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.
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![Animal Crossing: New Horizons - Happy Home Paradise DLC - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]](https://images.nintendolife.com/products/16102/100x100.jpg)
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.
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!
![Monster Hunter Rise Deluxe Kit DLC [Download Code - UK/EU]](https://images.nintendolife.com/products/18466/100x100.png)
![Monster Hunter Rise Deluxe Edition [Download Code - UK/EU]](https://images.nintendolife.com/products/18465/100x100.png)
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 game from the excellent Level-5.
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...
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).
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.
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.
In short: Cats.
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.
This article is one of our Switch Essentials guides which cover a wide variety of genres, including the Best Switch FPS Games, the Best Switch RPGs, the Best Switch Games For Kids, the Best Switch Couch Co-Op Games and the Best Switch Fitness and Exercise Games. We can also help out hunting down the Best Switch Horror Games, the Best Switch Racing Games, the Best Switch Action-RPGs, the Best Nintendo Switch Roguelikes, Roguelites and Run-Based Games, the Best Free Switch Games, the Best Remakes And Remasters, the Best Switch Music And Rhythm Games, Best Feel-Good Switch Games, Best Switch Open-World Games, Best Switch Soulslike Games, Best LGBTQ+ Switch Games, and even Games to Play After You've Finished Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
Whatever your favourite genre, we've got you covered: Strategy Games, Metroidvanias, Puzzle Games, Party Games, Online Multiplayer Games, Local Wireless Multiplayer Games, Shmups, Twin-Stick Shooters, Visual Novels, Kart Racers, Fighting Games, Football Games, Funny Games, Golf Games, 'Walking Sims' And Narrative Games, Switch Games For Lovers And Lonely Hearts, Detective Games, Hidden Gems, 2D Platformers, 3D Platformers, Puzzle Platformers, Tabletop Mode Games, Run and Gun Games, LEGO Games, Sports Games, Survival Games, Beat 'Em Ups, Camera Games, Chill Games, Family Games, Retro-Inspired Games, Short Games, Card Games and Deck-Builders, and Life Sims And Farming Games.
Still hungry for more? Elsewhere we look at Wholesome Games, TATE Mode Games, Flight Sim and Space Combat, Point and Click Adventure Games, and the Best Switch Exclusives, as well as Every Arcade Archives Game, Every ACA Neo Geo Game, Every SEGA AGES Game On Switch, plus the Best Switch Ports, Best Wii U-To-Switch Ports, Best Switch Collections And Compilations, Best Cheap Switch Games, Best Switch Demos, Games That Are Better On Switch OLED, Switch Games Under $10, $20, $50, and Switch games with the Best Soundtracks and the Best Graphics. Phew!
If you're looking for the best Switch games regardless of genre, our reader-voted selection of the Best Nintendo Switch Games should help you out, and you can also find the Best Nintendo Switch Games of 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021. And finally, if you're interested in other Nintendo consoles and retro games, check out the Best Game Boy Games, Best GBC Games, Best GBA Games, Best Nintendo DS Games, Best Nintendo 3DS Games, Best NES Games, Best SNES Games, Best N64 Games, Best GameCube Games, and Best Wii Games, and Best Wii U Games, as well as Every Available Nintendo Switch Online Retro Game, and ranked lists of Every Nintendo Switch Online NES, SNES, N64 and Sega Genesis / Mega Drive Game.
Comments 56
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!
Lots of fun reading that!
'miaou' is my wordle start word
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.
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