../explore/games/creatures

Pets & Creatures

I strongly believe that my continuing interest in biology was greatly influenced by the kinds of games I played growing up. Time spent with games like Pikmin, Cubivore, and Petz nurtured a growing interest in the natural world and the diversity of life found in it. For that reason, I've compiled this list of games, many of which I have played, and others that have been recommended to me.

For an older list of virtual pets and similar things, check out Computer Critters.

Petz

PC (series)

Raise Dogz and Catz to adulthood, care for them and teach them tricks. Features a robust breeding system and modding community.

Nintendogs + Cats

Nintendo DS & Switch (series)

Raise puppies & kittens, play & teach tricks, take them on walks, and compete in agility and obedience competitions.

Wobbledogs

PC

Raise & breed unique creatures called Wobbledogs into increasingly strange forms.

Creatures

PC & PS1 (series)

A simulation game with very robust AI, allowing you to raise, teach, and breed creatures called Norns, while exploring the world they live in.

The Sims: Pets

PC & Various Systems (series)

Create and raise human and animal families and develop their relationships.

Viva Piñata

XB360 & PC

Find, sell, breed, and raise various kinds of piñatas. Maintain a farm where they can grow.

Slime Rancher

Various Systems (series)

Collect, raise, and combine slimes.

Sonic (Chao Raising Minigame)

Various Systems (series)

Some Sonic games (notably Sonic Adventure 2) feature a minigame where you can raise creatures known as 'Chaos'.

Zoo Tycoon

PC & DS (series)

Build and manage a zoo.

Planet Zoo

PC

Successor to Zoo Tycoon, much more detailed and in depth.

Plant Tycoon

PC

Breed & sell plants and collect bugs.

Fish Tycoon

PC & DS

Breed & sell fish.

Amazing Island

Gamecube

Create monsters by drawing them and collecting parts and accessories, and compete in minigames.

Magic Pengel

PS2

Create hand-drawn monsters to fight in competitions, and follow an interesting story.

Monster Rancher

PS1 & PS2 (series)

Raise and train monsters to fight in competitions.

Pikmin

Nintendo Systems (series)

Direct creatures called 'pikmin' to fight monsters and obtain treasure and resources on an alternate Earth.

Megami Tensei

Various Systems (series)

RPG series involving commanding monsters in battles.

Monster Hunter Stories

3DS

A departure from typical Monster Hunter series gameplay, Stories allows you to train, ride, and fight alongside monsters.

Monster Crown

PC

Collect and raise monsters.

Pokémon

Nintendo Systems (series)

Long running series of monster collecting RPGs.

Digimon

Various Systems (series)

Monster collecting series spawned from tamagotchi-like devices.

Tamagotchi

Handheld

A toy that lets you raise a digital pet, which can grow into many different forms depending on your care.

Hey You, Pikachu!

N64

Talk to Pikachu, form a bond, and explore.

Pocket Dogs

GBA

Care for a virtual dog. Features real photos of dogs rather than graphics.

Neko Atsume

Mobile

Set up a virtual backyard so that cats will come to visit you.

Catz

Java

Adopt and care for a virtual cat.

Shimeji

PC

Not a game, but a program that lets a character run around on your desktop. Many custom versions exist.

MOPy fish

PC

Downloadable cyberpet with ai and memory.

Seaman

Dreamcast

Raise a talking fish with a human face.

Fin Fin on Teo the Magic Planet

PC

Talk to and interact with a creature called Fin Fin.

The Endless Forest

PC

Peaceful multiplayer game where players are deer with humanlike faces.

WolfQuest

PC

Wildlife simluation game that allows you to experience life as a wolf. Originally developed by the Minnesota Zoo as an educational tool.

Everblue

PS2 (series)

Take on the role of a scuba diver and explore marine environments while learning about their inhabitants.

Endless Ocean

Wii (series)

Relaxing, nonlinear scuba exploration game that allows you to learn about marine inhabitants. Spiritual successor to Everblue.

ABZÛ

PC, PS4, XBOne, Switch

A short, experiential game with a fantastic atmosphere and soundtrack.

In Other Waters

PC, Switch

Text and UI-based exploration RPG with a story focused on speculative biology and sci-fi.

Subnautica

PC, PS4, XBOne, Switch (series)

Open-world survival & exploration on an alien planet.

Cubivore

Gamecube

Eat other beasts and evolve into new forms to bring wilderness back to the world.

Finny the Fish & the Seven Waters

PS2

An action-adventure game where you fight and eat other fish.

Bugsnax

Various Systems

Collect and photograph edible creatures known as 'Bugsnax' while solving a mystery.

Pokémon Snap

Nintendo Systems (series)

Photograph pokémon in natural settings, and solve environmental puzzles to take photos of unique events.

Untitled Goose Game

Various Systems

It's a lovely morning in the village, and you are a horrible goose.

Spore

PC & Handheld (series)

Guide a species through evolution from a single celled organism to a space-faring civilization.

Impossible Creatures

PC

A real time strategy game where you create animal hybrids to fight for you. Features a story mode.

Black & White

PC (series)

Take on the role of the god of a civilization and train a powerful creature to do your bidding.

Animal Crossing

Nintendo Systems (series)

Move into a town of animal villagers and live your life. Decorate your home, catch bugs and fish, make friends with villagers, and more.

Stardew Valley

Various Systems

Inherit a farm and grow craps, raise livestock, go fishing, form relationships, explore caves, fight monsters, and much more.

Darwin Pond

PC

Simulate evolution in a primordial puddle.