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Cattails

A funny feline adventure that resembles Stardew Valley and Harvest Moon.
90%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
grinding, stability
96% User Score Based on 2,414 reviews
Critic Score 79%Based on 5 reviews

Platforms

Mac OSMac OSNintendo SwitchNintendo SwitchPCPCSteam DeckSteam DeckWindowsWindowsLinuxLinux

About

"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.

Cattails screenshot
Cattails screenshot
Cattails screenshot
Cattails screenshot
Cattails screenshot
Cattails screenshot
Cattails screenshot
Cattails screenshot
Cattails screenshot
Cattails screenshot
Cattails screenshot
+4

96%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,419 reviews
story122 positive mentions
grinding82 negative mentions

  • story
    555 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is often described as a mix of engaging and simplistic elements, with a sad backstory that resonates with players. While some appreciate the emotional depth and character interactions, many feel the main quest is repetitive and lacks depth, primarily revolving around fetch quests. Overall, players enjoy the freedom to create their own narratives within the game, but express a desire for more substantial story content and character development.

    • “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.”
    • “The beginning of the story is very heart breaking and there should probably be a trigger warning.”
    • “The main quest is just a repetitive cycle of collecting things; there is barely any story whatsoever, and there is barely any personality to the characters. It's more like an early release.”
    • “Every single quest in this game seems to be a tedious fetch quest with a story that is not even well-written.”
    • “The story doesn't have very much depth, and they try to cover that up with the fetch quests, but this game is not really big enough for a large story.”
  • gameplay
    259 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay in "Cattails" is generally described as charming and engaging, featuring a mix of hunting, foraging, and social mechanics that appeal to fans of life simulation games. While many players appreciate the simplicity and addictiveness of the mechanics, some note that the gameplay can become repetitive over time, with a lack of depth in certain areas. Overall, the game offers a relaxing experience with cute graphics and a whimsical atmosphere, though it may not satisfy those seeking more complex gameplay.

    • “The gameplay is quite addicting, and I was overall satisfied with the experience as a whole.”
    • “The game is fairly simple, and the gameplay loop can be pretty addicting with interesting mechanics I haven't seen done in a game before.”
    • “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 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.”
  • graphics
    186 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming and cute pixel art style, which enhances the overall relaxing and enjoyable experience. Many players appreciate the vibrant colors and character designs, noting that the visuals effectively complement the game's whimsical atmosphere. While some critiques mention a lack of depth or polish, the general consensus is that the graphics contribute positively to the game's appeal, especially for fans of indie and simulation genres.

    • “The graphics are beautiful, but I wish it wouldn't slow down in some spots, that's rather irritating.”
    • “Cattails is a lovely cat farming sim, it has beautiful graphics and lovely cats with personalities to keep you entertained for hours.”
    • “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 graphics are not that aesthetic to me personally and I guess that's the dealbreaker for me.”
    • “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.”
  • music
    183 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is widely praised for its calming and delightful qualities, enhancing the overall atmosphere and gameplay experience. Many players appreciate the variety in the soundtrack, which changes with the seasons and complements the game's charming pixel art and engaging characters. Overall, the music is considered one of the standout features, contributing significantly to the game's relaxing and enjoyable nature.

    • “The soundtrack is very calming, the seasonal changes are cozy, the artwork is adorable, the characters are cute...”
    • “The music is very soothing and gives more emotion to the game.”
    • “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.”
    • “The music just feels overly cheerful and energetic at some points.”
    • “I was lured in with the siren song of glowing user reviews, but am left quite disappointed.”
  • grinding
    95 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The reviews indicate that while the game offers a charming experience reminiscent of farming sims like Stardew Valley, it often suffers from excessive grinding, making gameplay feel tedious and repetitive. Players noted that hunting and gathering can become monotonous, with many quests feeling like fetch tasks lacking meaningful rewards. However, some players appreciated the relaxed pace and exploration aspects, suggesting that enjoyment may vary based on individual tolerance for grind-heavy mechanics.

    • “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.”
    • “Despite not farming, the reason I find CT still has that farming sim feeling is the way you interact with your community.”
    • “It's Stardew Valley but with cats and no farming.”
    • “It's a boring, slow, muddy, grindy, boring, janky, and awfully boring game.”
    • “Every single quest in this game seems to be a tedious fetch quest with a story that is not even well-written.”
    • “Despite that though, there are a couple of negatives that come to mind, mainly that it can come off as rather 'grindy' at times in that there is little actual challenging content outside of artificially boosting up the difficulty.”
  • emotional
    34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its heart-wrenching opening scene, which resonates deeply with players, especially pet owners, often leading to tears. While the game is described as cute, wholesome, and addictive, the initial backstory serves as a poignant reminder of abandonment, creating a strong emotional connection that enhances the overall experience. Despite some critiques regarding the story's depth, players appreciate the blend of joy and sadness, making it a memorable and impactful journey.

