Stray

Everything in Stray works together so well; the characters, the story, and being a cat is so realistic and fun that it is so rewarding. I can't recommend this title enough; it is my game of the year for 2022 meow!

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"Stray" is a third-person adventure game that allows you to play as a stray cat exploring a gritty, neon-lit cybercity. Interact with the environment in feline ways, solve puzzles, and befriend a drone companion to help you escape this mysterious place. The game features both stealth and exploration, with a focus on observing and manipulating the strange inhabitants of this world.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

88%

Audience ScoreBased on 135,125 reviews

story20,600 positive mentions

stability622 negative mentions

story
36,779 mentions
56 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The story of "Stray" is widely praised for its emotional depth and engaging narrative, following a lost cat navigating a dystopian world inhabited by robots. Players appreciate the unique perspective of storytelling through a feline protagonist, with many noting the game's ability to evoke strong feelings, from joy to sadness, particularly in its poignant ending. While some reviews mention the story's predictability and brevity, the overall consensus highlights its charm, beautiful visuals, and the immersive experience it offers, making it a memorable journey for players.
- “I love the visual storytelling and how relaxing this game is!”
- “The story is well written, and I loved discovering this world.”
- “The story is emotional, it might not be a very long game but it's a game you will remember and enjoy.”
- “The story is really nothing to write home about.”
- “The story is very linear but depending on the B12 memories you unlock will change some dialogue at the end.”
- “The story is short (only around 5 hours), but they are some of the 5 best hours you will have playing a game.”
graphics
13,806 mentions
72 % positive mentions
27 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Stray" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visual quality and attention to detail, creating an immersive cyberpunk world that captivates players. Reviewers highlight the game's beautiful art style, vibrant colors, and realistic animations, particularly in the portrayal of the cat's movements and behaviors. Overall, the graphics are considered a standout feature, enhancing the emotional depth of the story and the overall gaming experience.
- “The graphics are stunning, the game is very visually pleasing, and I imagine a lot of players now have screenshots as their desktop background.”
- “The art style is a beautiful mix of realism and stylization, creating a visually striking world that is both immersive and enchanting.”
- “The graphics are absolutely gorgeous, the music and sounds are phenomenal, and the overall storyline and gameplay are entertaining, emotional and fun.”
- “The graphics are not exactly mind-blowing, but their attention to detail and the amazing animations on the cats are a joy to watch.”
- “The graphics leave a little something to be desired, but you get so involved with the story you tend to forget about it.”
- “The graphics, the meow button, the robot buddy, the heart racing, heart aching.”
gameplay
11,853 mentions
43 % positive mentions
53 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Stray" is characterized by its simplicity and accessibility, focusing on exploration, light puzzle-solving, and cat-like mechanics such as jumping, scratching, and meowing. While many players appreciate the charming atmosphere and engaging story, some criticize the linearity and lack of depth in gameplay, noting that it can feel repetitive and lacks challenging mechanics. Overall, the game offers a unique experience of navigating a beautifully rendered world from a cat's perspective, making it enjoyable for casual gamers and cat enthusiasts alike.
- “I'm very impressed with not only the graphics, but also the story and gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is relatively simple, focusing on exploration and puzzle-solving, which makes it perfect for a relaxing experience.”
- “The gameplay is both enjoyable and therapeutic, with a dash of challenge, making it the perfect game to unwind with after a long day.”
- “Stray is an odd one as a game; it's rather boring, it's slow and has little to do in terms of actual gameplay.”
- “When it comes to gameplay, it's a bit dull and offers little new.”
- “The gameplay is very, very basic; there is little to no challenge, no new - or interesting - mechanics, so, as a game, it's clearly subpar.”
emotional
6,850 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of "Stray" has resonated deeply with players, many of whom report experiencing a wide range of feelings, from joy to profound sadness. The game's touching narrative, coupled with its charming visuals and relatable characters, often leads to tears, particularly during pivotal moments such as the ending. Overall, players describe "Stray" as a heartfelt journey that not only entertains but also evokes strong emotional connections, making it a memorable experience for cat lovers and gamers alike.
- “A beautiful and engaging story that not only consistently keeps you engaged but also is an emotional journey.”
- “The story is emotional, it might not be a very long game but it's a game you will remember and enjoy.”
- “This game made me cry multiple times, out of joy and sadness, and I would 100% be okay to see this get game of the year.”
- “Very simple puzzles and boring story made it difficult to play for a full hour.”
- “It has a boring story, poorly thought-out controls, very linear gameplay with hardly any exploration, boring dialogue (every single character in this game has the exact same dialogue when you show them items), subpar graphics, clipping audio (in chapter 8), no diversity between levels (they all look the same), lack of navigation, locked frame-rate at 60fps, very short playtime (around 3-4 hours to complete the game), no replayability... I could go on and on and on...”
