honorable mention. While it's not a cat game per se, our feline friends are collectibles! Does that mean the MC runs a pet rescue on the side? 🤔
@Tyranexx Probably isn't on this list because no one played it. Criminally underrated game
Aqua Kitty UDX is missing! Fun little shoot em' up.
My daughter is obsessed with cats, so this list is extremely useful. Do horses next!
@Tobiaku I love Peach Ball. I wish there was more content, but its so fun and colourful and cute. 😻
Good one Kate. Nice roundup.
I was worried that Night In The Woods wasn't going to be on this list, but was relieved when it was the last one. Such an incredible game!
@Stocksy,
Yes the comment section will be catastrophic.
@mariomaster96 TBF, I own the game but haven't played it yet. But I can assure you the cat and toilet collectibles helped with my decision.
@johnvboy people with have their claws out.
Minor correction, not everyone is a cat in Kitaria Fables. They are all kinds of animals, including rabbits and numerous dog breeds. They are all cute.
Also, Aqua Kitty UDX and Astro Kitty need to be on here.
@Stocksy,
Yes, there will be no pussy footing around this one.
@blindsquarel Filler articles aren’t a bad thing, people like this article and all the other specific articles on this site…
I'm not sure if this article represents despair on the part of the E3-bereft staff writers. I hope everyone's doing OK.
OTOH, I assume this will be the safest-ever thread on NL for the furriest among us.
I don't understand why society wants to label us and put us in boxes! Its what the corporations and the billionaires want! Divide and conquer!
@samuelvictor Perhaps you think you're joking. I've seen multiple threads where some miscreant expresses hatred toward furballs, or even furry humans, on this site. Time was when no one on the Internet knew you were a toothberry (nor did they care)...
@CANOEberry Blue fuzzy pals unite! And free the Cageberries while we're at it!
@JasmineDragon a lot does. Even if Xenoblade's Gormotti are too humanoid to qualify, there is still stuff like Fuga: Melodies of Steel with its Felineko race. And Skyrim! Kitaria and AC pave the way for both here, really. Also A Stray Cat's Tale, MagiCat, Little Bug and Another Sight, A Hat in Time (courtesy of Nyakuza Metro), Doraemon Story of Seasons, Torchlight games to have a feline companion in, Strike Force Kitty... and that's just to name a few.
Best dog games please.
Removed - unconstructive
@nhSnork much love to the Gormotti in Xenoblade 2 (&3?) and best girl Nia!
Umm, what about The Good Life? You get to be a cat with glasses! And then there’s Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin, you can duel-weld cats and dogs!
And Raymond? Really? There’s heaps of better cats in AC. Unfortunately though, my favourite AC cat has been tainted by the internet, sigh*.
Cats are awesome, so much better than dogs.
...Rise is on here but not GU...WHERE YOU CAN HUNT AS A CAT?....Oki.
We all know the best is clearly Garfield kart, but I respect the author's integrity for omitting it because its greatness transcends a list ranking.
ORA! HEY! EY! Where is BLAZBLUE CENTRALFICTION Special Edition, huh?! In the game, we have - Mitsuyoshi(also known as Jūbei, playable character), human-like cat and great warrior, and the whole Kaka Tribe! Kaka is a tribe of seemingly humanoid cat-people. The ones that appeared in the game are - Taokaka(playable character), Torakaka(Taokaka's sister, unplayable character), Totokaka(Kaka Tribe Elder, unplayable character), and cute, little, and unplayable Kakas - Pochikaka, Tamakaka, Yarukaka, and Mikekaka. Oh, and Kokonoe Mercury(Mitsuyoshi's daughter, half-human, playable character). Hm...
And you forgot to mention Melty Blood: Type Lumina. Neco-Arc appears in the game as unplayable character.
And Reventure - it's possible to play as cat in the game.
In Scott Pilgrim vs. The World The Game - Complete Edition, there is Gideon - Ramona's pet cat.
And... OMG! How you did forgot about No More Heroes games?! Travis Touchdown have a pet cat named Jeane.
In DEADBOLT, Reaper(game's protagonist) have a nameless black cat.
That's all that I remember, I think...
Bunnies are better.
Did you forget Aquakitty DX? Its defender with cats
Wow - no PUSS huh? No love for Vaporwave Puzzlers With A Cat Protagonist
I actually liked Cat Quest more than Cat Quest 2. Objectively the second game may be better, but it's also bigger and grinder. Takes a lot longer to finish and you have to spend a lot more time fiddling with the inventory. First game was a lot more straightforward and enjoyable IME.
The only game with "cat" that amuse me call "Chu Chu Rockets".
I’d like to someday do a “crazy cat dude” run of a Pokémon game, with at least six of them, and the more shinies, the better.
I’m also surprised to see that the Sword/Shield Expansion physical release may not in fact be discontinued after all, as it seems to now be a My Nintendo exclusive. If we can see more releases in that vein (even if gatekept by Nintendo), I’d love to splash some cash on them.
Both Cat Quest and Cat Cafe Manager are amazing games. I’d add all Monster Hunter games to the list; the Felyne have appeared in all MH series so far, including all spin-offs. There are very few games with cats playing a more important part.
There's also Chicken Police, which has a feline femme fatale.
Psst, Dark Souls Remastered has cats.
NINJA APPROVED
@locky-mavo damn, even I forgot about these two. Shame on me!
The perfect games list doesn't exi-
This is a cute list / idea but I’m a little confused by calling this “the best cat games on Switch” when literally the second game on the list (Calico) got a 4/10 from NintendoLife. I’m not one to be a stickler for like 7/10 vs 8/10 but 4/10 is below average. Have there been a bunch of updates to it since then or anything? I’m admittedly not that familiar with the game.
I do know the first game on the list, Gato Roboto, is awesome though.
@KoiTenchi They aren't ranked, so Calico being second doesn't mean much!
But also — most of the games in here are either highly-scored, or VERY cat. There were some in-betweens that were averagely scored or not very cat, so they didn't make it. It's a very complicated equation that balances the cat quota with the score quota.
I played Catlateral Damage recently at work and my mates gave me a funny look and asked what the bloody hell is that you're playing? and I just ended up having the biggest laughing fit of my life.
Worth mentioning but Taiko No Tatsujin: Drum 'n' Fun! is a good game. I still play that regularly but I can never beat most of the extreme difficulty tunes.
Hiya, I came here to tell you all that The Good Life exists, a cat game made by the guy who made Deadly Premonition. It's also quite good.
Show Comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...