Shelter vs WolfQuest
Shelter
Shelter is truly a one-of-a-kind game where you'll get to play as a mother badger who's taking care of her newly-born cubs. Developed by Might and Delight, the game puts you on an exciting yet heartwarming adventure as you travel about with your cubs in tow in hopes of finding the perfect shelter to raise them. In your journey, you and your family will encounter lots of danger and it is up to you - the mama badger - to protect your cubs from harm, whether it is a raging forest fire or a bird of prey.Besides adventure, the game also comes with a second game mode called Nurture. It's a lot like a Tamagochi game where you'll need to head into the game every day (at least once) to give your cubs the stuff they need to survive and also to forge closer bonds with them.
This is one of the breakout indie games of 2013 but it's not the sort of game that will get old with age, so if you love games where you'll get to play as an animal and you enjoy a good story-adventure, then Shelter is your best bet!
WolfQuest
WolfQuest is a rather unique simulation game where you actually play as a two-year-old gray wolf born in the Northern Range of Yellowstone National Park - an age where it's time for you to go off on your own. You'll need to learn to hunt for food, find a suitable mate, set-up a comfy den and build a family. The game lets you play in single-player mode where you can learn how to be a virtual wolf yourself or multiplayer where you can do everything in a pack with your friends (private server) or with strangers (public server).The game WolfQuest has a sort of charm to it, because firstly, it is so different from any other animal simulation game you might have played before as it feels a lot more realistic; and secondly, you actually feel related; linked to the wolf you play as and want to help him to set-up a home and family of his own. It's not the sort of game to be rushed through - it is the sort of game that you'll need to slowly savor.
So, if that is your thing, then you might like playing WolfQuest. Even if you think it's not, try the free demo anyway. The game might just surprise you!