This Xbox RPG is full of cats and pirates and may actually be one of my favorite games of the year

As a seasoned gamer who’s navigated through countless genres, from the gritty realism of open-world racing games to the soulful narratives woven into narrative-driven journeys, I must confess that Cat Quest 3 has managed to worm its way into my gaming heart with an irresistible charm. This isn’t a hardcore, time-consuming RPG, nor is it designed to challenge or teach you like some of the more competitive games out there. No, this delightful little gem from The Gentlebros offers something far more precious – pure, unadulterated fun!

Discovering that an established RPG series with a dedicated fanbase incorporates cats and various other furry characters caught me off guard, as I wasn’t previously aware of it. The Cat Quest game series offers charming, compact RPGs that follow the adventures of feline heroines in pursuit of world-changing treasure across multiple chapters. Cat Quest 3 is the newest installment in the franchise and served as my introduction to the series.

After approximately ten hours and a little extra time, I finished Cat Quest 3 and all its accomplishments, leaving me with mixed emotions. While I thoroughly enjoyed the insane amount of fun I had discovering this distinctive universe and delving into the surprisingly rich combat, it also meant that the experience was coming to an end. This engaging RPG is incredibly inviting and accessible for players of all ages, making it a strong contender for one of my favorite Xbox games this year. My only regret is that there wasn’t slightly more content to discover (and that the original Cat Quest was not available on Xbox).

What is Cat Quest 3?

In simple terms, Cat Quest 3 is the third installment from The Gentlebros studio in the Cat Quest series, which has amassed a dedicated fanbase over time. The Cat Quest games fall under the category of role-playing games (RPGs), where each game presents a unique, yet connected story about a cat embarking on an epic journey to uncover treasure or powerful artifacts. Compared to its predecessors, Cat Quest 3 aims to be the most expansive installment, introducing significant quality-of-life enhancements and polish.

In this adventure, you assume the role of a young cat pirate, carrying the lineage of the Seekers – an ancient race connected to a divine relic that resides within them. You sail alongside Captain Cappey, a cryptic spectral cat who played a significant part in your upbringing from kittenhood. Your objective? Track down the North Star Treasure, rumored to lead anyone who finds it towards their most cherished wishes. However, you’re not alone in this pursuit, and you’ll face formidable adversaries along the way.

Cat Quest 3 is an uncomplicated role-playing game offering a dual-player mode locally, and it’s relatively short compared to other games. Unfortunately, there’s no choice for a physical edition on Xbox or Windows PC, but you can purchase the physical version of Cat Quest 3 for $29.99 at Best Buy (PlayStation) or $29.99 at Best Buy (Switch).

Cat Quest 3 review: The good

This Xbox RPG is full of cats and pirates and may actually be one of my favorite games of the year

The pros highlights

This is a very polished, all-around well-made game with few bugs or obstacles to having fun.
And it is fun — it’s supremely easy to dive in and both exploring the world and fighting enemies is a blast.
Some may not like the persistent puns and wordplay, but the consistency of the worldbuilding, character designs, and narrative writing is excellent.

In essence, Cat Quest 3 can be described as an engaging experience. The developers, Gentlebros, didn’t aim for the most grandiose role-playing game with the largest open world, the most lifelike graphics, or the most complex and interactive narrative. Instead, Cat Quest 3 invites you to roam freely in a relatively small world, allowing you to decide where to explore and battle as you prefer.

In Cat Quest 3, the game divides its world into several distinct areas, each offering diverse environments, adversaries, and missions. However, you might find yourself discouraged from exploring certain regions until your character has reached an adequate level. Nonetheless, the game doesn’t prevent you from charging ahead to any location of your choosing. I’m particularly drawn to the way Cat Quest portrays its world as a vast, colorful 3D landscape that feels like I’m truly roaming around. The lively art style also harmonizes beautifully with the unique character and world designs.

The exploration in Cat Quest 3 is a mix of sailing your pirate ship and navigating on foot or in water, while the combats are also separated. What particularly caught my attention about the combat in Cat Quest 3 was its unexpected complexity. The controls are straightforward: you can dodge, attack, switch between melee and ranged weapons, and activate one of four spells that you have equipped. It doesn’t take long to get a hang of it, but initially, it seems like the overall combat will be quite basic. However, Cat Quest 3 gradually introduces an extensive variety of gear, weapons, and spells, which can be combined in numerous exciting and effective ways.

At the close of the game, I was an expert arcane mage, proficient in swiftly unleashing powerful area-of-effect attacks that concurrently restored any harm sustained. However, I also had versatile loadouts that deluged enemies with an endless barrage of multiplying physical assaults, employed constant healing to stay alive while inflicting damage, or summoned countless thunderbolts on the battlefield, and so forth. Essentially, there were numerous strategies at my disposal.

