Cats

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 Everybody's picking up on that feline beat, because everything else is obsolete.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...

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.

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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.