Hackycat
A casual game about kicking cats as hacky sacks.
Hackycat is a casual sports game from 2013, created by Ken Wong for iOS and Android. Players take on the role of an athlete who kicks cats like hacky sacks to keep them airborne, while collecting cheeseburgers (spelled Cheezburgers). It first launched on iOS in 2013, and the Android version came out in 2013 as well.
In the game, players choose from three athletes: Toby, who gains super speed; Corrine, who has a larger super target; or Ramirez, a werewolf with faster kicks that must be unlocked. The goal is to tap a cat to kick it, earning points and Cheezburgers. Points increase with combos or stylish kicks. Cheezburgers appear on-screen and are collected by kicking cats over them; they unlock cosmetic items like alternate cat appearances and permanent power-ups. As the game progresses, new cats drop from the top, raising the difficulty. The game ends if a cat hits the ground or if the player taps an explosive bird. Building up points fills a superkick charge, and when the bar is full, a target appears in the center. Hitting this target while cats are in the middle kicks them off-screen, clearing them.
Development took about a year, starting in 2012. Wong pitched the game as "Hackycat. It's like hackysack but with cats." It was released on February 14, 2013. Some people criticized the idea of kicking cats, but Wong expected this, noting that absurdist or confrontational concepts appear in film, music, and literature—citing *Road Runner*, *Happy Tree Friends*, and *South Park*—so he didn't find Hackycat shocking. He aimed for a "very simple and very naive" look, inspired by the "dorky aesthetic" of movies like *Napoleon Dynamite* and *Nacho Libre*. Wong kept the mechanics simple because he believed the average player has limited gaming experience and shouldn't be overwhelmed. The iOS version was removed from the App Store in 2017 after Apple dropped 32-bit app support, but it was rereleased by GameClub in 2019 and ported to Android in 2013.
Critics generally gave Hackycat positive reviews, calling its gameplay "difficult and addictive" and praising its cute cartoon graphics. *Den of Geek* found it "incredibly addicting," while *TouchArcade* described it as "utterly silly" and "adorable," with solid presentation and legitimately challenging gameplay when multiple cats appear. *Gamezebo* highlighted its sense of humor and called it "truly one of the most fun
- Release Year (Android)
- 2013
Quick Facts
- Title
- Hackycat
- Platforms
- Android, iOS
- Released
- February 14, 2013 (iOS) / 2020 (Android)
- Genre
- Sports, casual
- Modes
- Single-player
- Designer
- Ken Wong
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Hackycat was created by Adelaide-based developer Ken Wong over the course of a year starting in 2012. Wong's pitch for the game was simply 'Hackycat. It's like hackysack but with cats.' The game was released on February 14, 2013. Wong anticipated negative responses to the core concept of kicking cats, noting that in film, music, and literature, audiences are accustomed to confronting and absurdist work, and he did not find the game shocking in the context of works like Road Runner, Happy Tree Friends, and South Park. Wong designed the game to look 'very simple and very naive,' inspired by the 'dorky aesthetic' of films such as Napoleon Dynamite and Nacho Libre. He kept gameplay mechanics simple because he believed the average player's gaming experience is low and he did not want to alienate or overwhelm them early with complex controls.
Reader's Guide
Hackycat is significant as an early mobile indie title that successfully blended a controversial premise with simple, addictive gameplay. The game received generally positive reviews, with critics noting its 'difficult and addictive' gameplay and praising its 'cute' cartoon graphics. Den of Geek described it as 'incredibly addicting,' while TouchArcade called it 'utterly silly' and 'adorable,' praising its presentation and 'solid' gameplay. Gamezebo praised the game's sense of humor and called it 'truly one of the most fun and addictive time wasters [on mobile] to date.' Pocket Gamer highlighted its 'charm and warm humour' and 'lovely to look at' presentation. 148Apps noted that the concept of kicking cats could have been in 'terribly bad taste,' but the cartoon style ensured it was 'simply mindless fun.' The iOS version was made unavailable in 2017 after Apple dropped support for 32-bit applications, but was rereleased by GameClub in 2019 and later ported to Android in 2020. Hackycat's legacy lies in demonstrating how a simple, absurd concept can find an audience on mobile platforms when executed with a clear aesthetic and accessible mechanics.
Did You Know?
- The game's cheeseburgers are stylized as 'Cheezburgers'.
- Players can unlock a werewolf athlete named Ramirez who has faster kicks.
- The game ends if a cat hits the ground or the player taps on an explosive bird.
- Ken Wong was inspired by the 'dorky aesthetic' of Napoleon Dynamite and Nacho Libre.
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