Cattails

96%
Game Brain Score Based on 2,019 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Cattails Game Cover
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"Cattails" is a single-player role-playing game with delightful graphics and excellent music. You play as a feral cat, exploring an expansive wilderness, hunting for food, and interacting with other cats to form colonies, romances, and rivalries. The game features grinding for resources, humor, and some bugs, but its wholesome story makes it a unique and enjoyable experience. A sequel, "Cattails: Wildwood Story," is available now on Steam.

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

96%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,019 reviews
story102 positive mentions
grinding62 negative mentions
  • story473 mentions

    The story in "Cattails: Wildwood Story" is generally described as light and somewhat simplistic, with a main quest that revolves around gathering items and restoring balance to the cat world. While some players appreciate the charming characters and the ability to create their own narratives, many feel the main storyline is short and lacks depth, often relying on fetch quests that can become repetitive. Overall, the game offers a casual experience where players can choose to engage with the story or focus on other activities, but it leaves room for improvement in terms of narrative complexity and character development.

    • “The main storyline is quite short if you compare it to other similar games, but you can easily extend your time spent in this game by farming the achievements.”
    • “The story is well written and cohesive, the missions are a welcome challenge and all the NPCs are very unique.”
    • “The story is unique and all the characters are interesting and have their own personalities, very fun and replayable.”
    • “Every single quest in this game seems to be a tedious fetch quest with a story that is not even well-written.”
    • “The main storyline is quite short compared to other similar games, but you can easily extend your time spent in this game by farming the achievements.”
    • “The world is fairly empty of any memorable features or events (besides the festivals) with none that drive the plot forward in an exciting way.”
  • gameplay212 mentions

    The gameplay in "Cattails" is generally described as fun and engaging, with a satisfying hunting and foraging mechanic that appeals to fans of life simulation games. While many players appreciate the charming art style and the ability to build relationships with other characters, some note that the gameplay can become repetitive over time, lacking depth and variety in mechanics. Overall, it offers a relaxing experience, though some players recommend waiting for a sale due to its simplistic nature and limited content.

    • “Very fun hunting gameplay loop that initially presents an interesting learning curve - a direct upgrade from Untold Tales.”
    • “The gameplay is charmingly simple and there's a lot of variety in all the activities you can do as well as a big world to explore!”
    • “The mechanics are fun and the characters are lovely; I would totally recommend this game to anyone who likes this sort of life sim game.”
    • “The gameplay can get boring eventually, as there's not a whole lot of innovation as you proceed in the game.”
    • “The problem is that the gameplay mechanics themselves are rather basic, and after a few hours it definitely starts to feel repetitive.”
    • “Game becomes boring very quickly, it's super barebones, not much story, takes ages to walk to different areas of the map, only a few game mechanics.”
  • graphics160 mentions

    The graphics of the game are predominantly 2D pixel art, which many players find charming and nostalgic, reminiscent of titles like Stardew Valley and classic RPGs. While some reviewers note that the graphics lack realism and polish, the overall aesthetic is described as cute and relaxing, complemented by a delightful soundtrack. Despite mixed opinions on the depth and detail of the graphics, the general consensus is that they effectively contribute to the game's endearing atmosphere.

    • “Cattails is a lovely cat farming sim, it has beautiful graphics and lovely cats with personalities to keep you entertained for hours.”
    • “The graphics are simple but incredibly charming, and the game runs (and looks) fantastic even on older computers.”
    • “The pixel artwork is gorgeous, the dialog is so endearing, and the music is really great (I absolutely love the hints of jazziness in several of the tracks).”
    • “The combat is boring, the story is short and lackluster, the characters are one-dimensional, and the graphics are honestly kind of dull.”
    • “It's very unpolished, and I find the art style very ugly.”
    • “Aesthetically unappealing and somehow jarring enough to make it seem non-immersive, rather than feeling natural.”
  • music149 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its calming and delightful qualities, often compared to the soundtracks of beloved titles like Stardew Valley and Harvest Moon. Reviewers appreciate the variety in the soundtrack, noting that it enhances the game's relaxing atmosphere and complements its charming pixel art style. While some mention occasional repetitiveness, the overall consensus is that the music significantly contributes to the game's enjoyable and immersive experience.

