There’s a whole spectrum of animal lovers out there. Some love cuddly companions, others are intrigued by slithering snakes and creepy crawlies, and then there are those who crave the thrill of observing wildlife in their natural habitat. Whichever one of these categories you fall under (or maybe you fall into multiple), there’s a game out there that’s just right for you. These animal-related games range from simulation and adventure to those that are downright weird and quirky and those that can be played using coins – and you’re going to want to add these to your ‘play’ list.
My Universe: Pet Clinic Cats & Dogs
Ever wanted to become a vet? Was your childhood dream to take care of animals? While you might not want to spend six to eight years learning how to treat and dress wounds and administering medicine right now, My Universe: Pet Clinic Cats & Dogs can simulate the thrills of running your own vet clinic.
Adopting the role of a veterinarian, you’ll run your own practice, bonding with a range of cat and dog patients and conducting medical exams so they can get better. Customization options let you alter your character’s appearance and decorate your clinic to reflect your style. Whether your four-legged patient needs an x-ray, grooming, or an injection, you’ll go through the motions of a real-life vet.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
After the success of Animal Crossing: New Leaf, Nintendo came out with another installment in the stunning social simulation series. Animal Crossing: New Horizons revolves around your life as a villager who moves onto an island along with two other anthropomorphic villagers. After buying a getaway package from Tanuki (a raccoon-dog) character Tom Nook, you can work on developing the island, catch bugs and fish, craft items and furniture, plant and grow flowers and trees, dive for sea creatures, travel to other islands, and more. There’s even a co-op and online gameplay where you can visit your friends’ islands or live on a shared one.
Other animal villagers can move onto the island, and there are birds, alligators, koalas, pigs, squirrels, dogs, anteaters, deer, and many other species available to interact with. All have their own unique look, phrase, house, style, and take on one of the eight personalities in the game.
Stray
Think of a cyberpunk dystopian universe and the excitement of a third-person adventure game – and then picture a cat as the main character. Stray revolves around a stray cat separated from its family who falls into a crumbling cybercity and tries to find its way home. You can essentially interact and navigate the environment just like a cat would – scaling walls, climbing in buckets, and clawing at objects, but have a drone companion, B-12, to help you along your journey.
If you love mystery, adventure, puzzles, and the idea of experiencing the world as a cat, you’ll fall in love with the concept of Stray.
Shelter
Shelter puts you in the paws of a mother badger who must protect her cubs from harm in the wild. The game follows their journey from one burrow to another in an atmospheric, open-world setting. It’ll bring you along a beautiful adventure but one marked by dangers and perils, such as forest fires, hunger, and the need to survive.
While the gameplay and storyline aren’t overly complicated or nuanced, Shelter is the ideal game for those searching for something new. It also boasts an incredible original soundtrack and visually captivating art style that’ll make your time spent playing worthwhile.
Planet Zoo
Planet Zoo is a fantastic tycoon simulation game that lets you manage and create your very own zoo. The creators of Zoo Tycoon have outdone themselves this time with realistic animal portrayals of 76 different animal species and a new focus on wildlife conservation and animal welfare. Players can experiment with the thousands of building pieces to create viewing platforms, enclosures, natural structures, and other important zoo elements.
Untitled Goose Game
Untitled Goose Game is a one-of-a-kind indie video game where the player roleplays as a mischievous goose. Set in an English village, the aim is to terrorize the townspeople and complete tasks on a hand-written checklist. The game involves plenty of stealth gameplay, for example, when you have to steal food from a picnic or carry out pranks and tricks.
There’s not a lot of structure to Untitled Goose Game – but that’s precisely what makes it so endearing and fun. It’ll have you laughing, engaging, and honking throughout.
Octodad: Dadliest Catch
Getting into weirder territory, we’ve got Octodad: Dadliest Catch. This one might or might not be considered an animal game, but we’ll leave it up to you to decide. Octodad is described as a “Loving Father. Caring Husband. Secret Octopus,” and that’s basically the premise of the game. The main character, Octodad, goes through everyday life trying to perform mundane human tasks as an octopus. His goal? To hide the fact that he’s an octopus in human clothing. The gameplay involves controlling his tentacles and completing objectives, but there’s also a deep (well, as deep as this ridiculous premise could allow) storyline that involves Octodad’s family.
Lead Image by chiplanay from Pixabay.
Leave a Reply