Animal Training

Inspiration

We love creature-collectors and party racers, but wanted a family-friendly loop where taming, training, and racing feed each other. Animal Training blends the joy of finding animals with the thrill of outpacing rivals, quick, bright, and competitive.

What it does

Each match drops 8 players into a shared arena. A random biome (Desert, Arctic, Forest, etc.) appears in the center, bringing its own animals and traits. Players tame what they find and add them to their farm, then select a squad to enter races packed with boosts and hazards. Winning grants trophies that upgrade the farm and unlock training sessions, so animals improve and run faster in the next heats.

How we built it

We prototyped and built the game in Meta Horizon Editor, using its scripting to author spawning rules, animal state machines, and race logic. Custom components handle biome rotation, farm upgrades, and short training minigames (Speed, Stamina, Focus). UI and matchmaking tie the loop together for quick, replayable sessions.

Challenges we ran into

Keeping eight players contesting the same biome readable and fair. Communicating tame timers and ownership cleanly. Designing races where different animal traits feel distinct without overwhelming younger players.

Accomplishments that we’re proud of

A smooth taming-to-racing loop, lively biomes that change the meta each round, and farms that visibly power up through trophies. Playtests showed strong “one more run” energy.

What we learned

Short, intentional actions keep the rhythm snappy. Clear feedback beats complexity. Training choices feel best when their effects are immediately visible in the next race.

What’s next for Animal Training

More biomes and species, seasonal race cups, co-op farm visits, safe trading, collectible cosmetics, and community challenges with rotating rule sets.