The best animal games on Switch and mobile – pawsome fun

No matter how overwhelming the outside world seems, animals have always been mankind’s best friends. Whether it’s the wag of a tail, the twitch of a nose, or the plant your cat knocked over when you were out of the room for a whole five seconds, they always seem to have a way to lighten up our lives. Of course, real-world animals come with plenty of responsibilities and can be quite a paw full of trouble at times.

Luckily, there are heaps of adorable animal games on both Switch and mobile that allow you to spend time with a whole host of virtual critters, offering an escape from the hectic nature of modern life at the touch of a button. From embarking on island getaways full of fuzzy friends, to starting your own kitty cafe, or even running a post office as a pair of adorable, flightless birds, there are heaps of experiences waiting to whisk you off to a world of purrfect pals and pawsome fun – and we’ve listed the best of them right here for your perusal.

If you’re looking for more game recommendations, be sure to check out our picks for the best simulation games on Switch, the best games like Stardew Valley, and the best decorating games on Switch and mobile.

Animal games on Switch

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Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Okay, so pretty much everyone has played Animal Crossing: New Horizons by now – if you haven’t, what on earth are you waiting for? This delightful little sim took the world by storm during the tough lockdowns of 2020, and it truly felt like a beacon in the dark – a much-loved series coming back to whisk us all away from our troubles when we needed it most.

You find yourself landing on a little island, which soon enough becomes your own resort. Decorate, landscape, forage, fish, and more, as you shape this rocky landmass into a purrfect getaway. Meet a massive roster of adorable animals, invite your favourites to move to your island, and help them build their ideal home (a feature that’s only further built on in the Happy Homes DLC). It’s cute. It’s relaxing. And there are more animals crossing this path than you can count – trust us, we’ve got a whole ACNH villagers guide covering each and every one!

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Cat Cafe Manager

I’ve barely been able to put this one down since I first got my paws on it, and it’s quickly become my go-to relaxation tool after a busy day. Cat Cafe Manager is a frankly adorable business sim where you build up your Grandma’s old cafe from the rubble, make meaningful relationships with your regulars, fight off an evil corporation that wants to take the town over, and help a magical cat rebuild an ancient shrine. Plus, cats. So, so many cats.

If you want to find out more, take a look at our Cat Cafe Manager review.

Cat Cafe Manager Cat Cafe Manager Nintendo $19.99 Buy now Network N earns affiliate commission from qualifying sales.

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Super Animal Royale

Have you ever played PUBG or Fortnite and thought ‘needs more cute critters’? Well, Super Animal Royale is the game for you. This free-to-play title does exactly what it says on the tin – it’s a Battle Royale, with super animals. The monetization isn’t too aggressive, with only cosmetics available for purchase, the art is simple but super cute, and it’s a great way to kill a couple of hours.

Admittedly, its performance isn’t always top-notch, and with the relatively long, 64-player battles, the map can start to feel a little barren towards the end of the match. However, it’s fun, free, and cute, and there’s something inherently funny about seeing a cute kitty flying on an umbrella while holding a handgun.

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Phogs

Just thinking about this game is enough to bring a beaming smile to my face. The premise is simple, albeit very strange – you are this long, stretchy dog with two heads and no butt. Go explore! With an adorable art style, cute characters, and plenty of fun puzzles to chomp on, it makes for a wonderful, lighthearted experience full of silly shenanigans. It’s designed for two-player couch co-op, and is certainly far more enjoyable when shared with a friend, but you can play solo if you’re more of a lone wolf.
Phogs! Phogs! Nintendo $24.99 Buy now Network N earns affiliate commission from qualifying sales.

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KeyWe

Like Phogs, KeyWe is certainly designed for co-op, though you can play solo. It’s a wonderfully unique little title that follows two Kiwis, Debra and Jeff, as they attempt to run a busy post office. Peck parcels, bash your butt into buttons, yeet yummy snacks at other animal pals, all while trying to keep the well-oiled machine that is the post room running. You can even dress Jeff and Debra up in tiny hats. What a delight.

KeyWe KeyWe Nintendo $24.99 Buy now Network N earns affiliate commission from qualifying sales.

Little Friends: Dogs & Cats and My Universe: Pet Clinic

Okay, so we’ve lumped these two together as they’re your standard animal-themed sim games and fit into the same kind of niche. If you’re looking for games where you care for animals rather than being one, then these two are for you.

