Copycat

82%
Game Brain Score Based on 736 reviews
  • story
  • emotional
  • gameplay
Copycat Game Cover
If you own or take care of a pet – or if you have kids who’d like a pet – do yourself a favor and play Copycat in one sitting. Make sure you have tissues ready.
Starting at $10.49Buy now
Get on Steam

"Copycat" is a single-player game with a deep, intriguing story centered around a sceptical shelter cat named Dawn who meets her new owner, Olive, a lonely older Aussie mourning the loss of her previous cat. Together, they explore themes of family trauma, abandonment, and the true meaning of home through a journey that intertwines beautiful visuals, delightful music, and an emotional rollercoaster of humor and heartbreak.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

82%
Audience ScoreBased on 736 reviews
story202 positive mentions
grinding5 negative mentions
  • The story is incredibly emotional and resonates deeply with players, especially those who love cats.
  • Beautiful graphics and art style that enhance the overall experience.
  • The game effectively conveys important messages about pet ownership and abandonment.
  • The gameplay is linear with minimal choices that do not impact the story, leading to a feeling of lack of agency.
  • The ending is disappointing and sends a problematic message about returning to an abuser.
  • The game is short, lasting only about 2-3 hours, which may not justify the price for some players.
  • story633 mentions

    The story of "Copycat" has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its emotional depth and ability to evoke strong feelings, particularly regarding themes of abandonment and the bond between pets and humans. However, criticism often centers on its linearity, lack of meaningful player choices, and a controversial ending that some found unsatisfying or problematic. Overall, while the narrative is compelling and beautifully presented, it may not resonate with everyone due to its heavy themes and execution.

    • “Absolutely fantastic storytelling - I'm not normally a person who plays a video game for the storylines, but Copycat gave me a remarkable story I could not just look away!”
    • “I highly recommend this game if you love deep story games, but make sure you have tissues at the ready!”
    • “The story is beautifully written and features fantastic voice actors.”
    • “The story is the main focal point but still leaves lots of room to explore and be a cat in the world.”
    • “The story, which is supposed to be the main draw, feels half-baked.”
    • “The story is poorly written, all of the characters are unlikable, the main character quite literally develops Stockholm syndrome over the course of the game, as later on she begins wanting to return to her owner who abuses her repeatedly throughout the game.”
  • emotional342 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game "Copycat" has been widely praised for its ability to evoke a deep and varied range of feelings, often leading players to tears. Many reviews describe it as an emotional rollercoaster, with heartfelt storytelling that touches on themes of love, abandonment, and the bond between pets and their owners. While some players found the emotional moments impactful and relatable, others criticized the writing for being shallow or predictable, which affected their overall engagement with the characters and story.

    • “This game takes you through all emotions and feels like an emotional punch in the gut at every turn.”
    • “I really love this game, it made me cry so many times and empathize with the story personally.”
    • “Copycat is a heart-wrenching, narrative-driven indie game that will stay with you long after you play.”
  • gameplay137 mentions

    The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its simplicity and repetitiveness, often likening it to a walking simulator with minimal mechanics. While some appreciate the emotional storytelling and unique cat perspective, others criticize the lack of engaging gameplay elements and the overall clunky execution. Overall, the game seems to prioritize narrative over gameplay, leading to a varied experience that may appeal more to those seeking a story-driven experience rather than challenging gameplay.

    • “The gameplay is unique and very well put together.”
    • “It offers varied and satisfying gameplay, an emotional and occasionally shocking storyline, convincing and rounded characters, colourful visuals with adorable cats and stylised dream sequences, all accompanied by a unique and relaxing soundtrack.”
    • “The mechanics are simple, but enough to make the game an enjoyable experience.”
    • “Gameplay is very basic and repetitive; the characters are horrible, and whilst the story has potential, it falls very short, especially at the end of the game where the payoff is just finding your way back to the human who abandoned you.”
    • “The gameplay is repetitive and actually pretty boring; the choices have absolutely no impact on anything (I played the game twice just for that, and all you will get is like 2 different sentences through the whole game).”
    • “The gameplay is clunky at best, and story-wise, I did not find it very entertaining.”
  • graphics82 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the beautiful visuals and charming art style, while others criticize the inconsistent quality, dated models, and technical issues like stuttering and lag. Many appreciate the unique artistic choices, particularly in dream sequences, but note that the overall graphical performance can detract from immersion. Overall, while some find the graphics appealing and fitting for the narrative, others feel they fall short of expectations, especially for a modern game.

    • “The graphics are amazing and quite realistic in the way the cats move.”
    • “The graphics are absolutely beautiful, bringing a sense of stunningly well-used cartoon-realism to the forefront.”
    • “With stunning visuals, deep storytelling, and emotionally charged moments, this game invites you to experience the bond between pets and humans in a way that is both magical and heart-tugging.”
    • “Graphical struggles - I noticed significant stuttering in my game despite my gaming laptop being set to the lowest graphical settings and with v-sync on.”
    • “The graphics are subpar, the models are janky, and controls are lacking (for a cat you sure turn awfully awkwardly).”
    • “The game has weak graphics in some spots, animations are very janky, controls are wonky, and the gameplay doesn't offer a lot.”
  • music56 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its emotional depth and ability to enhance the storytelling experience, while others found it either generic or out of place. Some players highlighted the soundtrack as a standout feature that complements the visuals and gameplay, creating a relaxing atmosphere, while a few criticized it for being repetitive or annoying. Overall, the music is seen as a significant aspect of the game, contributing to its charm and emotional impact, despite some varying opinions on its execution.

