Nintendo’s latest Indie World presentation put Haunted Paws in front of Switch players, with a demo available immediately after the showcase. The co-op adventure follows two dogs entering a haunted house to search for their missing owner, with several breeds available to play.
A search for the game initially produced an unexpected result. Instead of Haunted Paws, the eShop displayed Ghostly Whiskers, a game featuring two cats on what appears to be a remarkably similar mission: finding their owner inside a haunted house.
For players who enjoy investigating unusual arcade and gaming news, the situation is a notable example of how digital storefront searches can blur the distinction between an announced title and an already released lookalike.
Two similar games on the same storefront
Haunted Paws is not scheduled to launch until May next year, while Ghostly Whiskers arrived in September. During the period in which this report was being prepared, Haunted Paws and its demo appeared on the eShop, but Ghostly Whiskers remained visible on the same store page.
The words “haunted paws” do not appear in the description for Ghostly Whiskers. Nevertheless, the title continued to appear in search results for that phrase. That meant a player looking for the showcased dog adventure could encounter a cat-focused game that was already available to purchase at full price.
Developer objects to the resemblance
The presence of Ghostly Whiskers had already caused controversy in January. Developer Lazy Flock described the release as “an unauthorized copy that steals our concept, visuals, and story, using AI-generated assets.”
Ghostly Whiskers is published by Nostra Games. GamesRadar reported that the publisher has released several games accused of copying elements associated with titles including Fallout Shelter, Two Point Hospital and Crossy Road.
What Switch players should check
The confusion is especially striking because the similar-looking game was available before Haunted Paws had even launched. Anyone searching for the Nintendo showcase title should check the name, developer and release status carefully rather than assuming the first matching result is the advertised game.
The broader issue will be familiar to anyone comparing titles across digital libraries, whether browsing a console storefront or researching an arcade machine buying guide. Clear game names and reliable product information matter when two releases occupy similar territory.
For now, the key distinction is simple: Haunted Paws is the unreleased co-op dog game shown during Indie World, while Ghostly Whiskers is the already available cat game that appeared alongside it in eShop searches. Players considering a dedicated setup can also explore arcade machines for other ways to enjoy co-op gaming at home.
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