As a video game enthusiast and cat lover, I’ve been looking for the perfect way to celebrate International Cat Day (August 8th). This year, the stars have aligned with something truly special: the release of Cat Quest 3. This game promises to be a delightfully fun adventure that blends the cuteness of cats with truly addictive gameplay that is sure to resonate with animal lovers and gamers alike.
Set in a beautifully crafted 2.5D open world, this action RPG puts you in control of a “rogue pirate” (a cat, of course). You’ll explore a pirate-themed world known as Purribean, teeming with evil Pi rats in search of a long-lost mythical treasure. You’ll also sail this land on your own ship, solve captivating side quests, battle fearsome enemies, and embark on your own thrilling treasure hunt.
The Cat Quest franchise has always been celebrated for its charming visuals, clever wordplay, and captivating storylines, and this latest installment is no exception. If you also loved the game “Stray” and are in need of something similar, then you’re in luck. Here’s why Cat Quest 3 is worth playing on this very holy day…
A simple and light story
Those who played the first two Cat Quest games will know that the story takes place primarily in an open-world kingdom. This time, however, you'll be embarking on a quest around the sun-bleached, palm-dotted Purribean Archipelago to find the mysterious treasure of the North Star.
As a tabby cat, you are chosen as one of the Seekers, individuals destined to discover the North Star, a legendary artifact said to grant all wishes. Accompanied by a mysterious ghost sidekick named Captain Cappey, your mission is to explore the world and claim the North Star before rival pirate factions can get their hands on it.
Even though the story is very simple and has almost no character development, it still manages to create a captivating experience that is easy to get into. I found that the narrative never bogging me down, allowing me to fully immerse myself in the journey as I cleared dungeons and navigated to each small island. While I love incredibly deep and complex narratives (given that The Last of Us is my favorite game), I really enjoyed playing a refreshingly simple game on my PC.
There is much to explore in this colorful world
The pirate world of Purribean in Cat Quest 3 draws inspiration from the golden age of piracy, but adds a delightful feline twist. The game features a map filled with lush tropical islands, each offering unique environments, quests, and enemies.
The main antagonists are the Pi-rats, a group of evil pirate rats on a personal quest for mythical treasures like the North Star. These cunning enemies provide both comic relief and challenging combat, constantly trying to outwit and outmaneuver you at every turn. Your only way to survive in the Purribean is to engage in thrilling ship-to-ship combat or fight them bare-handed with your claws, clumsiness, and spells.
While I find the map incredibly fun, I have to admit that the gameplay is simplified. I could quickly board my ship and sail to the next island in seconds. Each island is visible on the world map from the start, eliminating the need for loading screens. These compact islands offered a variety of quests and hidden character interactions that kept me engaged.
The Purribean is also rich with side quests that offer additional challenges and rewards, so if you get a little bored with the story, you can always find something else to do. A fun example is tracking down three keys buried on a beach island to help other cats open their treasure chests (and yes, I got to keep the treasure at the end). Other quests often involve finding valuable items hidden in dungeons by completing tasks and fighting the rat pirates inside.
Customize your gear and look
I will always appreciate a game that offers customization features. Cat Quest 3 relies heavily on this aspect to ensure that players upgrade their gear as they fight tougher enemies. When you visit this menu, you can see your current level and inventory. This includes costumes, cute accessories, combat items (like claws and swords), and blasters. There are also three slots that you can unlock for all the spells you collect by completing quests and exploring dungeons.
Being able to upgrade my gear and choose my cat's appearance makes the adventure unique. I especially like being able to customize my character's abilities and appearance to suit my playstyle in the game. For example, once I was able to travel to more advanced islands, enemies were harder to defeat (I found this out the hard way). A quick look in the customization menu helped me locate some extremely effective claws for close combat, and I progressed easily from there.
Of course, the only way to have decent options is to find treasure chests and complete as many side quests as possible. Otherwise, you'll be stuck with a very simple (but very adorable) cat that won't do much damage while sailing the seas.
Cat Quest 3 is a perfect choice for International Cat Day, and I know I'll be playing it for weeks afterward. Its engaging gameplay, colorful pirate-themed world, and customization feature make it an enjoyable experience for anyone who loves cats (or just wants to play a really entertaining game).
You can now buy Cat Quest 3 on Nintendo Switch, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X and Series S, Xbox One, and PC.