Cats on Duty - Deluxe Upgrade Pack enhances a charming tower defense strategy game where feline warriors battle undead hordes using clever match-3 mechanics and real-time tactics. This indie title combines casual puzzle elements with intense defense scenarios, making it accessible yet challenging for players who enjoy strategic planning and quick decision-making in a whimsical setting.
Gameplay
In this strategy game, you command a squad of armed cats defending against waves of enemies like zombies, skeletons, and spiders. The core loop involves managing a resource field where you connect matching gems to generate currency. Use that to purchase and upgrade cat towers, each representing unique feline units such as snipers or shotgun-wielding heroes. Positioning matters, as you handle threats from multiple directions, sometimes across dual battlefields. Collect three identical kittens to merge them into a powerful super battle cat, boosting your defenses significantly. Environments range from suburban yards to arid deserts, each introducing terrain-based challenges that demand adaptive strategies.
Combat unfolds in real-time, with bosses like Baba Yaga appearing unexpectedly to test your setup. Upgrades allow customization of your cat squad, unlocking abilities that fit different playstyles, from stealthy assassins to frontline brawlers. The match-3 aspect adds a layer of resource management, requiring efficient gem connections amid ongoing attacks.
Game Modes
The base experience offers a normal mode where you progress through levels, completing the main campaign to unlock deluxe content. Once finished, New Game Plus mode ramps up the difficulty with endless enemy waves, no breaks between them, and enhanced bosses that use abilities more aggressively on standard levels. This mode provides additional powerful towers and upgrades to counter the increased threat.
Challenge mode introduces eight demanding dual-front levels, accessible after normal completion and playable in both standard and New Game Plus variants. Here, enemies assault from all sides, and the landscape favors the attackers, pushing your tactical skills to the limit.
Additional Features
The deluxe pack includes a soundtrack with 15 original compositions that capture the game's epic yet playful tone, suitable for enhancing your playlist beyond gameplay. Visuals feature pixel-art style with vibrant animations, bringing the cat-themed world to life in colorful detail.
Is It Worth Playing?
With a 92% positive rating from 134 user reviews on PC, this game appeals to strategy enthusiasts seeking a fresh take on tower defense. Its blend of match-3 puzzling and real-time defense suits short sessions or longer plays, especially on platforms like PC, Xbox, and PlayStation. Recent console releases in 2025 expanded accessibility, and the deluxe upgrades add replay value for those who complete the main story. If you like lighthearted yet strategic games with undead foes and customizable units, it's a solid choice, though it may feel brief for players wanting extensive campaigns.
