Anthropomorphic means giving something non-human the characteristics of a human. This can be physical appearance, like posture or wearing clothes, or behaviors such as talking and cooking. There is no end of literature and movies featuring anthropomorphic characters; a few that might immediately come to mind are Fantastic Mr. Fox or The Wind in the Willows. They also frequently appear in children’s films, especially those by Disney and Dreamworks.
Role-playing games, the fantasy genre in particular, are also no strangers to creating interesting figures. With their rich world-building comes a diverse range of mythical races, rarely excluding those that are animal-like. These are some of the best RPGs with anthropomorphic characters, from playable characters to NPCs to bosses.
This list does not include MMORPGs, although it is worth noting that many games in the genre also include anthropomorphic characters. A few notable examples are World of Warcraft and Guild Wars 2.
Related
Best RPG From Every Year Of The PS1’s Life
The PlayStation 1 featured a wide variety of quality RPGs, and these are the ones that stand out as the best releases for each year of its life.
10
Solatorobo: Red The Hunter
A World Where Everyone Is Dogs & Cats
- Released
-
October 28, 2010
Solatorobo: Red the Hunter is an action RPG for the Nintendo DS. The game takes place in a steampunk-esque world of floating islands inhabited by cats (“Felineko”) and dogs (“Caninu”), following the mercenary hunter, Red Savarin. The player must save the islands from being controlled by the evil Kurvas Guild, simultaneously uncovering Red’s own identity.
Solatorobo has a comprehensive story and well-developed characters that fit right into the aesthetic of the game. Although there are many RPG elements – leveling, puzzles, combat – it should be noted that it is a dialogue-heavy game, making it much slower paced than others in the genre.
9
Ghost Of A Tale
Follow A Small Mouse On A Big Adventure
- Platform: Windows, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch
- Released: March 13, 2018
- Developer: SeithCG
When thinking of a brave adventurer protagonist, a mouse is probably not the first figure that comes to mind. Ghost of a Tale completely ignores the stigma around rodents, giving the player control of a minstrel mouse, Tilo, trying to escape the clutch of the self-important rat army.
Unlike the majority of RPGs, there is no combat in Ghost of a Tale, instead encouraging players to use stealth and strategy. Tilo can level up by finding collectibles and can learn skills from NPCs. Overall, this is a charming indie game, with a dark fantasy atmosphere that is easy to immerse in.
8
Chrono Trigger
Travel Across Time To Save The World
After traveling into the future to find humanity almost entirely destroyed, the protagonists must go back in time to stop Lavos, the entity responsible for the eventual apocalypse. One notable anthropomorphic character is Frog, formerly a knight and a member of Crono’s party.
4:25
Related
The Best Modern-Day JRPGs, Ranked
Modern JRPG titles still definitely live up to older classics. Here’s a look at the best of the genre from the last few years.
If players earn enough tech points, they can unlock “Techs” to use in combat, which are special moves that cost magic points to perform. They can also time travel, each era coming with its own side quests and characters. While not the most extravagant plot, Chrono Trigger is a refreshingly simple yet effective RPG. There are twelve endings.
7
Pathfinder: Wrath Of The Righteous
An Isometric RPG With Diverse Gameplay
- Released
-
September 2, 2021
- Developer(s)
-
Owlcat Games
- OpenCritic Rating
-
Strong
Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous follows the player-character as they lead the Fifth Crusade against the demons traveling through a chasm called “the Worldwound” to wreak havoc on all those in their path. On the journey to figure out how to close the Worldwound, the player will also discover more about their own character and the source of their mythic powers.
Wrath of the Righteous has extensive character creation, with a range of classes, races (one of which being the fox-like “Kitsune”), and “Mythic Paths” to choose from, determining their abilities and playstyle. For gamers looking for an RPG to sink hundreds of hours into, this could be the one.
6
Divinity: Original Sin 2
One Of The Most Highly Praised RPGs Of All Time
- Released
-
September 14, 2017
- OpenCritic Rating
-
Mighty
Original Sin 2 is the fifth Divinity title, once again taking place in Rivellon – a medieval world overrun with dark, hostile monsters dubbed the “Voidwoken”. The player takes on the role of a Sourcerer who has been captured in order to remove their “Source” (ability to manipulate energy). After being rescued, they must embark on a journey to seal the Void.
Full of all the fantasy tropes – Gods, demons, magic, betrayal – and RPG systems such as turn-based combat, skill crafting, and different races (including lizards), Divinity: Original Sin quickly became critically acclaimed. The developer would later work on another classic: Baldur’s Gate 3.
