The story

The year is 3122, man has taken to space and has brought some feline friends along for the ride. And what do cats of the future like to do? Well, chase mice of course. Only in 3122 they like to chase mice using flying saucers as their mode of transport. A bonkers platformer that will appeal to anyone who loves cats on flying saucers.

The experience

In essence, this is a flight-based platformer – you zoom along the landscape attempting to catch mice and more tricky “Space Rats” while avoiding obstacles in your spaceship map.

Controls are beautifully simple – tilt to navigate left and right and touch the screen for added throttle  – you can switch to “realistic” mode if arcade isn’t up your street.

The game’s real charm, however, is of course in the cats. They are fantastically animated – their cutely determined demeanor combined with hilarious reactions when they come off worse in a collision are brilliantly done. And there’s something about seeing cats swoop around in flying saucers that we just can’t get enough of.

The game works on in-app purchases. Do well, and you’re awarded with “pills” which can then be exchanged for customisation options and new cats, as well as new level unlocks.

There are 10 breeds of kitty to choose from, as well as loads of flying saucer variations and paint jobs. This model isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but you can earn pills just by playing and you might actually end up spending as much time in the shop as in the game.

The bottom line

Love space? Love cats? Then you’ll probably like SpaceCats. Witty touches and great attention to detail make this more than a one-play gimmick too.