Cat in the Box

About

Cat in the Box is a single player action game with a horror theme. It was developed by Gustav and was released on May 1, 2020. It received very positive reviews from players.

"Cat in the Box" is a horror adventure game where you help a girl explore a haunted mansion, formerly owned by a cult, and evade otherworldly entities. Armed with various tools and your wits, you'll need to uncover the mansion's secrets and find a way out. As you delve deeper, you'll encounter a mysterious figure who may aid you in your escape.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

90%

Audience ScoreBased on 294 reviews

story41 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

The game has a compelling atmosphere and engaging story, reminiscent of classic RPG Maker horror games.
Multiple endings and hidden secrets enhance replayability and encourage exploration.
The sound design and visuals effectively create tension and a spooky ambiance.

Chase sequences can be frustrating due to the character's speed and awkward controls.
The limited save system can lead to unnecessary stress, as players may feel pressured to manage their saves carefully.
Some puzzles are overly simplistic, which may detract from the overall challenge of the game.

story
100 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
54%
5%
The game's story is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its intriguing twists, atmospheric horror elements, and the depth of lore available through exploration. However, some critiques highlight its brevity and a lack of depth compared to other RPG Maker titles, with certain plot threads feeling underdeveloped or dropped. Overall, while the narrative may not be groundbreaking, it offers a compelling experience that encourages replayability through multiple endings.
- “An amazing RPG Maker horror game that has a deep and thoughtful story.”
- “The atmosphere is relentlessly oppressive, the soundtrack is amazing & thematically appropriate, and the overall story is very interesting.”
- “This story is one that I've never seen done before, especially in this format, and I appreciate that you actually need to explore and get multiple endings in order to fully understand the game's story.”
- “However, in terms of the plot, it is nothing more than your typical generic RPG Maker horror; there is no in-depth backstory associated with it, which is one of the reasons why I am a little bit disappointed.”
- “The story is nothing special and actually kind of not present.”
- “The problem with the story is the exposition is vomited at you.”
gameplay
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
62%
15%
The gameplay of the game is a mixed bag, with some players praising its unique mechanics and atmospheric design, while others criticize poor controls and frustrating chase sequences. The exploration and puzzle-solving elements are generally well-received, but the implementation of certain mechanics, like the saving system and quick time events, detracts from the overall experience. Overall, while the game offers engaging moments and a solid story, it struggles with execution in key gameplay areas.
- “The quality of the graphics and gameplay is exceptional.”
- “This game effectively uses sound design and its mechanics to create an isolated, foreboding atmosphere, and even up into the endgame, it continually pulled out new surprises and twists that never let me start to feel comfortable.”
- “The main character feels like an actual person, her reactions make sense and feel natural, and her fear is very well conveyed through the gameplay.”
- “I guess story-wise it makes sense that the saves are tapes, but as a gameplay mechanic, it's horrible.”
- “The controls are so bad it ruins the gameplay.”
- “The gameplay was poorly designed, and nothing really stood out: vague story, uninteresting music, shoddy translation.”
atmosphere
39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
38%
8%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its oppressive and immersive qualities, effectively combining sound design, art style, and storytelling to create a haunting experience. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to maintain tension without relying heavily on jump scares, with many noting the beauty of the visuals and the depth of the lore. While some players found certain visual effects detracted from the overall experience, the consensus is that the game successfully delivers a captivating and eerie atmosphere that enhances its horror elements.
- “Genuinely a fantastic horror game, with very interesting lore and really good atmosphere!”
- “The actual horror lies in the atmosphere the game creates using small deviations in already-visited places: small things sometimes change in a room here and there, sometimes there is even a slight change on the title screen that is barely noticeable.”
- “The atmosphere is relentlessly oppressive, the soundtrack is amazing & thematically appropriate, and the overall story is very interesting.”
- “The silence can create a gloomy/scary atmosphere but you would wish there was something there at least.”
- “I understand that this is intended to be a neat effect to add to the atmosphere and also to get across the point that the main character is recording everything on a camera, but I strongly think there should be an option to remove or at least lessen the visibility of the filter because it mostly makes the atmosphere look less pleasing.”
graphics
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
30%
13%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the unique art style and atmospheric visuals that effectively enhance the horror experience. However, some players criticize the camera filter and certain graphical elements that detract from the overall quality. Overall, the game's visuals are described as charming and well-executed, contributing positively to the gameplay despite some technical flaws.
- “The atmosphere is dreary yet somehow pretty, probably due to how beautiful the art style is.”
- “But the execution and production value is amazing, great art style and atmosphere!”
- “Among the sea of countless RPG Maker horror games, this one in my opinion stands out with its great visuals, scary atmosphere, mind-bending story, and moments that made me truly terrified.”
- “Story was okay but gameplay, poor controls and very bad graphics (the camera filter made everything much worse) made it not very enjoyable to play.”
- “There is a weird lined lens to the game the entire time you are playing, intended to indicate that you are recording, but in my opinion it made the game look really gritty and much uglier.”
