--- title: "Cozy games where you play as an animal (2026) | A Short Sail" description: "Cozy PC games where you play as an animal: a bird in A Short Hike, a gator, a goose, a dog, a bear, a duck, a fox and more. Cats have their own list." url: https://ashortsail.com/blog/cozy-games-where-you-play-as-an-animal/ published: 2026-08-12 updated: 2026-10-31 author: "Yos Riady" image: https://ashortsail.com/og/blog/cozy-games-where-you-play-as-an-animal.jpg --- # Cozy games where you play as an animal (2026) Cozy PC games where you play as an animal: a bird in A Short Hike, a gator, a goose, a dog, a bear, a duck, a fox and more. Cats have their own list. By [Yos Riady](https://ashortsail.com/authors/yos-riady/) · Published 12 August 2026 · **Updated October 2026** The best cozy games where you play as an animal are **A Short Hike** (a young bird), **Lil Gator Game** (a gator) and **Chicory: A Colorful Tale** (a dog with a magic brush). For something sillier, play **Untitled Goose Game**. If you want to be a cat, we have [a whole list of cozy cat games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/cozy-cat-games/). We checked every game on October 29, 2026. ![The cat sails the little boat at dawn, past tall sea stacks and a rock arch under a pink sky.](https://ashortsail.com/_astro/34-sail-dawn.DB6H-LL0_1T71bk.jpg) Featured · our own game ## Our pick: A Short Sail (we made it) We make this one. It is in the list below too, marked as ours, so you can weigh it next to the others. It is a cozy sailing game: you are a little tabby cat with a sailboat, delivering mail, fishing and making friends, alone or online with friends. There are no timers, and the only battles are gentle ones at sea. Coming in Q1 2027. Free demo in your browser at play.ashortsail.com. Windows, Mac, Web and Steam Deck. [See the game](https://ashortsail.com/) [Play the free demo](https://play.ashortsail.com/) ## At a glance | Game | Best for | Length | Platforms | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [A Short Hike](https://ashortsail.com/blog/cozy-games-where-you-play-as-an-animal/#a-short-hike) | Anyone who wants a perfect, short animal adventure | About 1.5 hours (HowLongToBeat) | PC, Mac, Linux, Switch, PS4, Xbox One | | [Lil Gator Game](https://ashortsail.com/blog/cozy-games-where-you-play-as-an-animal/#lil-gator-game) | Players who want A Short Hike with more to do | About 3 hours (HowLongToBeat) | PC, Switch, PlayStation, Xbox | | [Chicory: A Colorful Tale](https://ashortsail.com/blog/cozy-games-where-you-play-as-an-animal/#chicory-a-colorful-tale) | Players who want a warm story and a world to paint | About 9 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | PC, Mac, Switch, PS4, PS5 | | [Untitled Goose Game](https://ashortsail.com/blog/cozy-games-where-you-play-as-an-animal/#untitled-goose-game) | Anyone who wants to laugh | About 3 hours (HowLongToBeat) | PC, Mac, Switch, PS4, Xbox One | | [Bear and Breakfast](https://ashortsail.com/blog/cozy-games-where-you-play-as-an-animal/#bear-and-breakfast) | Players who want a laid-back management game with a big furry boss | About 22 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | PC | | [A Short Sail](https://ashortsail.com/blog/cozy-games-where-you-play-as-an-animal/#a-short-sail) | Players who want to be a cat and meet a whole cast of animal islanders | Not shared yet | PC (Windows), Mac, Web, Steam Deck | | [Duck Detective: The Secret Salami](https://ashortsail.com/blog/cozy-games-where-you-play-as-an-animal/#duck-detective-the-secret-salami) | Players who want a short, funny mystery | About 2 hours (HowLongToBeat) | PC, Mac, Linux | | [Webfishing](https://ashortsail.com/blog/cozy-games-where-you-play-as-an-animal/#webfishing) | Friends who want to hang out as animals | Open-ended | PC | | [Lost Ember](https://ashortsail.com/blog/cozy-games-where-you-play-as-an-animal/#lost-ember) | Players who want to be many animals in one game | About 4 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch | | [Spirit of the North](https://ashortsail.com/blog/cozy-games-where-you-play-as-an-animal/#spirit-of-the-north) | Players who want a wordless walk through beautiful places | About 5 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | PC, Switch, PS4, PS5 | | [Night in the Woods](https://ashortsail.com/blog/cozy-games-where-you-play-as-an-animal/#night-in-the-woods) | Players who want a funny, sharp story and are ready for hard themes | About 