    • “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 heartbreaking and there should probably be a trigger warning.”
    • “You play a cat who's been cruelly abandoned in a forest (an emotional punch to the gut of a game intro if ever there was one) and joins a colony of other cats there.”
    • “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 aspects of the game fell flat, leaving me disengaged and uninterested.”
  • replayability
    20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game offers a mixed bag of replayability, with many players appreciating the variety of colonies, unique character interactions, and the potential for different play styles. While some find it charming and engaging enough to return to for years, others feel that once the main content is completed, the replay value diminishes significantly. Overall, it seems to cater to a niche audience that enjoys exploring all aspects of the game, but may not hold long-term appeal for everyone.

    • “Played this for years and it's still got replayability thanks to the different colonies and stories you can create.”
    • “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.”
    • “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 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!”
  • humor
    16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its lighthearted and whimsical nature, featuring funny dialogues and quirky characters that enhance the overall experience. Players find the comedic elements, such as the absurdity of dating cats and engaging in random cat fights, to be both entertaining and addictive. Overall, the game's charm lies in its ability to blend humor with engaging gameplay, making it a delightful choice for fans of cutesy adventures.

    • “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.”
    • “Cattails is a super fun game with really interesting and really funny (looking at you Krampy) characters, fairly decent leveling mechanics, and an amazing and soothing soundtrack to go behind it.”
  • atmosphere
    13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its blend of fun and relaxation, featuring a charming and cozy environment reminiscent of both Stardew Valley and the Warrior Cats series. Players appreciate the peaceful ambiance, enhanced by a stunning soundtrack, although some critique the inconsistency in world-building elements that detract from the overall charm. Overall, it is described as a sweet and enjoyable experience, perfect for casual play.

    • “It blends survival elements with the charm of Stardew Valley and has a nice cozy atmosphere.”
    • “Though there's enough excitement to keep things interesting, the general atmosphere is so peaceful, complemented perfectly by a stunning soundtrack.”
    • “Its atmosphere is so sweet and charming, all the characters are lovely, and it is 100% going to be my biggest time-consumer of 2021.”
    • “The world building is like the developer couldn't make up his mind between warrior cats inspired clans or Stardew Valley inspired humanized cats - why do wild cats hunt prey and kill rivals and survive in the wilderness yet have access to LED lights, carpets, giant wooden task boards, etc...? It's details like this that kill the atmosphere - they should have kept to one style because it failed to capture the charm of both Stardew Valley and the Warrior Cats books.”
    • “I think there's room for a really solid plot here, but it seems to be going for a really kid-friendly bright and cheery atmosphere, after the touching opening sequence.”
    • “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.”
  • stability
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's stability is a mixed bag; while many players find it enjoyable with minimal glitches, some report significant issues such as freezing, lag, and lost progress. Most glitches are minor and do not severely impact gameplay, but certain bugs, particularly during specific interactions or updates, can lead to frustrating experiences. Players appreciate the charm of the game but express a desire for improved stability to enhance their overall enjoyment.

    • “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).”
    • “I like this game so far - it's very fun; however, there is a lot of lag when going into certain areas and sometimes my cat glitches and I can't control where they go.”
    • “I love Cattails, but when I try to exit the game, it freezes. I have to restart and I lose all of my progress!”
  • optimization
    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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 experiencing minor stuttering during gameplay. Despite these issues, the graphics are generally good, and the optimization allows for a consistent experience across different hardware.

    • “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 graphics are good, runs smoothly on most devices.”
    • “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.”
    • “The game is also optimized pretty well.”
  • character development
    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is generally viewed as cute but basic, with charming character designs and interactions that evoke a sense of nostalgia. However, many reviewers note a significant lack of depth in character development and limited NPC dialogue, especially when compared to similar games like Stardew Valley. Overall, while the art and character designs are praised, the game falls short in providing a more engaging narrative experience.

    • “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.”
  • monetization
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization aspect of the game is generally positive, with players appreciating the absence of microtransactions, ads, and punishing mechanics that often detract from the experience. However, some users express disappointment over misleading advertising and a desire for more depth in the game's romantic and friendship elements, suggesting that the monetization strategy could benefit from a more thoughtful approach.

    • “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.”

Buy Cattails

25h Median play time
144h Average play time
8-65h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 15 analyzed playthroughs

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