cat notebook

About

cat notebook is a single player simulation game with a mystery theme. It was developed by naircat and was released on February 1, 2019. It received positive reviews from players.

"Cat Notebook" is a walking simulator that offers a unique and challenging experience, drawing comparisons to Dark Souls and Yume-nikki. As a cat, you'll explore a notebook filled with distinct illustrations and songs, delving into a labyrinth of audiovisual elements. With over 40 hours of gameplay, this game is not for the faint of heart, challenging players with its exasperating difficulty and limited features. Please note that enjoyment may only be found while in a delirious state, according to the game's description.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

84%

Audience ScoreBased on 57 reviews

music11 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

The art and music are beautiful and captivating, creating a unique audiovisual experience.
The game is a creative way to showcase the developer's artwork and music, making it feel like an art gallery.
Despite its slow pace, many players found the experience relaxing and introspective, allowing for deep contemplation.

The character moves excruciatingly slowly, making exploration tedious and frustrating for many players.
There is a lack of gameplay features, such as a save function or clear instructions, which can lead to confusion.
The game is more of a slideshow than a traditional game, which may disappoint those expecting interactive gameplay.

music
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
53%
10%
The music in "Cat Notebook" has received mixed reviews, with many praising its variety and quality, describing it as beautiful, ambient, and fitting for the game's artistic theme. While some users appreciate the unique auditory experience and the extensive soundtrack of 97 songs, others note that the looping nature of the music can be repetitive. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a significant highlight, enhancing the visual experience of the game, even if some consider it more of a music album than a traditional game.
- “The music has a range from upbeat and jazzy to ominous and nebulous, befitting the otherworldly cats that litter each and every screen.”
- “The music is incredible too, taking the short, repeating style of Yume Nikki and polishing it to create a totally unique auditory experience.”
- “You slowly move through a gallery of cat-themed art set to a variety of nice ambient music.”
- “I don't really care for the music, though.”
- “This isn't really a game, it's just a bunch of drawings and chill music in the background.”
- “Cat notebook is more like a music album than a game, but even then it's not a very convenient music album.”
graphics
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
28%
29%
The graphics are described as captivating and abstract, creating a warped sense of reality that enhances the overall experience. Users appreciate the thoughtful artwork and aesthetic, which encourages exploration and anticipation as they encounter new visuals and accompanying music. Overall, the visuals are seen as a significant highlight, elevating the game to more of an artistic experience than traditional gameplay.
- “Other than that, I really like the aesthetic and the good sense of exploration as the slow walking speed brings anticipation for what art you're going to see next after the current one you're on.”
- “I still very much enjoy the visuals, and occasionally some pages really blow me away with their music.”
- “Its warped sense of reality, perspective, and abstract visuals just captivates me to the point that despite its controls and speed, I was determined to keep playing.”
- “It is more of an experience and an artwork than a game.”
gameplay
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
The gameplay of the game is primarily characterized as a walking simulator with minimal interactive elements, leading to a lack of traditional gameplay mechanics. While some players appreciate the artistic aspects, many criticize the gameplay for being either broken or overly simplistic, with one review noting an extensive but monotonous experience of walking without a clear endpoint. Overall, the gameplay is described as limited and lacking depth.
- “• 40+ hours of gameplay”
- “Technically, there's an infinite amount of gameplay, as the game has no ending that I can discern.”
- “If you defined the end of gameplay as having seen all the pictures, though, then that'd be 40 hours of slowly walking with an average of 24 minutes and 45 seconds per image.”
- “Walking simulator, no gameplay; the author is honest about it, vanish from Steam.”
- “A lovely little game, though as others have said, there's not much gameplay to it.”
- “Tl;dr—great art, marred by bad-to-broken gameplay.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly due to the need to backtrack through frustrating maze-like environments after hitting dead ends.
- “And still, dead ends mean you have to tediously slog back through several dreadful screen mazes.”
- “The grinding feels endless, with little reward for the time invested.”
- “I find myself repeating the same tasks over and over, which makes the game feel more like a chore than fun.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its cleverness and depth, appealing to players who appreciate nuanced and subtle comedic elements.
- “This game is hilarious! It takes a special kind of brain to appreciate the finer nuances and subtleties of the humor.”
story
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The reviews suggest that the game's story is presented as a genuine narrative, emphasizing its authenticity and emotional depth. However, the lack of specific details makes it difficult to assess the overall quality and engagement of the storyline.