As someone who’s only ever had dogs, I’ve always been curious about what it’d be like to have a cat. I really like cats and I’d love to experience having my own feline friend one day, but my main fears have always been not knowing where it could go and what could happen to it if I let it walk around town on its own.
Through the years, I’ve befriended some neighbor cats who have come to visit my window quite a few times, but other than that, one of the closest ways I’ve had to experience the world of cats has been through video games.
I’ve curated a list of 10 cozy games that I think cat lovers would really appreciate, and perhaps even enjoy as much as cats enjoy catnip. So, let’s get to it!
1. Calico
Released: 2020 – Available on: Google Stadia, Mac, Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox On
In this game you take over a magical cat café and spend your time exploring the surrounding area, meeting animals, decorating, and inviting new furry friends to join you. There are a lot of activities to discover, from cooking and collecting ingredients to simply spending time with the animals.
You can pet the animals, pick them up, name them, watch them wander around, and even ride some of the larger ones. The game has a very relaxed pace and a colorful, whimsical aesthetic that’s very unique and makes it easy to just wander around and enjoy yourself. It’s a great pick if your ideal cozy game is completely stress-free and involves lots of animals to love.
2. Stray
Released: 2022 – Available on: Mac, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Explore a mysterious cyberpunk city as an adorable orange cat. In Stray, after becoming separated from your family, you’ll explore a strange underground world while trying to find your way back and uncover what happened.
The gameplay combines exploration, light platforming, puzzle-solving, and stealth, with plenty of opportunities to simply behave like a cat. You can scratch furniture, knock things off shelves, curl up for a nap, and interact with the robots that inhabit the city. In this futuristic place where humans are nowhere to be found, you’ll also have to run from meat-eating bugs every now and then, which leads to some intense but super fun sequences.
This is honestly my favorite game on this list, with fantastic graphics, a very entertaining adventure and plenty of sweet cat moments.
3. Cat Cafe Manager
Released: 2022 – Available on: Nintendo Switch, PC
In Cat Cafe Manager, you inherit a run-down café and set out to restore it while taking care of its feline residents. You’ll gather ingredients, prepare food and drinks, decorate the café, and recruit both cats and staff to help your business grow.
The cats are not just your friends, but also huge helpers when it comes to finding new ingredients. You’ll need to look after them and make sure they have a comfortable place to live while building relationships with customers and gradually improving the café. The management side is pretty satisfying, and the relaxed pace keeps it from feeling too stressful. Oh, and there’s a mystery in town that you may want to look into.
There’s also Cat Cafe Manager 2, which is currently in development and has a demo available. It seems to put an even bigger focus on the cats, so it’s definitely one to keep an eye on if you love the original concept.
4. Little Kitty, Big City
Released: 2024 – Available on: Mobile, Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
You play as a curious little cat who gets separated from home and explores a colorful city while trying to find your way back. It’s an open world with a lot to discover, and it lets you go at your own pace.
You’ll wander through neighborhoods, meet other animals, collect items, complete small tasks, and uncover all sorts of little secrets. You can also climb, sneak around, wear different hats, and generally cause the kind of harmless trouble you’d expect from a cat exploring somewhere it probably shouldn’t be.
The game is lighthearted and playful, with plenty of freedom to simply explore and interact with the world. It’s great if you’d like to actually play as a cat without committing to a more serious adventure like Stray.
5. Quilts & Cats of Calico
Released: 2024 – Available on: Mac, Mobile, Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
What could be cozier than making quilts while cats nap all over them? Quilts & Cats of Calico combines a relaxing-looking quilting theme with a lot of cats. The main gameplay is based on the Calico board game, where you’ll place colorful fabric pieces to create patterns and earn points, while adorable cats gradually make themselves comfortable on your creations.
It’s a very different experience from the other games on this list because the focus is more on puzzle and strategy gameplay than exploration or taking care of animals. The cats are still a huge part of its charm, though, and you can unlock different feline friends and watch them interact with the quilts.
The game lets you play solo or with friends in multiplayer mode, and it even has a full story mode you can play by yourself. It’s a great choice for cat lovers who enjoy quiet, thoughtful games with a cute aesthetic, especially if you also like board games or puzzle games.
