Stray Cat Crossing

93%
Game Brain Score Based on 489 reviews
  • story
  • music
  • graphics
Stray Cat Crossing Game Cover
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"Stray Cat Crossing" is a horror adventure game with a single-player mode and an intriguing story. Explore a surreal world filled with bizarre creatures, solve challenging puzzles, and uncover heart-wrenching secrets about a little girl named Cat and her family. The game boasts splendid mechanics, wonderful visuals in 16-bit pixel art, and a great original soundtrack, with around 2 hours of gameplay.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

93%
Audience ScoreBased on 489 reviews
story193 positive mentions
grinding25 negative mentions
  • Beautiful pixel art and a captivating soundtrack enhance the game's atmosphere.
  • The story is emotional and thought-provoking, exploring themes of guilt and loss.
  • Unique characters and clever puzzles keep the gameplay engaging.
  • The game is quite short, taking only about 2-3 hours to complete.
  • Some puzzles can feel tedious and repetitive, especially in the final act.
  • The lack of clear explanations for certain plot points may leave players feeling confused.
  • story420 mentions

    The story of "Stray Cat Crossing" is widely praised for its emotional depth, intriguing characters, and unique presentation, often described as touching and thought-provoking. While many players appreciate the atmospheric art and music that enhance the narrative, some find the plot confusing or lacking in coherence, with a few expressing a desire for a longer, more developed storyline. Overall, the game is recognized for its ability to evoke strong feelings and engage players in a complex, albeit sometimes ambiguous, tale of loss and memory.

    • “The story is deep and contains a fair share of twists.”
    • “There are no words to describe the emotional roller coaster this game will put you through, and I have nothing else to say other than it may very well be one of the best story-based games I have played in a long while.”
    • “The story was very touching, and the way every character has a detailed background, an own way to talk/communicate, and its own look.”
    • “Stray Cat Crossing tries to tell a simple story, yet ends up bungling it so much throughout with random imagery, unnecessary sequences, and confusing gameplay elements that, by the end, I couldn't really tell you what the point was at all, besides some theories.”
    • “The game separates itself so harshly in terms of gameplay and story that any connection to the two is extremely shallow.”
    • “The story takes the path traveled over and over again.”
  • music197 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its atmospheric quality, enhancing the overall experience with a blend of haunting and whimsical tracks that perfectly match the game's tone. Many players expressed a desire for an extended soundtrack or additional content, highlighting specific tracks that resonated with them, while some noted minor issues with volume levels and repetition. Overall, the soundtrack is considered one of the standout features, contributing significantly to the game's unique charm and emotional depth.

    • “The soundtrack in my opinion was absolutely amazing and was one of the big factors that made me play this game.”
    • “The music and story overall were just captivating and the ending leaves you with a sense of fulfillment but still makes you want more.”
    • “The pixel art is absolutely amazing, the music is atmospheric and fitting, and the story is interesting and captivating.”
    • “Soundtrack was terrible.”
    • “I honestly found myself trying to get through puzzles as quick as possible just so I could leave rooms faster and thereby change the song playing in the background.”
    • “The volume levels of the music tracks are all over the place and you have no in-game way to adjust the volume.”
  • graphics137 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their unique and atmospheric art style, which combines beautiful pixel art with a surreal and sometimes unsettling aesthetic. Many reviewers noted that the visuals effectively complement the game's narrative and emotional depth, creating an immersive experience that stands out among typical RPG Maker titles. Overall, the artwork is described as stunning, with a charming yet creepy vibe that enhances the storytelling and gameplay.

    • “The artwork is beautiful and the pacing is just right.”
    • “It's surreal and strange but oddly beautiful in both graphics and sound design which perfectly complement the simple yet pretty emotional mystery.”
    • “The graphics are beautiful, the story is interesting, and the myriad of characters are unique.”
    • “While this game does break convention on the usual sprite art style seen in RPG Maker games, I would argue that it doesn’t work for the main character.”
    • “It's such a shame the soundtrack was the way it was because the visuals actually had promise.”
    • “And one, trying to be more objective: the game atmosphere, the graphics, the storyline: not very innovative.”
  • atmosphere100 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its captivating blend of art style, music, and storytelling, creating a dark, creepy, and surreal experience reminiscent of Ghibli aesthetics. Reviewers highlight the effective use of atmospheric elements to evoke emotions and suspense without relying on jumpscares, making it a unique and immersive journey. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered its strongest aspect, enhancing the gameplay and narrative significantly.

    • “The atmospheric art style, story, and OST are amazing.”
    • “Everything asset in the game has been wonderfully drawn to establish the atmosphere of a Ghibli-esque nightmare that obscures a deeper and more emotional story about overcoming past trauma underneath.”
    • “The game does a very good job building a creepy yet alluring atmosphere using art, music, and surreal imagery.”
    • “It starts out really good and interesting but halfway through the backyard level it starts to bear out its flaws (lousy puzzles, little interaction, no real threats, etc.) and the creepy/bewildering atmosphere really begins to wear down. By the time you reach the attic, the characters and setting start to go all over the place and many things go unresolved. It's as if the game itself is dying to get its act together by throwing the twist at your face and making its symbolic nature painfully obvious so you can stop caring about the world of the game and just concentrate on watching the end.”
    • “Sure, the atmosphere is quite gloomy but I honestly could not have felt any true horror.”
    • “It's not a particularly scary game after you complete the first 'stage,' but it does maintain a very unsettling atmosphere the entire time.”
  • gameplay96 mentions

    The gameplay of "Stray Cat Crossing" is primarily puzzle-based, with a mix of easy to medium difficulty challenges that some players found engaging, while others criticized it for being repetitive and lacking depth. Many reviews noted that the gameplay can feel drawn out and frustrating at times, particularly when stuck on puzzles, but the overall experience is enhanced by the game's atmosphere, art, and story. Despite its shortcomings, the game is generally considered enjoyable for those who appreciate narrative-driven experiences over complex mechanics.

