In my time playing video games (or just games in general), I have yet to come across one where the cat is the main character. I've played games with dogs and horses but none with cats - shocking right? I honestly like cats and find them highly misunderstood, but no game ever caught my attention enough to make me want to play it. That is, until I played Stray.
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I remember watching the trailer for this game back in 2022 and knew for a fact that it'd be a game I'd enjoy. To play a cat exploring a dystopian city? Yes, count me in! But, for whatever reason, I forgot to buy the game when it came out until one day my boyfriend, Dimitar, gifted me the game to play on Steam. So on one rainy afternoon up in my loft, I dimmed the lights down low and started the game up.
( If you don't like spoilers, I'd skip this post altogether but read on if you're still curious.)
The game starts out immersing you into a group of cats huddled up in a tunnel overgrown with vegetation. The atmosphere quickly gives you a sense of longing for something that you aren't aware of yet, but you oddly still feel safe. You also get the chance to interact with your group in a cat-like manner; taking your time to groom each kitty member and to even to play with some. It's a small heartfelt moment that could make anyone smile and it's a moment that you later end up appreciating even more.
Like any game, you quickly jump into the mechanics of how to play and getting used to controlling your kitty character. I was pleasantly surprised by how effortless it was to maneuver my kitty friend up and down beams and jump onto ledges without the movement being too choppy. It was a fun POV that I enjoyed more than I thought I would! It also made me wonder why more gaming developers weren't creating games with cats since it's now obvious by this game's ratings that there is a demand for it.
As you follow the tutorial, you quickly take in your surroundings. Seeing tall (and ominous) concrete walls surround you with overgrown plants and no humans in sight leads you to wonder how exactly the story will unfold. Everything appears so serene as the game highlights how resilient nature is. Just as you begin to make peace with following your kitty group around, the story takes a sudden turn and you're separated from them due to an unexpected fall; pushing you down into the darkness that the walls hide.
Just like that, your journey as a cat begins and you find yourself exploring a dark abandoned city brought to life by neon lights and the dangers that lurk within it. It's not all gloomy though, as you later encounter robots who end up helping you along the way towards your mission. One of these nifty robots just so happens to be on your back in the shape of a backpack and the two of you rely on each other every step of the way until the very end. You also quickly learn the true story about the unfortunate events that took place before the city was blocked off from the outside world.
Apart from the amazing layout of the city you can explore, the game itself has various puzzles in place that help you develop the story line. Since I'm not the best with puzzles, it was a relief to find that most of the puzzles were user friendly but engaging. Sometimes you had to complete missions for the local robots to obtain certain desired objects, allowing you to move past the yearning of your kitty group from the very beginning.
The best thing I liked about this game though (apart from you playing a cat) is the interactions between each and every robot. Most of the robots talked like a human would, but then there were others that seemed more distraught and unable to cope. Many spoke about their long search for a way back up to the surface but settled with the idea that it wasn't possible. You end up sympathizing with them and hanging onto the story even more because of this.
Also, as simple as the gameplay may be, your ability to play as a cat is never taken away from you and it's not oddly distorted in some weird way. I say this because many games have a habit of overpowering the main character that they believe lacks excitement. With Stray though, you can be a cat and utilize everything that makes a cat special and I appreciate the developers of this game so much more because of this. Cats really are unique and this game does a fantastic job getting that point across.
I honestly don't have much to criticize about this game apart from the fact that it was too short in my opinion! This game was able to capture my attention with a cat, neon lights, and a superb soundtrack. If more games came out with a similar style like Stray's, I'd jump on them in a heart beat! The fact that this Indie game didn't win Game of The Year is wild to me but it still holds a special place in my heart and in the fans it garnered.
Until next time! xoxo - Sarah
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