Awesome Owls on Nintendo Switch
Kaepora Gaebora – The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
This might be one of the most legendary owls in all of gaming. And only partially because we accidentally asked him to repeat everything. Twice.
First appearing in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Kaepora Gaebora is there to help Link on his merry way when he first enters Hyrule Field. He can give you helpful pointers, tell you about the area, heck, he’s got wise old man vibes (must just be a coincidence).
Now you’d like to hear it all again. That?
Otus – Owl boy
We love 2018 indie favorite Owlboy for many reasons. It has beautiful visuals, high score and tight flight controls. But most of all, it is full of quality owl content. There are a few we could pick for this list like the conceited old man Asius or the mysteriously quiet Solus, but none are better than Otus, right?
It’s Otus the owl. The most wonderful of the group. Don’t think an owl can make you cry? Especially the speechless one? Think again. Otus is a great example that being nice to everyone is always the best way to go (at least, if that doesn’t work, take a pirate with a cannon along for the ride next time).
Mahina – Octopath Traveler II
At the beginning of Ochette’s story in Octopath Traveler II, you can choose between two animal companions – a proud jackal named Akalā or (correct choice) an adorable owl named Mahina.
Mahina is the perfect choice, really. Specializing in magical attacks, she perfectly complements Ochette’s physical strength. And, acting as a mentor to the young Beast, Mahina must try to keep Ochette’s exciting personality in check. She cares a lot about her friend and never leaves her side – even when you have to take a friend. Oh, and she sits at the front of the boat whenever you travel by water.
Don’t choose Mahina at your peril, or you’ll suffer the consequences (and heartbreak).
Ku-Ori and Will of the Wisps
Owls in video games have a habit of being a mysterious bunch, but Ku Ori and the Will of the Wisps is anything but.
We’ll admit that we had a bit of a rocky relationship with Ku’s mother Kuro in the Blind Forest, so it’s a relief to see that the offspring is friendly at heart — and much less likely to swallow us whole. We won’t spoil too much of Ku’s journey here, but let’s just say that being a fan of this ultimate owl is quite an emotional rollercoaster.
Blathers & Celeste – Animal Crossing
God, we love the Nintendo owl with the green bow tie (more on that later). Blathers may not be full of quality banter, but this Animal Crossing mainstay is our favorite for an interesting little fact. Museum visits would not be the same without him. Stay who you are, little one.
And let’s not forget his sister, Celeste. Full of knowledge about the stars, Celeste may be one of the coldest inhabitants of the world. Even when the beaches are covered in shells, the land is overgrown with weeds, and the mayor’s house is full of cockroaches, you know a trip to the observatory will always be a good one.
They also take the award for best owl amiibo (however quiet the competition may be).
Stormy Owl – Mega Man X4
Hoooo
Look, we generally prefer our top owls to be on the right side of the law, but we’re willing to make an exception if that feathered nemesis is wearing a little beret.
Mega Man X4Storm Owl isn’t the most challenging boss in the game, but with beautiful character designs and a battle that takes things to the skies (sort of), we’re still relishing the chance to go head-to-head with him in Switch’s Mega Man X Legacy Collection .
Stolas – Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
First appearing in Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow, Stolas is an owl-like creature that is hidden in the last two areas of the game. It is based on the Great Prince of Hell who commands twenty-six legions of demons from Ars Goetia, and it’s a rather odd-looking owl. But still an owl, and an extremely powerful one at that.
Stolas, just like his lore, summons other enemies and demons to attack Soma. Strutting slowly with its spindly long legs and adorned with a crown, it’s quite a target, but it will make you jump the first time you see it. The enemy returns to Dawn of Sorrow after lightening up a bit, swapping white feathers for brown and a feathered crown instead of gold. We know you can find real owls roaming around Dracula’s castle, but little can beat a demon-summoning owl who’s also the prince of hell, right?
Cohoot – Monster Hunter Rise
The world of Monster Hunter Rise hardly screams “inhabitable,” but with cute little guys like Cohoot around, we can see the appeal of living in it.
