Cats and the Other Lives

Starting at $1.59Buy now

"Cats and the Other Lives" is a narrative-driven adventure game that explores the boundary between reality and the surreal. Players uncover the truth behind a series of mysterious disappearances in a small coastal town, where cats may hold the key to understanding otherworldly forces at play. The game features a unique blend of feline companionship, investigation, and supernatural elements to create an immersive and unsettling experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 197 reviews

story75 positive mentions

stability3 negative mentions

The game features a beautifully developed narrative that is emotionally impactful, often leaving players in tears.
The pixel art style and animations are charming, effectively capturing the essence of being a cat and enhancing the overall atmosphere.
The story is engaging and explores deep themes of family dynamics, grief, and personal struggles, making it a memorable experience.

Gameplay can be frustrating due to poorly designed minigames and timed sequences that disrupt the narrative flow.
The auto-save feature is inconvenient, as it saves progress automatically without clear indicators, forcing players to replay long sections if they miss something.
Some players found the pacing slow and the linearity of the game limiting, with a lack of meaningful choices or exploration.

story
174 mentions
43 % positive mentions
55 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The game's story is widely praised for its emotional depth and engaging narrative, often described as a heartfelt exploration of family dynamics and personal struggles, told from the unique perspective of a cat. While some players found the pacing slow and the gameplay limited, many appreciated the well-developed characters and the ability to uncover family secrets through simple interactions. Overall, the storytelling is considered the game's strongest aspect, with a mix of humor, drama, and poignant moments that resonate with players.
- “The story is really good, and I often felt frustrated that I needed to actually play the game to experience it.”
- “Wonderful little point-and-click adventure with a cleverly written and heart-wrenching story centered around generational trauma, grief, love, secrets, lost ambition, and new beginnings.”
- “The story of this game is well-considered.”
- “Looks good on paper, not much there when you play it, just a trite plot and dialogues, with limited gameplay.”
- “Janky controls and a disjointed story that stays too bogged down in drama.”
- “But that is the problem - the puzzles are either painfully obvious or frustratingly trial and error, and the story just kind of meanders and throws more and more plot twists and resolves about half of the dangling plot threads before coming to what feels like a sudden conclusion, after a chase scene that comes out of nowhere, and feels like just filler.”
gameplay
36 mentions
19 % positive mentions
72 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its simplicity and limited mechanics, often describing it as more of a narrative experience than a challenging game. While some enjoyed the cat-centric interactions and the engaging story, others found the gameplay lacking in depth and variety, often feeling like a traditional point-and-click adventure with minimal challenges. Overall, it appeals to those who prioritize storytelling over complex gameplay mechanics.
- “The feline mechanics were a lot of fun for me to play, jumping up on tables to knock things over, meowing and pawing at the humans to get their attention.”
- “The gameplay works within a 2D world, where the cat can run and jump across furniture and bookcases.”
- “The gameplay is point-and-click affair that does an outstanding job of surprising me: you might spend a good time walking, scratching and annoying the residents as they argue among themselves or eavesdrop on a hushed conversation and even bring up past memories of the place.”
- “Looks good on paper, but there's not much there when you play it; just a trite plot and dialogues, with limited gameplay.”
- “The idea of the game is appealing, but the gameplay is honestly pretty bad.”
- “This is a story game, not a mechanics game, in that for the most part you are just progressing through a story without any gameplay challenges.”
graphics
31 mentions
42 % positive mentions
48 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The game features charming pixel art graphics that many players find adorable, particularly in its depiction of cats and the overall atmosphere. While the visuals are generally praised for their beauty and expressiveness, some users noted technical issues that affected performance. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the game's storytelling and immersive experience, despite a few mixed opinions on the pixel art style.
- “The cat, the visuals, and the whole idea of this game are really awesome.”
- “Beautiful visuals and very cute (and accurate) cat mechanics.”
- “The graphics and atmosphere are on point; beautiful pixel art and animations make the big house you explore feel like a convincing place.”
- “It's completely broken until you go into your graphics card settings and limit your PC to 60 fps.”
