Hello and welcome back to The Backlog, the weekly column where I review video games based on a certain genre each month. We’ve finished January and our deep-dive into mobile games and we’re jumping into February with reviews based on video games and the word, “cute.” First up is one of the cutest games I’ve ever played, “Cat Quest.”
Developer and one of many publishers, The Gentlebros, released Cat Quest in 2017 as an action RPG. It’s playable on Nintendo Switch, PS4, PC and mobile devices. The action RPG genre can seem saturated at times, but “Cat Quest” adds an adorable element with, you guessed it, cats!
The game is set in Felingard, a fictional kingdom run by cats with danger at every corner. Players take on the role of a yellow cat only referred to as the hero, who searches for his kidnapped sister after they were separated at sea. The hero is joined by a guardian spirit named Spirry, who acts as a guide and friend to the player.
The initial premise isn’t very unique, but a good action RPG doesn’t need to revolutionize its storytelling or plot to be considered an enjoyable game. “Cat Quest” is a single-player experience but leaves a lot of room for different styles of play. Just like other games in the same genre, players can equip their heroic kitty with different spells, weapons, armor and more. Be sure to prepare yourself well though, because seeing a cute cat getting hurt isn’t for the faint of heart.
Spoilers for “Cat Quest” story beyond this point!
Most of the gameplay involves going on quests that can either progress the main story or are side quests that reward you with equipment or other necessities. Following along the story quests leads players to search for the mysterious white cat that kidnapped our sister.
Our journey with Spirry reveals that the hero is a Dragonblood, which is known by a purple mark on the back of their head. Dragonbloods are an ancient group of warriors that defeated the dragons in Felingard long ago. We learn later on that Dragonbloods were created by an extinct race called the Old Masters, with an individual named Aelius being the primary creator of Dragonbloods.
When the hero encounters the white cat again, we learn that his name is Drakoth, and he is a fellow Dragonblood. He agrees to free our sister if we defeat the dragons scattered throughout Felingard, which leads to various conquests and battles for our furry hero.
Eventually the other Old Masters turned on Aelius and imprisoned him in the Zero Dimension, an otherworldly realm. In retaliation Drakoth lead the Dragonbloods against the Old Masters and eventually both races died out in the conflict.
Now this is where things get a bit more complicated. It’s not hard to guess that Drakoth’s true goal is to free Aelius. But he does this by purposely putting the hero through trials in order to train him, and the death of a Dragonblood within the Zero Dimension is what is needed to free Aelius. But the other twist is that Spirry has been working for Drakoth the whole time, although he has a change of heart and apologizes to the hero for betraying them.
The final battle against Drakoth is difficult, but he fails in his mission to kill the hero and is slain. But right before the hero and Spirry leave the Zero Dimension, they see Aelius leave before them.
To me, the story is predictable and simple. From the beginning it’s obvious that there’s more to Drakoth than it seems, and the “closest ally betrays you” trope is nothing new in video games. But “Cat Quest” takes a very heroic and sympathetic view on things. Because of this I feel that the “Cat Quest” series is very friendly for children and is a good example of an age-appropriate game.
But it also leaves a lot of room for expansion. “Cat Quest” is followed by two sequels, both of which continue the action-RPG style. As the first however, “Cat Quest” whiskers players away to a generic yet cozy fantasy.
Felingard and the other areas of the world with cat-themed puns contain extensive lore and interesting characters. “Cat Quest” is, at its heart, a love-letter to previous action RPGs and a fun experience for all ages. Adding fluffy cats and endless feline jokes to the mix gives the series its own unique signature. I’m sure players will be left with a feline of satisfaction from “Cat Quest.”
Rating: 4/5