To The Rescue!
- November 2, 2021
- Little Rock Games
- 8h median play time
To the Rescue! is a great addition to the simulator genre, with a fun premise and lots to do, but added difficulty settings and more than a few bug fixes could go a long way.
Get on Steam"To The Rescue!" is a dog shelter simulator where you manage the care of numerous dogs seeking homes. Your goal is to meet their needs and find them perfect matches, while also dealing with challenges such as illnesses and negative traits. With hard work and patience, you can make a difference in both the game and the real world, as 20% of the developer's profit supports real dog shelters.
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Reviews
- Cute art style and charming graphics.
- Engaging gameplay that allows players to manage a dog shelter.
- The game raises awareness and funds for real-life animal shelters.
- The game is riddled with bugs that can make it unplayable.
- Controls are clunky and not intuitive, leading to frustration.
- The gameplay can become repetitive and lacks depth after a few hours.
- stability631 mentions
- 1 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 98 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a significant concern among users, with many reporting it as extremely buggy and prone to crashes, often requiring restarts to resolve issues. While some players find enjoyment despite the glitches, the frequency and severity of bugs can render the game unplayable at times, leading to frustration and loss of progress. Overall, while there are indications of ongoing developer support and improvements, the game remains in a notably unstable state, making it difficult to recommend at its current price.
“You can get a lot of enjoyment out of what is essentially bug free, and hopefully with it actively being worked on again, it'll be much more bug free soon.”
“Overall, the art style is cute and it's not bug free, but I definitely enjoy playing it and would recommend it to people who like these sorts of games.”
“Super cute idea and fun when it's not buggy.”
“However, it's overpriced, and despite being out for a while now it still remains very buggy.”
“The game is so unfinished, buggy and slow-paced that I don't know whether to cry or laugh.”
“I really wanted to like this game, but it is still very buggy and the controls aren't intuitive.”
- story448 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 81 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story mode of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it cute and enjoyable but ultimately too short and lacking depth. While some appreciated the emotional ending and the charming characters, others criticized the repetitive gameplay, numerous bugs, and the feeling that the story was merely a tutorial rather than a fully developed narrative. Overall, players expressed a desire for more substantial content and improvements to the story progression.
“The ending of story mode made me cry happy tears.”
“This game is super cute, has a really cute story, and it's a really nice game to unwind with at night.”
“I wish they came out with a part 2 or a longer story, but it was such a fun, relaxing game!”
“Adding on to this, story mode lacks the aspects of a genuine storyline and when you have to restart a day (due to bugs as the game only saves once each day), the story does not stay the same and is unreliable.”
“The gameplay loop is the same day in and out, and the story is barely there at all.”
“The story mode was so short it felt like a tutorial, not a story.”
- gameplay418 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this dog shelter management game is generally described as cute and engaging, featuring a straightforward loop of caring for dogs and facilitating adoptions. However, many players report significant issues with bugs and clunky mechanics that hinder the experience, leading to frustration and a sense of repetitiveness after a few hours. While the game has potential and offers a relaxing atmosphere, it currently lacks depth and variety, with many players feeling that it needs further development and polish to fully realize its concept.
“There's a lot of interesting mechanics, like how a dog's traits may affect how you house them or their chances of getting adopted.”
“Overall, I really enjoy the gameplay and it's relaxing and a good casual/managing game.”
“The gameplay itself is hectic, addictive, and super fun, and I can't wait for the next couple of patches to really get it to that polished state where it'll be a 100% thumbs up from me.”
“The gameplay loop is the same day in and out, and the story is barely there at all.”
“The gameplay is very repetitive, and I quickly learned that the point of the game isn't to do the everyday tasks of taking care of dogs in a shelter, but to just bring dogs to people over and over and over, and to hire workers for everything else, making the gameplay lose that spark of interest of interacting with the dogs.”
“While this game is cute and the mechanics are simple enough, there are so many game-breaking bugs that it isn't worth the asking price.”
- graphics364 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their adorable and charming art style, featuring cute dog animations and colorful visuals that enhance the overall experience. However, many players have noted that the game suffers from various bugs and graphical glitches, which detract from the polished feel of the graphics. Despite these issues, the unique and whimsical art style remains a significant draw for players, making it a visually appealing choice for fans of cute aesthetics.
“The art style is super cute and don't even get me started on the dogs <3 whether you're a casual sim player, management builder, or dog lover, I highly recommend this game!”
“The graphics are adorable, and the game is enjoyable.”
“The concept of this game is brought to life by charming music and adorable graphics, truly warming your heart whilst opening your mind (gently) to the realities of a rescue.”
“Which is such a shame because the aesthetic and the idea of the game was cute... but it's not worth it.”
“What I mean is, the graphics are cute but it is not as polished as other indie-developed games such as Stardew Valley, Cult of the Lamb, etc. It definitely is different from those games but with a cute character and dog design, the shelter itself felt out of place - making it seem like a college student project.”
“I really wanted to like this game, managing a dog shelter and the cute graphics but it only disappointed me; it really should be labeled early access with all the bugs.”
- emotional97 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is overwhelmingly positive, with many players expressing feelings of joy, attachment, and heartache as they care for and find homes for virtual dogs. The game's wholesome premise and charming art style evoke strong emotional responses, making it a rewarding yet sometimes heartbreaking experience, particularly when faced with tough decisions related to animal welfare. Despite some technical issues, players appreciate the game's ability to create a deep emotional connection, often leading to happy tears and a sense of fulfillment.
“The ending of story mode made me cry happy tears.”
“10/10 made me feel things for digital dogs that granted a deeper understanding of what it must be like actually working at a dog shelter.”
