Pets & Stuff: The VR Game That Even My Cat-Obsessed Partner Loved!

Lewis
Jun 10
7 min read

Animals have always been a big part of my life. Growing up, I was constantly surrounded by pets—too many cats to count and a handful of dogs, including one unforgettable Alaskan Malamute Husky named Enzo. Picture an oversized fox with a heart of gold, and that was Enzo to a tee. These days, my partner’s cat keeps the pet-filled vibe going strong, so no matter where I am, there’s always a furry friend nearby. Now, you might be thinking, “Lewis, why the sudden talk about pets?” Well, I recently had the chance to dive into one of the latest releases from Hyper VR Games—an experience that brings every animal lover’s dream to life in the most immersive way possible. Pets & Stuff lets you step into the shoes of a dedicated animal carer, looking after all sorts of lovable creatures. These adorable furballs have found themselves in a bit of a pickle, and it’s up to you to nurse them back to happiness and make sure they’re living their best lives—happy as Larry!

Pets & Stuff

Developer: HyperVR Games

Publisher: HyperVR Games

Genre: Simulation, Sandbox, Arcade

Platforms: PSVR2, Meta Quest, Steam VR

Release Dates: PSVR2: 12th December 2024, Meta Quest: 29th August 2024, Steam VR: 23rd May 2025

Pets & Stuff marked my first experience with a HyperVR game, so I went in with minimal expectations. This is the same team that’s brought us everything from intergalactic dentistry for titans to quirky salon simulations—and yes, even a game called Hide the Corpse, which I definitely need to check out sometime. After watching the trailer for Pets & Stuff and knowing how much my partner Megan adores animals, I figured this was the perfect one to dive into—both for myself and to get her thoughts, too.

Story & Setting

The plot of Pets & Stuff leans more toward a job simulator than a traditional story-driven game. You’re placed in a quirky pet care office, where animals are brought in one by one for a bit of TLC. A notice board above helps you identify what each pet needs—anything from flea treatment to a new fur colour, a stylish collar, or even a cute pair of glasses. The variety of customisation options is surprisingly broad.

Once you complete all the tasks, the pet leaves happier, and you earn stars, which can be used to upgrade your surroundings. This upgrade system feels a lot like those mobile games where you complete levels to unlock new areas, meaning there's a degree of repetition. While there’s no real storyline, Pets & Stuff makes up for it with its creative and light-hearted approach to pet care.

As you progress through Pets & Stuff, new themed worlds gradually unlock, each bringing with it a fresh set of pets that match the environment. For example, in the farm world, you’ll be caring for animals like cows, while in the pet clinic, it’s more likely to be cats and smaller domestic companions. Each world also hides little secrets to help you earn extra stars, such as a basketball mini-game you can play after caring for each pet, speeding up your progress. There are no characters or dialogue to follow—just you, the animals, and a bunch of charming tasks to complete.

Gameplay

The mechanics in Pets & Stuff are simple and entirely player-driven, making it easy to pick up and play. You use your VR controllers as hands, grabbing items with the triggers and using them as needed. It’s all very intuitive. For example, if a cat needs brushing, you just grab the brush and get to work. A progress bar on the notice board above shows how much of the task you've completed, keeping everything clear and easy to follow.

It’s straightforward, but it works well for the laid-back, casual vibe of the game. My partner Megan usually struggles with severe motion sickness when it comes to VR, but Pets & Stuff was a pleasant surprise for her. She was able to play for over an hour without any discomfort, and genuinely enjoyed every minute of it. That alone speaks volumes about how well the game handles movement and player comfort.

Progress in Pets & Stuff centres around earning stars by completing each pet’s list of needs. Once all their requirements are met, the pet leaves happy, and you’re rewarded with stars that are stored in your piggy bank. These stars can then be spent on upgrades and to unlock new worlds. While the environments, themes, and animals do change as you progress, the actual tasks remain largely the same. It’s a simple and initially satisfying system, but the repetitive gameplay loop becomes noticeable after a while, especially during longer sessions.

Graphics & Visual Design

One of the standout aspects of Pets & Stuff has to be its visual design. The game embraces a bright, cartoony art style that perfectly complements its light-hearted tone and pet-focused gameplay. Everything from the colourful environments to the animated animals oozes charm and personality, creating a fun and welcoming world for players of all ages. Technically, it’s also impressive—textures are crisp, environments are well-detailed, and during my time with the game, I didn’t experience any noticeable stuttering, bugs, or frame drops. It’s clear the game is well-optimised for VR, which is vital for immersion.

