Furry games have existed about as long as video games themselves. They seem to go together like peanut butter and jelly and date back as far as the 90s on the Nintendo 64 and I think it’s safe to say they aren’t going anywhere. With indie developers and game companies receiving more support in recent years than ever before, it looks like furry games are here to stay, so let’s take a look at some of the best furry games that you have to try.
6. Starfox 64
Let’s kick this off with an OG pick. The grandfather of furry games if you will. If you don’t already know, Starfox 64 is a classic 1997 3D shoot ‘em up for the Nintendo 64. You play as the appropriately named Fox McCloud who is, as you could probably guess, a fox. This isn’t just any fox, this is a galaxy-traversing, starship-piloting, barrel-rolling fox who is sent to investigate a biological attack on planet Corneria.
A lot of the gameplay revolves around what is described as rail-shooter mechanics. This essentially means that the player is propelled forwards on a straight path in a narrow space, forced to shoot at whatever is in front of it. If you’ve played other games like Exodemic then Starfox 64 might be right up your alley.
Starfox 64 Game Cover
Image by Nintendo via Nintendo
In this absolutely gorgeous, hand-painted, 2013, 2D Action-RPG you play as a Dust a warmblood (I’m unsure if this is a fictional creature of the horse) wielding the mystical Blade of Ahrah as you explore the expansive depths of forestry, caves, caverns, castles, mountains, valleys fighting against the forces of nature on a mission to discover your true identity. This game is rich in colour and personality, reminiscent of Hollow Knight, packed with a cast of unique characters and quests.
As for the gameplay, this game is at times a serene experience, simply walking through the vast hand-crafted landscapes, interacting with the cast of amazing characters is a whimsical treat. Other times it is a high-octane, hack and slashing bloodbath of juggling a million enemies in the air at the same time all while you bounce off a wall and feel like a total badass. If you’re into games like Hollow Knight or Ori and the Blind Forest, this game is an absolute treasure which you must check out.
Dust: An Elysian Tale Cover Art
Image by Nintendo via Nintendo
Now this is a pretty cool one if you’re looking for some furry games to play with friends. Rivals of Aether is a 2D platform fighter, much like that of Brawlhalla or more commonly Super Smash Bros. It’s got a whole roster of furry characters including a fiery lion, a very happy orca, an elemental goat, a fighting frog and several other cool characters. This game also is designed with this awesome pixel art charm that I personally love to see in any 2D platformer and probably the best part about this game is its soundtrack. The Rival of Aether soundtrack is just a retro, chiptune heaven that makes the player feel like the year is 1994 and they’re about to put some coins into that glowing, neon-lit arcade booth to kick the ass of the kid standing next to them. Long story short, if you’re looking for a fun party game to play with friends, look not further than Rivals of Aether, and with a sequel in the works it looks like the fun is only just beginning.
Rivals of Aether Home Banner
Image by Rivals of Aether
This is one for you masochists out there, because if you’ve been looking for rage-inducing difficulty in the form of a furry game, Darkmaus is the game for you. It gets its name from the now infamous Dark Souls series and is a top-down action, RPG and much like Dark Souls, it prides itself on its crushingly skill based combat. The art is super minimalist as most of the game plays out in a gritty beige and black colour palette as you trudge from area to area with a scrape of health to spare as a little black mouse. However, it’s not all doom and gloom as the combat system rewards those who are willing to persevere with the never-ending frustration, with a feeling of invulnerability, as they dash from target to target, parrying each attack and countering perfectly. This is not a game for the faint of heart but a gem for those who can look past the grief it may bring them.
Darkmaus Gameplay Screenshot
Screenshot by Steam
2. Banjo-Kazooie
Like Starfox 64, this is another one of the classics. If you don’t already know, Banjo-Kazooie is a 3D platforming, puzzle game where you play as both Banjo the bear and Kazooie the bird at the same time. Banjo carries Kazooie around in a backpack that gives him the ability to fly, double jump, shoot eggs and most importantly, peck his enemies. Together you fight against the forces of Gruntilda the witch to free your friend tooty. You travel through a variety of different stages each with their own absolute banger of a theme song like the chirping, seasonal jingle bells of Freezy Peaks or the upbeat calypso of Treasure Trove Cove each stage has its own visual and audio charm. Each stage also has its own enemies specific to that level like the crocodiles of Bubble Gloop Swamp or the borderline unkillable mummies of the sandy, pyramid ridden Gobi’s Valley. If you haven’t had the pleasure of playing this game yet, it has been remastered about a million times for several different consoles and it is definitely worth the purchase.
Banjo-Kazooie Original Box Cover
Image by Banjo-Kazooie Wiki
1. Ori and The Blind Forest
Although we briefly mentioned it before, if you have had a chance to play this game at all, then you probably knew that it was going to be impossible to make this list without mentioning Ori and The Blind Forest. There is no other way to describe this game than just beautiful. Every single thing from this game’s art, to its soundtrack, to its freedom to let the player explore in this 2D platforming world is just absolutely beautiful. Despite not even being that old, Ori and The Blind Forest just evokes some sort of child-like nostalgia whenever you load it up from just the angelic vocal harmonies and piano alone. You play as Ori, a white guardian spirit, in an ever expanding non-linear world that encourages the player to backtrack to previously inaccessible areas of the map and explore further. You go through a world of a slowly withering forest that was once a flourishing Eden-like home to all different types of wildlife. It is your job to restore the forest back to its prior health.
Ori And The Blind Forest Cover Art
Image by XBOX
