In my setting I want there to be humans and semi-human races with humans on top, of course.
With animal people as the most common semi-human.
But I thought how to make sure that humans are on top?
And the solution is that only humans can wield magic.
Then I asked myself then why would humans tolerate the beastmen?
Then I thought ok the beastmen traded their humanity for being baseline a bit better than humans and each one having one outstanding attribute like great vision or powerful legs.
But now I'm thinking wouldn't it be cool to develop their culture and religion?
Maybe give them occult practices and unique gifts that the best of them develop to increase their already outstanding abilities?
Maybe it could be full shapeshifting into their heartbeast and then, at the peak, becoming a mythic version of the creature, gaining elemental powers, becoming a chimera or a gigachad version of the species.
And you will have options to create new semi-human species, each one also with detailed powers like these.

How does that sound?