As a fan of the cat shenanigans at the end of Miles Morales, this game appealed to me. I’m more of a dog person but cats are cool, and cat mischief is easily transformed into chaos. An additional factor to me picking this up was it’s distribution via Annapurna interactive. Their games Florence and Outer Wilds (both of which I would recommend) are beautifully paced, thoughtful and stay with you. I am always ready to try something new from their line up.
In Stray, you are a stray cat separated from your other cat friends by an unfortunate fall off a broken pipe. You find yourself stranded in a strange town, long ago abandoned by humans and now home to sentient robots. These robots have tried to emulate their human creators to honour them now they are gone and are by turns pensive, mischievous, irritable… a whole range of simulated emotions. They are easy to love and through quirky dialogue, each robot you meet has a distinct personality, concerns and interests.
Mechanically, this game is easy and in terms of protagonist – if like me you go in wanting full cat mischief – on brand. The controls are simple and it’s a great game to introduce someone to if they’re a first timer or novice. As someone with more experience, the lack of complexity was at times unsatisfying because it felt limiting but that simplicity is also in keeping with the vibe of the game. This game largely isn’t here to stress you out. It’s here to challenge you with fun puzzles whilst you caper about as a four legged feline, just living your cat life. Which isn’t to say there isn’t some emotional depth in the story; it’s just more about the atmosphere.
The gameplay can be repetitive with only minor upgrades but it’s fun and the short run time means it doesn’t get boring. Cat quirks which at the start seem mainly for the “lols” soon become a means to uncovering some of the deeper mysteries of this world. Almost every item you see on a shelf can be knocked off, sofas can be scratched up, you can miaow constantly for attention (you’ll even get a trophy for it!) and in later levels those learned behaviours can also unlock solutions that would be blocked for anyone who wasn’t a naughty little cat. You have all the tools you need and the game doesn’t ask you to grind anything out. It’s perfect after a long day at work.
There’s a lot you’ll need to figure out to get through each level but largely if you keep the question “What would I do if I was a cheeky little cat?” at the forefront of your mind you’re not going to go far wrong. Some of your robot buddies will help you out too if you ask around. And then there’s B12. They’re your core buddy, your ride or die and the technological companion a floofy little cat needs in order to survive in this robot led world.
In fact what I enjoyed the most about this game is that even though it’s a single player, the NPC’s kind of make it feel like a co-op. At each stage you meet a host of characters that dip in and out of your adventure to help you with your own goals (hey, it’s difficult for a cat to use a key ok?) or to distract you with their own agendas. As you foray into the more dangerous areas in this world, you really value the communities you meet, the safe zones and what they are striving to protect. These communities are not fighters. They are lost, trapped and reflective of the world that used to be.
There are elements in the world that are set against you but despite this it is absolutely not a combat game. You sneak, and you puzzle, and when you get into hot water your run as fast as your little cat legs will carry you. In this game – heroism is defined by being bold enough to go where most of the robots don’t dare to go. And to nap. Always to nap.
It’s an excellent companion game when you need something less frantic and more exploratory. I played it alongside Hades (a rogue-like, chaotic, combat heavy game) and Stray was the perfect off-set to that. It’s a game that i’m keen to introduce the non-gamers in my life to so they can experience it’s easy controls, light touch mystery and cute vibes.
There is such a sense of fun in Stray and the creators have obviously had a blast playing on all of the cat jokes. The more you mess around the more you are rewarded. Even the trophy names are fun and showcase the sense of mischief this game embodies. So much mischief. Cat mischief. Robot mischief. Player mischief. If there was anything in this world to mess with, I’d mess with it. Because I wanted to, but also because the game is made that way.
Despite the cute there is still a bit of an undertone. One which provides the substance to make the journey feel worthwhile. The story is simple and linear with mini revelations that keep you engaged but at it’s core it touches on themes of oppression, a classist society, as well as glimpses into how humanity authored it’s own demise. It’s interesting to see what robots abandoned by their masters have copied from what they observed. Memories and information you discover via B12 and the other robots in each area speak to a constant pull towards “more”, and the knack humans often have for moving through the world as fast as they possibly can with no care for what they leave behind.
And incidentally what they’ve left behind is pretty grim. The product of a fast fix attempt to undo the pollution of decades and telling of an all too familiar mindset from real life. Too often we choose to impact the environment around us because it’s easier and quicker, rather than adapt our own behaviours.
Darker undertones aside, this game is a delight to play. It’s an easy and entertaining adventure through a forgotten cybercity whose inhabitants need the spark and energy of a plucky little “outsider” to help pick them up and give them a new outlook. You can genuinely help these characters, but you can also be a rascally little cat too. Mischief and puzzles – it’s a great balance, and very replayable. Make sure you get your head stuck in a paper bag if you do play. You can thank me later.
Just a Game 