Free virtual pet games let you feed, wash, dress and play with a pet on your phone, from Talking Tom and Tamagotchi to fluffy creatures that hatch from eggs. Every game here is free to install and rated Everyone or Everyone 10+. Most show ads and in-app purchases, so check the labels first.
Long before phones, children were carrying digital pets around on key rings and panicking when they forgot to feed them. The idea hasn't gone anywhere. It's just moved onto tablets, with a lot more to do.
For this list I read each game's Google Play listing and noted the developer, the install count, the content rating, the ads and in-app purchases labels, and any mention of playing offline. The games aren't ranked; they're grouped loosely by type.
Cats are clearly the favourite pet in app stores, but there are fluffy monsters, a whole pet shop and one pet that's really about looking after yourself.
Pet games and their store labels
| Game | Developer | Google Play installs | Ads / in-app purchases | Offline wording on the listing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| My Talking Tom 2: Pet Game | Outfit7 Limited | 1B+ | Contains ads, in-app purchases | 'Play offline mini-games' |
| My Talking Tom | Outfit7 Limited | 1B+ | Contains ads, in-app purchases | No offline claim on the listing |
| Bubbu - My Virtual Pet Cat | Bubadu | 100M+ | Contains ads, in-app purchases | No offline claim on the listing |
| Moy 7 - Virtual Pet Game | Frojo Apps | 100M+ | Contains ads, in-app purchases | No offline claim on the listing |
| Fluvsies - Cute Virtual Pets | TutoTOONS | 100M+ | Contains ads, in-app purchases | No offline claim on the listing |
| My Cat - Virtual pet simulator | Appsyoulove | 50M+ | Contains ads, in-app purchases | No offline claim on the listing |
| My Tamagotchi Forever | BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe | 10M+ | Contains ads, in-app purchases | No offline claim on the listing |
| My Virtual Pet Shop: Animals | Tapps Games | 10M+ | Contains ads, in-app purchases | No offline claim on the listing |
| Cat Rescue Story: Pet Game | Trophy Games - Animal Games | 1M+ | Contains ads, in-app purchases | No offline claim on the listing |
| Amaru: The Self-Care Pet | Six Wing Studios | 500K+ | No ads label, in-app purchases | No offline claim on the listing |
Ten pets to adopt on a phone
My Talking Tom 2: Pet Game
You feed Tom, make sure he sleeps and keep him happy, and he talks back in his famous voice. The listing mentions offline mini-games and collecting pets of his own.
My Talking Tom
The original Talking Tom, with fashion and furniture to collect, mini games and travel destinations. Curiously, it's rated Everyone 10+, while the sequel is rated Everyone.
Bubbu - My Virtual Pet Cat
A cute, emotional cat who loves food, selfies, visiting friends and dancing. The listing promises plenty of activities around his home and the wider world.
Moy 7 - Virtual Pet Game
The seventh Moy game, with rooms to explore and, according to its listing, more interaction with the surroundings than earlier versions. There's a big menu of mini games too.
Fluvsies - Cute Virtual Pets
You hatch fluffy creatures from surprise eggs, then collect, care for and play with them. Hatching is the hook, and the collection keeps growing.
My Cat - Virtual pet simulator
A cat simulator that leans into the purring, cuddly side of owning a kitten. Good for children who've been asking for a real cat.
My Tamagotchi Forever
The official mobile take on the classic Tamagotchi, with characters to adopt plus mini games and puzzles. Parents who had one first time round will recognise it.
My Virtual Pet Shop: Animals
Here you run a pet shop rather than own one pet: groom, feed, bathe and dress up dogs and cats while customers visit.
Cat Rescue Story: Pet Game
You take in an abandoned cat, care for it and then find it a new home, while doing up a once beautiful house. A gentler story than most.
Amaru: The Self-Care Pet
A pet that rewards you for looking after yourself, with goal-setting, mindfulness and journal activities alongside the feeding and mini games. It shows no Contains ads label.
Cats, monsters or a whole shop?
Talking Tom, Bubbu and My Cat are classic single-pet games: one character, lots of care, and a pet that reacts to everything you do. Moy and the Tamagotchi game sit in the same family but feel a little more old-school.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
If your child likes collecting, Fluvsies and the pet shop game give them lots of animals rather than one. Cat Rescue Story adds a story about rehoming, which some children find more meaningful than pure care.
What a virtual pet asks of you each day
Most pet games are built around daily care. Your pet gets hungry, tired or bored, and the game nudges you to come back and sort it out. That's the charm, but it can also mean a lot of reminders.
If notifications become a nag, turn them off in the phone's settings. The pet will still be there when your child opens the game again.
Ads, shops and little ones
- Ads: nine of the ten show a Contains ads label; Amaru is the exception.
- In-app purchases: every game here has them, usually for outfits, food or furniture.
- Ratings: all are rated Everyone except My Talking Tom, which is Everyone 10+.
- Offline: only My Talking Tom 2 mentions offline mini-games on its listing.
Setting up a first pet game
- Choose one pet game rather than three, so the care doesn't pile up.
- Switch on parental controls before you install it.
- Turn off notifications if they start to nag.
- Agree a time of day for feeding and play.
- Check in after a week to see if it's still fun.
Other calm games for curious kids
If your child loves animals, these free science games are a good next step, with plenty about how living things work.
Off on a trip soon? My list of free offline games for kids on Android and tablets has games that don't need Wi-Fi.
And for an iPad in the family, here are free offline games for iPad and tablets for kids and grown-ups alike.
A pet that never needs a vet
A virtual pet won't replace a real one, but it's a sweet way for a child to practise routines and kindness. And when the novelty wears off, there's no one to rehome. Pick one that matches what your child loves, and let them name it.
Frequently asked questions
Are these virtual pet games free?
Yes. Every one is free to install from Google Play, though all of them have in-app purchases.
Which virtual pet game has no ads?
Amaru: The Self-Care Pet shows no Contains ads label on its listing.
Is there an official Tamagotchi game?
Yes. My Tamagotchi Forever is from BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe.
Can you play Talking Tom offline?
My Talking Tom 2's listing mentions offline mini-games. The original's listing doesn't mention offline play.
What age are virtual pet games for?
Most here are rated Everyone. My Talking Tom is rated Everyone 10+.
Why do pet games send so many reminders?
They're built around daily care, so they nudge you when your pet is hungry or bored. You can switch notifications off.
