Image: BlueTwelve Studio
Available on PC (Windows, macOS); and Consoles (Steam Deck, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S)
Have you ever wondered how it would feel like to be a cat exploring a decaying city with robots? Well, look no further, Stray has that just for you. While it’s at it, Stray also tackles themes like capitalism, the preservation of humanity and what that means, family, the destruction of nature, among others. It’s an incredibly complex game with very simple gameplay and intuitive puzzles.
Image: BlueTwelve Studio
The game uses the environment and lighting to guide the player throughout the game. Whether it’s to solve a puzzle or to move on to the next area, all you have to do is look around and think like a cat.
And not just think, but act like a cat. Stray does an incredible job of perfectly encapsulating what’s so endearing about the misunderstood animals. Those who don’t own cats generally view them as feisty and snobby, but those who do have more exposure to our feline friends know that they can be sweet and playful. As someone who has a lot of cats, Stray hits the nail right on the head with our four-legged protagonist.
Image: BlueTwelve Studio
Knock things off ledges, scratch surfaces, meow, but most importantly, purr your way through the different areas you traverse in Stray. All while avoiding creatures that try to latch on and kill our ginger cat hero. That’s right, there are dangers that lurk in the shadows in various areas of the walled city. It ranges from sentient robots to little fuzzy creatures to…some horrors best saved for your own playthrough. Fear not, however! You don’t have to go through this alone! Our cat travels with a drone named B-12, and it helps us learn more about this world and its inhabitants.
Stray’s world is gritty and colorful all at the same time, with various locations that have their own laws and ways to survive. There, you’ll meet all sorts of robots and, with enough sniffing around, maybe you’ll even learn how things came to be what they are.
It’s a short game, with around 4-6 hours of game time, depending on how much of a completionist you are.
Image: BlueTwelve Studio
One thing you have to be aware of is that this game isn’t for the fainthearted. If you struggle seeing animals get hurt, then you may want to avoid this game because the cat will be in constant danger and could die. Watching the ginger cat get hurt and having to hear his cries was very difficult for me in my own playthrough, but I persisted and was rewarded with a beautiful story.
If you do end up playing Stray, I suggest that you pay attention to everything. Zoom in, interact with anything you can get your paws on, and read anything you can read. The world you explore is so alive, and the team that worked on it did such a good job in communicating things with the environment alone. I think if you’re a fan of puzzle games that have intricate worldbuilding and a rich history to unravel, you’ll enjoy Stray.