“It feels rewarding to find a dog a home especially if it's been in kennels a while and sending them away (or euthanizing, which is an option and a daily reality for some shelter workers) when there is no more funds or space anywhere is always a little heartbreaking.”
- music87 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as cute and fitting, enhancing the overall charming atmosphere with its calming and uplifting qualities. However, many players find the music repetitive, leading some to mute it after a short time, as the same loops can become grating. Overall, while the soundtrack complements the adorable graphics and gameplay, its limited variety may detract from the experience for some players.
“The music is quite nice to listen to as well; it's got that adorable sound to it, and fits the gameplay/graphics nicely.”
“The music is wonderful, it's calming and I even make sure I put any other music off if I had some on before I play.”
“Through delightfully colorful artwork, an ecstatically upbeat soundtrack and fantastic animations, you'll grow to love the dogs in your care regardless of how little time you spend together.”
“The music is very repetitive and after a short while you'll turn the volume down or off and listen to something else while you play.”
“The same song plays on loop for what seems like the whole time.”
“It also starts getting repetitive after a while, and the music loop starts to grate, and not a lot happens to keep your interest up.”
- grinding32 mentions
- 3 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Players have mixed feelings about the grinding aspect of the game, with many finding certain tasks, like caring for dogs and cleaning kennels, to be tedious and repetitive, especially after the main story is completed. While some enjoy the challenge and find a satisfying rhythm in gameplay, others feel that the grind becomes overwhelming and pointless, exacerbated by bugs that disrupt progress. Overall, the game has potential but currently suffers from a lack of engaging content beyond the initial challenges.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“I found that some things become grindy after a while, such as feeding and bathing the dogs and cleaning the kennels.”
“My one gripe is that the story isn't overly long and I found once I completed it, the challenge to the game was gone for me and it just became managing tedious tasks.”
“But overall, it just felt tedious, mostly due to all of the major bugs that were present upon release; I had to restart the game and lose my progress many times.”
- optimization23 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including crashes and long loading times, particularly on PC. While some users have experienced smooth gameplay without lag, the overall consensus highlights persistent bugs and a lack of effective updates addressing these optimization concerns. Additionally, the tutorial's design for console rather than PC has added to the confusion for players.
“I have also had no problems with lag or chopping, so the game is well-optimized.”
“Runs smoothly.”
“As the game has been out for quite a while now, I would expect that the game should run smoothly by now with very little or no game-breaking bugs at all.”
“At the moment, it's very buggy and not optimized, which explains why it hasn't been ported to Switch; but bear in mind this is a very small dev team that works hard to provide frequent updates (the most recent one being 2 days ago).”
“Updates so far are still fixing major blocker issues and aren't even touching on performance, quality of life bugs, UI bugs, etc., because they are still working on the glaring stuff you just cannot understand why they released with.”
“I really wanted to like this game and cut the small team of developers more slack, but even after taking many breaks from the game hoping to come back and start a fresh, somewhat functioning save of the game, I've had to abandon my latest couple of saves in frustration again because of the bugs and optimization issues.”
- replayability20 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players find it endlessly fun and appreciate the sandbox mode, others feel the short storyline and persistent bugs limit long-term engagement. Updates have improved playability, but opinions vary on whether the game offers enough content to warrant repeated playthroughs. Overall, it seems that while there are enjoyable elements, many players are left wanting more depth and variety.
“It's so fun and the replayability is endless!”
“This game is buggy, and the story ends pretty quickly, but there's something so replayable and fun about it that really works, and I can't wait to see how this game progresses with the story growing and more dogs being added.”
“- sandbox mode for replayability.”
“I finished the whole storyline at 21 hours, and I don't feel like there is enough replayability to keep me entertained.”
“It doesn't have much replayability, gets boring, and has gameplay that still looks broken.”
“Limited replayability but feel like I got my money's worth from this kind of game.”
- humor18 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by the amusing auto-generated dog names, which elicit genuine laughter, and the quirky, funny characters and storylines. Players appreciate the lighthearted moments, although some find the game-breaking bugs to be amusing rather than frustrating. Overall, the combination of delightful visuals and humorous elements contributes to an enjoyable experience.
“The auto-generated dog names are delightful and made me laugh out loud a couple of times (shout out to the good boys 'Lazy' and 'Meanie' who were anything but).”
“I love the visuals and art style of the game, and some of the names of the dogs are so funny.”
“The animation is awesome and cute; the special characters are funny and quirky.”
- character development2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is praised for its strong integration of art and character design, which enhances the depth and relatability of the characters. Reviewers note that the visual elements effectively complement the narrative, allowing players to connect more deeply with the characters' journeys. Overall, the combination of artistic expression and thoughtful design contributes significantly to the game's immersive storytelling experience.
Critic Reviews
To The Rescue! Review – It’s a ruff life
To The Rescue! delivers a meaningful message about animal welfare in a family-friendly package. An inoffensive tycoon game full of cute dogs and happy moments makes running a dog shelter a cheerful task. Yet, that task becomes painstakingly frustrating with a poor interface, micromanaging dozens of pups with a limited inventory and clumsy controls. It doesn’t help that there are many, many glitches and game-breaking bugs. Little Rock Games might be biting off more than they can chew with To The Rescue!.
50%To The Rescue!: A Fantastic Sim With A Lot Of Heart – PC Review
To The Rescue! is a rewarding and fulfilling dog shelter simulation that perfectly encapsulates the challenges, stresses and difficulties of running a dog shelter while offering an addictive and meaningful gameplay loop that never gets old. Through delightfully colourful artwork, an ecstatically upbeat soundtrack and fantastic animations, you'll grow to love the dogs in your care regardless of how little time you spend together.
95%To The Rescue! review
To The Rescue! is an adorable and heartfelt management game, that unfortunately loses its way after the first few hours.
65%
