Stressed by a fast-approaching deadline and the Halloween haze, I headed to my Google search bar to look for the answer to a random question. To my amazement, I saw that a new Magic Cat Academy game had been released. Brushing off my shock, I quickly clicked the play button, excited to experience another Halloween cat game.
For several years, I’ve known that Google releases games and informational features to celebrate holidays, historical events, and cultural traditions. I’ve always seen this as a creative way to teach web users fun facts while spreading a little holiday cheer. I get especially excited when a new game is added to the mix.
On Oct. 30, Google released the third installment of Magic Cat Academy 3, one of my favorite mini-game series. Magic Cat Academy 3 features a cat named Momo embarking on an out-of-this-world adventure to battle ghosts and her longtime rival, Marshmallow, in outer space.
Players eliminate ghosts as they appear on the screen by drawing the corresponding symbols displayed above their heads. Players have five lives, which they can replenish by drawing a heart symbol. The mechanics are easy to use for players with a mouse or touchscreen but can be challenging for those using a computer touchpad.
For me, it was simple to fall into a rhythm of drawing symbols to defeat ghosts. Even for players less enamored with cat games than I am, the tutorial makes it easy to grasp how to play.
This game is perfect for a quick brain break during a busy day. It took me about 10 to 15 minutes to complete, and it was a delightful way to pause my endless to-do list.
Previous installments of Magic Cat Academy include Ghouls in School, the first game, and A Commotion in the Ocean, the second. These games have appealed to me since I was young, and even as an adult, I’m drawn to their cute animated animals and distinctive mechanics. The games feature a unique cartoonish and airbrushed art style that brings out my inner child.
The storyline flows seamlessly across installments, creating a consistent and cohesive experience. I especially enjoyed the short animations of Momo and other characters, which showcase the game’s progression.
Juliana Chen, one of the artists behind Magic Cat Academy, was inspired by her cat, Momo, who often sat nearby as she worked. The team behind Magic Cat Academy clearly enjoys their work, evident in their creativity with character designs and game concepts.
According to Google Doodle, “The original concept for the game involved a magic cat making a soup that was so good, it raised the dead. Connecting soup to Halloween proved too abstract, so the team shifted to the idea of a wizard school.” This shift opened the door to a more robust world filled with interesting characters and “paw-some” themes.
The team also weaves educational elements into Magic Cat Academy. The game consists of five levels, each named after a layer of the atmosphere: the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere. After completing each level, players see an image of Momo alongside the mini-boss at that altitude.
In the final level, Momo teams up with Marshmallow to defeat a star-possessed sun. This reinforces the message that teamwork and forgiveness are essential, even among rivals.
I thoroughly enjoyed playing all the Magic Cat Academy games. Even though Halloween has passed, I hope others take the opportunity to experience the joy these games bring.
