CATO

About CATO

CATO is a single player and multiplayer platformer game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Blasin and was released on May 5, 2022. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

++Cat + Toast = Cato = Buttered cat paradox = Anti-gravity A puzzle platformer made during 2022 BOOOM Gamejam Toast jump = Space，toast switch direction = Shift Kitty move = arrow keysCato jump/float = Space，disassemble = z R = restart Controller is supported Art/Design: FrankCode/TA: BlasinLevels: Blasin & Frank CATO 1.0 now available on Steam! https://store.steampowered.com/widget/19…

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99%Audience ScoreBased on 458 reviews

gameplay37 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

Innovative and clever puzzle mechanics based on the cat and buttered toast paradox, providing unique gameplay.
Charming and cute art style with smooth animations and a relaxing, upbeat soundtrack.
Well-designed puzzle progression that introduces new mechanics gradually and offers a satisfying challenge without being frustrating; includes optional hints and level skipping.
Abundant content including over 200 levels, secret rooms with unlockable skins, multiple mini-games, and boss fights.
Highly responsive and fluid controls, especially with a controller, making gameplay enjoyable and intuitive.
Strong replayability due to hidden secrets, unlockable cosmetics, and side content that encourages exploration.

Some difficulty spikes and puzzles, especially in later worlds, can be challenging enough to cause frustration or require external help.
Occasional awkward or stilted English localization and repetitive music tracks in extended play sessions.
Certain mechanics, such as boss fights and rollercoaster segments, feel underdeveloped or sparse compared to core puzzle gameplay.
The persistent display of the game version on-screen can be distracting and cannot be disabled.
Minor bugs and occasional softlocks in multi-room levels require level restarts and can interrupt immersion.
Lack of extensive keybinding customization, affecting accessibility for some players.

