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Animal Shelter Game Cover

About

"Animal Shelter" is a kid-friendly simulation game where players work alone to rescue, care for, and find homes for various animals. The game includes a photo studio to capture cute moments and decorate the shelter, encouraging animal adoption. However, it's important to note that the game is quite grindy and has several bugs, but the wholesome story makes up for it. Your mission is to ensure the well-being of your pets and find them loving homes.

Animal Shelter screenshot
Animal Shelter screenshot
Animal Shelter screenshot
Animal Shelter screenshot
Animal Shelter screenshot
Animal Shelter screenshot
Animal Shelter screenshot
Animal Shelter screenshot
Animal Shelter screenshot
Animal Shelter screenshot
Animal Shelter screenshot
+21

88%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,130 reviews
gameplay52 positive mentions
stability122 negative mentions

  • gameplay
    160 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is generally described as cute and relaxing, with easy-to-learn mechanics that appeal to animal lovers. However, many players note that it can become repetitive and lacks depth over time, with some experiencing bugs and performance issues that detract from the overall experience. Despite these drawbacks, the game offers a satisfying loop of caring for animals and making thoughtful decisions about their adoption, making it enjoyable for casual play.

    • “The gameplay offers a relaxing yet engaging experience, balancing tasks like feeding, grooming, and finding homes for the animals.”
    • “Its charming graphics, engaging gameplay, and emphasis on animal welfare make it a standout title in the simulation genre.”
    • “Very fun gameplay loop and if you are looking for a game to shut your mind off and simulate being an animal shelter owner, this game is perfect for you!”
    • “The gameplay is exceptionally repetitive, with very little to bolster your experience in terms of activities.”
    • “I want to like this game, but the gameplay is repetitive and poorly explained, the game is buggy as heck, some parts are completely unintuitive and the achievements are a complete mess.”
    • “The tasks in this game are just too repetitive and the game gets boring after 1 hour of gameplay because of it.”
  • graphics
    131 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the charming and cute designs of the animals and environments, while others criticize them as outdated or reminiscent of early 2000s titles. Many users note that while the visuals may not be cutting-edge, they are generally enjoyable and suit the game's tone, contributing to an engaging experience despite occasional performance issues and lag. Overall, the graphics are considered adequate for the gameplay, though improvements are desired by some players.

    • “This game is amazing; its graphics are smooth and clear.”
    • “This is an incredibly cute game with beautiful graphics, where you can take care of adorable animals, nurture them, feed them, and play with them.”
    • “I love the realistic graphics and models in this game; it feels like you are running your own shelter.”
    • “The graphics are nothing special; they're alright.”
    • “The graphics were terrible no matter what adjustments I made.”
    • “The game is laggy, the graphics aren't as good as they seem either.”
  • stability
    126 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability has been widely criticized, with numerous players reporting frequent bugs, glitches, and crashes that significantly hinder gameplay. Many users have experienced issues such as freezing during loading screens, disappearing items, and save file corruption, leading to frustration and a lack of recommendation for full-price purchases. While some players still find enjoyment in the game despite these issues, the overall consensus is that it requires substantial improvements to its stability.

    • “The animals also work well, and there are no glitches in-game that I could find.”
    • “Very fun game, runs great on Steam Deck.”
    • “The graphics are not that buggy for me, except my shampoo became temporarily invisible after I moved the washing building, but it came back after I reloaded my save.”
    • “However, when I spend $40 on an immersive business simulator only to find repetitive, buggy, aimless, and uninspired gameplay, I can't help but feel a bit ripped off.”
    • “The bugs that I've personally experienced have made me now have to remake a new save file, and when a game is still so buggy that your save has to be completely redone, I can't recommend it for full-price purchase, especially when the game is supposedly in full release.”
    • “This game is horrendously buggy, and I've found multiple things within the gameplay that could be well improved on.”
  • story
    64 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its lack of depth and engagement, with many users noting that there is no traditional narrative or meaningful character development. While some players appreciate the freedom to create their own stories for the animals, they express a desire for more varied and detailed backstories, as well as additional quests and interactions to enhance the gameplay experience. Overall, the repetitive nature of the animal stories and the absence of a cohesive plot detract from the game's potential enjoyment.

    • “The plot isn't just a simple, hackneyed story about animals; it's rather a dream parable intertwined with wild danger and surprising twists.”
    • “The game gives the player the freedom to name and write a story for the animal if they want.”
    • “It scratches the itch of a game I can spend an ungodly amount of time on instead of another with a half-baked storyline stitched into it.”
    • “There is no client mini story whatsoever; the adoption application feels like it's generated by an online random keyword generator.”
    • “Regardless of the lack of story or substance, I wouldn't have minded paying the $20 to grind some puppy care if it was functional, but it's hard to justify spending money on a game that consistently bugs.”
    • “The only thing about the pets that is handed to you story-wise is where they came from and what happened to them.”
  • emotional
    44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is predominantly characterized by its heartwarming and wholesome themes, centered around rescuing and caring for animals. Players often express joy and fulfillment from the experience, although some moments can evoke sadness, particularly during adoptions. Overall, the game successfully creates a relaxing environment that fosters emotional attachment to the pets, making it a delightful choice for those seeking feel-good gaming experiences.

