Most RPGs have human main characters, but these few stand out by using non-human main characters in clever ways.
Characters that look like people run video games. In most types of fiction, they are the main characters, which makes sense. As people, we can connect more to figures like Nathan Drake in the Uncharted games or Lara Croft in the Tomb Raider games.
The main exception is the type of platformers. Lots of animals that look like people, like Sonic the Hedgehog and Crash Bandicoot, are the stars of those games. Surely there are some other examples besides platform games? Are there RPGs with animal characters or just humans who aren’t the most basic? It’s not likely to happen, but it has. Take a look at some old favorites and new hits.
Biomutant
Biomutant is an open world game set after the end of the world. After the end of the world, Biomutant is very different from other RPGs like Fallout because it has a beautiful world. The Earth has mostly been taken back by trees, but there are still some dangerous chemical zones.
Also, there are no humans to be seen, and animals that look like people now rule the world. You play as an unnamed little creature that is fully armed with guns, magic-like powers, and mechanical parts.
Bug Fables: The Everlasting Sapling
A self-made game called Bug Fables: The Everlasting Sapling seems to have been influenced by the Mario RPG spinoffs. Players go on a big trip with three big friends who are all out for their own reasons around a small world.
This turn-based RPG has button prompts that change based on time to make battle a little more interesting. For instance, players can get more power from their hits if they time them right. The same is true for defense moves. For some reason, this active way of fighting was first seen in Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars on the SNES and hasn’t been used in many other RPGs.
Dust: An Elysian Tail
Dust: An Elysian Tail is a Metroidvania game at its core, but its gameplay is very like Devil May Cry’s. As a player, you control a traveling fighter that looks like a fox and is helped by a flying soft cat-like creature. They want to get even, and the story is pretty dark for a game that looks so bright.
In most games, players level up by beating enemies, but there are other ways to get stronger as well. This independent game looks like it was made by and for Furry people, but it’s more than that. Don’t be afraid to try this.
Final Fantasy 14
In Final Fantasy 14, the character maker menu lets you pick from a lot of different races. As an easy choice, players could become a Hyur, which is just like a person. They look a lot like the races in Final Fantasy 11. There are four more races to choose from.
Miqo’te look like cats, Elezen like elves, Lalafell like little elves, and Roegadyn look like big beasts or the Hulk. Picking a race will give players benefits over other races, like score boosts, and they may be treated differently in some parts of the world.
Ni No Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdom
Ni no Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdom was different from the first game, which had turn-based battles that were affected by Pokémon. Even though fights still happened in instanced areas, the fighting system wasn’t based on actions.
Players were a young prince named Evan who liked cats but looked like a person except for his ears and tail. Rodents were about to take over his kingdom, but then the real President of the United States came into Evan’s world and chose to help him. The story is crazy, and that’s only the beginning.
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon
The Pokemon Mystery Dungeon games are a group of roguelike dungeon crawlers. In these games, a person could take on the form of a Pokemon like Charmander or Squirtle for a number of reasons. Why? The reason wasn’t always given, but sometimes it was.
Either one could win, but the story isn’t very important. Fans of this side series are more interested in getting Pokemon friends to help them get through levels that get harder and harder. These Pokemon-themed roguelike games are great for people who are new to the genre or just love Pokemon.
Star Wars: The Old Republic
Like Final Fantasy 14, Star Wars: The Old Republic is an MMO with a lot of ways to make it your own. The main change was that it had more races than just humans. What kind of race could players make? A Zabrak, which is Darth Maul’s race, or a Togruta, which is Ahsoka’s race.
This race had some benefits, like most races in RPGs. Tunnel Rush fans, on the other hand, only cared about living out their dreams as their favorite race in a world far, far away. The perks didn’t really matter to them.
SteamWorld Quest: Hand Of Gilgamech
Since every main character in the SteamWorld series is a robot, there is a lot of action that doesn’t involve people. There are two RPGs in this series that you should play. It’s a card-based role-playing game set in a wonderful world, and battles happen in turns.
It takes place in space and is more like a 2D strategy game than anything else. This is the end of the story for now. However, the creators could work on other RPGs in the future. If someone made a copy of Diablo or Destiny, would it ever work?