It’s all too common in our industry to get excited about big spectacle games. Rarely is the focus placed on smaller, but incredibly well-executed projects. We need to go back to our roots. We need to celebrate simple and clean games, just like the wise, iconic words of Hilary Utada in the soundtrack of the Kingdom Hearts series. Cat Quest III is just that, an underdog that’s an absolute delight and never overdoes it. It’s also one of the best indie game experiences of the year. And that’s no joke.
Three installments in the quirky dungeon-crawling adventure series, full of feline friends and plenty of puns. Developer The Gentlebros has hit the jackpot and delivered one of the best pick-up-and-play co-op experiences in years.
Cat Quest III tells a swashbuckling tale that sees a feline adventurer (or a couple in co-op) set sail in search of a great treasure: the Treasure of the Northern Star. The Purribean archipelago before you is home to many dungeons, caves, secrets, and quirky characters. As with previous Cat Quest entries, however, the narrative takes a back seat and isn’t as deep or elaborate, primarily offering a lush sandbox to explore. Compared to the larger titles, a more grounded but welcome sense of discovery is employed, and there’s always a curio or piece of loot within reach.
It doesn’t take long to realize that Cat Quest III is a mix of everything that came before it in the series. Even if you’re new to it, the good news is that you’re playing the best game with more quality of life additions than ever before. The game just feels so good: you can use magic spells, a melee weapon like a sword or shield, and a ranged weapon in the form of a pistol or wand. You’re constantly gaining new equipment and levels, and unlocking plenty of quests. Cat Quest III does an incredibly good job of throwing lures or points of interest in its players’ faces. I played through the entire game in local couch co-op with my partner, and often we’d drop everything and see a curious island or person that needed rescuing and be led down a new path. Unlike previous titles, you can go anywhere in Purribean at any time. There’s no ability you have to wait for to fly to cross a gap, or the ability to walk on water. Meanwhile, you can just swim there or get there by boat.
