Stray stands out as a single-player indie adventure game that puts you in control of a stray cat navigating a mysterious cybercity. Released in 2022 by BlueTwelve Studio, this third-person title blends exploration, puzzle-solving, and light platforming in a world filled with robots and hidden dangers. You follow the cat's journey after it falls into an underground city, teaming up with a drone companion to uncover secrets and find an escape.
Gameplay
In Stray, the core experience revolves around controlling the cat through detailed environments, using its natural abilities for traversal and interaction. You leap across rooftops, climb obstacles, and scratch surfaces to create paths or distractions. Puzzles often involve manipulating objects, like knocking over paint cans or operating simple machines, to progress the story.
A key mechanic is the partnership with B-12, a small drone that translates robot languages, hacks devices, and stores items. This companion also equips a Defluxor tool to fend off swarming enemies called Zurks, though it overheats after use and requires a cooldown. Against Sentinels, which are security drones, stealth becomes essential; you hide in shadows or use the environment to avoid their detection beams.
Interactions feel playful and cat-like, such as meowing to get attention, nuzzling NPCs for reactions, or curling up to sleep in safe spots. Collectibles like badges and B-12's memory fragments add depth, revealing more about the world's backstory without being mandatory for completion.
Game Modes
Stray focuses entirely on a single-player campaign, with no multiplayer options or additional modes. The game unfolds as a linear narrative adventure, divided into chapters that guide you through the decaying city. Certain sections open up for freer exploration, allowing you to roam alleys, interact with robot inhabitants, and complete optional tasks like gathering music sheets for a musician robot named Morusque.
This structure keeps the emphasis on story progression, blending guided paths with moments of discovery in its underground setting.
Story and Setting
The narrative centers on Walled City 99, an abandoned underground metropolis inspired by real-world walled cities, now home to a society of humanoid robots called Companions. These robots have developed their own culture, complete with a unique language and social norms, while factions like the Outsiders seek ways to reach the surface.
As the cat, you encounter antagonistic elements such as the mutated Zurks and patrolling Sentinels, adding tension to the exploration. The story explores themes of isolation and rediscovery through B-12's unlocked memories, which tie into the city's forgotten human history.
Is It Worth Playing?
Stray has earned strong praise since its launch, holding a "generally favorable" rating on Metacritic and an 85% recommendation score on OpenCritic. It won awards like Best Independent Game and Best Debut Indie Game at The Game Awards 2022, and it topped Steam's user-rated games for that year. Players often highlight the charming cat perspective, atmospheric world-building, and concise storytelling, though some note frustration with chase sequences involving Zurks.
As of 2026, the game remains available across platforms, including a Nintendo Switch port from 2024 and inclusion in PlayStation Plus lineups. It suits those who prefer relaxed adventures with puzzle elements over intense action, especially if you enjoy narrative-driven titles or have an affinity for cats.
If you're looking for a short, memorable single-player experience without combat-heavy gameplay, Stray delivers a unique take worth trying. However, if you seek replayability through varied modes or multiplayer, it might not hold long-term appeal.
