Where there is internet, there are cats.
As such, cats are now a frequent part of the gaming community. Often appearing in the funniest or cutest situations, depending on the respective person views on felines.
Unfortunately, just like real life, cats tend to get the short end of the stick when it comes to treatment in video games, often finding themselves as villainous foes in them more often than protagonists. They even have several extraordinarily violent games against cats, which made this writer’s faith in humanity waver a few times.
Even so, cats have still been in several games as the protagonist and whether they are shooting enemies or playing a game of rock/paper/scissors, cats have finally gotten their due in video games. The following list is a top ten list of the video games about cats.
In order to make it onto this this, a game must have a cat in a leading role, rather than a party member, so games where a cat joins your party do not count. Also, we are not counting games that haven’t come out yet, like Catlateral Damage.
10. Catz (and all cat care games)
Pet care games are not uncommon in the video game industry and they certainly won’t go away any time soon. For people who love animals, what better way to express that love to not only own a bunch of animals but own a bunch of digital animals as well!
The only things that put the Catz games above the rest in this category is the fact you can breed your pets and get some weirdly wonderful combinations. While the animation might not be top-notch, it is pretty cool to see your strange hybrid babies come to life. That and playing with your pets on your desktop is a magical experience that everyone should enjoy at one point in their life.
9. Alley Cat
Alley Cat was first ever game that had a cat as a protagonist and it certainly shows. Back in the Atari era not many people knew how to make video games, so it should be no surprise that this title is more than slightly chaotic. This is one of those bizarre older platformers where you’ll have no idea you’re supposed to do unless you have an instruction manual or a walkthrough right next to you at all times.
It has piercing music that made my cats let out a yowl when they heard it, but it was still oddly fun to play. If for no other reason, other than you have no idea what is going on, it’s just plain hilarious to see just how far you can get.
8. Asameshimae Nyanko
A Japanese-only Famicom game that is still available to play for us who are unfamiliar with the language (you just need a walkthrough), Asameshimae Nyanko is a board game based around a combinations of the game Reversi and Rock, Paper, Scissors. It’s a bit of an odd game, but it does feature kittens playfully chasing things and play battling each other.
If you can find a copy online or you just want a fun, challenging game with different colored kitties playing around, this will be the game for you. If you don’t like difficult puzzle games that requires a translation guide, however, I wouldn’t play this one.
7. Red Earth
A fighting game with a man-cat protagonist who is attempting to not only save his kingdom but reverse the curse placed on him that rendered him in his current Lion Man state. In spite its obscure Capcom CPS-3 arcade hardware, which was only somewhat distributed overseas, Red Earth was what helped Capcom perfect their 2d Fighting formula.
Leo being a big part of that, some of his moves reflecting with later characters like Zangief. Not only that but Leo is quite a fearsome fighter and despite his Leonic appearance being a curse, it still makes him one of the cats on this list, if only because of the fact that he appears in later games as a cameo character with the same head.
6. Klonoa
In spite of his long rabbit like ears and unknown species, Klonoa was regarded by most of his designers as a cat, which is why I’m going to place him on this list. Klonoa: Door to Phantomile is a fun old-school PlayStation platformer series that never seemed to take off as much as other series like Crash Bandicoot or Spyro. Despite being extraordinarily solid in its first installment in 1998, the cute little cat-mutant-thing never really saw the massive popularity that the others did.
Perhaps the alternate design that his creator was planning for the west would have been a good idea to get the little guy a better reception in the west, but personally, Klonoa’s design just fits for him and the world he is in. He never had the same “edge” as other main animal characters which made him appeal more to some than others.
The series has attempted to remake itself and has plenty of sequels, but not many paid attention to the bizarre little guy. The games were a sort of forgotten gem for the most part and you’d be hard pressed to find anyone who has actively played every game in the series.
5. Ratchet and Clank
Okay, I know Ratchet isn’t *technically* a cat but he looks like one, so that’s close enough. He has more traits of a Bobcat than Bubsy, so we say he counts! Ratchet goes on intergalactic adventures throughout the Galaxies with his best friend Clank all while shooting, saving, and doing all sorts of adventure-y things.
Ratchet is the “straight man” of the duo and Clank acts as the “stooge” – with his occasional cat-like tendencies, the cat + robot dynamic is all the more amusing. While this alien cat might not be a typical cat, he has the attitude of a true-blue cat. If there is any species that eliminates enemies quickly, it’s a cat (just without guns, I suppose).
4. Blinx: The Time Sweeper
It is said that Blinx was a purposed mascot for Xbox, but due to the games lack of popularity, Xbox went for the more mature character of Master Chief instead. In spite of this, Blinx: The Time Sweeper is a pretty solid game with a great animal protagonist.
Blinx was controlling time long before the Prince of Persia: Sands Of Time swept the same generation of consoles. Not only that, but this anthropomorphic feline had humor without being obnoxious (I’m looking at you Bubsy) and it’s a little depressing that this game didn’t get a whole franchise. It did get a sequel, but the gaming public wasn’t receptive of this adorable little orange cat and his time-controlling ways.
3. Aqua Kitty: Milk Mine Defender
This arcade shooter takes place in a world where cats have evolved to the point that they can fly space ships, operate heavy machinery, and become the most competent miners we’ve ever seen. With this terrifying thought in mind, the general plot is that around the world milk has run dry and it is your responsibility to drill to the bottom of the ocean to get it. You use a varied array of weaponry to defend the milk mining machines and is a lot like classic shooters that you’d play in the arcades. The only difference: it’s all cats.
It might seem easy at first, but Aqua Kitty can be surprisingly challenging at points – sending players through endless swarms of enemies. With a co-op system, chip tune music, and various adorable kitty sprites, this is one of those games that is equal parts odd and extraordinary fun.
2. Sushi Cat
What can you say about Sushi Cat that hasn’t already been said in the title? The game is like Pachinko, which is very popular in Japan, and but this has a cat instead of a Pachinko ball: you drop a tubby little cat that feels no pain through various levels so he can eat as much sushi as possible. This game is simple and addictive. Not only that but it is a very calming game, you won’t get frustrated while playing.
All of the Sushi Cat games are free on Armor Games and they are worth playing at least once. Who knows, these games are so terribly addictive you might find yourself falling in love.
1. Claw
Claw is a game where you are a pirate cat, Captain Claw, who wants to find the treasure and avoid recapture by the Cocker Spaniards. No that’s not a typo, that’s the exact name for the enemies in the game. Puns aside, this game is high-flying action with sword fighting, exploring, and fluid in-game animations that rival even some of the best on the platform at the time. It’s one of those games where you feel really accomplished after you complete a level; you’ll feel like you’ve really achieved something.
Captain Claw himself is a great character, especially as a sort of villainous protagonist. Think of the Pirates of the Caribbean films… but with cats. While the voice acting and animation sync for the cutscenes might be laughably bad at times, this game and its fearsome feline captain makes it a game to remember.
With the popularity of cats on the internet, there will no doubt be some more games with cat protagonists coming our way. This is certainly not all of the games with a cat as the main protagonist but, these are certainly the most memorable.