In Cat Quest 3, your adversaries are intriguing and varied, and the bosses present a tough yet balanced challenge. The game doesn’t shy away from sending a good number of enemies your way, either. The Infinity Tower dungeon serves as an outstanding test for your abilities and equipment, pitting you against endless streams of progressively difficult foes. The loop of exploration and combat in Cat Quest 3 remains consistently enjoyable, thanks to the refined mechanics and engaging campaign.

Absolutely, Cat Quest 3 teems with cat-related puns and witty animal language. If you’re someone who doesn’t appreciate wordplay or finds joy in it, then this review might not be for you. But if you’ve stuck around, it’s possible that Cat Quest 3 may not suit your taste. I found the game’s writing to be charmingly consistent and strangely endearing, contributing to a unified theme: dependability. Cat Quest 3 can be counted on to deliver a stable gaming experience, fun gameplay, and dedication to its world-building and themes.

Cat Quest 3 review: The bad

The cons highlights

Cat Quest 3 is a very short game, taking me around 10 hours to 100% complete (including the achievements).
This length means there’s not a ton of depth to the game’s narrative or worldbuilding, and the number of side quests are sadly limited (although I did love the ones that are here).
While this is a very approachable game simply because of its simple gameplay mechanics, it is lacking in accessibility options.

In essence, I found Cat Quest 3 to be an enjoyable and well-crafted video game from start to finish. However, I felt it could have been longer. Despite my anticipation of a shorter game, I managed to accomplish every aspect of the game and all its achievements within approximately 10 hours. By the end, I craved more content, and while I’m pleased that New Game+ is available, it didn’t quite quench my thirst for more.

In my opinion, an extra couple of hours of gameplay would have made it perfect, maybe incorporating one additional region for more side quests and exploration opportunities. Ideally, I’d say 12-14 hours would be just right, but I’m already enjoying what I’ve played so far. The fact that the game can be played in two-player co-op mode adds to its replay value. Developers The Gentlebros are planning to release additional content later on as well.

As someone who has spent countless hours gaming and also happens to have mobility issues, I can attest to the frustration that arises when accessibility options are lacking in games. Take Cat Quest 3 for instance; the requirement to rapidly press the “X” button repeatedly can be challenging and exhausting for those of us with physical limitations.

Ultimately, I can’t progress without voicing my strong desire for the original Cat Quest game to be available on Xbox. To clarify, this isn’t about Cat Quest 3, but I find it frustrating that only the second and third games in the series are playable on Xbox. Could we please have the first game as well?

Cat Quest 3 review: Final thoughts

You should play this if …

✅You love adorable games that provide hours of simple fun

Cat Quest 3 might not reach the pinnacle of world creation, narrative, or game mechanics, but it masterfully combines all the elements that make video gaming enjoyable. If you’re a fan of charming games that jumpstart your fun experience right away, Cat Quest 3 is an exhilarating playtime choice for you.

✅You want a casual game easy to play with someone else

Regardless if it’s a child, friend, partner, or someone else, Cat Quest 3 makes for an exceptional game when played with another person. This is particularly suitable for individuals who identify as more relaxed gamers seeking to enjoy each other’s company in a vibrant, enchanting environment. Cat Quest 3 offers fun and entertainment for people of all ages and gaming abilities.

You should not play this if …

❌You want a new RPG to fully immerse yourself in for dozens of hours

Cat Quest 3 is among the briefest role-playing games I’ve experienced, offering a welcome break from numerous titles requiring extensive commitment, yet simultaneously implying a restricted duration for exploring and becoming engrossed within its realm.

I’m quite fond of various genres of video games. I’m captivated by open-world racing titles that allow me to drive exotic cars I wouldn’t be able to in reality; I’m hooked on action-adventure games that weave compelling narratives into engaging gameplay; I appreciate narrative-focused experiences that delve into the human condition from all angles; I enjoy challenging and competitive games that stimulate my mind with puzzles, challenges, or educational content. Additionally, Role Playing Games (RPGs) draw me in as they provide an opportunity to discover entirely new virtual worlds.

Cat Quest 3 isn’t a demanding, lengthy video game; instead, it offers a relaxed, enjoyable experience. It’s an RPG in its most basic form. Furthermore, it’s one of my favorite games I’ve played thus far in 2024. The Gentlebros have achieved something truly remarkable: they’ve created a game that is uniformly engaging across all its themes, mechanics, and aspects. Cat Quest 3 is charming, vibrant, and full of fun from start to finish. You can delve into all it has to offer either solo or with a companion by your side.

As someone who doesn’t usually dabble much into role-playing games, especially ones involving cats, I was pleasantly surprised by Cat Quest 3! The cost of entry is quite affordable and it doesn’t require prior knowledge of the previous Cat Quest games to enjoy this one. In fact, my lack of familiarity with the series actually made me even more eager to revisit the first two installments now.

2024-08-19 14:10