- “The cat game made me cry, would love to replay it sometime.”
music
6,570 mentions
62 % positive mentions
37 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The music in "Stray" has received widespread acclaim for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, enhancing the game's emotional depth and overall experience. Composed by Yann Van Der Cruyssen, the soundtrack features a blend of ambient and electronic music that perfectly complements the game's cyberpunk aesthetic, with many players noting its ability to evoke a range of emotions. Overall, the music is described as beautiful, fitting, and integral to the game's charm, making it a standout feature that many players appreciate and enjoy.
- “The music and atmosphere were stunning and there was a wide range of emotions that the game delivered to me (lots of humor in there, too!).”
- “The soundtrack and sound design further enhance the experience, with a hauntingly beautiful score that complements the game's tone perfectly.”
- “The soundtrack, composed by Yann Van Der Cruyssen, perfectly complements the atmosphere, elevating the overall experience.”
- “Music is kind, hmm, I just halfed it, I don't think it offered much for the immersion.”
- “The only negative thing I could say for the game is the soundtrack... a lot of 'songs' have loud popping noises and it's really annoying and gets old very quickly which meant I had to turn off the music altogether which was a bummer.”
- “The music, the atmosphere, and story, friends made and lost along the way.”
atmosphere
4,786 mentions
74 % positive mentions
26 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in "Stray" is widely praised for its captivating and immersive qualities, blending stunning visuals with a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack. Players appreciate the game's ability to evoke a range of emotions, from wonder to melancholy, as they explore a richly detailed cyberpunk world filled with charming characters and environmental storytelling. The game's design effectively creates a unique atmosphere that draws players in, making it a memorable experience centered around the perspective of a cat navigating a dystopian landscape.
- “The game’s atmosphere is captivating, with neon-soaked streets and intriguing robotic inhabitants that make the world feel alive and immersive.”
- “The atmosphere in this game is absolutely incredible.”
- “The atmosphere, the soundtrack, the story, the cats!”
- “However, the atmosphere is pretty much the only thing going for this game.”
- “The atmosphere of the dead city feels.. well, dead.”
- “The lack of freedom in how you can move means you rarely get to actually feel like you're controlling a cat, and the lack of branching paths with purpose make it feel like few ways are correct, so you quickly find yourself rushing to the next 'correct' point rather than enjoying any atmosphere because navigation is tedious.”
humor
1,342 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised, with players enjoying the antics of the cat protagonist and the quirky interactions with robot characters. Many found the cat's behaviors—like knocking things over, meowing, and getting stuck in a paper bag—hilariously accurate and relatable, contributing to a lighthearted atmosphere amidst the game's deeper themes. Overall, the blend of humor, charm, and emotional depth creates a memorable experience that resonates with both cat lovers and gamers alike.
- “I love meowing at the security cameras, their reactions are top tier (๑˃ᴗ˂)ﻭ also accidentally tripping a robot shouldn’t be as funny as how I reacted to it, goodness!”
- “This game manages to have a great sense of humor in such a bleak world, and it's honestly an inspiring tale of what really makes you human.”
- “The interactions with the world as a cat were hilarious, especially the moments where I could trip robots or knock things over.”
- “Not funny, cried”
- “Not funny, cried”
replayability
960 mentions
21 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
19 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is generally considered low, primarily due to its linear narrative and short playtime of around 4-6 hours. While some players find value in achievement hunting and exploring missed collectibles, many agree that there is little incentive for multiple playthroughs beyond the initial experience. Overall, it offers a charming first run but lacks substantial replay value for those seeking varied gameplay or alternative story paths.
- “Overall, a great game with lots of replayability (disclaimer: for those of us who just want to have a chill cat parkour run around while finding nap spots, rubbing against robots to hear the happy noise, and sometimes tripping them... otherwise the story itself is very linear. I am very pro nap so... parkour!)”
- “It has a decent amount of secrets that you probably won't all get the first time, thus giving some replayability.”
- “Stray is one of those rare games that manage to be narratively intriguing, dynamically fun, and addictively replayable all at once.”
- “Not much replayability apart from the achievement hunting.”
- “There are some collectibles and a few achievements but other than that, there's very little replay value.”
- “Its admittedly a pretty short experience and there's absolutely no replayability, no spoilers, but there is only one ending.”
optimization
833 mentions
32 % positive mentions
39 % neutral mentions
28 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its performance on various hardware setups, including lower-end systems, while others report significant stuttering and frame drops, particularly in densely populated areas or during transitions. Many users noted that while the game runs smoothly for some, it can be unplayable for others, especially on higher-end PCs, indicating that optimization may not be consistent across all configurations. Overall, while there are commendable aspects of optimization, particularly in terms of graphics and design, many players feel that further improvements are needed to address the performance issues.
