Title: Academy of Super Pets
Developer: Planetary Core Games, LLC
Publisher:Planetary Core Games, LLC
Release Date: May 8th, 2025
Platforms: Mobile
Price: N/A
Introduction
Pets are amazing companions, sometimes posing as better companions than people sometimes. Well, what if you could train them to have superpowers? It’s a simple, yet cute and fun premise that Planetary Core Games developed as a free game on mobile. I’ve had the privilege to meet the dev team at PAX East 2025, interview them on our Boss Rush Spotlight Podcast, and play their game.
Now, I’ve been known to dismiss mobile games in the past, but…how will I feel after playing Academy of Super Pets? Read on and find out!
Summary
Academy of Super Pets is a free-to-play mobile game. It’s built on action and adorable pets. In this game, you arrive on an island filled with mystery. You team up with Professor Diamond and others to raise a team of cats and dogs at the Academy, then take them out on missions to combat ferocious rats and the Rat King. In between missions, you can further their skills and dress them in adorable (and stat boosting) accessories. What secrets lurks beneath the surface?
Analysis
Gameplay
As a mobile game, Academy of Super Pets is easy to navigate. Leveraging the touch screen, you select pets, locations, and characters to advance dialogue or an action. There are two main areas you spend time in: the academy proper and the island. At the Academy, you interact with several characters such as Professor Diamond (who oversees your primary objectives), Chief Scientist Tom, and Head Trainer Clayton. The different places you can visit are the General Store and Armory where you can suit up your pets with new accessories, Research and Development where you can build your pet’s skills, Dormitory and Veterinarian’s Office where you can play with or adopt new pets, and the Training Gounds where you level up your pets. As the name of the game states, you are at an academy where you adopt, train, and equip your pets, which consist of a variety of adorable cats and dogs.
Super Crystals are used to power up your pets while accessories can boost stats. Skills you can power up are Health, Speed, Damage, Range (of superpower), and Mega Power Duration. There are a number of superpowers including, but not limited to, ice breath, laser eyes, electric charge, and toxic breath. Shrinking, growing large, and flying are examples of Mega Powers. While the game is free to play, purchases are available to obtain additional Super Crystals and other neat bundles. After playing the game for some time, I felt that the development team has achieved a nice balance where enjoyment is not locked behind a paywall, leaving purchases as a fair option to boost your experience.
Once you are done leveling and gearing up your pets, you hop onto the helicopter and explore the island. You may reference the booklet at the bottom left corner before you leave the Academy where it lists daily tasks, quests, and field notes. There are a number of biomes available to explore such as volcanic mountains, stinky marshes, and snowy mountains. Each location has a difficulty marker, and you send your troop to battle those pesky rats!
Battle is relatively simple–you send your pets out at whatever rate you choose. Sending out a pet or reviving it if they fall during battle takes up superpet food, which replenishes over time. Whenever you wish to attack or deploy a Mega Power, you hit the animals’ avatar and/or Mega Power icon. Again, simple, but strategies are important, especially as battles become tougher. There have been plenty of times where I was overwhelmed with rats who kicked my pets’ butt!
Art Style and Sound
The art style is cute, and I love the design of each pet. The variety allowed me to make my troop look like my pets in real life. The world is bright and colorful, and the rats are quite dreadful. The music is playful and fun, although I have to be honest, I usually have the game on silent because I am usually playing in a public place. I only hope that the dev team continues to create more wonderful pet designs.
Final Score:
Overall, Academy of Super Pets is a joy to play. I can feel the passion behind the screen and the quality stands out from the sea of mobile games. Knowing what I know from speaking with the dev team and playing the game, Academy of Super Pets is one that anyone can enjoy. While simple mechanically, strategy and planning are important, and as you climb higher difficulty levels, you are certainly put to the test. I also know that the team has worked hard on updates, and these updates have further improved the experience. There are minor quirks I’ve stumbled upon along the way. For example, where there is a character that needs to speak with you, the building and character pulse and shake a little too aggressively. Similar things happen when you win a battle–the rat’s den continuously explodes over and over. I get a chuckle out of it. Sometimes I wish there was more I could do with power and accessory variety, but this could very well be something that Planetary Core Games has in mind in the pipeline.
Academy of Super Pets is true example of a quality mobile game. I highly recommend it to the casual gamer or anyone who loves whimsical fun and animals. It makes as a great break between chores or distraction while waiting in line for something. And again, while simple, there are lots of ways to mix and match and develop your pet crew. I do hope in the future they can expand the map, arsenal of powers, and selection of pets and accessories. While there is enough variety to start, I do wonder at what point a player will get before they desire more. The little quirks are few and far in between, so, if this piques your interest, I say give Academy of Super Pets a try!
If you are interested in watching and/or listening to my interview with the dev team, check out below:
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Featured Image Source: Planetary Core Games
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