Gotcha vs dobudex
Updated October 1, 2026. By Jurre de Ruiter, who makes Gotcha.
We make Gotcha, so weigh our view of it accordingly. Everything said about dobudex here comes from its own website or store listing as of October 1, 2026, and prices are described rather than quoted because they change.
Side by side
| Gotcha | dobudex | |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | iPhone and Android | iPhone and Android |
| What you collect | 2,225 animal species (mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, insects, spiders) | Animals, pets included |
| What you do with a catch | Rarity from common to legendary, stickers cut from your own photos, and a zoo you build where your catches live and draw visitors. Eight leagues, a seasonal Zoo Pass, friends and clubs | Pixel-art cards with stats, and rarity set by how often the community scans a species |
| Battles | No | No |
| Cost | Free to play. Optional Gotcha+ subscription with a free trial. | A handful of free scans, then a subscription |
| Best for | A long-term collection game where every catch builds something | Fans of a retro pixel-art look |
What dobudex does better
- A distinctive pixel-art style.
- Rarity that moves with what the community actually finds.
What Gotcha does better
- Your catches build something. Every animal moves into a zoo you design, with habitats, paths, landmarks and visitors who pay to see it.
- Stickers cut from your own photos, so your collection is your photography rather than stock art.
- A fixed index of 2,225 animal species with five rarity tiers, so there is always a clear next target and a legendary worth bragging about.
- Free to play on iPhone and Android, with backup to your account so a new phone keeps your collection.
- Available in 44 languages.
About each app
Gotcha
Gotcha turns a photo of a real animal into a collectible. The app cuts the animal out of your shot, names the species, grades it from common to legendary, and files it in an index of 2,225 species. Since version 2.0 the animals you catch move into a zoo you build and run. It is available in 44 languages.
dobudex
dobudex, launched in July 2026, turns each animal you scan into a pixel-art card with stats. Rarity is decided by how often the whole community scans a species. dobudex.com
Questions people ask
Is Gotcha better than dobudex?
They are built for different people. dobudex is best for fans of a retro pixel-art look. Gotcha is best for a long-term collection game: 2,225 animal species graded from common to legendary, stickers cut from your own photos, and a zoo your catches move into.
Is Gotcha free like dobudex?
Gotcha is free to play on iPhone and Android, with an optional Gotcha+ subscription that removes the daily catch limit. dobudex: a handful of free scans, then a subscription.
Can I use Gotcha and dobudex together?
Yes. Nothing stops you photographing the same animal for both. Plenty of people use a field guide or a battle game alongside Gotcha, which is the one where the catch ends up living in a zoo you built.
Looking at more than two apps? The full guide to real-life animal collecting apps compares Gotcha with 9 others.