9 hours (HowLongToBeat) | PC, Mac, Linux, Switch, PS4, Xbox One | Lengths are main-story times from HowLongToBeat or player estimates, checked 31 October 2026. ## Our picks - **Best first pick:** A Short Hike (a bird) - **Most playful:** Lil Gator Game (a gator) - **Best story:** Chicory: A Colorful Tale (a dog) - **Funniest:** Untitled Goose Game (a goose) - **Best management game:** Bear and Breakfast (a bear) - **Shortest:** Duck Detective: The Secret Salami (a duck) - **Best with friends:** Webfishing (a cat or a dog) - **Most animals in one game:** Lost Ember (a wolf, and many more) - **For cats:** see [cozy cat games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/cozy-cat-games/) - **Our own game:** [A Short Sail](https://ashortsail.com/) (in development; you are a tabby cat) ## Why it feels good to be an animal Playing as an animal takes the weight off. A bird does not worry about rent. A goose does not care what anyone thinks. Small animal heroes also make the world feel big and new, and they let a game be silly or tender without feeling heavy. This list covers every kind of animal except one. **Cats** are so popular that they have their own page: our [cozy cat games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/cozy-cat-games/) list has Little Kitty, Big City, Stray and more. Below, we start with gentle adventures, then funny games, then quiet journeys, and end with one game whose story is heavier than it looks. ## Gentle adventures ### A Short Hike **Who it is for:** anyone who wants a perfect, short animal adventure. You are Claire, a young bird spending the summer at an island park. You want to reach the top of the mountain, so you climb, glide, fish and help the other animals you meet. There are no enemies at all. More in [games like A Short Hike](https://ashortsail.com/blog/games-like-a-short-hike/). The downside: it is very short. Most players see the end in an evening. *Developer: adamgryu | Year: 2019 | Platforms: PC, Mac, Linux, Switch, PS4, Xbox One | Length: about 1.5 hours (HowLongToBeat) | Steam Deck: Verified* | [Steam page](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1055540/) ### Lil Gator Game **Who it is for:** players who want A Short Hike with more to do. You are a little gator who wants to play pretend with a busy older sister. You climb, swim and glide around an island, and you help the other kids with their games. You whack cardboard “baddies,” but there is no health bar and no game over. More in [games like Lil Gator Game](https://ashortsail.com/blog/games-like-lil-gator-game/). The downside: it is short, and the cardboard fights may feel odd if you want no fighting at all. *Developer: MegaWobble | Year: 2022 | Platforms: PC, Switch, PlayStation, Xbox | Length: about 3 hours (HowLongToBeat) | Steam Deck: Verified* | [Steam page](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1586800/) ### Chicory: A Colorful Tale **Who it is for:** players who want a warm story and a world to paint. You are a dog, named after your favorite food (or “Pizza” if you skip it). You find a giant magic brush in a world that has lost its color, and you paint anything you like as you explore, solve puzzles and make friends. The story is kind and deals with self-doubt and feeling not good enough. The downside: the boss fights are the only combat, and some reviewers found them jarring after the calm puzzles. There is an option to skip them. *Developer: Greg Lobanov, Wishes Ultd. | Year: 2021 | Platforms: PC, Mac, Switch, PS4, PS5 | Length: about 9 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | Steam Deck: Verified* | [Steam page](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1123450/) ### Bear and Breakfast **Who it is for:** players who want a laid-back management game with a big furry boss. You are Hank, a bear who finds an old shack in the woods and turns it into a bed and breakfast. You build rooms, decorate, cook and look after human guests, then open more places around the forest. The store calls it a laid-back management adventure. The downside: it is mostly building and managing. If you want an adventure first, pick one of the others. *Developer: Gummy Cat | Year: 2022 | Platforms: PC | Length: about 22 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | Steam Deck: Verified* | [Steam page](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1136370/) ### A Short Sail **Who it is for:** players who want to be a cat and