“But if you tame me, then we shall need each other. To me, you will be unique in all the world. To you, I shall be unique in all the world.” This famous quote from The Little Prince speaks of trust, attachment, and forming a bond. These themes are quite often the subject of literature, as well as all kinds of games. However, if I had a coin for every time there was an indie adventure game about a cat looking for its home, I would have two coins. Which isn’t a lot, but it’s weird that it happened twice. Of course, the first game I’m thinking of is Stray, the award-winning production where a cat finds its way out of a long-forgotten cyber-city. The second game, Copycat from Spoonful Of Wonder, has just been released, but I am convinced it will quickly win your hearts.
In Copycat, we play as Dawn, a cat from a shelter who is readopted by a lonely elderly lady named Olive. However, Dawn is skeptical of the new situation—she believes she is a wild cat, and uses every opportunity to plan her escape. These thoughts begin to fade as she and Olive gradually develop an intimate friendship, learning how to understand and comfort each other. Just when everything seems to be going smoothly, Olive suddenly falls ill and allows a stray cat to take Dawn’s place, forcing her onto the streets. As she is abandoned again, she starts searching for answers to some thought-provoking questions: Where do I belong? Who is the copycat, really? What is home?
We play the game from Olive’s perspective at the moment she adopts Dawn. When this crucial event occurs, we switch to Dawn’s point of view and begin experiencing life as a cat. This means running around the house, knocking things over, creating hidden spots, scratching furniture, stealing food, and meowing as much as we want. Initially, moving as a cat can be challenging, especially when it comes to jumping, but it gets easier with practice.
As we become more familiar with our surroundings, various new activities are introduced, including reflex-based hunting, quick-time events with different patterns, and even platforming. The different mechanics used for storytelling add depth and variety to the experience. Since the game is narrative-driven, players face numerous choices that affect their adventure, which I will discuss in more detail later.
Let’s dive into the graphics and why I rated them so highly. If you have played the demo or seen gameplay footage or trailers, you might think the game looks a bit rough around the edges. I agree that achieving a realistic depiction of the cats and the outside world is not the main goal of this game. However, the focus on the cats themselves is where the graphics shine. At times, I switched to a lower resolution to smooth out the gameplay, but I still wouldn’t consider the graphics bad.
The real standout moment came with the first change in art style, where we were transported into a world of bright, geometric nature. This change was both confusing and fascinating. The movements, sounds, and environment were unique, and the music, reminiscent of The Lion King, was the perfect finishing touch. This transition between reality and the fantasy of a nature documentary cleverly highlights Dawn’s struggles with her identity and sense of belonging.
Besides the initial changes in art style, the creators continued to experiment. For example, one scene uses slow motion to emphasize the reflexive abilities and speed of the animals. While the game starts with a certain point of view, it later allows us to explore different angles and perspectives. I also appreciated the use of light during darker moments—it was both symbolic and theatrical. Overall, the effort put into the visuals is commendable, which is why I awarded them the highest rating.
I have a feeling that cats are misunderstood in the media—they are either portrayed as silly goofballs without any brain activity (which, of course, is not inaccurate) or as hidden geniuses plotting the downfall of all humanity (which is also not entirely baseless, to be honest). What I liked about this game is that we get to know a cat firsthand. We learn that Dawn can be diabolical as she intentionally destroys every piece of furniture in the house.
We can also see her funny side in the form of comments she makes as jokes during exploration (“Oh no, they chose violence” when approached by a gang of stray cats will forever stick with me). What makes Dawn a special protagonist is that she is quiet, but we can see her thoughts. That way, we know she longs for love, security, and a home. We also understand her fear of attachment and subsequent abandonment that stems from her past. And that is why we are also responsible for making decisions.
The story of Copycat is linear, so there won’t be any actions or choices that affect the outcome. Still, players have a lot of freedom from the very beginning—you can choose the cat’s color and its accessories. You are free to explore as much as you want, while guidance is always ready to help you if you get lost. You can choose whether to play or not. Even the choice of selecting a piece of garbage is left to you. These small details make this a more personal experience, while keeping us engaged in the story.
The “bring tissues” warning in the Steam description was not a joke. Copycat is a game that needs to break you in order to work. It will be a devastating and emotional experience as we learn about Dawn’s insecurities and Olive’s struggles. An abandoned cat and a human who gives up. It is important to note that both are searching for the meaning of family and home while loneliness and darkness slowly envelop them. We learn with them that home comes in many forms, which concludes our emotional catharsis. In short: you will cry a lot, and the tissues will disappear faster than Dawn can shred toilet paper.
An experience for everyone, regardless of whether they own a cat or not. I highly recommend finishing this game in one sitting—it only takes about 3 hours to go through Dawn’s story and lead her to a real home. For me, this game was the best game I’ve played recently—and not just because I own two cats. It’s because in Dawn’s world, I saw everything related to our own lives—and it’s a beautiful feeling to know that it’s not always dark.
Review copy provided by the publisher
4.8