    • “The music is very soothing and gives more emotion to the game.”
    • “The soundtrack is charming, the sprite work is adorable, and the game gives you just enough to do that you're not aimlessly walking around, but not so much that you're overwhelmed.”
    • “The music is beautiful, and the graphics and animations have a lot of heart.”
    • “The music is also so bad I need to play with it off.”
    • “I was lured in with the siren song of glowing user reviews, but am left quite disappointed.”
    • “The music just feels overly cheerful and energetic at some points.”
  • grinding71 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive, often comparing it unfavorably to similar titles like Stardew Valley. While some appreciate the charm and relaxation it offers, others feel that the lack of meaningful rewards and variety in tasks makes the grinding experience feel pointless and overly drawn out. Overall, if grinding is not your preference, this game may not be the best fit.

    • “Well, it's Stardew Valley, but you are a cat. There's no farming, and gaining and holding territory through skirmishes is an important part of the game.”
    • “There is no farming, but the kitty can grow herbs once they expand their den.”
    • “It's Stardew Valley but with cats and no farming.”
    • “Every single quest in this game seems to be a tedious fetch quest with a story that is not even well-written.”
    • “While this game has plenty of charm, it just gets too grindy for me to bear.”
    • “It's a boring, slow, muddy, grindy, janky, and awfully boring game.”
  • emotional27 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its heart-wrenching introduction, which has left many players in tears, particularly those who are pet owners. While the game is described as wholesome and cozy, it balances moments of joy with deep emotional themes, creating a strong attachment to the characters and their stories. Players recommend being emotionally prepared for the experience, as it can evoke a wide range of feelings from sadness to happiness.

    • “I recommend this game, but make sure you are emotionally prepared for this experience (especially if you are a pet owner).”
    • “The beginning of the story is very heart-breaking and there should probably be a trigger warning.”
    • “You develop an emotional attachment to these cats, and want to see them happy.”
    • “The story was incredibly boring and failed to evoke any emotional response.”
    • “I found the narrative to be dull, lacking the depth needed to connect with the characters.”
    • “The emotional impact was nonexistent; I couldn't care less about what happened to the characters.”
  • replayability17 mentions

    The game's replayability is mixed, with some players finding it charming and enjoyable due to unique storylines and character interactions, particularly through different colonies and build modes. However, others feel that once the main content is completed, there is limited incentive to return, leading to a potential drop-off in engagement after a few hours. Overall, while some aspects offer replay value, many players may not find enough to keep them coming back long-term.

    • “The story is unique and all the characters are interesting and have their own personalities, very fun and replayable.”
    • “It's charming, relaxing, with lots of gameplay potential in the three different colonies you can choose to join; I could get a lot of replay value out of this.”
    • “I loved the different interactions with the separate cats in my colony and the others, and there's a lot of replayability value in joining the different colonies and romanticizing different cats.”
    • “I thought that the game would have some replayability, with each clan you can join offering a new aspect of the game, but no, they're all basically the same.”
    • “After you have done everything there is to do in the game, there is not much left for replayability.”
    • “I think some folks can find this game replayable, but the vast majority will probably abandon it after 10-15 hours, and that's why I don't recommend it for anyone that's looking for a game that will keep its value!”
  • humor15 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its lighthearted and quirky nature, featuring funny dialogues and absurd scenarios, such as dating cats and engaging in random cat fights. Players find the game both hilarious and addictive, with its cute graphics and amusing character traits contributing to an enjoyable experience. Overall, the humor adds a delightful charm that keeps players entertained for hours.

    • “I can see myself playing this game for a while, it's quite relaxing (apart from the random cat fights but they are funny).”
    • “The game has a lot of really funny dialogues and I was excited about everything this cat had to say.”
    • “This game is very funny and addictive.”
  • stability11 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is mixed, with users reporting a range of minor glitches and occasional freezing issues, particularly during specific interactions or transitions. While many players find the game enjoyable and easy to play for extended periods, some significant bugs, such as freezing during gameplay and loss of progress upon exiting, detract from the experience. Despite these issues, the charm of the game keeps players engaged, though stability concerns remain a notable drawback.

