I Am Cat offers a pleasing change of pace; one that is more down to earth (in every sense of the word), fur covered, and curious in a feline kind of way. This delightful indie game lets players slip into the scrappy paws of a street-wise cat navigating a crowded human world, where each alley, rooftop and sunny windowsill whispers with the promise of adventure. Simultaneously heartwarming and immersively interactive, I Am Cat is more than a game, it's a love letter to cat people, and a charming play on understanding others through play.

The game starts players in a detailed city setting, all from the perspective of emulated perception from a cat's perspective. The world is at once familiar and wondrously new, trash cans become treasure troves of half-eaten fish, narrow ledges are transformed into thrilling obstacle courses, and oblivious humans wander along without any knowledge of the tiny predator darting between their legs. Game physics and movement mechanics make you a truly impressionable and fun-loving cat, whether you enjoy finding just the right spot to nap or taking a leisurely stroll. Everything you do feels genuine, rewarding players willing to crawl in touch with their inner cat with unadulterated moments of joy.

But I Am Cat is not only about chaos and cat. Deep down inside, the game tells a quiet story about great survival, friendship and the sweet bonds animals and humans can form. You play as the stray cat, rummaging for food, avoiding hazards (mean old dogs, fast-moving cars) and on occasion interacting with the humans who seem to be everywhere in this gadget-studded world. Some will shoo you away, a few might set out a bowl of milk or scratch you behind the ears. Those little visits help determine the cat's path, which leads, in the end, to a poignant tale of finding a home, or deciding to remain wild forever. The game's emotional depths sneaks up on you in much the way a cat does, curling up in your lap without a sound when you least expect it.

Visually, I Am Cat is like tasty candy. The art style is part realistic, part playful and almost storybook-ish, which brings the world to life in an inviting way. The cat's animations, from the flick of its tail to the lazy blink of satisfaction, are lovingly crafted, a sign of the admiration the developers clearly have for the creature. The sound design will also suck you right in, purrs, meows and the faint thud of paws against pavement really make you feel like you are right there. Even the film's score, a mix of tender melodies and ambient city sounds, reflects the feline's erratic, yet rhythmic, existence.

What really defines I Am Cat, however, is its knack for challenging the way players think. By embodying a creature so frequently overlooked, the game underscores the beauty to be found in the smallest of moments, the satisfaction of a successful hunt, the reprieve of a warm hiding place, the thrill of ascending to gain an overview of the world below. It’s a useful reminder that adventure isn’t always to be found in grand quests or epics battles, sometimes, it’s right here in the quiet, curious life of being a cat.

If you are a hardcore game player, or you love cats, or you want your unique and warm game, you will fall in love with I Am Cat.That is a game that celebrates curiosity and independence, and the surprising bridges between people that can make life a little more worthwhile, all through the eyes of a creature who is seeing the world not for what it is, but for what it could be, a giant playground for the wandering soul.

By Emma | Copyright © GameHola - All Rights Reserved