Little Kitty, Big City (2024)

If there's anything that set Little Kitty, Big City apart, it was the charming dialogue between the kitty and the rest of the city's residents, which is some of the most well-written dialogue I've experienced in any game, but especially for such a modest, small-scope game.

This morning we learned it's getting a free update "this year" (sadly no more specific date yet) that will include some new adventures with some of that charming cast, as well as a custom character creator and new photo mode features. The update will be playable on the original Switch!

Check it out at 6:58 in today's Indie World Showcase:

I get what this one is going for, but I don't think it's for me.

I think game devs have really yet to get "cat games" just right, and I think the compulsion to force dialogue in there is a big part of the problem. I think to truly create a game that encapsulates a cat as an animal and a cultural entity, you kind of have to let the actions of the animal speak for itself.

I think Stray got it right when it was ostensibly about a cat doing cat things to reach an end goal. I think the cat itself in Stray was great. It was the decision to focus more on humanity and anthropomorphized robots that kinda ruined it.

LKBC had a similar problem. The game isn't really about cats, but more a human narrative using cats and animals - which can talk to each other - as set dressing. And to be clear, there's nothing wrong with that; it just isn't what I'm looking for.

The gameplay is also more or less a series of busiwork tasks and collectathoning, which I found incredibly boring and tedious. The "comfy game" aesthetic and vibe are also not something I find appealing at all.

I can see why people like this one, and it definitely does what it does well... It just ain't for me.

A cute blend of Stray and Untitled Goose Game. You are a cat, climbing, collecting hats, trading shiny bits to crows for more hats. It's a very relaxed, chill game. After replaying the Fallout games and Halo, this was a nice, calm game. There were some frustrating moments, though. For instance, slipping and falling can set you back some. Some may not care, but there are no way points, either. So you're given a map, but you're constantly having to open it and check that you're going the right way. But unlike most other games with a map system like this, Little Kitty, Big City doesn't orient the camera the same way as when you pressed the pause button.

The main quest is to get home. What you do between the start of the game and getting home is up to you. There are animal NPCs scattered around the city that give you little fetch quests. They're pretty fun. Nothing annoying or involved. Nothing entirely new, though. The NPCs are pretty funny and I felt like there was plenty to do around the town for the short time spent playing the game. You could easily beat it in a couple of hours, but I spent my time collecting stuff, doing the side quests, and having fun as a cat.

The game is the embodiment of the phrase "the journey is more important than the destination." Also, I would highly recommend doing the side quests as there is a slightly rewarding moment or two on your final ascent up your apartment building.

Other than some tricky climbing at times, the game is easy. No combat, easy puzzles, and basically just a cat simulator. I would definitely recommend this game.