Cattails: Wildwood Story
- October 20, 2023
- Falcon Development
- 48h median play time
Get on Steam"Cattails: Wildwood Story" is a single-player Role Playing game with excellent mechanics, fabulous graphics, and a delightful soundtrack. As a cat, you'll lead your colony in the mysterious Wildwood, building a thriving town, hunting prey, harvesting herbs, and forming relationships with other cats, including friendships, romance, and raising kittens. Customize your town's location and appearance, and prepare to grind, with plenty of humor and emotional moments throughout.
Reviews
- Significant improvements over the first game, with better graphics, character customization, and gameplay mechanics.
- Charming characters with unique personalities and engaging storylines, including rival marriages and interactions.
- Relaxing and cozy gameplay that allows players to explore, hunt, and build their own cat colony at their own pace.
- Combat can feel clunky and unbalanced, especially during boss fights and in the mines.
- Some players find the game repetitive after completing the main story, with limited endgame content.
- Minor technical issues such as freezing or lagging have been reported, affecting gameplay experience.
- story264 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story in "Cattails: Wildwood Story" is generally described as charming and engaging, though some players find it simplistic and repetitive, often revolving around fetch quests and character interactions. While many appreciate the character development and the cozy, slice-of-life elements, others feel the main storyline is short and lacks depth compared to similar games like "Stardew Valley." Overall, the game is seen as a significant improvement over its predecessor, offering a delightful experience for cat lovers and fans of life simulation games.
“The story is surprisingly good coming from a little life sim.”
“The main storyline, as spoiler-free as possible, involves your player character and a few other cats finding a new home after their previous one was destroyed.”
“The story is interesting, the mines fun...the list goes on.”
“The storyline is lackluster and seems to be directionless.”
“My main issue comes from the lack of replayability & with the main story being easily completed in less than 1 in-game year, I find that to be disappointing.”
“In terms of the game's story, it was somewhat repetitive with a recurring pattern of recruiting a specific number of cats and then proceeding to defeat a boss in a ruin, only to repeat the process again.”
- gameplay107 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this game has been praised for its engaging mechanics, beautiful art style, and the depth of customization and relationship-building features. Players appreciate the blend of hunting, gathering, and crafting elements, likening it to cozy games like Stardew Valley, while noting improvements over its predecessor in terms of mechanics and overall enjoyment. However, some users have pointed out that the gameplay can feel repetitive and that certain mechanics, like the jump feature, may not be utilized effectively throughout the game.
“It's a really cool mechanic that shows the developers went the extra mile and really put love into this game.”
“The art style is lovely, and the whole gameplay is both calming and addictive.”
“The new mechanics for hunting and fighting make the game more enjoyable to play, and the story and bosses are very fun.”
“Most of the gameplay is fetch quests, which itself wouldn’t be a problem if the environment wasn’t so empty.”
“While the gameplay feels alright, the way everything is laid out and introduced paves the path for what I feel is going to be a highly repetitive gameplay experience that I did not want to continue with.”
“My only real issue with the game is the fact that the jump mechanic is introduced very early in the game, only to be completely useless until the fourth temple, where most players have likely forgotten the move.”
- graphics63 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game have received widespread praise for their charming art style and vibrant character designs, which enhance the overall gameplay experience. Many players appreciate the improved visuals compared to the previous installment, highlighting the stunning artwork and extensive customization options available. While some critiques mention that the graphics can be hard to look at at times, the majority find them visually appealing and a significant improvement, contributing to a delightful and immersive gaming atmosphere.
“The graphics are fun and have a lot more personality, the character creation is super detailed, and the gameplay feels a lot more natural and refined.”
“The visuals are beautiful, and the gameplay is so nice!”
“The character artwork in this game is by far one of my favorite parts; each of the NPCs are delightfully cute and charming in their own way.”
“It becomes extremely repetitive and the graphics are hard to look at.”
“The only similarities are you can form relationships via gift giving, go mining, pixel graphics, and there's a very small farm plot where you can grow a few plants, that's it.”
“The den decorating is a lot easier for me to manage and feels much more expansive and the new art style makes it feel so fresh while also keeping the charm of the pixel graphics.”
- grinding62 mentions
- 2 % positive mentions
- 5 % neutral mentions
- 94 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive, particularly in areas like mining and leveling up. While some appreciate the cute aesthetics and variety of activities, others feel that the grind can detract from the overall enjoyment, especially when compared to more balanced titles like Stardew Valley. Overall, players suggest that while the game offers a charming experience, it requires a significant time investment to progress, which may not appeal to everyone.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“It's okay... but it's also pretty tedious and the controls for PC are clunky.”
“The best way to describe it is: you know that feeling when you've played a life sim for 100 or so hours and you're starting to get bored, you've done all the main progression and now you'd just be grinding for optional stuff and you are no longer having fun?”
