– Stray is a cat-centered adventure in a neon cyberpunk city, focused on exploration, atmosphere, and light puzzles with minimal combat.
– It has undergone notable discounts, hitting an all-time low of $14.99 (50% off) on Steam until June 3.
– The game runs well on Steam Deck (Verified), making it suitable for handheld play.
Stray: A Neon Cat Adventure
Developed by French studio BlueTwelve and published by Annapurna Interactive in July 2022, Stray takes players to a neon-lit cyberpunk city inhabited by robots. The twist: the protagonist is an orange cat that has been separated from its family and is trying to find its way home. Along the way, the small drone B-12 helps with translation, collecting items and understanding the world.
Pricing and Deals
Stray usually costs around $30 on Steam, but is currently available at half price for $14.99 until June 3. According to SteamDB, previous discounts had typically topped out at 40%, most recently in early April. The current deal therefore marks a new all-time low. There is also good news for handheld gamers: thanks to its “Verified” status on the Steam Deck, the cat adventure is well suited for gaming on the go.
Gameplay and Atmosphere
In terms of gameplay, Stray combines exploration, small puzzles, light stealth sections and plenty of convincing cat moments. The cat can meow, scratch, jump, knock over objects and move through narrow alleyways, apartments and across rooftops. The game largely does without traditional combat, instead placing the focus on atmosphere, exploration and the unusual perspective of its animal protagonist – an approach that impressed both players and critics.
Reception and Reviews
In its German review, 4Players awarded Stray 8.5 out of 10 points, praising the excellently realized cat, the dense atmosphere and the creative cyberpunk setting. Criticism was aimed at the relatively low level of challenge, simple stealth sections and limited replay value. Anyone looking for a demanding game is clearly in the wrong place here. Instead, Stray offers a relaxed, often charming cat adventure with a very distinct appeal. The Steam community seems to agree: an impressive 97% of more than 171,000 user reviews are positive. On Metacritic, Stray has a Metascore of 83 and a User Score of 8.3.
Notes
Disclaimer: The price or deal mentioned in this item was available at the time of writing and may be subject to time restrictions and/or limited unit availability.