- “Low res graphics.”
- “I am not a fan of pixel graphics.”
emotional
31 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game is widely praised for its deeply emotional narrative, exploring themes of grief, love, and family dynamics through the perspective of a cat. Many players reported being moved to tears, particularly by the heartfelt finale and the well-crafted character arcs, which evoke a range of feelings from sadness to warmth. Overall, it is recommended for those who appreciate emotionally driven stories in gaming.
- “Wonderful little point-and-click adventure with a cleverly written and heart-wrenching story centered around generational trauma, grief, love, secrets, lost ambition, and new beginnings.”
- “A beautiful game that warms you towards the Mason family members and the cat Aspen that you play as, with beautiful touching stories that portray grief, loss, and dreams in a raw and realistic but also magical and poetic way.”
- “I cried a few times, which speaks to the well-earned emotional payoff of the writing and story development.”
music
25 mentions
64 % positive mentions
24 % neutral mentions
12 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric quality, effectively enhancing the emotional depth of the story and fitting seamlessly with the pixel art style. Reviewers highlight its ability to adapt to various moods and situations, contributing significantly to the overall experience. Overall, the soundtrack is described as beautiful, immersive, and a key element in creating a captivating adventure.
- “There is also plenty of atmospheric music that fits the characters and amplifies scenes for the most part.”
- “The game has nice pixel graphics and an atmospheric soundtrack.”
- “The music constantly changes between modes and moods to fit whatever situation you find yourself in.”
- “And the music really elevates the experience of the melancholic and drudgery tone set and established with the painful memories of the house and the pain of leaving it behind.”
- “I think the music is responsible for 50+% of my experience.”
atmosphere
13 mentions
92 % positive mentions
8 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and eerie qualities, enhanced by beautiful pixel art, detailed graphics, and a fitting atmospheric soundtrack. Reviewers highlight the combination of dark, mysterious themes with moments of cuteness, creating a unique and engaging environment that complements the story and characters. Overall, the art and audio work harmoniously to establish a captivating and cozy atmosphere.
- “A beautifully directed, drawn and animated story about family issues and values in the eerie atmosphere of the haunted mansion.”
- “Great story and immersive atmosphere, dark and mysterious with a nice topping of cuteness.”
- “The graphics and atmosphere are on point; beautiful pixel art and animations make the big house you explore feel like a convincing place.”
humor
5 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as unique and heartfelt, effectively capturing the quirks of a dysfunctional family through the perspective of an over-fed cat. Players appreciate the blend of realistic characters and a cozy atmosphere, with many finding the cat's antics particularly amusing. Overall, the humor contributes significantly to the game's charm and enjoyment.
- “It's a unique, heartfelt, and often hilarious little story about the bonds of a dysfunctional family, of ambitions and expectations; all through the eyes of an old, over-fed feline living its day-to-day in the wake of its owner's death.”
- “Nevertheless, a solid 9/10 for me because it's got realistic characters, a lovely soundtrack, a nice sense of humor, a solid plot, and a (mostly) happy ending, and really that's all that matters :-)”
- “Humor's well done, art and audio are gorgeous, the story's interesting, the atmosphere is cozy, and Aspen is adorable.”
stability
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
Users report significant stability issues, with the game frequently freezing on startup and experiencing slow loading times after the developer logo.
- “The game freezes on startup, then plays the developer logo and starts loading very slowly.”
- “I experience frequent crashes during gameplay, making it nearly unplayable.”
- “The game often stutters and lags, disrupting the overall experience.”
replayability
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-300 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Users indicate that the first chapter of the game offers limited replayability, as it features only minor differences from the demo version, suggesting that players may not find significant new experiences upon replaying it.
- “The game offers a wealth of choices that significantly alter the storyline, making each playthrough feel fresh and engaging.”
- “With multiple endings and diverse character paths, the replayability factor is incredibly high, encouraging players to explore every option.”
- “Each run through the game reveals new secrets and challenges, ensuring that no two experiences are ever the same.”
- “But so far it's absolutely gorgeous; there are small differences from its demo version, so don't think that replayability is an issue for the first chapter of the game.”