For players looking for unique perspectives, recent indie titles have leaned into the challenge of simulating life from the viewpoint of non-human creatures. Whether you are seeking the chaotic antics of Untitled Goose Game or the atmospheric exploration of Stray, these games offer a departure from traditional human-centric protagonists.

Quick Facts

  • Untitled Goose Game: Developed by House House and published by Panic, this puzzle-stealth game puts players in control of a mischievous goose.
  • Stray: Developed by BlueTwelve Studio and published by Annapurna Interactive, this adventure title is set in a neon-lit, dystopian city inspired by Kowloon Walled City.
  • Platform Variety: Both titles are available on modern platforms, with Stray utilizing Unreal Engine 4 and Untitled Goose Game built on Unity.

Untitled Goose Game: Embracing the Chaos

Released on September 20, 2019, Untitled Goose Game remains a standout for its commitment to a simple premise: being an "avian menace." The game focuses on pulling pranks and causing mayhem for the residents of a small town. Its success led to a Game of the Year win at the 2019 D.I.C.E. Awards and the subsequent addition of a co-op mode, allowing two players to terrorize the neighborhood simultaneously.

Stray: Dystopian Exploration

Stray, which launched on July 19, 2022, moves beyond the standard "pet simulator" by placing a cat in a densely packed, dystopian urban environment. The game emphasizes traversal, platforming, and puzzle-solving. It is noted for its attention to feline behaviors—such as scratching furniture and curling up for naps—while maintaining a narrative grounded in a setting inspired by Hong Kong's Kowloon Walled City.

Other Notable Animal-Protagonist Games

The indie space continues to experiment with animal perspectives. Other titles worth considering include:

  • Maneater: An open-world action RPG where you play as a shark, evolving and growing while traversing the ocean.
  • Octodad: Dadliest Catch: A physics-based adventure where you control an octopus attempting to live a normal life as a suburban human father.
  • Squirrel With a Gun: A third-person shooter developed by Dee Dee Creations LLC that features a squirrel utilizing human-sized firearms.
  • Catlateral Damage Remeowstered: A first-person simulator focused on causing destruction within a household.
  • Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey: A survival game that tasks players with guiding an early hominid lineage through prehistoric environments.
  • Another Crab's Treasure: A "soulslike" adventure featuring a hermit crab on a quest to reclaim his shell from a loan shark.
  • Spider: The Video Game: A 1997 platformer featuring a robotic spider inhabited by a human mind.
  • Goat Simulator 3: A sandbox game that continues the series' tradition of destructive, physics-based mayhem with a humorous tone.