    • “Overall, it's a heartwarming and enjoyable experience that encourages kindness and care :)”
    • “I full expected this game to make me super sad and be heartbreaking because the box art is kind of depressing but it actually ended up being incredibly wholesome and brought me a ton of joy!”
    • “Good game, but I cried multiple times when I had to get rid of my first doggo and he started barking at me as I put him in the moving car as I watched the car go past me and the doggy leave me :(”
  • grinding
    34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is widely criticized for its excessive grinding and repetitive gameplay, requiring players to invest significant time in tedious tasks without sufficient rewards or automation. While some find it enjoyable initially, many reviewers note that the lack of depth and streamlined mechanics leads to a frustrating experience, especially as the game progresses. Overall, it appeals primarily to those who appreciate grind-heavy simulators.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “This game is fun in concept, but tediously boring in execution.”
    • “The game feels grindy like an MMO but with much less rewards.”
    • “Once you get to a certain point in your shelter, you'll be spending more time doing tedious chores than you will be managing the business.”
  • music
    23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is generally described as pleasant and calming, with a soothing soundtrack that enhances the gameplay experience. While some players appreciate the relaxing classical and piano elements, others note that the limited number of tracks leads to repetition. Overall, the soundtrack contributes positively to the game's atmosphere, despite some players wishing for more variety.

    • “The music is calming even when all the animals decide to get sick at the same time, but the good news is, you have enough time to cure them in a reasonable manner. One thing I do suggest is letting players know that you need to buy the DLC vet clinic when you need to do X-rays, or not allowing pets who need X-rays in the shelter until you have the DLC vet clinic.”
    • “Paired with some nice classical music or piano music, it really helps you calm down seeing animals find a better home.”
    • “Overall though it's a relaxing and mildly addicting game, and the background music is also quite good.”
    • “The music is calming even when all the animals decide to get sick at the same time, but one thing I do suggest is letting players know that you need to buy the DLC vet clinic when you need to do X-rays, or not allowing pets who need X-rays in the shelter until you have the DLC vet clinic.”
    • “Only 2-3 short music tracks on repeat.”
    • “Game launched in Polish; I spent 5 minutes trying to figure out how to turn it to English while being overwhelmed by the music.”
  • optimization
    22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization has received largely negative feedback, with many players experiencing low frame rates, stuttering, and performance issues even on lower settings. While some users report smooth gameplay on high-end systems, the overall consensus indicates that the game feels unoptimized and clunky, with numerous bugs and inconsistent performance detracting from the experience. Improvements in optimization and bug fixes are highly recommended to enhance gameplay.

    • “There are some optimization things that could be done to smooth the game experience slightly, but it's really not terrible.”
    • “I think it's really great; with a few bug fixes and some optimizations, it could be even better than now!”
    • “Well optimized and fun new features to unlock.”
    • “Even on low performance settings, I get low frame rates that make the game nearly unplayable.”
    • “The optimization is horrible, and the pets are ugly and creepy.”
    • “Games incredibly laggy and poorly optimized even on the lowest settings and a singular pet in the kennels.”
  • humor
    17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is largely derived from its charming animations and quirky character designs, which elicit laughter through silly moments, such as pets falling over or making funny faces. Players appreciate the lightheartedness of tasks like creating amusing adoption photos and matching pets with suitable homes, despite some technical issues. Overall, the game is described as funny and enjoyable, with a playful atmosphere that enhances the experience.

    • “I love how the animations are funny for the kittens and pups when they run around and fall over.”
    • “And you can tell that the art department for this game loved to do this project, given how funny, silly, and cute the designs, the icons, the wallpapers, and such became.”
    • “The cats are adorable, and make faces worth laughing at, mainly the ':|' when they are on the clinic table!”
  • monetization
    16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization aspect of the game has drawn criticism for feeling like a cash grab, with players noting that the ad system for pet adoption is ineffective and frustrating. Users express dissatisfaction with the repetitive nature of tasks and the lack of meaningful matchmaking based on animal traits, leading to a tedious experience that feels unpolished and buggy. Overall, the monetization strategy appears to prioritize profit over a well-developed gameplay experience.

    • “I always side-eye developers who release DLCs before fixing and finalizing their base game, and seeing the crappy quality and negative reviews for the DLCs, I'm pretty much convinced this game was made as a cash grab and nothing more.”
    • “Seems like a slightly more fleshed out cash grab.”
    • “And apart from being a cash grab, it's full of bugs.”
  • replayability
    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The reviews on replayability are mixed; while some users express a desire for more engaging content and social interaction with pets to enhance replay value, others criticize the game for its repetitive nature, stating it offers little incentive to play again. Conversely, a few users highlight the game as infinitely replayable, suggesting that it has elements that can keep players coming back.

    • “Just feels like it would add another level of replayability and would make it where you actually need to socialize with your pets.”
    • “☑️ infinitely replayable”
    • “🌺 replayability🌺”
    • “The replay value of the base game is... next to none.”
    • “A complete lack of replayability and basically just doing the same thing over and over again.”
    • “I'm sure it's been said already, but the game would be drastically more playable after the first couple of hours if...”

Buy Animal Shelter

9h Median play time
10h Average play time
5-16h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 16 analyzed playthroughs

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