Imagine waking up in a world where nothing makes sense. The paintings are alive… your childhood memories are buried in nightmares… and your only companion? A sarcastic, slightly demonic… cat.
This is Cat Museum — a trippy, 2D side-scrolling puzzle-adventure game developed by 751 Games and published by 751 Games and Mammorize, that feels like Salvador Dalí, Studio Ghibli, and your darkest dream had a weird baby. Released on March 17, 2022, the game invites players into a bizarre world where reimagined classical artwork and unsettling creatures intertwine.
Table of Contents
Release date: March 17, 2022
Developer: 751 Games
Steam Price: P175 ($3)
Tags: Indie, Point & Click, Psychedelic, Puzzle
Steam link: Cat Museum
Gupscore: 10/10
Things I love about this game
I bought this game for the quirky visuals but it stayed in my heart because of the story.
You play as a boy tasked with running a mysterious museum… but the deeper you go, the weirder it gets. Paintings start to move. Memories creep back. And everything wants to mess with your head. Every puzzle seems to be a metaphor for something that only you can uncover. Every creature? A twisted fragment of your past. You’re not just solving riddles—you’re unpacking trauma.
➽ The bizarre but striking visuals
Cat Museum’s main selling point, at least for me, was the macabre yet whimsical visuals that painted a tone of eerie but still maintained the acid trip feel of walking inside a museum. This artisitic blend is able to both welcome and intrigue. Every scene is either a colorpop that begs you to interpret or an obscure Frankensteinian horror that’s there simply for the aesthetic vibe.
Not every art piece comes with a story and most of the time you’re stuck wondering why some were drawn that way. I think that’s the strong allure of this game. That art can be pretty and not all the time should be taken or interpreted beyond the showcased talent. But the ones that jump out, they can reflect your inner demons and buried melancholy. It doesn’t have to talk loud but somehow it resonates with you.
➽ Simple to mid complexity of puzzles
Not everyone was happy about the simplicity of some puzzles but then again there’s me, who couldn’t figure out what the heck I needed to do with the jumping monster chicks so I just decided to google it. And even when I did, I still had to go through another few tries before I finally got it.
And I played this onstream. It was embarrassing to say the least haha!
Despite that, I’d still say I loved the puzzles. Especially the ones where you’re suddenly chased by these huge art-bominations lol This game had door traversal puzzles, of which I’m not a huge fan of, but because it was made to be easy, I didn’t complain much.
➽ The heart of this game
Spoiler alert
Just wanted to put it out there that this game isn’t really about cats. Cat Museum felt like a plunge into purgatory from the lenses of an unfortunate kid who may have passed in the middle of war. The glowing cat serves as both a guide and a symbol of his lost innocence, leading him through the labyrinth of his subconscious. The monsters in the museum were other children who also met their demise. The spoiled baby owl was probably a representation of the childhood he never got to experience. His final happy thought? Having a kitty cat for a friend. Towards the end, he confronts the core of his trauma and finally comes to terms with death. And the museum celebrates.
This is an excerpt from the game story:
He remembers the deafening cries echoing under the blood red sky.
Time stood still, day and night blurred as one, rubbles and debris scattered about,
and there was a faint breathing underneath the wardrobe.
The game was built sort of like Alice in Borderland, except that no one is waking up at the end. But they seemed happy and I guess that’s what matters. This definitely made me end my stream prematurely so I could crawl into a corner and cry.
I really appreciate games that affect me and how I see life and everything around me. As busy hustling humans, we always need a constant reminder to be grateful for what we have, and help or at the very least, whisper a prayer for those who are in the middle of fighting someone else’s battles.
Things that could have been better
There’s not really a lot of things I could say to make this game better. Personally, I think it’s already perfect as it is. Just that the acid trip was a bit too short, but for the price it was enough to keep you wanting more. It had the perfect story flow, just enough difficulty in puzzles and the music and visuals are impactful enough to make me remember this when I’m older.
This is probably not for those who aren’t as touchy feely like me. Not for those who are trying to avoid existential thoughts.
Achievements
➽ Story-related
These achievements are unlocked naturally as you progress through the game:
★ Stranger: A stranger has arrived at the museum!
★ Lover Boy: Offer your rose!
★ Hide and Seek: Hey! You’re in our secret base!
★ Master Gardener: Make the orange cat happy.
★ Party Time: Keep the party vibe alive!
★ Museum Manager: Complete the game
➽ Time-sensitive
These require completing tasks within a specific time frame:
★ Pro Groomer: Complete the cat grooming task in 20 seconds
When grooming the white cat, keep the gauge centered. Practice the motion beforehand to ensure you can complete it within 20 seconds.
★ Exterminator: Remove all the tooth worms in 20 seconds
During the tooth worm mini-game, focus on speed and accuracy. Prioritize worms that are closer to the edges to prevent them from escaping.
➽ Optional and missable
These achievements can be missed if specific actions aren’t taken:
★ Dentist: Maintain your cat’s dental health
★ Ailurophile: We’re all slaves to our cat masters
★ Gotta Catch ‘Em All: Grab all the meatballs
In the popcorn machine mini-game, aim to collect all meatballs before they fall. Timing is crucial.
★ Fly! Mr. Sloths: Fire the sloths cannon 10 times
Interact with the sloth cannon multiple times until the achievement unlocks.
★ Water Bear Killer: Catch 10 water bears
★ Keen Eye: Create a unique cat teaser
Final Thoughts
Cat Museum isn’t just a game. It’s a bizarre, beautiful descent into the subconscious… with a smug furball as your guide. It masterfully blends surreal art, emotional storytelling, and symbolic gameplay to create a poignant exploration of memory, trauma, and self-discovery.
Step into the museum. And let the cat lead the way.
