In Stray, you play as a cat on a journey to escape an underground world and reach the "great outside." I originally went into this thinking it would be a simple, linear walking simulator with a cozy atmosphere, but I was definitely in for a surprise. The game is actually packed with puzzles, and things really start to click once you meet B12, your robot companion who helps you interact with the world.
The puzzles are pretty neat and usually require a specific task to move forward. Some are even hidden in plain sight and only become obvious when you get close to them. I really liked how you can interact with all the robots and show them different items to see their unique responses.
However, the game also has enemies called Zurks—fast-moving, one-eyed creatures that live in colonies. They can chew through metal, so a delicate cat doesn't stand much of a chance. I honestly hated every second of dealing with them. They rush you in huge numbers, and if they jump on you, you're dead in no time. The midsection of the game where they nest was especially gross, filled with red infestation and eggs. I was so happy to finally reach Midtown and leave them behind. You do eventually get a "Defluxor" tool to make them explode with purple light, but it uses a lot of power and B12 has to reset after a few seconds.
Midtown was easily my favorite part of the game. It’s an urban area with shops, a bar, a club, and a factory, and the puzzles there were great. While the jumping mechanics might seem limited at first because they are key-labeled, it eventually feels very intuitive and you realize you can jump almost anywhere that isn't covered in spikes.
Overall, Stray is a mix of a puzzle game, a stealth game (with police drones), and a bit of action when you're running from Zurks. It wasn't what I expected at all, but it’s a great experience if you want something short and cozy with a few high-intensity moments. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a solid puzzle game with a great atmosphere.