Yes, your Cohoot can help you find items and bring you a warm, cozy feeling, but more importantly, it can dress up in a little hat (we’ve chosen to highlight the ‘Summery Sailor’ outfit above for obvious reasons). Talk about superb character design.
Rowlett – Pokémon Legends: Arceus
What do you mean we’re relying too much on the “it’s technically on Switch” zone? This little one is in Pokémon Legends: Arceus and you can also get it in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet at Blueberry Academy. The fact that this one debuted in Pokémon Sun & Moon is a mere coincidence and definitely not a sign that there aren’t that many owls on the Switch.
Anyway, Rowlett is the second (and last) in our ‘Take an owl and stick a little green bow tie on him’ series and what a cutie he is. This round little guy first appeared in Pokémon Sun and Moon and immediately rolled into our hearts. If anyone was made to live with a Poké Ball, it’s this guy (okay, maybe more Voltorb, but he’s not owlish enough for this list).
Hoothoot – Pokémon Sword and Shield
You can technically get Rowlett in Sword & Shield, but that includes Pokémon Home. For this other little round guy, Hoothoot, you can catch him in the game.
Pokémon Gold And Silver’s Hoothoot may have been usurped by Rowlett in the race for cutest owl in the series, but let’s not do this OG a disservice, it’s still pretty darn awesome. You can find it in Galar, Paldea and even Sinnoh Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl. It set the bar high, which may be why there aren’t as many owl-like Pokémon.
Lechku & Nechku – Okami
There’s probably an argument that these clockwork robots aren’t technically owls because, you know, they’re robots. But this pair of Okami bosses look good enough that we’re willing to let it go.
In a game of pretty stellar boss fights, Lechku and Nechku are some of our favorites. The music is great, the character designs are just the right level of creepy and, if we’re being honest, any battle that relies on taking out two enemies at once gets a satisfied thumbs up in our book.
We wouldn’t want any of them sitting on our shoulders, but they’re pretty great nonetheless.
Hedwig – LEGO Harry Potter collection
Hedwig might be the owl with the biggest pop culture footprint. After drumming the following thanks Harry Potter books (and movies), it’s really a surprise that the iconic Snowy Owl didn’t play a bigger role in any of the spell-casting schoolboy appearances in the video game.
However, one opportunity you can find Hedwig on Switch is in the LEGO Harry Potter Collection, where you’ll rely on your feathered friend to turn the game’s collectible Red Bricks into prizes. It may not be the most influential role, but you won’t get that sweet 100% completion without it.
Coo – Kirby’s Dreamland 2
Coo has become a mainstay of the Kirby series since he first appeared in Kirby’s Dream Land 2 on the Game Boy (available via Nintendo Switch Online). This little owl friend has since appeared in everything from Canvas Curse to Star Allies, with varying degrees of help in each.
However, what makes this little owl so great is its debut role — giving Kirby the ability to fly and
Huk – Super Mario 64
We’re not going to lie, Super Mario 64’s Hoot didn’t immediately come to mind when we first made this list. Why? Because we don’t have nearly enough time together.
But when you think about it (and as you can see, we are thought about it), Hoot is really great. Come on, Mario rudely woke up this sleepy little guy in the Whomp’s Fortress stage before willingly taking him to the upper echelons of the level to get the sneaky Power Stars there. Yes, you might moan a little about Mario’s weight along the way, but you try to do all that footwork (wings?) with a smile on your face…
Owl – The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening
What do you think “I thought that was Kaepora Gaebora?” This is the ‘owl’. A very special and not at all related bird that also gives Link useful advice when he first reaches the open area of the game.
Of course, anyone who played through Link’s Awakening will remember that Owl is actually more than meets the eye — something suspicious is happening. Cor, an owl with a plot? Talk about excellent.
The name is a little disappointing, we can’t lie. Still, with a set list that also includes songs like ‘Hoot’, ‘Coo’ and a few variations in between, it was only a matter of time before we went back to basics.
So there you have it, 15 owls you can find on your Switch right now to celebrate ‘Superb Owl’ weekend. Which one is your favorite? Let us know in the following poll, then share anything we missed in the comments.
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