And while there aren't any grand cinematic cutscenes, the animal animations steal the show, especially when they don't like what you’re doing. Trust me, accidentally spraying a grumpy cat in the eye with paint, and you’ll find out just how realistic the bite animations are. You might walk away with a few virtual scratches—or in my case, a pair of very sore pretend fingers. Lesson learned: keep the pets happy, or suffer the toothy consequences. Like real animals, they bite!

When you're the best of friends, having so much fun together!

Sound & Music

The sound design in Pets & Stuff plays a key role in creating a charming and immersive atmosphere. Each animal has its own unique sounds—meows, barks, moos, and more—that bring them to life and make your interactions feel genuine. Alongside these, a gentle, upbeat music track runs in the background, perfectly matching the game’s light-hearted and relaxing tone. One amusing audio detail is the sad little noise that wasps, flies, and mosquitoes make when you swat them—it adds a touch of humour to the experience.

User Experience & Accessibility

Pets & Stuff features a clean, minimal interface with no on-screen clutter, making it easy to focus on the gameplay. Menus and controls are intuitive and straightforward. Although there are no formal accessibility options, you can adjust the height and position of the table and tools to suit your comfort. The game runs smoothly with minimal load times and no noticeable performance issues.

HAKUNA MATATA! It means no worries, for the rest of your days!

Innovation & Comparison

One of the standout features in Pets & Stuff is the variety of gloves you can use, and my favourite has to be the purple one that shoots electricity—yes, I totally channelled my inner Darth Sidious with an enthusiastic “UNLIMITED POWER!” There’s also a glove that reminds me of something from Poppy Playtime, with a multi-coloured, slinky-like hand shape, and another that lets you draw—though I may or may not have accidentally poked an animal in the eye while testing it. Honestly, there’s a glove for just about every kind of playful mischief you can imagine.

Upgrading the world is a familiar feature in many games, but Pets & Stuff adds its own charm through fun little minigames and creative touches that help bring each environment to life. While the concept isn’t entirely new, the way it’s integrated here adds a sense of progress and personality that keeps things feeling fresh.

Compared to other titles from HyperVR Games—like the bizarre Titans Clinic, the chaotic Shave & Stuff, or the darkly comedic Hide the Corpse—Pets & Stuff feels like one of their more refined and accessible experiences. While it still carries the studio’s signature wacky charm, it leans more into light-hearted fun with its animal care theme, making it more relaxing and family-friendly. It may not be as wild as Hide the Corpse or as over-the-top as Titans Clinic, but it strikes a nice balance and shows HyperVR Games can deliver playful creativity with a softer touch.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Final Thoughts

Strengths

Pets & Stuff shines with its charming art style, smooth VR performance, and creative use of customisable gloves that add a fun twist to the gameplay. The clean interface and intuitive controls make it accessible to players of all experience levels—even those prone to motion sickness, like my partner, were able to enjoy it comfortably. While the core loop is repetitive, the variety of pets, themed worlds, and humorous little touches—like swatting sad-sounding bugs or channelling Darth Sidious with electric gloves—add a layer of playful enjoyment that stands out in HyperVR’s quirky catalogue.

Weaknesses

While Pets & Stuff is full of charm, its biggest drawback is the repetitive gameplay loop. Despite the variety of pets and themed worlds, the tasks themselves don’t evolve much, which can lead to fatigue during longer play sessions. The lack of traditional accessibility options may be a limitation for some players, though the ability to adjust tool and table height does help. With a bit more task variety and deeper progression, the game could really elevate its already fun foundation.

Personal Opinion

I really enjoyed playing Pets & Stuff with my partner. It was the first time she genuinely got into a PSVR2 game—trust me, I’ve tried many—but this one had her playing for over an hour straight, and once she was done, I happily carried on.

Megan: "Pets & Stuff was an enjoyable experience, it wasn't too hard on me in the likes of motion and the cute animals... OHHHHHHH the Cats, the meow, meows were my favourite, I wish I could have taken them all!"

I think it’s safe to say my partner liked it—she’s definitely got a soft spot. No, an obsession when it comes to cats.

Anyway, Pets & Stuff ended up being more than just a silly animal sim; it became a genuinely fun shared experience, packed with charm, laughter, and enough meows to keep Megan smiling for hours. If you’re an animal lover or simply looking for a light-hearted and entertaining VR experience, Pets & Stuff is worth checking out.

Oh! And before I end, my partner Megan asked me to tell you in her words, "THANK YOU, HAYLEE AND HYPERVR GAMES!"

A huge thank you to everyone who took the time to read this review – your support truly means the world to me and is always appreciated!

On behalf of all of us here, thank you once again! I’m Lewis, and this has been another XPN Gaming review. Oh, and before you leave, don’t forget to… KEEP GAMING!