Pug'llector is a really simple clicker game built around one very important thing, collecting as many different pugs as I can. I start by clicking to earn money, then use that money on upgrades that improve both my manual clicking and automatic income. It is a very basic idea, but the pug collection gives it a bit more personality than a normal clicker. I can also change backgrounds and pug skins, so there is at least some visual stuff to work towards while the numbers keep going up.
The collecting side is easily the part I find most interesting. Pugs are given to me over time, with a new one arriving every 2 hours and 45 minutes, and I can collect and trade them. There are different pug designs and skins, so the game gives me a reason to keep checking back even when I am not actively clicking. I also like that there are achievements connected to owning particular pugs or sets of them. It turns the otherwise repetitive clicking into something more like a small collection project.
The actual clicker mechanics are about as straightforward as they can get. I click, earn money, buy upgrades and let the automatic systems take over more of the work. That makes it very easy for me to understand, and I do not have to spend time learning complicated menus or systems. The problem is that there is not a huge amount of depth behind those upgrades. Once I understand the basic loop, I am mostly watching the numbers increase and waiting for the next useful purchase or pug to become available.
I think the free to play format works in its favour because I can simply try it without having to commit any money. The game is also extremely lightweight, with very low system requirements, so it is easy to run in the background while I am doing something else. There are 33 Steam achievements as well, which gives me another small reason to keep collecting and progressing.
The biggest weakness for me is that Pug'llector is just too limited to hold my attention for long sessions. Once I have seen the main upgrades and understand how the collection works, there are not many new gameplay ideas appearing. The pug designs are the main reward, but the actual process of getting them is mostly waiting and clicking. I think the game would have been much stronger with more things to do between collections, such as extra challenges, more interesting upgrade choices or some kind of larger progression system.
I do still think there is something quite relaxing about it. I can leave it running, come back later, collect whatever has appeared and make a few upgrades before closing it again. The silly pug theme also makes the simplicity easier to accept because I am not expecting a serious simulation or a complicated incremental game. It knows that the main attraction is collecting cute pugs, and it keeps that idea front and centre.
Overall, Pug'llector is a harmless little clicker that works best when I want something extremely simple to leave running in the background. I like the pug collection, different skins, backgrounds and easy progression, but the basic gameplay does not have enough depth to keep me interested for very long. The free price helps a lot, and there is enough here for a short casual experience, but I would have liked more ways to interact with the collection instead of mainly waiting for the next pug. For me, it is cute and enjoyable in small amounts, but it needs more actual gameplay to become something I would stick with for a long time.
Rating: 6.7/10
