As per the tradition of glorifying digital animals during Chinese New Year, it’s now time to list down our favourite mice and rats in video game history.

From the freaky to the cuddly and then back to disgusting because of the viruses they can carry, here are our top picks. Or bottom picks, depending on whether you like these creatures or not.

The Rats Of A Plague Tale: Innocence

Let’s start with the most obvious inclusion: the cursed rats that plague this game’s version of Medieval France. True, the two protagonists Amicia and Hugo lead the narrative as they survive through the plague and the inquisition order.

But after witnessing the game’s spine-chilling horde of tiny killers move and devour every living thing on sight, while also using them as puzzle-solvers in a way, you’ll instantly remember why many are freaked out by the rodents in the first place. Hats off to the devs who specifically animated and program these blighters.

Rattata, Raticate from Pokémon

Let’s dive into something cuter since we got one of the most horrifying depictions of the rodent out of the way. Rattata and its evolved state Raticate are what you expect from a cock-fighting RPG like Pokémon: a rat face with rat teeth and a rat-like disposition. As in it loves to pig out on cheese, nuts, fruits, and berries. And steal from unwary travellers.

Sherry from the Ultima series

A talking mouse in Ultima VI, she helps the Avatar and the party out in getting one of the game’s plot items through a mouse hole. She also pops up in Ultima VII as a helper in Lord British’s royal nursery, as well as offer advice to players in the bastardized Ultima: Rune of Virtue series. She’s one of the few instances of rats being helpful instead of antagonists in this list.

Quill from Moss

This pretty awesome adventure game features a cute female mouse named Quill whom you help in overthrowing the evil snake Sarffog and save her mouse uncle. She’s charming and smart, and one of the many good reasons why someone should make a Mouse Guard video game adaptation.

The Neeks from Donkey Kong Country 2

While harmless jumping fodder at first in the awesome SNES platformer, they can be…. well actually they’re pretty much fodder. They’re numerous and cute, but you’re better off just either rolling onto them or just stomping them.

Show Me More Disgusting Rodents, Please!