Ahead of the Game - Hellic lets you save the isekai world by collecting anthropomorphic cats very, very idly

• Take on the role of the Legendary Butler
• Collect anthropomorphic cats to save the world
• Do it all idly, though, because cats = lounging around

Hello and welcome to Ahead of the Game, a series where we tell you all about an upcoming game that, despite not being out yet, is available for you to play at the time of publishing. Through this series, you can grab a chance to play games well ahead of their release date, be that through Soft Launch, Open Beta, Demos, or more.

Despite this year being the Year of the Snake, feline-themed quests are dominating the mobile space recently - and rightly so. I mean, who wouldn't want to be at cat masters' every beck and call, doomed to a lifetime of servitude under these superior kitty kings and queens? 

Neko Atsume and Mister Antonio, for instance, will let you do just that - but with Hellic, it seems like the tables have turned as you're the master this time around. As the prophesied Legendary Butler, you'll navigate your way through this isekai adventure with anthropomorphic cats by your side.

You're thrust into a heated battle between cattos and doggos, but if you're worried about biting off more than you can chew, fret not. The idle mechanics keep things totally chill and pressure-free - cats love lounging around, after all.

Essentially, your squad of feline friends will fight through auto-battles on screen with the Auto-Advance on, and all you really have to do is collect gacha capsules that contain special gear to power up your team. As you progress, you'll unlock more cat companions, and you can even do a little bit of literal farming along the way.

Given the idle elements and the rewards you receive even when you're offline, it's interesting how the gacha capsules still need you to manually open them up each time your earn one. But I suppose you can't save the world without lifting a finger - you should at least do what you can to help your team with their neverending quest.

And you really will want to give them a helping hand, as each cat companion features lovely character designs that brighten up your collection. As you go on, other animal critters will join the fray, with everything from mischievous mice to plump penguins taking up their swords to join the fight. 

Now, the narrative here, as you might expect, isn't really anything to write home about, but it does offer some entertainment given how colourful the kitties' personalities are. It's a nice change of pace from all the doom and gloom out there - or, if nothing else, you can at least add cute cats to your collection, which is always a good thing.

So, how do you play Hellic?

Download now!

Hellic