- “The environment, the plot, the optimization, and of course cats, everything is 10/10.”
- “Game optimization is insane.”
- “Technically speaking, the game looks beautiful and is very well optimized.”
- “Performance even at low settings is abysmal and it barely works.”
- “This is a very poorly optimized game unfortunately.”
- “I've tried everything to fix the stuttering on PC but the game is totally unplayable.”
stability
750 mentions
14 % positive mentions
3 % neutral mentions
83 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting a range of glitches and bugs, particularly during gameplay and cutscenes. While some users experienced minimal issues and found the game to run smoothly, others faced significant problems, including crashes and game-breaking bugs that hindered their progress. Overall, the game's performance appears to vary widely depending on the platform and individual hardware, with many hoping for future patches to address the ongoing stability concerns.
- “Looks stunning, is bug free (in my experience), and runs buttery smooth (12700 & 3080).”
- “The game has been entirely bug free for me.”
- “Absolutely amazing game - the concept of using a cat to navigate through this grim world is incredible - and it runs great on max settings on steam deck, so prepare yourself for some amazing scenery.”
- “I may have enjoyed the aforementioned story more if the game wasn't so buggy.”
- “The game is also super buggy.”
- “There are some annoying glitches that might make you restart chapters to get the game to function correctly, which could cost you 10-30 minutes of redoing stuff.”
grinding
560 mentions
3 % positive mentions
52 % neutral mentions
45 % negative mentions
The reviews overwhelmingly indicate that the game features significant grinding elements, often described as tedious and requiring a substantial time investment. While some players appreciate the engaging story and mechanics, many express frustration with repetitive tasks and fetch quests that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the consensus suggests that players may need to dedicate considerable time to fully engage with the game, leading to a mixed reception regarding its pacing and enjoyment.
- “Easy game mechanics, straightforward objectives, absolutely no grinding, but plenty of paths to explore if you'd like a richer experience in the world.”
- “The achievements are not too grindy but require a bit of effort.”
- “No filler or pointless sidequests, no grinding to level up, no repetitive missions.”
- “The game turns into extremely tedious fetch-quest land at that point and I could not bring myself to finish because it's so insipid and boring.”
- “I found the primary gameplay loop of meandering around environments to complete fetch quests with some elementary puzzle-solving tedious.”
- “The city segments were fun and piqued my curiosity about this collapsed technocracy, but the action segments were extremely tedious and kept me thinking 'when can I get back to the fun part?'.”
character development
264 mentions
65 % positive mentions
34 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is generally praised for its emotional depth and strong storytelling, with many players feeling a genuine connection to the characters, particularly the protagonist cat and its companion, B-12. While some reviews note that character relationships can feel limited or rushed, the overall design and interactions are described as charming and engaging, contributing to a heartfelt experience. The game's visuals and character designs are also highlighted as exceptional, enhancing the immersive quality of the narrative.
- “The story, environmental storytelling, and character development are all very strong.”
- “By the end of the game you have been on such a big journey with these characters and with its character development and emotional ending it feels earned.”
- “Absolutely amazing- the ending had me in tears, the character development is outstanding and the overall story really pulled on my heartstrings, thank you for this experience <3”
- “The story is relatively light on character development and emotional impact.”
- “Of course, this makes character relationships extremely limited and that's something you just have to accept in this game - there won't be any real ambiguity, turning points or character development for the cat or any of the world's inhabitants (which becomes evident from early on).”
- “The characters you meet are all likable, but I feel some character development felt too rushed to really create a relationship with them.”
monetization
98 mentions
2 % positive mentions
53 % neutral mentions
45 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its lack of microtransactions, offering a refreshing experience in a market often dominated by cash grabs and intrusive monetization schemes. Reviewers appreciate that it provides a complete experience without additional costs or cosmetic purchases, making it feel genuine and well-crafted. Despite some concerns about its price relative to playtime, the absence of monetization issues is highlighted as a significant positive aspect.
- “Can highly recommend this game - it's short and sweet, no padding, no grind, no microtransactions, no bugs.”
- “It's neither a game that advances the genre nor is it one where the whole focus is on microtransactions and earning a quick cash.”
- “In a world infested with greedy publishers afraid to try anything 'risky' and milking microtransactions, you went and made this - and I thank you for it, from the bottom of my heart.”
- “For 30 dollars, the game felt whole, and not marred by intrusive microtransactions or obstructive UI elements.”