gameplay
118 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31% positive mentions, 66% neutral mentions, 3% negative mentions
The gameplay features clever, well-paced puzzle mechanics that are gradually introduced and layered across over 200 levels, keeping the challenges fresh and engaging without becoming overly complex. Tight controls, inventive cat-and-toast dynamics, and a steady stream of new mechanics make for rewarding problem-solving experiences that balance humor, charm, and difficulty. While some players desire more integration of mechanics earlier on or additional level-creation options, overall the gameplay is praised for its creativity, intuitive learning curve, and satisfying puzzle design.
- “It teaches you mechanics naturally and lets you learn how things work on your own, which I appreciate.”
- “Clever mechanics, tight controls, and brain-teasing levels make for an excellent puzzle game in Cato.”
- “Each world (apart from the first) tends to focus on one or two mechanics, and it teaches you these mechanics without needing to tell you what it does.”
- “Some stages push heavily into precision-based timing or hide solutions behind less intuitive mechanics, which can frustrate players who prefer purely logical progressions.”
- “Pretty good progression curve, and if something gets too complex or if you get stuck, you can skip a level (although, that might make later levels harder if you haven't grasped the newly introduced mechanics).”
- “It has a fair few different mechanics and surprises, and while it makes extensive use of them, it falls a bit flat.”
graphics
55 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47% positive mentions, 48% neutral mentions, 5% negative mentions
The game features a charming and unique pixel art style that blends nostalgia with smooth, colorful, and expressive visuals. Its minimalist yet detailed environments and animations create a cute, cozy atmosphere that perfectly complements the puzzle-platforming gameplay. Overall, the graphics are widely praised for their appeal, clarity, and harmonious integration with the game's mechanics and sound design.
- “The pixel art style is colorful and approachable, with expressive animations that make both cat and toast feel endearing in their own way.”
- “How this progresses throughout the over 200 levels spread across this game's five areas is quite fascinating, not just in the lovingly-made artstyle that truly brings out the colourful visuals in a way that I can't quite describe given how much detail is given to each of the environments with a minimalist approach to the very much cute aesthetics but also the many new game mechanics they introduce over time and then mix with each other in multiple layers as you become more familiar with the controls and how to approach the platforming puzzles that Cato throws at you.”
- “The game has beautiful high-quality pixel-art graphics, a really nice calm soundtrack and very fun gameplay.”
- “Anyways, the visuals in co don't follow that pattern.”
- “Graphics and sound are fine.”
- “[h3] graphics and atmosphere [/h3]”
music
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42% positive mentions, 47% neutral mentions, 11% negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its beautiful, atmospheric, and charming qualities that perfectly complement the pixel-art visuals and quirky gameplay. While the soundtrack provides distinct, mellow, and upbeat tunes for each world, some users note that the music can become repetitive due to limited variety and looping during extended play. Overall, the soundtrack enhances the game's relaxing and whimsical vibe, with many players even purchasing it separately.
- “I've bought the soundtrack right after I've finished the game as I'm in deep love with how beautiful the tracks sound, giving each world their own atmosphere with the music alone, the same goes with the boss battle track.”
- “The soundtrack adds to the atmosphere with upbeat tracks that match the quirky humor of the concept while still giving enough variety to avoid becoming repetitive.”
- “The models/art are gorgeous, the music gave every world their own identity, which was equal parts whimsical and relaxing.”
- “If I had one criticism it's that the soundtrack is a bit repetitive but that's about it.”
- “My only complaint is that there is not enough variety in the music.”
- “The music got a little repetitive on world 3, or maybe I was just there too long, I can't remember now.”
story
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25% positive mentions, 64% neutral mentions, 11% negative mentions
The story is simple, quirky, and lighthearted, centered on a cat and toast duo trying to fix a milk machine, with optional sidequests adding some complexity. While not a major focus and occasionally vague or stilted in translation, it complements the creative gameplay and charming presentation without overshadowing the puzzles. Overall, it's an amusing and fitting narrative for a puzzle-platformer.
- “The game features different sidequests (optional) and a rich story.”
- “Regardless, combined, you end up with a pair of peculiar puzzle-platforming protagonists... and also, unexpectedly, a sci-fi story featuring shadowy clones, rogue machinery, and the desperate repair of a dairy-producing device needed to keep our pair alive.”
- “You play as both the cat and the buttered toast, who are on a mission to fix their broken milk machine.”
- “The only things I can criticize about Cato are that some of the dialogue feels slightly stilted in the English translation (though it's still clear what it is going for), the story is hardly there and very simple with low stakes (though it’s not the main focus), and some levels can softlock you, forcing a complete restart.”
- “I don't understand what's going on in this game, story-wise.”
- “You'd have to make many assumptions to connect any dots or have a storyline in place.”
humor
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its quirky, adorable, and genuinely funny concept, centered around a cat with buttered toast on its back. It effectively blends meme-inspired comedy with clever puzzle mechanics and charming art, creating an engaging and lighthearted experience that fans find both amusing and endearing.
- “Another funny bonus is the plot: playing as a cat with a piece of bread on its back genuinely made me laugh.”
- “The concept is hilarious and actually broadens beyond just simple meme status, which complements its puzzle mechanics quite well.”
- “Not only a funny idea, but excellent in its execution.”
atmosphere
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43% positive mentions, 57% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions
Users praise the game's charming pixelated art and satisfying audio, which together create a distinctive, upbeat atmosphere. The soundtrack is highlighted for its quality and ability to enhance each world’s unique vibe, balancing quirky humor with variety that prevents repetition. Overall, the presentation effectively supports the game's engaging and cheerful ambiance.
- “I love the art in Cato; its pixelated style is beautiful, and although the music can get repetitive, it is intended to be atmospheric.”
- “I've bought the soundtrack right after I finished the game as I'm in deep love with how beautiful the tracks sound, giving each world its own atmosphere with the music alone; the same goes with the boss battle track.”
- “The presentation is also top notch for the vibe and atmosphere the game is going for, with satisfying audio and cute, pixelated graphics of the cat, toast, levels, and everything in between.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its wholesome, heartwarming vibe and nostalgic moments that resonate deeply with players. The charming duo of a cat and buttered toast on their adventure evokes genuine feelings, adding a touching layer to the gameplay experience.
- “When I unlocked the 1st anniversary skin, I cried a little because it reminded me of how my little guy chonked up so fast too.”
- “And just the wholesome and silly vibe of it make it even better.”
- “A toast and a cat go on a heartwarming adventure.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
0% positive mentions, 25% neutral mentions, 75% negative mentions
Grinding in the game is initially tedious and may require significant time investment, but it becomes more manageable as you progress. However, there are no specific achievements related to grinding.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Grinding achievements: no.”
- “It may seem a bit tedious at the beginning, but as you progress it gets better and better.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions
The game offers satisfying puzzles and engaging mini-games that enhance replayability, with some levels retaining their challenge and potential for confusion even on subsequent playthroughs.
- “Satisfying puzzle game and mini games that add more replayability.”
- “I also found this game kinda replayable - as you could still get confused and stuck like you did the first time when you replay some of the levels.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 50% negative mentions
The game is praised for its stability, with no reported glitches or bugs and smooth performance, including on Steam Deck devices.
- “Runs great on our Steam Decks.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
0% positive mentions, 100% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions
The game's optimization is generally praised for delivering smooth and stable performance, ensuring a responsive and enjoyable experience across different systems.