There are reasons why you should give Stray a try apart from boredom.
The first-person cat adventure game, Stray, is really popular right now. Developed by the small team BlueTwelve Studio, it allows you to step into the shoes of a cat exploring a crumbling cyberpunk world.
The question is, is Stray worth the hype? Here are 5 reasons you may enjoy Stray:
It Has Engaging Puzzles
Stray has some interesting puzzles to solve, in both how you traverse the world, and some more traditional puzzles to work out. How do you work you way into a building as a cat? Most of these puzzles aren’t super challenging, but they’re satisfying to solve, and it’s fun to try to plot your movement as a cat, rather than a human.
There are a number of safes to crack in Stray. The codes are found somewhere close by, and it’s fun to wander around, paying close attention to signs and knocking down objects to uncover those much-needed numbers.
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The World Is Beautiful
The world of Stray is beautiful. Set in a decaying cyberpunk world, the world is well thought-out, with neon lights, abandoned buildings, and dark alleyways. It’s the perfect location for a stray cat to explore.
One of the reasons why you should give Stray a try is the gripping story that unfolds gradually. Interacting with robots and the occasional human will give you a glimpse of what it’s like to live in this post-apocalyptic landscape, and the world itself will give you clues as to what happened to everyone. It’s worth nosing around and paying close attention to the environment around you as you play.
It Will Turn You Into a Cat Person
Okay, this isn’t guaranteed. But you can tell that Stray was made by cat lovers! The attention to detail is incredible, and the cat is just so … feline. Their expressions and movements feel adorably lifelike, and there are some cute moments that feel very authentic (trying to force a backpack onto a cat, for instance, is never going to go down that well).
If you’re indifferent about cats, Stray might just make you feel differently. Playing as a cat is a total joy. Especially when you get to slowly nudge objects until they fall off the surface they’re balancing on. There are many iconic video game characters out there, but many of them are human, so it’s nice to step into another creature’s shoes (or rather, paws).
It Has Robots
As if a cat isn’t cute enough, there are some beautifully imagined robots to interact with, too. Once the robot B-12 appears, the game opens up, and the relationship between B-12 and the cat is adorable. The robot, once firmly attached to your back, gives you more solutions when it comes to solving puzzles. It also allows you to interact with other robots, giving you an idea of what life is like for the creatures (and androids) that remain in this city.
The other robots are interesting to talk to. They wear human clothing, abandoned by their original owners, and they offer quests for you to complete.
It's Short But Sweet
Stray can be completed in around 5-8 hours. This depends on the player’s style, how long it takes to solve puzzles, and how much enjoyment you get from exploring the scenery and trying to interact with everything you find.
This is a good thing for many people. In a world overflowing with games that are 40 hours or longer, having a short game you can complete in a few hours is kind of refreshing, and the story is beautifully told in the time you have with it.
Stray is definitely worth a try. It’s a unique game, allowing you to briefly live as a non-human character, and it feels so good to be a mischievous (and clever) cat. It is available on Steam, PS4, and PS5.
Megan is a freelance writer based in Somerset, England. She writes about videogames, books, and pop culture.