    • “I notice small issues/glitches, but it comes up when holding an item and interacting with something; I drop the item and it doesn't appear on the ground, thus it is lost (huge shame with rare items).”
    • “As the leafbare/winter comes, it freezes up.”
    • “I love Cattails, but when I try to exit the game, it freezes. I have to restart and I lose all of my progress!”
  • character development7 mentions

    Character development in the game is generally viewed as cute but basic, with charming character designs and interactions that evoke nostalgia for titles like Stardew Valley. However, many reviewers note a significant lack of depth in character development and limited NPC dialogue, suggesting that the game could benefit from more robust storytelling elements.

    • “The character designs and interactions are adorable, and you get to live out your fantasies of hunting down smaller animals.”
    • “Amazing art and character designs.”
    • “I really love the character designs.”
    • “Character development is cute, though fairly basic.”
    • “It lacks character development, and NPC dialogue is very limited.”
    • “I think it's a really charming concept that is based heavily off of its older cousin, Stardew Valley, but lacks a lot of important things like character development, which Stardew Valley does so well.”
  • optimization6 mentions

    Overall, the game is well-optimized, running smoothly on a variety of devices, including older laptops. However, players have reported performance drops in full-screen mode, with some minor stuttering noted, but these issues do not significantly detract from the overall experience.

    • “The graphics are good, runs smoothly on most devices.”
    • “It's incredibly well optimized to the point where there is very little difference in its functionality between an old, unmodified run-of-the-mill gateway laptop and the brand new Lenovo Legion Y7000 I replaced it with.”
    • “The game is also optimized pretty well.”
    • “Only negative for me: in full-screen mode, performance drops to an unplayable level, but playing windowed is just fine.”
    • “- some stuttering, not too bad but I added it as a con anyway.”
  • monetization5 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game is generally positive, with players appreciating the absence of microtransactions, gambling mechanics, and pressure to spend money. However, there are concerns about misleading advertisements that set unrealistic expectations, as well as a desire for more depth in the game's romantic and friendship elements. Overall, the lack of in-app purchases is seen as a benefit that enhances the challenge.

    • “No pressure or stress to unlock things or play a punishing game mode or difficulty. There are no harassing microtransactions or gambling mechanics, and no players on the opposite team in a PvP game with the mentality and attitude of a grade school bully.”
    • “The problem with ads these days is they show you a completely different game than what you bought.”
    • “I think advertising this game comparing it to something as grand as Stardew Valley is a bad marketing tactic; it gives people high expectations.”
    • “No in-app purchases add more challenge to the game.”
  • atmosphere5 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its charming and relaxing qualities, likening it to a cozy experience reminiscent of Sunday afternoons. However, others criticize the inconsistent world-building, noting a clash between the themes of wild cat survival and modern amenities, which detracts from the overall immersion. Ultimately, while the game has its sweet moments and enjoyable characters, the lack of cohesive style undermines its atmospheric potential.

    • “I like many of the characters, the gameplay, graphics, soundtrack, and relaxing atmosphere.”
    • “To get my last few achievements will probably take me another 10 to 20 hours (one of them is to play 10 years in game) but I'll enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of the game.”
    • “Its atmosphere is so sweet and charming, all the characters are lovely (even Missy!), and it is 100% going to be my biggest time-consumer of 2021.”
    • “The world building feels inconsistent, as if the developer couldn't decide between warrior cats-inspired clans or Stardew Valley-inspired humanized cats. Why do wild cats hunt prey and kill rivals to survive in the wilderness, yet have access to LED lights, carpets, and giant wooden task boards? It's details like this that ruin the atmosphere. The game should have committed to one style, as it fails to capture the charm of both Stardew Valley and the warrior cats books.”
    • “The atmosphere is charming, but it feels disjointed due to the conflicting elements in the world design.”
    • “While I enjoy many aspects of the game, the atmosphere suffers from a lack of cohesion, making it hard to fully immerse myself in the experience.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

23hMedian play time
201hAverage play time
10-138hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 10 analyzed playthroughs

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