Animal Shelter

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In "Animal Shelter," take on the role of a caretaker for various animals in need, tasked with providing shelter, treatment, and finding suitable homes for them. The game also features a photo room where you can capture memories of your furry friends and decorate the shelter with the photos. Your success in the game relies on ensuring the well-being and happiness of the animals in your care, as you guide them towards adoption.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

87%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,630 reviews

gameplay82 positive mentions

stability222 negative mentions

gameplay
236 mentions
35 % positive mentions
53 % neutral mentions
12 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally described as relaxing and engaging, with a heartwarming premise centered around caring for animals, though it suffers from repetitiveness and various bugs. While many players appreciate the cute mechanics and addictive gameplay loop, they also note that the experience can become tedious after a few hours, and improvements are needed in terms of performance and depth. Overall, it appeals to animal lovers looking for a casual gaming experience, but it requires further refinement to enhance its longevity and enjoyment.
- “The gameplay offers a relaxing yet engaging experience, balancing tasks like feeding, grooming, and finding homes for the animals.”
- “While it may not have the deepest management mechanics, its heartwarming premise and satisfying progression make it a great choice for anyone looking to unwind and enjoy some feel-good gaming.”
- “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!”
- “Tl;dr- buggy, repetitive gameplay, and PS2 graphics.”
- “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.”
stability
228 mentions
1 % positive mentions
2 % neutral mentions
97 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a significant concern, with numerous players reporting frequent bugs, glitches, and crashes that disrupt gameplay. Many have experienced issues such as freezing during loading screens, save file deletions, and visual glitches, which detract from the overall enjoyment. While some players appreciate the game's concept and fun elements, the persistent instability makes it difficult to recommend, especially at full price.
- “The animals also work well, and there are no glitches in-game that I could find.”
- “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.”
- “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 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.”
- “The game is extremely broken and buggy and deleted my save files after updating and buying the DLC.”
graphics
204 mentions
41 % positive mentions
45 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the charming and cute artwork, while others criticize the overall quality, likening it to early 2000s titles. Many users report performance issues, including lag and low frame rates, even on high-end PCs, which detracts from the experience. Despite these drawbacks, some players appreciate the realistic animal models and immersive gameplay, suggesting that the graphics, while not perfect, contribute to the game's appeal.
- “With charming graphics and a variety of adorable animals to care for, it’s a joy to watch your shelter thrive.”
- “I really enjoy your game, the graphics are amazing, and your skill and way you made the game perfectly is breathtaking.”
- “The graphics are amazing, and I love how you can upgrade stuff.”
- “Graphics are absolutely horrible on my high-end PC.”
- “The graphics were terrible no matter what adjustments I made.”
- “First a warning: graphics are game-breaking laggy when using level-2 buildings with my GTX-1060 at 6 GB.”
story
98 mentions
12 % positive mentions
69 % neutral mentions
18 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its lack of depth and repetitiveness, with many players noting that the narrative feels generic and uninspired. While some players appreciate the freedom to create their own stories for the animals, they express a desire for more structured storytelling and character development within the game. Additionally, technical issues and bugs often hinder progression, further detracting from any potential narrative engagement.
- “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 freedom to name and write a story for the animal if the player wants.”
- “Super adorable! This game makes me so happy. I love animals, so getting to spend most of my day on a game where I get to look after some of the cutest animals ever is brilliant. The fact that the creators support a charity is also commendable.”
- “Overall, the game is a little confusing sometimes, as it doesn't explain what to do for some quests and also some vet situations.”
- “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.”
emotional
68 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game is widely praised for its heartwarming and wholesome experience, particularly in the context of rescuing and adopting animals, which often evokes strong emotional responses from players. While many find joy and fulfillment in the gameplay, some express disappointment over the lack of depth in emotional engagement during the adoption process, feeling that it could enhance the overall experience. Overall, it strikes a balance between fun and emotional investment, making it a recommended choice for those seeking a relaxing and feel-good gaming experience.
- “I love playing with animals, and it's so sweet when they get adopted; it makes me want to cry out of happiness. The only thing I'd change is the limited breeds of animals; there should be more dog breeds. Cats are adorable!”
- “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. I watched the car go past me and the doggy leave me :(”
- “The bad thing is I always have to shed a tear when a friend leaves to finally join his new family <3”
grinding
58 mentions
2 % positive mentions
12 % neutral mentions
86 % negative mentions
The game is widely criticized for its excessive grinding and repetitive gameplay, often requiring players to perform tedious tasks without sufficient rewards or automation options. Many reviewers noted that while the game starts off enjoyable, it quickly becomes a chore, especially as players manage multiple animals and face limitations in gameplay mechanics. Overall, it appeals primarily to those who enjoy grind-heavy simulators, but may disappoint others seeking a more streamlined experience.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Trying to clean a pet's room often means having to pick up bowls, beds, and other items in the kennel to be able to clean it, which is very tedious when you have about 20 animals in the shelter and needs and cleanliness decay faster than you can upkeep.”
- “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.”
- “The game is fun at first but has bare bones content and no means of making the tedious gameplay more streamlined with workers or automation.”
music
32 mentions
31 % positive mentions
59 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as calming and pleasant, enhancing the relaxing experience of caring for animals. However, players note that there are only a few short tracks that repeat, which can become monotonous over time. While the soundtrack is appreciated for its soothing qualities, some users suggest adding more variety and options to improve the overall musical experience.
- “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.”
humor
30 mentions
93 % positive mentions
7 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players finding joy in its silly and cute designs, as well as the amusing interactions between animals. Many highlight the comedic elements, such as the quirky behaviors of pets and the absurdity of certain game mechanics, which contribute to an overall lighthearted experience. However, some users note that the game's bugs can detract from the fun, requiring frequent reloading.
- “While it's still missing some functions (I'd love to set up the controller buttons myself, so it's easier for the kids), the game is funny and enjoyable.”
- “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!”
optimization
30 mentions
13 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
47 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received largely negative feedback, with many players reporting significant bugs, performance issues, and inconsistent frame rates that detract from the overall experience. While some users have experienced smooth gameplay on high settings, the majority find the game laggy and poorly optimized, particularly on lower settings. Overall, there is a consensus that improvements in optimization and bug fixes are necessary for a more enjoyable experience.
- “There are some optimization things that could be done to smooth the game experience slightly, but it's really not terrible.”
- “This game is so much fun for animal lovers; some bugs here and there for the horses, but everything else runs smoothly!”
- “I think it's really great, and with a few bug fixes and some optimizations, it could be even better than now!”
- “The optimization is horrible, and the pets are ugly and creepy.”
- “All that stuttering and FPS drops took all my enjoyment out of this game.”
- “Games incredibly laggy and poorly optimized even on the lowest settings and a singular pet in the kennels.”
monetization
28 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has drawn significant criticism, with players feeling that it resembles a cash grab due to the lack of depth in the adoption mechanics and the presence of bugs. Many users express frustration over the repetitive tasks involved in advertising pets, which do not effectively match them with suitable adopters, leading to a tedious gameplay experience. Additionally, the early release of DLCs before addressing core game issues has further fueled skepticism about the developers' intentions.
- “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
14 mentions
14 % positive mentions
64 % neutral mentions
21 % negative mentions
The reviews on replayability are mixed, with some players expressing a complete lack of replay value, citing repetitive gameplay and a need for more engaging mechanics. Conversely, a few users highlight the game's potential for infinite replayability, suggesting that additional social interactions could enhance the experience. Overall, the consensus leans towards limited replayability in its current state.
- “☑️ 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.”
- “Just feels like it would add another level of replayability and would make it where you actually need to socialize with your pets.”