    • “The music adds a lot to the whole experience the makers wanted to convey; played with headphones and it paid off.”
    • “A touching story told from a unique perspective, with a lovely musical score and a dedicated 'meow' button.”
    • “The music was especially charming and should be nominated for whatever awards there are for video game music.”
    • “The music was annoying; I didn't understand the primal side of things when it's just supposed to be a house cat that got abandoned.”
    • “I hated the music (it was either generic emotional music or out of place/tonal whiplash jungle music), so I ended up turning off the music and instead put on a Spotify playlist.”
    • “It is clunky with its animation and repetitive at times with its music.”
  • humor22 mentions

    The humor in the game is a standout feature, with players appreciating the cheeky narrator and the witty dialogue that often leads to hilarious situations. While the game balances funny moments with emotional depth, many found the humor to be a highlight, particularly in the cat's interactions and the absurdity of certain scenarios. Overall, the blend of humor and heartfelt storytelling creates a unique experience that resonates with players, making them laugh while also provoking deeper thoughts.

    • “Mostly, the game is quite humorous with a cheeky narrator that acts as the cat's thoughts and conscience, and a cast of human characters who interact with the cat throughout the three-hour story.”
    • “In what almost always leads you on a most humorous turn of events, the lovely narrator loves to present you with fascinating facts about felines, as well as their more wild-natured habits.”
    • “One of my favorite aspects of 'Copycat' is your cat’s witty, conscious dialogue spoken by a nature documentary expert, which is hilarious.”
    • “Not funny.”
    • “The jokes fell flat and felt forced.”
    • “I expected more clever humor, but it was mostly cringeworthy.”
  • replayability7 mentions

    Overall, the game has limited replayability, primarily offering only nostalgia and the opportunity to unlock missable achievements. While some players express a desire for more impactful choices and a chapter select feature, the experience is generally seen as a one-time playthrough, with minimal incentive to replay beyond achievement hunting.

    • “There is some replayability to get the other achievements, and they aren't too hard.”
    • “There are choices which might offer some replayability - I haven't tried yet to see if you could deal with a second round emotionally.”
    • “Also, games like this need a 'chapter select' option, even only for achievement hunting, since once you know what happens there's not much else in the replayability department, and there are many missable achievements.”
    • “Not much replay value; I wish choosing different things would have different outcomes.”
    • “Maybe someday - even though there is no real replay value other than nostalgia.”
    • “Also, games like this need a 'chapter select' option, even only for achievement hunting, since once you know what happens, there's not much else in the replayability department, and there are many missable achievements.”
  • grinding7 mentions

    Players generally find grinding in games to be tedious and often a slog, especially when the story isn't compelling enough to justify the repetitive tasks. Achievements that require multiple playthroughs can exacerbate this feeling, leading to frustration rather than enjoyment. Overall, grinding is seen as a negative aspect that can detract from the overall experience if not balanced well with engaging content.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Usually this only works when the story is the strong point of the game; otherwise, these games would be extremely tedious and boring.”
    • “Playing through it twice just for the achievements can be quite tedious.”
    • “This game is a tedious slog with a downright dangerous message ('go back to your abuser if they say they need you').”
  • optimization6 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with users reporting significant stuttering and performance issues even on lower graphical settings, particularly on the Steam Deck. While some players noted that performance was generally acceptable and appreciated the native ultrawide support, many expressed frustration over the lack of adjustable settings and overall poor optimization.

    • “Performance is fine; it seems the game has native ultrawide support, but you can't adjust anything regarding that.”
    • “Had some performance issues, but it didn't really ruin the game.”
    • “Graphical struggles - I noticed significant stuttering in my game despite my gaming laptop being set to the lowest graphical settings and with V-Sync on.”
    • “Somehow it still manages to be very unoptimized.”
    • “It's very poorly optimized.”
  • stability6 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is marked by occasional bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, such as control issues and character getting stuck. While these problems are noted, they do not significantly detract from the overall experience for most players.

    • “The controls can be a bit buggy here and there, but overall it was a nice few hours.”
    • “While not the best, I didn't really enjoy it due to being deep and its buggy nature. The animations don't feel realistic, and you can teleport a short distance, which overall ruins the immersion. Speaking of that, it's not great with the narrator, which kind of ruins it a bit. The game can be deep at times, but it feels repetitive and not realistic enough.”
    • “The game has a few glitches here and there where I was getting stuck and would have to reload, but that didn’t affect the gameplay much.”
  • atmosphere6 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its beautiful music and stellar voice acting, which together create an immersive and emotionally resonant experience. However, some critics feel that the atmosphere occasionally leans into forced sentimentality, detracting from the overall pacing of the game. Despite this, many players appreciate how the atmosphere effectively captures the emotional highs and lows of the journey.

    • “The music and atmosphere of the entire game are wonderful.”
    • “The voice acting is stellar, and the original score blends so well with the game’s atmosphere, giving it that emotional depth.”
    • “I feel like some of the atmosphere was used to evoke a forced sentimentality, which makes sense since the writers worked in advertising, over what is ultimately a tedious game that cannot figure out its pacing.”
    • “You go through so many ups and downs, and the atmosphere truly captures how things can change.”
    • “The music, too, adds a lot to the atmosphere, making the world feel alive as you guide your cat through her journey.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game is criticized for creating a misleading sense of choice, as it ultimately presents a linear experience akin to a storybook walking simulator, which detracts from the overall enjoyment and pacing. Users feel that the game's atmosphere is leveraged to evoke sentimentality, possibly reflecting the developers' advertising background.

    • “The advertisement delivers the illusion of choice in what turns out to be a storybook walking simulator with a couple of mini games.”
    • “I feel like some of the atmosphere was used to evoke a forced sentimentality, which makes sense since the writers worked in advertising, over what is ultimately a tedious game that cannot figure out its pacing.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

73% average critic score

Buy Copycat

Play time

3hMedian play time
3hAverage play time
3-4hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 10 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Similar Games

Game News