Build-a-pet | Devpost

Inspiration

Build-a-Pet came from noticing how much people love customizing characters, toys, and avatars, but rarely get to build a companion that actually grows with them. The goal was to create a warm, playful experience where creativity, care, and personality matter just as much as winning, and where every pet feels like something you truly made yourself.

What it does

Build-a-Pet lets players design their own unique pet by mixing and matching body shapes, colors, textures, abilities, and personality traits. Players can raise their pets over time by feeding them, training them, playing mini-games, and exploring friendly environments together. Each choice affects how the pet moves, reacts, and bonds with the player, so no two pets behave the same, even if they look similar.

How I built it

I built a modular pet system where each body part, ability, and personality trait is a separate component that snaps together in real time. These components feed into a behavior system that controls animations, emotions, and reactions, such as excitement, curiosity, or shyness. I also created an intuitive drag-and-drop builder interface so players can instantly preview changes, along with a progression system that tracks bonding, skills, and growth as players spend time with their pets.

Challenges I ran into

One of the biggest challenges was making sure pets felt expressive and alive without making the system too complex. Some combinations of traits behaved unpredictably and needed extra tuning. I also had to balance freedom with structure so players could experiment creatively without accidentally creating pets that felt broken or confusing. Making sure pets remembered their history and bonded consistently across play sessions was another technical challenge.

Accomplishments that I'm proud of

I’m especially proud that players can create pets that feel genuinely personal and emotionally meaningful. The system supports a huge range of combinations while still feeling approachable and fun. The creation flow feels friendly and playful, and pets respond in ways that make players feel seen and rewarded for how they care for them, not just how they build them.

What I learned

I learned that players connect most deeply with systems that respond to their choices over time. Small behavioral details can create strong emotional attachment. Clear visual feedback helps players understand complex systems without feeling overwhelmed. Designing for kindness and creativity can be just as engaging as designing for competition.

What’s next for Build-a-Pet

Next, I want to add pet breeding with inherited traits, shared spaces where pets can meet and play together, and more activities that highlight different abilities. I also plan to expand customization with seasonal parts, outfits, and accessories, while continuing to focus on making pets feel alive, expressive, and fun to care for.