The Indie Informer

I wish I was currently playing Cat Quest III. For as great as the beginning of August has been for indie games, with releases like Thank Goodness You’re Here, Fields of Mistria, and the topic of this impressions piece, it’s been tragic for anyone in the Game Informer fam. I often turn to indie games when I feel rough, and Cat Quest III is one of the many comforting titles helping me escape to somewhere gentler for a few hours.

Its waters are sparkling blue, the adorable protagonist — with my help and enough treasure — can overcome any enemy, and sailing its seas bring nothing but delight. It’s not a skill-testing game and won’t appeal to anyone unprepared for endless cat puns. But it is a diverting balm for the soul.

Perhaps the most surprising thing for me was discovering the feline pirate adventure’s waters are not so shallow. A dazzling art style and playful tone can only keep a game afloat for so long, after all. However, the map feels wide-ranging and boasts islands abundant with fun quests, creative objectives, numbers-go-up loot, and engaging inhabitants — whether friend or foe. Of course, for those just looking to put hats on a cat, this game’s got you covered.

Combat is deeper than the initial swings of a cutlass. As the hours go on, I’ve picked up damage-dealing shields, on-theme swords, swift-swiping claws, and more. And that’s just the melee weapons. My arsenal also includes as many varieties of ranged weapons — from simple pistols to enchanted staffs — as well as an ever-growing horde of magic spells. Most of the equippable items also come with boosts and special effects that I can pair together. That each also contains some kind of furry wordplay is a cherry on top.

And if I tire of fighting on land, I can take to the seas in my equally upgradable ship. Its hull cuts through the overworld map and allows me to engage other vessels in sea battles and blast apart fortified enemies on shore. The more foes I defeat, the more experience and loot I gain. In turn, new slots for upgrades open up, and I can afford better gear.

Heading back to the merchants’ island home like the blacksmith and spell crafter every so often is enough to keep my weapons and armor well above my opponents. I’ve gone in to boss fights so overpowered that a few simple swipes ensured victory. This can be a red flag for some players, I get that. However, I’ve had an absolute blast so far mowing my adversaries down.

What the world’s puzzles lack in challenge they make up for in personality. There are plenty of hit-the-rocks-in-the-right-order objectives, for example, but where one may be a simple riddle, others come with NPCs spouting seeming nonsense about mythical magicians. Embarking on any expedition or descending into any cave could result in anything from danger to hilarity. Or, in the case of one love-centric island tower, an unexpected chance to rewrite a romance.

If you find yourself needing a day at the beach this week — a beach dotted with cute cats and silly adventure — Cat Quest III may be for you.