Stray Review Roundup: A Paw-stively Warm Reception

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Early reviews are in for Stray, and critics are buzzing about the upcoming platformer that puts players in control of a feline lost in a futuristic world of robots. Developer Blue Twelve Studios turned many heads when it unveiled the first Stray trailer during the PlayStation 5 reveal livestream in the summer of 2020, which served as a strange new look at the soon-to-be-released console’s graphical capabilities as an impressively-rendered cat wandered through an eye-catching, cyberpunk environment.

Following the reveal, details about Stray’s story and gameplay mechanics started to emerge as it drew closer to its release on July 19, 2022. Stray focuses on exploration and puzzle-solving instead of combat, with players navigating the unnamed feline protagonist across many obstacles and sneaking past robotic guards with the help of a friendly drone named B-12. Blue Twelve Studios producer Swann Martin-Raget also opened up about the development of Stray and discussed the real-life inspirations for the game’s post-modern setting. Later on, Blue Twelve went into detail about the cats that Stray's main character was modeled after, which adds a dimension of charm and realism to the cute and mischievous new platforming adventure.

Related: PS5 Cat Game Stray Reveals Release Date & PS Plus Free Access

With only a day to go before Stray is released across PlayStation consoles and PCs, Twitter user and gaming rumor hunter Nibellion recently posted some of the game’s early review scores, which have given Stray extremely positive ratings across the board. These reviews have praised Stray for combining a visually stunning sci-fi world and emotionally impactful plot, with some critics describing its tone as “dark but endearingly hopeful.”