Dr. Spacezoo (2016)

Developer: SmashRiot LLC
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux
Genres: Action, Indie, Early Access
Rating: 5.0 of 5, 9 player ratings
Typical playtime: about 2.5 hours
Where to get it: Steam

The 3D catalog: game boxes on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalog in 3D

The same catalog has a room you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real games from it when you tell them what you feel like playing. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this game is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

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How it feels

This is a chaotic, precision-based shoot-em-up that feels frantic and intense with constant dodging and shooting in procedurally generated arenas.

chaoticintensefast-paceddifficultretrocolorfulpunishingfrantic

What players say

Players enjoy the twist of rescuing animals instead of destroying everything, though your weapons are powerful enough to accidentally kill them. The game starts slowly but gets more complex, with fun bosses and a permadeath mode added. Local co-op is praised for its chaotic smash-bros energy, and a controller is recommended over keyboard and mouse.

Screenshots

More games like this

This page is from Underplayed Gems, a catalog of older and overlooked games. Not quite it? You can browse by platform and genre, or take this one into the 3D catalog and ask the Catbot for something closer.