6. Nekokami – The Human Restoration Project
Released: 2026 – Available on: PC
Nekokami is a cozy world-building game where you create small landscapes using tiles, in a far-future universe ruled by cats. You’ll place different types of terrain to develop a huge variety of habitats, while getting visited by the Kami (Japanese for God) Cats, who will wander around and interact with their surroundings.
The gameplay is very relaxed and lets you pick the level of challenge, which can be changed at any time. You can experiment with different combinations of tiles, discover new elements, and gradually build more detailed environments. The story is super charming, with lots of humor, whimsy, and adorable moments. You’ll meet a lot of cats with their own unique personalities and special abilities that will help you through your progress.
Nekokami is really good for those who enjoy tile-building games, but the interesting plot filled with super cute cats makes it even better. If you’re feeling creative and want a peaceful, low-pressure game with the cutest of feline friends, this one is definitely worth a look.
7. Cat Mail Co.
Released: 2026 – Available on: PC
You play as a cat who works at a post office, delivering mail to the locals and organizing and classifying packages based on their characteristics.
You can play solo or with friends in co-op mode, dividing the different tasks among the players. You’ll have fun marking the packages with stickers of your choice, talking to your customers, and progressing through the story.
It’s a lovely choice if you want something lighthearted and easygoing, especially if you enjoy management games that are relaxing and don’t take themselves too seriously. The combination of cats and a simple delivery job makes for a very wholesome little adventure.
8. Mineko’s Night Market
Released: 2023 – Available on: Mac, Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Mineko is a young girl who moves to a mysterious Japanese-inspired island where she meets the locals, crafts items, completes tasks, and eventually helps run the island’s lively night market.
One of the most important characters is Nikko, a mysterious Sun Cat who is treated almost like a local deity. You’ll also encounter plenty of cats and other animals while exploring the island and taking part in its various activities.
There’s a lot to do here, from crafting and gathering resources to playing minigames and preparing things to sell at the night market. It’s great if you’d enjoy a colorful, narrative-driven cozy adventure that includes rescuing and befriending a lot of adorable cats.
9. Copycat
Released: 2024 – Available on: Mac, PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
Copycat is a narrative adventure about a shelter cat who gets adopted into a new home. Before she even arrives at the house, she gets named Dawn by her owner, an older woman who seems to be struggling with health issues. After spending time getting used to her new place, Dawn finds herself caught up in a story about belonging, companionship, and what it means to have a home.
You’ll experience the story from Dawn’s perspective while exploring her surroundings and interacting with the people and animals around her. The gameplay is fairly simple and focuses more on exploration and the narrative than on complex mechanics, making it easy to settle into.
It’s an adventure that touches on some sensitive topics, so it’s not exactly the happiest of cozy rides, but it’s very good at conveying certain aspects from a cat’s perspective. It’s a good pick for when you’re craving a story-driven game with a more realistic, emotional side.
10. Cat Me If You Can
Released: 2026 – Available on: Nintendo Switch, PC
If you like hidden object games, you’re going to love this one. You’re in a black and white world where you’ll have to look around and find hidden cats and take pictures of them, which brings their color back.
Explore your surroundings as you travel through different locations and time periods, filling out a giant board that shows you how many you’ve found or have yet to find in each area.
The gameplay includes a lot of quests, puzzle-solving and over 700 cats, each one having their own name. You can customize the look of the game by choosing brighter or darker tones, or even sepia. Some cats will be easy to find, but there will also be some challenging ones that will have you looking for longer.
It’s a fun twist on classic hidden object games that are so abundant today. It also has very relaxing music and doesn’t pressure you in any way.
Bonus: Neko Atsume 2: Kitty Collector
Released: 2024 – Available on: iOS & Android
If you want something you can play on your phone, Neko Atsume 2 is the cutest thing you’ll find. You place food and toys in your yard, wait for cats to visit, and take pictures of the ones that stop by. The basic gameplay is pretty simple, and you can check in whenever you feel like it without having to commit to a long play session.
The sequel keeps the relaxing cat-collecting formula of the original but adds some new ways to interact with your feline visitors. You can customize your own cat, visit other players’ yards, and discover additional cats while exploring.
I actually played the original for about a year on my old phone, but I lost all my progress when I had to replace it. Neko Atsume 2 lets you keep your progress if you change devices, so that’s no longer an issue. I’m really happy to see the series continue, and if you want a low-pressure game that’s basically an excuse to collect virtual cats, this one is hard to resist.