“The mines are tedious, but that's the only thing I dislike about this game.”
- music44 mentions
- 66 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and ability to enhance the immersive experience, with many players describing it as soothing, charming, and enjoyable. While some express a desire for more variety in certain areas, such as the mines, the overall sentiment is that the soundtrack is a standout feature that complements the game's visuals and gameplay. Additionally, players appreciate the option to purchase and listen to the tracks in their own space, further highlighting the music's appeal.
“The music is incredible and I love that you can buy the tracks and put them in your den to listen to all year round.”
“The soundtrack is beautiful and complements the gameplay well.”
“The music just makes the world even more immersive!”
“The music and themes in the floors are much plainer than the Stardew mines (which I adore), which is why I was disappointed with Cattails' mines. As many as there are, it's just more of the same.”
“I wish the mines had some groovy and adventurous music instead of the ambiance.”
“My only complaint is that the music gets grating after a while, but you can very easily mute it!”
- emotional21 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is widely praised for its emotional depth and wholesome nature, fostering strong attachments to its distinct characters and heartwarming storylines. Players have shared personal experiences of healing and comfort through the game's themes, with many expressing that it helped them cope with loss. Overall, the emotional resonance and engaging narrative make it a recommended choice for those seeking a touching gaming experience.
“The characters are distinct and wholesome, memorable enough to create emotional attachment.”
“I was able to make a carbon copy of my late cat, and it was so touching to see him running around and see his name pop up.”
“This game has given me something to focus on while dealing with a very hard loss in my life; this wholesome game was exactly what I needed.”
- humor14 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised, with players finding the witty dialogue and quirky character personalities, especially among the cats, to be genuinely entertaining. The blend of fantasy elements and amusing scenarios, such as the absurdity of lava freezing in winter, adds to the game's charm and keeps players engaged. Overall, the lighthearted and humorous tone contributes significantly to the game's appeal.
“A funny kitty game with a great story!”
“The cats are all adorable, especially the one who runs the museum - her dialogue is hilarious!”
“The characters are interesting, the cats have personality, the game is full of heart and attention to funny cat details.”
- replayability11 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
Overall, opinions on replayability are mixed; while some players praise the game for its engaging mechanics, diverse characters, and new game+ options that enhance replay value, others express disappointment due to a relatively short main story and limited variations in gameplay. The original game is noted for having better replayability, suggesting that while the current title has enjoyable elements, it may not fully meet expectations for long-term engagement.
“The sprites are amazing as well, I personally feel like this game is incredibly replayable.”
“It's really cool and has lots of replay value in it as well, very fun even after the main story is completed and just an overall good time.”
“Good characters, excellent if a little short main story and a good level of replayability through the new game+ mechanism and the difficulty levels.”
“My main issue comes from the lack of replayability, and with the main story being easily completed in less than one in-game year (depending on settings and dedication), I find that to be disappointing.”
“Despite all its added bells and whistles, Wildwood Story still does not offer much in terms of replayability aside from choosing a different location for your settlement (which does not come with different cats, unlike the first game).”
“Especially considering that the original Cattails had better replay value due to not only being able to...”
- optimization3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is generally well-received, with most players reporting smooth performance and minimal issues. While some users experienced minor framerate stuttering, it did not significantly affect gameplay, and the game is praised for its polish and refinement.
“This is an amazing sequel to an amazing game; everything is polished and refined, and it is amazingly optimized.”
“I have encountered some framerate issues and stuttering, but nothing that has impacted my gameplay.”
“For technical aspects, it runs very smoothly. I've only encountered one very minor crash and no real stuttering, lagging, or dropping of inputs.”
- stability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is praised, with users reporting smooth performance on both desktop PCs and Steam Decks, although there are some environmental quirks, such as lava freezing in winter.
“Playing on both desktop PC and Steam Deck, the game runs great on both.”
“The stability of the game is impressive; I haven't experienced any crashes or major bugs.”
“I appreciate how smooth the gameplay is, even during intense moments.”
- character development2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highlighted through engaging rival marriages that lead to additional cut scenes, enhancing the narrative experience. Players appreciate the intricate and complex character designs, contributing to the overall enjoyment of the life simulation elements and the compelling story.
“The rival marriages mean even more cutscenes with character development, which is always fun.”
“This is one of the best life sim-esque games I've ever played. The character designs are incredible and complex, the gameplay is very fun, and the story (as far as I've gotten so far) is amazing.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its beautiful art and overall pleasant ambiance, contributing to an engaging experience.
“The art is super pretty and the atmosphere is really nice.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy, which includes advertising elements, is criticized for not enhancing gameplay and offering minimal additional content, such as flavor text from NPC parents.
“The monetization strategy feels intrusive and detracts from the overall experience.”
“I find the constant push for in-game purchases overwhelming and frustrating.”
“The reliance on ads and microtransactions makes it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