- “Usually these types of games have to have some form of twist ending, since the graphics aren't all that scary (mostly), and they also usually have a good or a bad ending, but the endings in this game never feel good no matter which one you get.”
music
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
25%
15%
The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric quality and thematic appropriateness, enhancing the overall experience and contributing to the game's tension and immersion. Many reviewers highlight the soundtrack as fantastic, with some tracks being memorable enough to add to personal playlists. While there are a few criticisms regarding the music's variety, the general consensus is that it significantly elevates the game's ambiance and storytelling.
- “The atmosphere is relentlessly oppressive, the soundtrack is amazing & thematically appropriate, and the overall story is very interesting.”
- “The jump scares manage to catch me; the environment around the mansion along with the eerie soundtrack is fantastic!”
- “The music is phenomenal; there are a ton of secrets in the game (most of which have not been discovered).”
- “The game's sparing use of music was also a welcome addition, as sometimes silence is more unsettling than a violin played badly.”
- “The gameplay itself is as simplistic as one might expect, but the atmosphere, story, music, replay value, etc. are all top-notch.”
- “Even though it only takes you 2 (almost 3 if you know what you are doing) hours to beat, overall I like the experience (and the main menu music of course) that I got from this game.”
replayability
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
43%
43%
The game offers significant replayability due to its intriguing mystery and numerous hidden easter eggs, encouraging players to explore different endings and choices. While some players note that the game is relatively short, the multiple endings and the necessity to experience them for a complete understanding enhance its replay value. Overall, the combination of engaging story elements and the need to uncover all secrets makes it a compelling choice for repeated playthroughs.
- “This game has such an addicting mystery to figure out what is happening, which contributes greatly to its replay value to discover all the easter eggs hidden in this that range from referencing other games to even what could be considered hidden endings.”
- “I haven't played many RPG Maker games, but I am glad that the few that I have played have been as great as 'Cat in the Box.' The game is pretty short but very interesting to see through. There is not much replayability as the only 'events' that can happen in the game can only occur at certain times. There are some amazing easter eggs, and depending on your choices, you can see most of the endings with a save right before the final room. I would highly recommend you see those endings to understand this game better.”
- “I find too frequently that multiple endings are simply a way to add cheap replay value and don't add much to story comprehension, but I truly believe that you must experience all the endings in order to fully understand this game.”
- “The gameplay itself is as simplistic as one might expect, but the atmosphere, story, music, replay value, etc. are all top-notch.”
emotional
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the emotional depth of the game to be significant, with a well-crafted story that avoids clichés and offers a rewarding experience. The atmosphere, music, and tension contribute to a profound emotional impact, evoking feelings of fear and sadness that resonate deeply, particularly in the context of RPG Maker horror games. Overall, the game is praised for its ability to elicit genuine emotional responses from players.
- “I will keep this section short to avoid spoilers, but the story does not have any cheap shots or take any logic shortcuts and is well worth your time and emotional investment.”
- “I fell in love with this game, a short but thrilling experience with scenes and an ending that made me feel something I never get from other horror games.”
- “I love RPG Maker horror games that make me want to cry at all points of the game.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game demonstrates solid stability with minimal bugs or glitches, enhancing the horror experience. However, some players noted occasional issues with the interact button during chase scenes and expressed frustration with the use of fake glitches, which detracted from the overall immersion.
- “The concept is good and the game functions well, but the irritating protagonist and the dev's love of easter eggs and fake-out pseudo-glitches really ruin the experience.”
- “Good game, really sells the horror ambience very well, but the glitches (I'm guessing) used to hide the loading screen can be distracting and the interact button doesn't work at times during the chase scene.”
- “- Fake glitches and interface issues are not scary.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
While some players find certain chase sequences to be tedious and requiring precise timing, the overall experience is enhanced by a well-connected map that minimizes backtracking, making exploration feel more engaging and impactful. This design choice helps mitigate the grind often associated with RPGs, encouraging players to continue their journey.
- “Grinding in this game feels like an endless chore, with repetitive tasks that drain the enjoyment out of the experience.”
- “The amount of grinding required to progress is overwhelming, making it hard to stay engaged with the story.”
- “I found the grinding to be excessively tedious, often feeling like I was just going through the motions without any real sense of achievement.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
150%
Character development in the game is noted for its solid design, though it primarily focuses on a single character. Reviewers appreciate the fresh experience brought by new mechanics and story elements, which contribute to sustained engagement throughout gameplay.
- “This game brings several new things to the table between mechanics, story, and character design in such a way that it was a fresh experience and kept me engaged the entire time I played it.”
- “Character design is fine, but it's just one character anyway.”
- “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the protagonist.”
- “There are missed opportunities for character growth, leaving the story feeling flat and unengaging.”