I think I was expecting The Last Cat in the Universe to be a very different game than it actually is. Though heavily narrative-focused, the primary gameplay sees you chipping away at layers of stone, gathering resources to build life support systems and find data.

You’re the AI in charge of a space station with just one life form aboard:  a small cat, left behind by its owners after they had to suddenly leave the station.

So those life support systems you’ll be building towards will keep the cat fed, clean and, well, alive.

The data layers you’re trying to reach on each run are used to repair a record; music which helps the cat to sleep.

It’s a sweetly told story, with cute, pixel art visuals and a beautifully chilled out soundtrack.

Though the gameplay of the main mining rounds is initially compelling, it does become a hugely monotonous grind during the mid-point of the game.

There’s nothing else to do beyond this, no way to explore the station and not much else to interact with in the room you’re in, so you’re pretty much focused on repeated runs, buying upgrades to improve your laser’s abilities along the way.

That said, though the second act really drags, as you power up significantly the mining becomes a much more satisfying experience, and progress is swift towards the climax.

Which, I have to report, is a hugely emotional gut punch. Remember all of the tedious discourse about it being impossible for games to be art, because games cannot make you cry? Well, I’m not ashamed to admit that several games have caused me to shed tears over the several decades I’ve been playing them, and The Last Cat in the Universe is the latest to have that effect on me.

Ultimately, it’s a beautiful and surprisingly affecting experience. Though marred by the repetitive grind of its actual gameplay, the ending of the game is hugely impactful, and more than makes up for the tediousness of getting there.

As an experience designed to play in no more than 3 hours total, it also doesn’t outstay its welcome, at least once you’ve pushed through the grind of its flabby midsection.

The Last Cat in the Universe is available now on Steam, and from the 29th October, 2026 for Nintendo Switch. Many thanks to publisher Flynn’s Arcade for providing me with a game key for review purposes.

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