Stray: A Cat’s Cybercity Adventure Comes to PlayStation and PC
After a long wait, the team at BlueTwelve Studio and Annapurna Interactive delivered a promising new adventure. Stray released on July 19, 2022, for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC, offering a companionable journey that expands through its initial arrival in both the Extra and Premium editions for subscribers to PlayStation Plus at no extra cost. In this vibrant action-puzzle game, players inhabit the life of a stray cat navigating a mysterious, maze-like city filled with challenges and hidden passages.
The game invites players to adopt the skin of a damaged yet resilient feline. Survival hinges on exploration, clever movement, and solving environmental puzzles that require the cat to reach improbable heights and traverse tight spaces. The skill set includes acrobatic feats that unlock new routes, revealing areas that would be inaccessible to humans and driving the story forward through discovery and discovery alone.
Stray – Release Date Trailer
Throughout the journey, the feline protagonist encounters a drone named B-12, a small companion that gradually uncovers the secrets of the deserted, towering city. As the cat and B-12 travel together, players learn that the city is inhabited by humanoid robots who carry out daily routines amid the ruins. Swann Martin-Raget, producer at BlueTwelve Studio, explained that recreating convincing feline control and animation posed a unique challenge. From the outset, the team aimed to capture the exhilarating sensation of a cat’s agility and movement, ensuring the protagonist could perform natural, responsive actions that feel alive. These decisions helped ground the player in the cat’s perspective and the world it inhabits.
The studio reportedly faced the task of turning a cat into a relatable, expressive character capable of conveying emotion through movement and behavior. As one developer noted, inspiration came from a wide array of sources. Researchers combed through pictures and videos to understand how cats move and interact with real environments, while the broader internet yielded an abundance of cute feline footage that informed animation and timing. The result is a game that centers on a curious, independent feline navigating a neon-lit, cyberpunk city that blends futuristic tech with decaying urban landscapes. Stray is a distinctive adventure that blends exploration, puzzle-solving, and a strong sense of atmosphere, inviting players to experience life from a cat’s point of view and uncover the story hidden within this vivid world.
Marking a fresh take on the urban exploration genre, Stray uses a compact, immersive world where every alley and rooftop becomes a potential doorway to the next puzzle. The gameplay emphasizes careful observation, precise timing, and a willingness to experiment with routes that a feline protagonist can access. By focusing on the cat as a central character, the game provides an intimate feel that resonates with players who appreciate character-driven narratives and creative level design.
New players and longtime fans can expect a thoughtful blend of action, stealth, and platforming, all filtered through the eyes of a creature who moves with surprising grace and confidence. The world-building pulls players into a living, breathing city that rewards curiosity and exploration, rewarding those who look beyond the obvious paths to uncover hidden paths and meaningful lore. As the cat’s journey unfolds, the connection with B-12 deepens, guiding players through moments of revelation and discovery as the story reveals its emotional core.
In terms of visuals and audio, Stray creates a convincing, atmospheric setting with neon glow, reflective surfaces, and a soundscape that mirrors the city’s mood. The combination of design, animation, and world-building helps the experience feel cohesive from start to finish, giving players a sense of being part of a lived-in cyberpunk world rather than merely observing it. The game encourages players to adapt to the cat’s unique needs and abilities, embracing a pace that suits the environment while still delivering moments of high-energy action and clever puzzle-solving.
Ultimately, Stray delivers a distinctive, character-driven adventure that places a cat at the center of a richly imagined, futuristic city. The partnership between BlueTwelve Studio and Annapurna Interactive translated into a cohesive experience that appeals to fans of narrative-driven games as well as players who enjoy exploration and clever, environmental challenges. With its thoughtful design, engaging protagonist, and atmospheric setting, Stray stands out as a memorable entry in contemporary indie storytelling and urban sci-fi aesthetics. The game’s debut has established it as a notable release for 2022 and a must-play for those curious about feline-led adventures in speculative cityscapes. } [Citation: BlueTwelve Studio press materials and interviews]