Outright Games has built a reputation for crafting family-friendly adaptations of beloved franchises. Their latest, DreamWorks Gabby’s Dollhouse: Ready to Party, continues that trend — and this time, I’m not reviewing it alone. My 5-year-old, almost 6-year-old daughter joined me to share her perspective, because if any game deserves to be seen through a child’s eyes, it’s this one. So without further ado, I’ll give the keyboard over to her!
The Cats You Get to Help
Dad: Outright knows that the Gabby Cats are the heart of the series, and the game makes sure they’re front and center.
Daughter: Yes! I want to talk about all the cats I got to help dad!
Dad: Like DJ Catnip? His rhythm games in Caturn were highlights for me — simple, but they capture the show’s upbeat spirit.
Daughter: And Kitty Fairy! I liked growing flowers in her garden. MerCat’s treasure hunting underwater was fun too.
Dad: Carlita brings obstacle courses, and even Mama Box, Baby Box, and CatRat pop up to keep things lively. Each cat has its own twist, which keeps the adventure varied.
Daughter: But now you are spoiling all the cats I got to help dad!
Dad: Oh, right, sorry. This was your review – go ahead.
Daughter: So, in this game, so many of the Gabby Cats are there, and I think each is super fun:
Gabby is the one I’m always controlling (unless I have a friend holding Pandy Paws) — she’s brave and curious.
Pandy Paws joins in if you play co-op; we sometimes work together. This was super fun to do with both my dad and my little sister.
Cakey is the baker kitty: in Sweet Treat Mountain, she helps you collect stuff for cake, like cookies, sprinkles, and gummy worms. Yum!
DJ Catnip is in Caturn and the Music World; I like the music-dance minigames with DJ Catnip.
Kitty Fairy is in the Fairy Tail Garden; there are garden-magic things and flowers to take care of.
MerCat takes you underwater in Mermaid-lantis to find treasure.
Carlita has obstacle-course-style stuff in the Playroom — jump, duck, run.
Also, Mama Box & Baby Box, CatRat, Pillow Cat, Marty the Party Cat — they all show up for party tasks or as little helpers.
Mechanics Made for Young Players
Dad: Okay, so next to the cats, you could help in this game. Shall we discuss how the game works and what went well?
Daughter: It was easy! I could run around, pick up stuff, and play little games. And I could change Gabby’s clothes. That was my favourite.
Dad: Yeah, I’ve got to agree with you. Accessibility is where Ready to Party shines. The controls are intuitive, the Catavator makes moving between worlds seamless, and mini-games are short enough to keep kids engaged. And since there are enough coins scattered around the world, kids are never truly locked out of any form of content.
Daughter: Oh, and I liked it when you played as Pandy Paws with me.
Dad: The co-op mode is a welcome touch. Parents or siblings can join in without overshadowing the child’s experience. That said, some repetition sneaks in — a common drawback when keeping mechanics simple. However, this is from a parent’s view. My kids both loved the different biomes and cats with their own touches in worldbuilding and setting. Were there any things in the game that you didn’t like?
Daughter: Sometimes I had some trouble with the platformers that moved up and down like wings. Oh, and the ropes. Jumping on those was also sometimes quite challenging. However, with some practice and your help, we were able to solve all the problems encountered along the way.
Tied to the Movie
Dad: Right, we need to discuss the movie and game combination. The timing of this release isn’t accidental. The game launches just before Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie, out later this month.
Daughter: I want to see it so bad! Can we go?
Dad: Weren’t we already going for your birthday? The game is coming out just before Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie, so they work together nicely. The movie’s release is September 26, 2025. The film’s plot involves Gabby and Grandma Gigi going on a road trip, where the dollhouse ends up in the hands of a cat lady named Vera. Gabby must then reunite all the Gabby Cats and save the dollhouse. In Ready to Party, you don’t do that exact road trip, but the spirit of gathering all the cats (for the party), using each one’s extraordinary things, and collecting things to save the celebration feels very similar. It makes me more excited for the movie because I feel like I’ve already practiced being Gabby.
How It Stands Among Outright Games
Dad: We’ve played other Outright titles. Remember Paw Patrol: Grand Prix?
Daughter: Yes! That was the racing one. Oh, and Peppa! Although that’s one my sister now plays since I’m getting a bit too old for Peppa.
Dad: Exactly. The Paw Patrol game leaned into competition — a fun, but narrowly focused, approach. And the Peppa game is more like Ready to Party, a slower-paced but far more varied game. It’s not about winning; it’s about helping, exploring, and creating. And it sets the tone in its own way, with enough elements and voice acting from the series to keep kids engaged and make them feel like they are playing through the show they love and watch on TV.
Daughter: I liked this one more. It has more cats and more things to do. And it’s less … ‘baby-like’.
Dad: And that’s the difference, you grew up and became older. And that’s also the strength of Outright Games. They often deliver faithful adaptations, but this one captures the spirit of its source material better than most. It feels less like a reskinned genre game and more like an extension of Gabby’s magical world. And due to the mechanics and evolved gameplay style, it’s the perfect game for kids your age!
Conclusion
Daughter: I give it an 8 out of 10. I love it, but I’d like to see more diverse mini-games in the next Gabby game!
Dad: A fair score. Gabby’s Dollhouse: Ready to Party is colorful, charming, and tailor-made for its audience. It’s approachable for kids, enjoyable in co-op, and perfectly timed with the movie’s release. Outright Games has crafted one of its strongest adaptations here — a game that doesn’t just wear the Gabby name, but celebrates it.