My Universe: Cats and Dogs has you take the role of a vet, taking care of poorly pets. Little Friends: Dogs and Cats is more focused on being an owner, grooming, training, and caring for your fuzzy friends. Both can be a little repetitive, and are quite bare-bones titles, with Little Friends: Dogs and Cats treading very similar lines to Nintendogs from the DS without really bringing anything new to the table. But they both fill that relaxing, simulation role well, and offer plenty of chill, animal-themed fun.

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Okami

Okami is a classic for a reason. This beautiful, illustrated tale is a magical, fantasy adventure full of gorgeous art, stunning characters, touching story beats, and wonderful gameplay mechanics. It’s an absolute masterpiece, and the HD re-release on Switch brings it to a new generation perfectly. With a low price tag and a truly wonderful experience to be had, we implore you to go play it, you won’t regret it.

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Fun! Fun! Animal Park

I felt entirely obligated to include this title due to just how bizarre and goofy it is – the whole team at PT had a good giggle at this strange little gem. From the intensely emotive puppet presenters, to the dancing lemurs and the kangaroo boxing, it’s utterly bizarre. Fun! Fun! Animal Park consists of 30 different animal-themed mini-games, supporting both solo mode and couch co-op with one other player. It also makes use of the Switch’s motion controls to bring you a myriad of amusing experiences. Grab this on sale, get a pal by your side, and sit down to enjoy some madcap, fuzzy fun.

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Untitled Goose Game

Welcome to Untitled Goose Game. You’re a horrible goose. A very, very horrible goose. Now, go wreak havoc (or beak havoc) around the sleepy little English village you reside in. This slapstick stealth sandbox sees you making your way around town, pulling pranks, stealing hats, and just generally ruining everyone’s day. There’s even a two-player mode – double the loose goose fun. Plus, there’s a dedicated honk button. Honk!

Animal games on mobile

My Tamagotchi Forever

Google Play / App Store

Everyone’s favourite retro virtual pet has hatched onto mobile, in the adorable casual title My Tamagotchi Forever. Adopt your very own little monster, raise them, take care of them, and play a heap of cute minigames and puzzles along the way. With plenty of Tamagotchi to collect, tons of delicious food, cute costumes, and colourful items to unlock, it’s an adorable and relaxing experience to play on the go.

Animal Restaurant

Google Play / App Store

This adorable and heartwarming management simulation game sees you step into the paws of a sweet kitty running a little restaurant in the woods. Learn recipes, decorate your cafe, and expand your business, as you serve adorable animal customers from all corners of the forest.

The artwork is absolutely gorgeous, with its muted tones and mixture of European, Mediterranean, and Japanese influences, and it truly feels like a tiny storybook world. Animal Restaurant is homely and cosy, and is a great title for any animal-lover looking to unwind.

If you really enjoy Animal Restaurant, you should also check out Cat Spa, as it features similar, chill vibes, beautiful pastel colours, and, of course, plenty of kitties to befriend.

Dear My Cat: Relaxing Cat Game

Google Play / App Store

Dear My Cat is an endearing virtual pet sim, where every cat embarks on a journey on the beautiful Sky Island. It’s a super relaxing experience that allows you to expand and decorate your peaceful little island, create a variety of animals, and enjoy the lovely music and peaceful landscapes you explore and design. This easy-to-play, casual title has no fail states, and is entirely based on the idea of offering you a chill, stress-free environment to escape to when the world gets too tough.

My Dolphin Show

Google Play / App Store

Ever wanted to be a dolphin trainer? Well, My Dolphin Show invites you to give it a try, as you teach your own dolphin incredible tricks then put on jaw-dropping shows around the world. Whether your dolphin is hopping through hoops in Hawaii, or leaping through loops in Las Vegas, there are over eighty exciting tricks to teach them, all of which you can choreograph into the best performances around. You can even dress your little pal up, so they can always look their best.

Farmville 3

Google Play / App Store

If you’re looking for some farm-based fun, then grab your wellies and your straw hat, because Farmville 3 is perfect for you. Build your own animal farm from scratch, add new habitats, while expanding, and upgrading your buildings to host a whole crew of cute critters.

You can even breed and raise the animals yourself, as your business grows into the best farm this ville has ever seen. If you want to find out what kind of creatures you can accrue, then head over to our Farmville 3 animals guide. We also have a list of Farmville 3 codes to help keep your business thriving.

That’s it for our list of the best animal games on Switch and mobile. If you still need a paw when looking for something fresh to play, take a look at our lists of the best Switch games and the best mobile games for a wider range of titles.