In a surprising turn of events, the Jolly Dog iPad game, designed for our four-legged companions, is rapidly climbing the ranks on the App Store charts, all thanks to viral gameplay clips circulating on social media.
Although originally released in 2016, the app has recently captured the attention of users and now sits at an impressive No. 27 spot among the top free iPad apps in the United States, as reported by App Figures, a market research firm specializing in app analytics.
While not every dog seems equally intrigued, numerous pet owners have hailed Jolly Dog as a source of endless entertainment – and it’s not just the furry pals who are captivated. Some human users have admitted to enjoying the game as well.
Jolly Dog offers a straightforward gameplay experience, centered around a game of catch. Cartoon animals scamper across the screen, each emitting distinctive noises. The objective? Your dog must “catch” these critters by landing a paw on the animated character, causing it to vanish amidst a shower of stars, only to be replaced by another creature. The game can continue indefinitely if allowed. You can witness the gameplay on YouTube for a glimpse of the fun.
What adds to the game’s appeal is the variety it offers, with each cartoon animal boasting unique running patterns and sounds. Moreover, for every 10 characters successfully caught, the game unlocks additional animals and diverse play environments.
The app’s color scheme is thoughtfully designed to align with the visual spectrum of cats and dogs, catering to their specific sensory experiences.
Jolly Dog is available for free download and initial play but is limited to just three animals (a mouse, a rabbit, and a pig) and three play environments. For a fuller experience, users can opt for the paid pro version, priced at $1.99, which unlocks all 14 characters (including a gopher, crab, and spider) and four additional play environments (such as a terrace and seashore.)
The game has garnered rave reviews and ratings from pet owners, with one user expressing, “My cat loves the basic version so I paid for the pro version.” Another reviewer even revealed, “I saw people say ‘my cat/dog loves it’ but I thought my anxiety would love this and it does it’s a great little sensory game for young children or people with anxiety like me! I couldn’t let this game be called ‘game for pets/animals’ because it’s a great sensory game for pets/animals and humans! And I love it. I literally played for over an hour just pressing the little toys and watching them turn into stars.”