meet a whole cast of animal islanders. A Short Sail is a cozy sailing game where you are a little tabby cat with a sailboat. You deliver mail, fish by day and by night, and make friends with the islanders, such as Ines the rabbit and Pip the pelican. In online play you pick your own animal. There is no fighting on foot, only gentle sea battles against storms and living waves. It comes to Steam and itch.io in Q1 2027, and you can [play the free demo](https://play.ashortsail.com/) in your browser now. *Developer: Yos Riady | Platforms: PC (Windows), Mac, Web, Steam Deck | Length: not shared yet | Free demo at play.ashortsail.com* | [Play the demo](https://play.ashortsail.com/) ## Funny animal games ### Untitled Goose Game **Who it is for:** anyone who wants to laugh. “It’s a lovely morning in the village and you are a horrible goose.” You sneak into gardens and shops, steal things, honk, and ruin everyone’s day from a short to-do list of pranks. There is also a two-player mode where you are two geese. No one gets hurt, but the villagers chase you to get their things back. The downside: it is a light stealth game, so some tasks take a few tries, and it is short. *Developer: House House | Year: 2019 | Platforms: PC, Mac, Switch, PS4, Xbox One | Length: about 3 hours (HowLongToBeat) | Steam Deck: Verified* | [Steam page](https://store.steampowered.com/app/837470/) ### Duck Detective: The Secret Salami **Who it is for:** players who want a short, funny mystery. You are a down-on-his-luck detective who also happens to be a duck. You inspect evidence, fill in the blanks of your theory and bust each case wide open. The jokes and duck puns land well. There is a sequel, Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping. More in [cozy mystery games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/cozy-mystery-games-pc/). The downside: it is about 2 hours long, so it is one evening. *Developer: Happy Broccoli Games | Year: 2024 | Platforms: PC, Mac, Linux | Length: about 2 hours (HowLongToBeat) | Steam Deck: Verified* | [Steam page](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2637990/) ### Webfishing **Who it is for:** friends who want to hang out as animals. Webfishing is an online chatroom with fishing. You make a cat or a dog, then fish, chat, play and goof around with other players. You can buy new clothes and looks with the money from your fish. More in [games like Webfishing](https://ashortsail.com/blog/games-like-webfishing/). The downside: there are only two animals to pick from, and the fun depends on the people you meet. *Developer: lamedeveloper | Year: 2024 | Platforms: PC | Length: open-ended | Steam Deck: Playable* | [Steam page](https://store.steampowered.com/app/3146520/) ## Quiet journeys ### Lost Ember **Who it is for:** players who want to be many animals in one game. You are a wolf who can take over other animals. You fly as a bird, swim as a fish and dig underground as a mole to explore the remains of an ancient world, with a spirit guide by your side. Reviewers found it very relaxing. The downside: the story is simple, and some reviewers mention floaty controls and freezes. Check the latest reviews first. *Developer: Mooneye Studios | Year: 2019 | Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch | Length: about 4 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | Steam Deck: Verified* | [Steam page](https://store.steampowered.com/app/563840/) ### Spirit of the North **Who it is for:** players who want a wordless walk through beautiful places. You are an ordinary red fox who becomes linked with a guardian spirit of the Northern Lights. You travel through landscapes inspired by Iceland and solve puzzles in the world. There is no combat and no talking. The downside: reviewers call the platforming and camera clumsy, and it is not always clear where to go next. *Developer: Infuse Studio | Year: 2020 | Platforms: PC, Switch, PS4, PS5 | Length: about 5 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | Steam Deck: Verified* | [Steam page](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1213700/) ## Watch out: an animal game with a heavy story ### Night in the Woods **Who it is for:** players who want a funny, sharp story and are ready for hard themes. You are Mae, a cat who drops out of college and comes home to her small, struggling town. You hang out with friends, play in a band and wander the rooftops. It is very funny and very well written. The