Cats are Liquid - A Light in the Shadows

92%
Game Brain Score Based on 560 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Cats are Liquid - A Light in the Shadows Game Cover
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"Cats are Liquid - A Light in the Shadows" is a surreal puzzle-platformer game where you play as a cat-like liquid. The game features unique physics-based mechanics, as you flow and morph your way through various levels, solving puzzles and overcoming obstacles using your feline abilities. With its charming art style and atmospheric soundtrack, this game offers a mesmerizing and entertaining experience for players seeking something out of the ordinary.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Linux
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

92%
Audience ScoreBased on 560 reviews
story58 positive mentions
grinding3 negative mentions
  • Cats are Liquid is a charming and fun platformer with simple controls and a cute cat protagonist.
  • The game features a surprisingly deep story that evokes strong emotions, making it more than just a casual platformer.
  • For its low price, the game offers a good amount of content and enjoyable gameplay, making it a worthwhile purchase.
  • The level design can feel repetitive, with many levels using similar mechanics and obstacles.
  • Some players found the controls to be inconsistent, leading to frustration during gameplay.
  • The story, while intriguing, can be confusing and leaves many questions unanswered, which may detract from the overall experience.
  • story159 mentions

    The story of the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding it emotionally impactful and beautifully crafted, while others criticize it for being confusing, poorly presented, and ultimately unsatisfying. Many reviews highlight the game's melancholic tone and the depth of the narrative, which revolves around a cat's journey of self-discovery and coping with loss, but the execution leaves some players feeling disengaged or frustrated. Overall, while the story adds a layer of intrigue to the gameplay, its effectiveness varies significantly among players.

    • “The story is great, and Lumi, the cat you play as, has many abilities that make this game a great experience for everyone, no matter how good you are at platformers.”
    • “The story is good and it's really deep and psychological, and let me tell you - very emotional.”
    • “This game isn't just a cute platformer; it's a story of a cat and her memories!”
    • “The story is just all over the place with an unsatisfying end to the main game, and I went the entire main game without understanding any of it, which is not good for a game with such a mysterious atmosphere.”
    • “I don't want to spoil it for those who might actually be interested in this game and the story despite how bad it is, but I will say that the ending is extremely dissatisfying and leaves a lot of the elements of the game and the story unexplained.”
    • “The story starts out fine but unfortunately devolves into a mess so full of 'deep,' try-hard nonsense that I almost didn't recommend the game, even though I really loved everything else about it.”
  • gameplay102 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by its simple yet engaging mechanics, offering a mix of platforming and puzzle-solving that gradually introduces new elements without overwhelming the player. While some mechanics are praised for their creativity, others are criticized for being overly simplistic or poorly explained, leading to moments of frustration. Overall, the game provides a decent amount of content for its price, making it a fun, albeit occasionally repetitive, experience.

    • “A fun little platformer with simple controls and easy to learn mechanics.”
    • “The gameplay is fun and frustration is kept low overall.”
    • “The gameplay is good, the art is simple but works really well, and the story makes you feel.”
    • “The gameplay is slow-paced and boring.”
    • “The consistency of the game mechanics unfortunately extends to the predictable, monotonous gameplay, and many of the levels are identical but played with different abilities.”
    • “Gameplay consists of you going through repetitive easy platforming levels using an awkward physics engine.”
  • graphics53 mentions

    The graphics of the game are characterized by a minimalist and simplistic art style that some players find charming and fitting for the gameplay, while others criticize it as lackluster and reminiscent of mobile graphics. Despite the limited detail, the visuals are often described as colorful and distinct, contributing to a unique aesthetic that complements the overall experience. While the graphics may not meet the high standards of more polished PC titles, they are generally considered adequate for the game's indie nature and enjoyable gameplay.

    • “The graphics are beautiful, even in the lowest resolution, and the story is captivating.”
    • “The minimalist art style and music are really charming, creating a unique atmosphere.”
    • “The graphics are simple and concise, ensuring clarity in gameplay while maintaining a visually appealing aesthetic.”
    • “While there are options to change the resolution for the mobile app, all this does is scale up the simplistic 2D art assets used to make the mobile app, which makes little or no difference to the graphics quality.”
    • “Considering this is being evaluated as a PC game, having the graphics phoned in like this isn't going to result in a high quality, visually impressive game that PC gamers are used to seeing.”
    • “The graphics are shockingly simplistic and look like they were made by a child - it's a bunch of triangles and rectangles and circles, with only solid colors for textures.”
  • music43 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising its calming and beautiful qualities that enhance the gameplay experience. While some players find the soundtrack to be lovely and fitting for the game's atmosphere, others note that it can be simplistic or even occasionally jarring. Overall, the music is generally seen as a strong point, contributing positively to the game's charm and emotional depth.

