Played on Android

I’ll typically always play something on my phone before bed every night to unwind, and while I usually just like to play those quick and simple “distraction” games, sometimes I yearn for something that feels more like a “legitimate” traditional game. Platformers have always been my favorite genre of my game, and so one night I decided to look up what some of the best platformers on Android were. I kept seeing Super Cat Bros. pop up, so I decided to give it a shot. If you’re like me and want a fun platformer you can play on your phone, I definitely echo the recommendation for Super Cat Bros.

Much like any other platformer, the premise is simple. You start a level, keep moving right, and get to the end of the level by avoiding enemies and obstacles. In Super Cat Bros., you do this by controlling one of six different cats you’ll meet in the game, each of which unlocks at different points throughout the game. Each cat has their own unique ability too, so part of the game is picking the cat that will allow you to navigate through the level. For easy examples, the first cat you start with is able to run up walls farther than the other cats, while the second cat is able to break through blocks. These abilities are varied and make for a fun and interesting experience.

I think the biggest compliment I have for Super Cat Bros. is how well it controls. I’m used to playing my platformers on traditional video game systems that have controllers with multiple buttons, so I was interested to see how a game like this would play on a phone with no buttons. However, everything is easily done by just using your two thumbs, and it feels surprisingly welcome and intuitive at the same time. I won’t go too far in-depth for how to play the game, but I’ll give a basic idea of it. Basically, if you hold down your thumb on the right side of the screen, the cat goes right, and if you do the same on the left side of the screen, you’ll move left. Double tapping the screen will make your cat run, and holding the movement down against a wall will allow your cat to climb up a wall. You can then release and press down on the other side of the screen to have your cat jump off of the wall. Also, running towards a cliff will make your cat jump across. It all works surprisingly well, and so the game is great for fans of platformers. I was worried that a platformer on a phone would have to be severely watered down (or just be an automatic runner like most others are), but Super Cat Bros. shows that a game like this can work just as well with a limited control scheme if the game is creative enough.

Everything else in the game was up to snuff for me too. I thought the game looked and sounded beautiful. The art style is simple and cartoony, which I think was the right aesthetic for a game where you play as cats. Everything is bright and colorful, so it’s always pleasant to look at. While the music might not be something that will forever stick in my head, it accompanied the cute style of the rest of the game pretty well.

The game also lasted me longer than I was expecting. Sure, it doesn’t provide the multitude of hours that a console game might, but for a mobile platformer I was pleasantly surprised. There are six worlds in the game, so to just blaze through the game you’ll probably get through it in an hour or two if you’re good. However, there are also bells to collect in every level that add to the challenge, and so I feel like I actually got a few hours out of the game. If you’ve played a New Super Mario Bros. game before, then the formula here will feel similar, where there’s a set amount of levels, but also collectibles in each of them.

It’s not like I consider Super Cat Bros. to be in the top echelon of platformers or anything (it’s no Super Mario Bros., at least), but it’s definitely the best platformer I’ve played on my phone so far. It showed me that traditional platformers can work really well if done right, and it provided me with enough enjoyment that I can definitely recommend it to anyone who’s interested. Give it a shot if you’re looking for something that feels more like a “traditional game” on your phone.

4/5