downside: it is not a light game. It deals with mental health and a dying town, and it gets dark. More in [cozy but dark games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/cozy-but-dark-games/). *Developer: Infinite Fall | Year: 2017 | Platforms: PC, Mac, Linux, Switch, PS4, Xbox One | Length: about 9 hours (HowLongToBeat) | Steam Deck: Verified* | [Steam page](https://store.steampowered.com/app/481510/) ## Related guides - [Cozy cat games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/cozy-cat-games/) - [Games like Little Kitty, Big City](https://ashortsail.com/blog/games-like-little-kitty-big-city/) - [Games like A Short Hike](https://ashortsail.com/blog/games-like-a-short-hike/) - [Games like Lil Gator Game](https://ashortsail.com/blog/games-like-lil-gator-game/) - [Cozy PC games for kids](https://ashortsail.com/blog/cozy-pc-games-for-kids/) - [Short cozy games for a weekend](https://ashortsail.com/blog/short-cozy-games-for-a-weekend/) ## Questions ### What is the best cozy game where you play as an animal? A Short Hike. You are Claire, a young bird, climbing and gliding around an island park. There are no enemies, and it takes about 1.5 hours. ### What cozy game lets you play as a dog? Chicory: A Colorful Tale. You are a dog who finds a giant magic brush and paints a black-and-white world. Webfishing also lets you be a cat or a dog. ### Is there a cozy game where you play as a bear? Yes. In Bear and Breakfast you are Hank, a bear who builds and runs a bed and breakfast in the woods. ### What is a game where you can become many animals? Lost Ember. You are a wolf who can take over other animals, such as birds, fish and a mole, to explore the ruins of an old world. ### What are the best cat games? Little Kitty, Big City is our top pick for being a cat. See our full list of cozy cat games for more. - [cozy games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/cozy-games/) - [relaxing games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/relaxing-games/) - [indie games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/indie-games/) - [game lists](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/game-lists/) **Written by [Yos Riady](https://ashortsail.com/authors/yos-riady/)** Yos Riady is the solo developer making A Short Sail, a cozy sailing game. ## Related guides - 15 Dec 2026 ### [How cozy gamers use cozy games, and when they stop](https://ashortsail.com/blog/how-cozy-gamers-use-cozy-games/) How do cozy gamers use cozy games? Two player studies on when people play, how long, how they feel after, the habits that keep it healthy, and why they stop. - [cozy games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/cozy-games/) - [relaxing games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/relaxing-games/) - [indie games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/indie-games/) - 14 Dec 2026 ### [Why we unwind by working in cozy job games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/why-we-unwind-by-working/) Why do tired people relax by farming, cleaning or running a cafe in a game? What research says about cozy job games, routine and the pull to be productive. - [cozy games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/cozy-games/) - [game design](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/game-design/) - [relaxing games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/relaxing-games/) - [indie games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/indie-games/) - 7 Dec 2026 ### [Best upcoming cozy games of 2027: 10 to watch](https://ashortsail.com/blog/best-upcoming-cozy-games-2027/) The 10 most promising cozy games due in 2027, by kind: life sims, seaside games, puzzles and small odd ones. Release windows from each Steam page. - [cozy games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/cozy-games/) - [game lists](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/game-lists/) - [indie games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/indie-games/) - [pc games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/pc-games/) - [relaxing games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/relaxing-games/) ## A Short Sail The cozy sailing game with a cat. Coming soon to Steam and [itch.io](https://yosriady.itch.io/a-short-sail) [Play the free demo](https://play.ashortsail.com/) [Get updates](https://ashortsail.com/blog/cozy-games-where-you-play-as-an-animal/#newsletter)