This review contains spoilers

Started playing Stray and I would say I'm about 10%ish the way through the game so far. I definitely had my eye on the game for a while, especially in development. Cats and a cyberpunk world? You're playing as the cat? I decided then to avoid the publicity and hype and wait for release.

So far, I am blown away. Going in, you must be aware that this is at it's core an adventure game but to clump it in with the "walking simulator" genre would be a massive disservice to what Annapurna Interactive have done with Stray.

The movement, thankfully, honestly feels "catlike". I can't phrase it any other way, it feels pretty good. You're not platforming in the traditional sense, which again may disappoint some who may come in expecting skill based jumps when there are none. The game wasn't developed in the sense that "jumping" would be the element they were going for with Stray.

Instead, you are given little to no information at the beginning and slowly, and actually convincingly, develops a coherent story that I cannot shed any light on without completely ruining it. Just know you are a cat in a cyberpunk city. Go from there.

The game has puzzle solving, rewards exploration, beautiful graphics on our 4K HDR TV and a compelling narrative to keep you playing. This along with several other games made me decide to upgrade to PS+ Extra and I'm glad I did because Stray is a very unique and fun experience I would recommend to everyone.

Update: It's pretty much impossible to discuss the game and my thoughts without revealing spoilers about the story. I personally thought it was very gripping, and as you come to discover that you, a stray but very intelligent cat, have fallen into a failed human society that was built to house it from dangerous, life threatening weather and conditions.

Towards the end we learn that the facility including the control room, had two big problems: Waste and what to do with it. That and of course, the plague that spread through the entire complex, possibly decades ago, killed every single last human being leaving only the robot assistants.

Over time, it appears they not only began to mimic our behaviors, but eventually became self-aware. A group of these robots became determined to leave, by any means necessary, to see the fabled "outside".

I can't say I didn't tear up near the end, but an absolutely phenomenal adventure game with a great story to tell.

Reviewed on Aug 05, 2022


1 Comment


1 year ago

Why did you mark it as completed if your 10% in? Great review though.