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 Everybody’s picking up on that feline beat, because everything else is obsolete.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!
Publisher: Devolver Digital / Developer: Doinksoft
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.
Publisher: Whitethorn Games / Developer: Peachy Keen Games
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.
Developer: Manekoware
See the world through the eyes of a cat! 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!
Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Nintendo
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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Publisher: Freedom Games / Developer: Roost Games
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!
Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Game Freak
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!
Publisher: PQube / Developer: The Gentlebros
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, and it’s much better than the previous game, if you ask us.
Publisher: Falcon Development / Developer: Falcon Development
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 XP and different factions competing to dominate a larger territory and you’re in the ballpark.
Publisher: Blowfish Studios / Developer: ARTillery
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.
Publisher: PQube / Developer: Twin Hearts Games
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.
