Practically any gamer, casual or hardcore, new or experienced, young or old, likely likes puppies and kittens. Far and away the most common types of pets, canines and felines are part of most peoples' daily lives in some form. Nintendo was aware of this back in 2005 with the creation of real-time simulator Nintendogs, and its 2011 follow-up Nintendogs + Cats. However, with over a decade since the last entry, players may be looking for a modern-day version of the franchise -- enter Puppies and Kittens.

Puppies & Kittens is being developed by It Matters Games, with Microids' sub-label Microids Life as its publisher. Microids boasts an eclectic mix of popular series like Syberia with remakes like Asterix & Obelix XXL. Microids was also behind the less-than-popular XIII remake, something they publicly apologized for.

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Microids Life is confirming today that Puppies and Kittens is heading to the Switch later this year. The game will feature over 20 of the most popular breeds of cats and dogs around the world, with each animal having its own unique personality and preferences. Players who pay close attention to their pet's needs will strengthen their bond with them, a key component of success. Similarly to its Nintendogs inspiration, various mini games and activities will be available including walks to explore for treasures around the neighborhood, visiting a meadow and dog park, and getting new items via the local shop. Pet owners can teach their animals tricks to educate them, while making four-legged friends means adorable play time and advice and tips on fur-child-rearing.

Puppies and Kittens is actually just one of three new video game entries in Microids Life's My Universe series, joining the ranks of games such as Pet Clinic - Cats & Dogs, Fashion Boutique, and Cooking Star Restaurant. Also developed by It Matters Games, Interior Designer and Doctors & Nurses are also slated for a Fall/Holiday 2021 release. Given completely overt titles, Interior Designer follows the player as they develop an interior design agency, while Doctors & Nurses gives players a chance to live out a medical career. Players will discover hospital life while taking care of patients through various mini-games.

Judging by the screenshots released thus far, Puppies and Kittens looks to be somewhat of a spiritual successor to Nintendogs, capturing its light and bright atmosphere along with some seriously adorable-looking puppies and kittens. Its curious as to why Nintendo has left the IP dormant for over a decade, with the franchise often cited as one of the best titles on the DS and 3DS. Paris Hilton even asked Nintendo to release a Nintendogs mobile game a few years ago, a testament to the pet sim genre's enduring popularity.

The screenshots of Puppies and Kittens makes the game look promising, but only time will tell if it can manage to ulitmately fill the void on the Switch. The game will also be available on PS4, but fans may be busy with Ghost of Tsushima's updated foxes.

Puppies and Kittens launches October 28 for Switch, PS4, PC and Mac.

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Source: Microids