Cats + Space + History + In-game photography = a catchy puzzler for all ages

Apologies to my newsletter readers: I know I promised you MixTape but I was completely distracted by Cat Me If You Can. To be honest, all it had to say was ‘cozy puzzle hidden-objects game with cats’, and I was pretty much all in. But then it added this cool hand-drawn noir aesthetic. Then it started in space but with Star Trek style holodecks or time-machine (not sure which). Then it added in-game photography, with dopamine-delivery colour shots and emojis. I mean, seriously–it’s the gift that keeps on giving! My only mistake was showing it to EG Zaltu, who quickly stole my computer and absolutely demolished the demo. They then proceeded to tell me to write and publish the review IMMEDIATELY. 

So, to all the adult gamers looking for a cozy hidden-object game, to all the teens looking for a cute cat game, and for all the wonderful weirdos who share this Venn diagram (including myself), this review is for you. 

What is Cat Me If You Can?

This new demo available on Steam is going to tick a lot of boxes this year. It’s a cozy puzzle game with the kind of movement akin to Portal and The Talos Principle – but without the murderous robots. It starts with a ‘hidden object’ vibe and then morphs into a location-puzzle that fills with character and perspective. Actually, I think it is more like Chicory but with a 3D open-world in first-player mode.

You wake on a black-and-white space station that has some mild M.C. Escher vibes and Star Trek holo-decks. It’s a 3D open-world with a bit of guidance to show you around. You are given the task (nay, drive) to find some cats. Apparently, there are quite a few hiding around and you have to find them; including proof by Polaroid. Each time you ‘capture’ a cat on film, they convert to colour, helping you keep track as you progress. 

The game is a single-player in first-person mode; not that this has ever stopped my family from playing a game collectively. It was developed by Cosmic Stag Games, an indie studio based in Berlin (Germany). They have a real thing for puzzle games, following with The Hallway, a narrative-driven single player puzzler with an Escape Room setting. For Cat Me If You Can, the devs have truly engaged the full immersive experience, including a short comic to help set the scene. It’s not essential but you can read it on their website here. It’s a cute touch of whimsy and worth a few more issues. 

How Cozy is Cat Me If You Can?

In the devs own words, Cat Me If You Can is “designed to be a soothing and wholesome experience that helps players unwind after a long day”. If that’s the only goal they had, the devs have hit the target purrfectly. There is no timer, no pressure, and no expectations. The only frustration I had was when *I* thought I was taking too long to find the next item, only to call in Zaltu and have them do a “mum look” and find it immediately. 

The aesthetics really help with this vibe, using colour bursts to keep you focused on the game elements. The black-and-white art is soft and balanced, without making shadows your enemy. There is a manga-style to the artwork, reminding me of some “Slice of Life” samples like The Way of the House Husband by Kousuke Oono.  

On the other hand, I have never seen so much character range in a bunch of cats either. The devs have really gone to town including personality and humour with each cat. There’s sweet, gentle, scheming, and (of course) derpy. You should absolutely check out the concept art, and if the devs ever release a series of stickers, I am going to be broke. 

Final mention for sound: turn your speakers/headphones down a bit for this one. The music is lovely, with a gentle tone and relaxing range. For me, however, the immersive gameplay heightened my senses, making the music and sounds even stronger. For example, the windchimes on the space station were a nice ethereal touch but became too much by the time I found the transporter machine. Low volume settings will still appreciate the sounds and vibes.

Easier Than Your Camera’s Instruction Manual

Considering how accessible it is to use the camera on your phone these days, it’s still fair to say that Cat Me If You Can is very easy to play. Again, the devs wanted an “soothing and wholesome” experience. Achievement unlocked!

Actual mobility is pretty easy; kind of ‘point and shoot’ style with the camera. You also have the options to crouch, jog, and jump but again movement is easy-going to keep the cozy vibe. Keyboard and mouse are easy to use, though I had to turn down the mouse sensitivity for some movements. This game is going to be even better on a handheld, like Switch 2 or Steam Deck, allowing smoother movements and control. 

The real winner for me is the cat-themed journal, giving plenty of support to keep you on track. I tended to find items out of order, and relied on the journal to list what I had found and what side-quests I had activated. It works well with the big cat-themed boards peppered through the area, which also track how many cats in the area are waiting for their close-up.

Demo with Opportunities

The demo is currently available on Steam for free (link here), with full release planned for Q3 2026 (that’s sometime around July/Aug) across Steam/PC, Nintendo Switch 2, and XBox. The demo has both tutorial level and an intro to Tabbyshire, a medieval location for you to explore. The full game plans to have three themed regions with more to add with DLCs. 

This is where some real opportunity opens up. On release, the three available areas are Medieval, Ancient Egypt, and Japan. Maybe the Tokugawa period? We’ll have to wait and see, but if the devs take their history referencing seriously this would open up a great gameschooling opportunity. Sure, we’re still relying on cats to do the hard work, but imagine all the history references you can include that lead to further discussion and studies. I’m not asking the devs to go full Assassin’s Creed for us. Maybe some cute references to real historic figures, or connecting the worship of cats in Ancient Egypt with hidden items, that kind of thing. Just enough easter eggs to keep the history nerds at bay. 

That’s me. I’m the history nerd. 

Score: 4.5 out of 5 bunches of catnip

Absolutely love this and can easily imagine losing myself in a level or two at a time. This is going to be the kind of game where you want to follow the devs for DLCs and updates, knowing that there is always an opportunity for a new level. I love everything about it!

While the demo is currently available on Steam (read: my PC), I think this game is best suited for a handheld like the Nintendo Switch or Steam Deck, if you are so lucky to have either of them. The demo is free, with no current pricing for release. I’ll update when info comes to hand. 

All images are screenshots of my actual gameplay. All opinions are my own. Gameplay is based on the demo available on Steam at the time of publication. 

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Evil Genius Mum

Evil Genius Mum
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