    • “Watched PewDiePie play this years ago, finally got to play it myself... lovely gameplay and story!”
    • “Multiple endings make for interesting gameplay, and puzzles are constructed in such a way that they're not overly difficult, even for players new to adventure/exploration games.”
    • “The gameplay has more variety than what I was expecting - one puzzle in the middle of the game was particularly interesting.”
    • “The gameplay consists of pressing enter on everything until the game progresses.”
    • “The gameplay is entirely puzzles, which would be fine if the puzzles were at all engaging.”
    • “The gameplay isn't really the focus here, and when the developers try to make it the focus, they fail.”
  • emotional49 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised, with players noting its profound storytelling and ability to evoke strong feelings, including tears and introspection. Many describe it as a touching experience that explores themes of trauma, love, and memory, often leaving a lasting impact despite its brevity. The combination of engaging narrative, beautiful visuals, and haunting sound design contributes to an emotional roller coaster that resonates deeply with players.

    • “I didn't expect this game to go this hard, but when the pieces fell into place, it was quite emotional.”
    • “There are no words to describe the emotional roller coaster this game will put you through, and I have nothing else to say other than it may very well be one of the best story-based games I have played in a long while.”
    • “With emotional lines and capturing the feelings of love between family members and friends, 'Stray Cat Crossing' has a theme of love and never forgetting your past, even if it gives you some of the greatest pain you can ever endure.”
  • grinding25 mentions

    Many players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly in the later stages where puzzles become repetitive and drawn out. While the initial gameplay is enjoyable and well-paced, the final chapters often involve frustrating trial-and-error mechanics and lengthy fetch quests that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game suffers from a lack of engaging design in its latter parts, leading to a sense of monotony and boredom.

    • “However, experiencing the story involves plenty of unimaginative and straightforward puzzles when it's not indulging in tedious mazes or a confusing time loop near the conclusion.”
    • “The end of the game becomes very tedious and boring as on your first try you will end up replaying the same segment over and over as it's trial and error based.”
    • “It's ruined by tedious design and its own obsession with weirdness above all else.”
  • character development18 mentions

    Character development in the game is highly praised for its unique and striking designs, which are often described as colorful, fun, and symbolically rich. Reviewers appreciate how the character designs enhance the overall atmosphere and narrative, contributing to a memorable experience, despite some critiques regarding gameplay mechanics and pacing. The combination of character design, pixel art, and music creates a captivating and immersive environment that resonates with players.

    • “The character designs are not only interesting, but hold lots of symbolic weight.”
    • “The pixel art is used to great effect for detailed environments and striking character designs, the music matches the scenes it accompanies well, and most images at least have some thread that connects to the overall narrative.”
    • “The character design and art, as well as the soundtrack, are both lovely and fun.”
    • “It outdoes itself in terms of character design, mood, art, and music, but falls short when it comes to game mechanics, pacing, and a memorable story.”
    • “Everything about this game - character design, environment, music, and the overall tone of the story - has the most unnerving, creepy charm.”
    • “+ clever character designs and stories”
  • humor7 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as a blend of hilarity and horror, with players finding the bizarre and creepy elements more amusing than frightening. Many reviews highlight its unique ability to mix funny moments with emotional depth, resulting in an experience that is unintentionally hilarious rather than genuinely scary. Overall, the game successfully employs humor alongside its RPG tropes, creating a memorable and entertaining experience.

    • “This game has the perfect combination of creepy and weird mixed with humor and reality.”
    • “It's bizarre, funny, heartbreaking, and overall a fantastic game.”
    • “Unintentionally hilarious rather than scary.”
  • replayability4 mentions

    The game has limited replayability, with users noting that while the initial playthrough is enjoyable, there isn't much incentive to replay it afterward. Some players found it more engaging after the first act, but overall, the consensus is that the replay value is minimal.

    • “Overall, it was well worth the playthrough, though I don't think it has much replayability.”
    • “It was a lot more enjoyable for me after the first act since I'm not great with horror.”
    • “I'm still unsure about the replay value.”
    • “Overall, it was well worth the playthrough, though I don't think it has any replayability.”
    • “--Replayability: little to none”
    • “I'm not sure what I think about the replay value yet.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed feedback, with some players expressing dissatisfaction that affects their desire to replay it, while still recommending it to others.

  • stability1 mentions

    The game "Stray Cat Crossing," developed with RPG Maker, experiences notable stability issues, including occasional freezes and crashes. Players have also pointed out problematic design choices that contribute to a less stable gameplay experience, such as the escape sequence from the basement and the looping segment in the attic.

    • “As you can see in the game description, 'Stray Cat Crossing' was made using RPG Maker, and the game has a few flaws because of it, such as little freezes, crashes, and other poor design choices like the infamous escape from the basement or the looping sequence in the attic.”
    • “The game suffers from frequent crashes and stability issues that make it frustrating to play.”
    • “I experienced several freezes during gameplay, which really detracted from the overall experience.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

3hMedian play time
3hAverage play time
2-4hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 5 analyzed playthroughs

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