5
Diablo 2: Resurrected
A New And Improved Sequel
-
OpenCritic
-
Top Critic Rating:
80/100
- Released
-
September 23, 2021
- Multiplayer
-
Online Co-Op
In Diablo 2, the player controls a hero following the Dark Wanderer, a warrior corrupted by the demon Diablo, to find the source of the demon infestation. The remastered version, Resurrection, keeps the same story but introduced 3D models, improved cutscenes, and an upgraded skill point system.
Related
Best Games Set In Hell, Ranked
Be it a literal or symbolic representation of Hell, these games take players on a journey to explore the depths of the infernal plane.
Players may or may not be familiar with the “Secret Cow Level” – an Easter egg level (referencing a false rumor about the original Diablo) that can only be unlocked after completing the game. In this level, they must battle hostile bipedal cows and kill the Cow King in a fun, optional side-quest.
4
The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild
A Wonderfully Stylized Pioneer Of Open-World Games
- Released
-
March 3, 2017
- Developer(s)
-
Nintendo EPD
- OpenCritic Rating
-
Mighty
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is the seventeenth game (by release) in the franchise. The player follows Link as he explores Hyrule to defeat Ganon and rescue Zelda. Among the interesting characters inhabiting the weird and wonderful world are the Rito, a bird race, and the Zora, a fish race – both communities having their own quests.
Breath of the Wild marked a move into open-world games for Nintendo, allowing players to explore freely and complete (or not) puzzles and side quests as they please. The game was so pivotal that it influenced the development of proceeding open-world RPGs such as Halo Infinite and Ghost of Tsushima.
3
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
Re-imagines The PS1 Classic
- Released
-
February 29, 2024
- OpenCritic Rating
-
Mighty
The Final Fantasy franchise boasts upwards of 100 titles, including spin-offs and remakes. Final Fantasy 7 is part of the main series, with Remake and Rebirth being the first two parts of a re-imagining of the original game. The latter continues to follow Cloud on a mission to defeat Sephiroth, who is attempting to become a god, in the process damaging the Planet.
Alongside stunning environments and a diverse open-world are a number of compelling anthropomorphic characters, including the lion-esque King of the Forest, Red XIII, and the fortune-teller robot cat, Cait Sith. Both can be recruited as part of the player’s party.
2
Skyrim
A Timeless Fan-Favorite
- Released
-
November 11, 2011
- Developer(s)
-
Bethesda Game Studios
- OpenCritic Rating
-
Strong
Of course, players can’t forget about Skyrim. Despite being a relatively old RPG in a climate of increasing game standards, it still holds up today as a well-rounded experience. Players can follow the main questline to defeat Alduin and become the Dragonborn, see an end to the ongoing civil war, or simply wander the landscape at leisure.
8:53
Related
Skyrim: Every Playable Race From Worst To Best
From the sturdy, powerful Orc to the quick and stealthy Wood Elf (Bosmer), every playable race in Skyrim is very different.
The Elder Scrolls franchise as a whole has extensive historical and political lore, with the majority of characters having some level of backstory. Players will undoubtedly encounter the cat-like ware-peddling Khajiit, and the swamp-dwelling amphibian Argonians, both of which are also playable races. Overall, Skyrim has appeal for all kinds of gamers and is a must-play RPG.
These anthropomorphic races also appear in other Elder Scrolls games such as Oblivion and Morrowind.
1
Elden Ring
How One Collaboration Turned Into One Of The Most Epic Gaming Titles
- Released
-
February 25, 2022
- Multiplayer
-
Online Co-Op
, Online Multiplayer - OpenCritic Rating
-
Mighty
Upon its release in 2022, Elden Ring took the gaming world by storm, quickly blowing up as one of the best-selling video games of all time. A collaboration between the Dark Souls developer FromSoftware and author of A Game of Thrones, George R. R. Martin, the game was unsurprisingly a huge success in terms of world-building, narrative, and gameplay.
There is no shortage of fantastic character designs in Elden Ring, from epic bosses to passing NPCs, it will come as no shock that some of them happen to be anthropomorphic. On example is Blaidd, a half-man half-wolf that can be killed for his armor. Boc the Seamster is also a rat-like demi-human who will alter armor for free if helped.
More
Simulator Games Where You Are An Animal
Players who enjoy exploring the day in the life of an animal may want to consider the following simulators.