The 11 Best Games Like 'Stray'

Developed by Experiment 101 and published by THQ Nordic, Biomutant is a game that had somewhat of a turbulent release, with a bunch of bugs and gameplay mechanics that left players desiring more. Thankfully, the developers have been hard at work with it and it’s now a game that deserves praise. It’s similar in the sense that a lot of animals are present and there are puzzles, although the animals here are mutated.

For the cat lovers out there, Cat Quest is a no-brainer. The game is a top-down offering that takes place in Felingard and puts you in the paws of a cat that’s looking for his kidnapped sister. On the journey, you’ll come across real-time combat and dungeon crawling. Combat here is fun and can be adapted with skills. Think of this as a Legend of Zelda-like adventure with a cat at the helm. Once you've completed this one, be sure to hop on the sequel Cat Quest II.

Catlateral Damage: Remeowstered admittedly doesn’t have as much meat on the bone as Stray, but it’s a game that takes cat simulators to the next level. Anyone who has a cat knows that at any given moment, they’re prone to knock some of your belongings over, intentionally or not, and this game takes that to the next level. The goal is to be the most annoying cat possible, whether that means scratching at walls or breaking things.

If you weren’t around when Journey first got released, it’s hard to properly get across the reception it got at the time. It was the Game of the Year for multiple publications and became the fastest-selling game on the PlayStation Store at the time, for good reason. Some have picked it up today, over a decade later, and have not quite gotten what the hype is about, but Journey did so well. Like Stray, its premise is simple, but its execution of it is where the gold is. You play as someone who needs to reach a mountain, but everything along the way is really special.

Okami HD is the HD remaster of Okami, a game originally released in 2006. The art style here will be what pulls you in, but you’ll stay for everything. You play as the Shinto Sun Goddess Amaterasu, who takes the form of a white wolf. The game is set in a fictional version of classical Japan, the game sees you set out to defeat a demon named Orochi. This remaster of the game really brings the visuals to life in a way that wasn’t possible when the game first came out 17 years ago. This celebrated Capcom action/adventure gem is a viable option for gamers on the lookout for the best games like Stray.

For those of you who liked the platforming and puzzles of Stray, Ori and the Will of the Wisps offers that plus a whole lot more. It’s a 2D "Metroidvania" which puts emphasis on exploring and completing it by going back and completing things that were previously unlocked. You don’t play as a cat here, but instead a white guardian spirit, which is a nice upgrade. Before you hop into this quality platformer, check out its equally amazing predecessor Ori and the Blind Forest.

In the same way that Stray is a third-person adventure as a cat, Spirit of the North is a third-person adventure as a fox. After a fox collapses from exhaustion, it awakes with the powers of a spirit. Interestingly, the game contains no dialogue or narrative. Similarly to Stray though, there’s still a mystery to unpack and along the way, a bunch of environmental puzzles to work through. You'll leave Spirit of the North more than fulfilled once you've given it a chance in your pursuit of the best games like Stray.

The relationship between the cat and B-12 in Stray was without a doubt one of its strong points. If that was one of your favorite aspects of the game too, then try out The Last Guardian. Developed by Japan Studio and GenDesign, players control a boy who becomes friends with a half-bird, half-mammal creature known as Trico. The journey is great, but it’s truly going on the journey together that makes it so special. Prepare to shed a tear or two in this emotional adventure game that's a top candidate for fans of the best games like Stray.

Set in a post-apocalyptic future Tokyo, Tokyo Jungle is about being an animal and unpacking the mystery of where all humans have gone. There’s also a survival mode where you take control of an animal and must fight to survive against others for as long as possible. It’s a game that fans of Stray will be able to appreciate.

Like Stray, Tunic was released in 2022 and the central protagonist is an animal. You play as an anthropomorphic fox that goes on a journey to free a fox spirit that’s trapped in a crystal. Along your way, you have a manual that helps you to the next step of your journey. Combat is stamina-based and there are puzzles here, but the real fun is in the boss fights. This Legend of Zelda-inspired adventure with a fox in the main protagonist role should definitely appeal to gamers searching for the best games like Stray.

Last but not least is the Untitled Goose Game, a game that benefits from not taking itself too seriously. It’s about causing mischief as a goose in an English village and it comes with humor in its DNA. There are a bunch of ways to cause chaos in the game and they’re all fun. There’s a great co-op mode here where you and a friend can both be geese and cause mayhem to the townsfolk.