Some notes after replaying this for the first time in what feels like at least a decade:

- I wasn't prepared for how tedious it was. Tons of backtracking, checking the map, trial and error jumping sequences et.c. The tilesets quickly become repetitive. The core mechanics are very simple and never really evolve, which is fine at first but then becomes grating.
- The depth and the sheer obscurity of the optional puzzles is absolutely ridiculous. A full completion without looking things up would be worth putting on your resume.
- The pixel art and music are the attention-grabbers, but the sound design is what impressed me most this time. Like much about this game, there's a charming level of texture and detail to it that becomes apparent when you really sit down and listen to it. One thing I noticed was the frequent clever application of in-engine effects like filter cutoff and bitcrush, which brings me to the next part...
- Another underappreciated part of Fez, and core to its artistry, is the Trixel engine, by which I mean how insanely bespoke and artisinal it is. The feature set is completely particular and arguably of no use for any game other than Fez. Nevermind the rotation effect, who really knows what went into simulating all the various glitchy Vectrex and Apple II aesthetics on display here? The ending especially is a real tour-de-force for what this engine can do.

For the first two reasons, I feel this is only partly successful as a game. I think it's more notable for having the gumption and irrationality to succeed as art. It's not a utilitarian product, of course, but it's not a weepy, bashful plea for recognition like most "games-as-art" contenders either. What's great about it is how playful it is, how comfortable it is in its own skin and with the roots of its artform.

This was really a lightning in a bottle thing, a lucky convergence of energies. I've searched in vain for something similar: I don't think there's been anything quite like it before or since (though Tunic and Hyper Light Drifter do get close, as does Monument Valley). None of the people involved have really lived up to what they did here, aside from maybe Rich Vreeland with HLD. Still worth a playthrough, will be revisiting some time in the future.

Stray is a beautiful Artistic master piece about a Stray kitten/cat who has to traverse the scary Dead City, all while meeting great characters in Momo, Clementine, Doc, Seamus, and overall having a look at the beautiful Artistic style of the game. The game is a beauty to behold.

The cat being a cat is very cute and also hurts alot to see it get hurt, or sad.

The puzzles can be a bit tedious, and most of the game is just a "get this a put it there" and the collectibles are very basic. I still had a lot of fun with the game.


The ending especially made me tear up. I have to say, whether or not people agree is neither here nor there. But this has to win a game of The Year award, it won't be THE GAME OF THE YEAR, but it absolutely deserves an award.

Play Stray 🐱🐈❤️

I've had multiple people tell me over the span of like, a year, tell me to play this game, that it was incredible, and after finishing it in about 3.5 hours, and then taking an additional 1.5 to access the secret superboss, I can gladly agree with them because holy shit this game was incredible.

The gameplay was fluid, fast, and fun. The mixture of quick, tactical thinking and quick reactions and executions was a joy, but still completely managable, considering I finished the game on such a quick pace even while exhausted.

The story is definitely much better than I expected. It's something that slowly strings you along over the full story, never QUITE giving you enough information throughout, until the very end where it lands you with gut punch after gut punch, but still leaves you with many questions to keep you thinking about it after the fact.

The game's aesthetic is also very strong, and while the visual effects (while seizure inducing) help push the game's aesthetic even further, and help cement its themes and push the mental state of the player character clearly into view.

Great title overall, and I look forward to the expansion.