    • “The music is nice and the cat's cute, but that's about it.”
    • “The game's music is truly something to behold.”
    • “From the gentle, curious tones of the first few levels to the heavy, depressed theme of the reset levels, the music is perfect.”
    • “The biggest thing this game is lacking is more music, but the music included is still very nice and relaxing.”
    • “Bad controls, crappy music, not worth the one euro I paid for it.”
    • “A couple of hours after playing it I can't even remember what the background music was like, it was so unobtrusive, which is a good thing.”
  • emotional27 mentions

    The game has been widely praised for its profound emotional impact, with players noting its ability to evoke strong feelings akin to those experienced in critically acclaimed titles like "Before Your Eyes" and "Red Dead Redemption 2." Many reviewers highlight the game's touching narrative, which explores themes of confusion, loss, and coping with death, often leading to tears and deep reflection. Overall, it is described as a heartwarming yet heart-wrenching experience that resonates emotionally, making it a standout in its genre.

    • “In the years I've been on Steam, I have not seen many games that have struck me emotionally as hard as this one did.”
    • “To be truthful, I would say this game's emotional impact is on the level of a game like 'Before Your Eyes' or 'Red Dead Redemption 2.'”
    • “The story is good and it's really deep and psychological, and let me tell you - very emotional.”
  • humor12 mentions

    The humor in the game is generally well-received, with players appreciating its cute and quirky elements, such as the concept of a cat navigating through various states of matter. While some find the humor to be consistently entertaining, others note that it can become repetitive or overshadowed by gameplay mechanics. Overall, the game is described as a lighthearted and amusing experience, perfect for those looking to unwind.

    • “Going into this: haha cute cat that can hop between funny lil states of matter this game looks interesting”
    • “The concept is funny, the gameplay is addicting, and the game is harder than expected!”
    • “This is a really good game with a nice bit of humor.”
  • atmosphere5 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a blend of mysterious storytelling and engaging music that enhances the overall experience, despite some players finding the narrative confusing and unsatisfying. The simple yet effective graphics and sound design contribute to a heart-crushing emotional depth, while the gameplay mechanics and textual commentary foster a strong connection with the protagonist. Overall, the atmosphere is praised for its ability to evoke feelings and set the mood, even if the story leaves some questions unanswered.

    • “Music and atmosphere fit like the graphics; nothing too fancy but nice and sweet.”
    • “Everything about it I love so much: the simple gameplay, the atmospheric music, and the simple, yet heart-crushing story that leaves so many questions.”
    • “The simple, escalating tunes that play as you go level to level help build the world and its atmosphere, setting the mood for what's to come.”
    • “The music and atmosphere fit like the graphics; nothing too fancy, but nice and sweet.”
    • “The simple, escalating tunes that play as you progress through levels help build the world and its atmosphere, setting the mood for what's to come.”
  • grinding4 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and time-consuming, often requiring significant effort to progress. While some appreciate it as a cooldown activity, many feel that the puzzles lack challenge and can become monotonous, detracting from the overall experience.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Addictive and cheap, but tedious.”
    • “Many of the puzzles are more tedious than challenging, with the biggest obstacle being able to take your time through an area without challenge in order to be ready for the spikes you were moving too fast to stop for.”
  • character development2 mentions

    The game features unique and innovative character designs, particularly the cat character, which users find appealing. Overall, the character development is seen as simple yet clever, contributing to an engaging gameplay experience.

    • “I think the game is very interesting already, and I love the cat character design; it is very unique.”
    • “Excellent time-waster with innovative mechanics and simple but smart character design.”
  • stability2 mentions

    Users report significant stability issues, with frequent freezing and glitches occurring during gameplay. Despite attempts to verify file integrity, these problems persist, detracting from the overall experience.

    • “Very cute, but it keeps freezing on me. I don't know what to do; I tried verifying the file integrity, and it still freezes.”
    • “Glitches.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization of "cats are liquid - a light in the shadows" has been criticized as a cash grab, with users noting that it feels like a poorly ported mobile app rather than a genuine PC game. The minimalist design and lack of depth further contribute to the perception of exploitation by the developers.

    • “Cats Are Liquid - A Light in the Shadows is a mobile app that's been dumped on Steam as if it were a real PC game (it's not). It's a cash grab from greedy mobile developers. This mobile app is a minimalist 2D retro platformer that exemplifies everything wrong with game development.”
    • “The monetization strategy is incredibly aggressive, pushing players to spend money just to enjoy basic features that should be included in the game.”
    • “It's disappointing to see a game that could have been great reduced to a series of paywalls and microtransactions, making it feel more like a money-making scheme than a genuine gaming experience.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    Replayability is considered average, with a total of 90 levels and 13 bonus levels that provide a reasonable challenge for beginners, but may not offer enough incentive for repeated playthroughs.

    • “The game offers a staggering 90 levels and 13 bonus levels, providing plenty of content for beginners to enjoy and explore.”
    • “With so many levels to conquer, the replayability factor is significant, ensuring players have a lot to experience.”
    • “The variety in gameplay and challenges across the levels keeps players coming back for more.”
    • “Replayability is mediocre, but there are 90 levels and 13 bonus levels, which should take a beginner a decent amount of time to complete.”
    • “The game lacks significant replay value, as once you've completed the levels, there's little incentive to return.”
    • “After finishing the game, I found no reason to replay it; the experience felt complete and didn't offer new challenges.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

3hMedian play time
3hAverage play time
3hMain story
8hCompletionist
3-4hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 5 analyzed playthroughs

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