The game is Stray. Developed by Blue Twelve. Published by Annapurna Interactive.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stray_(video_game)
Without spoiling anything, there’s way more to this than just a cat simulator. Loving it so far, in any case. I recommend this to anyone who loves exploring new worlds, interacting with lots of locals, solving puzzles. Everything about it has both a familiar RPG feel and also a sense of new to it. And it plays really well on Linux via Steam.
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This game is such a great, short experience. Reminds me of Portal in that sense. It really hits you in the feels at several parts. Runs perfectly on the Steam Deck.
Yes. In fact, as it ended, I hoped it would have a “this is a triumph” kind of ending song too. :)
This was the first game I played on my Steam Deck when I got it! Had a tiny bit of trouble with lagging, especially when there were a lot of enemies on screen, but some tweaking in the settings fixed it. Had a lot of fun with this game, though!
It’s a fantastic little adventure platformer, wrapped up with cat physics. Some of the missions you end up doing don’t seem catlike at all, but I forgive them – most cats wouldn’t properly move a plot along without the prompting of their robot friend either. ;)
It’s a very nice game, and at a good price point. :)
The cat physics are also outstanding. You can tell there were animators just sitting there studying how cats move for many, many hours.
In the hour since I posted this I got to the end. Yeah, that was great but I wish there was more. I’d be excited to hear if they ever make a sequel.
But on the Wikipedia page it does say…
On 5 September 2023, Annapurna Animation announced an animated film adaptation of Stray is in development after the success of its first film Nimona (2023). Robert Baird, co-head of animation, felt the game was suitable for adaptation due to its popularity, as well as its buddy comedy and hopepunk elements.
So there’s that. Though it makes me sad to think we needed to make “hopepunk” a word; how is having hope a “punk” thing? :|
Though it makes me sad to think we needed to make “hopepunk” a word; how is having hope a “punk” thing? :|
It’s punk af. Punk is a leftist/inclusive/anti-authoritarian movement that focuses on self-reliance and direct activism to get shit done. A lot of the general punk scene has been all over the board on their optimism/pessimism about our ability to affect meaningful change. Recently, subgenres of punk have sprung up that are very much still punk, but focus on one category of change or have a more optimistic outlook. Solarpunk is a branch of the punk movement with a green focus. Hopepunk focuses on can optimistic outlook with traditional punk values. Fashion-wise and music-wise, they tend to lean towards greens/blues or brighter/lighter colors or more folk-punk or upbeat tunes.
Weird Barbie would definitely qualify as hopepunk.
Just like any other sub-genre, though, if it rubs you the wrong way, it’s generally fine to just refer to it as the parent genre. Hopepunk is still punk, so feel free to call it that if it works better for you.
