*A review code for Copycat was provided.
Growing up with my beloved Panky, a pitch-black, cuddly cat, I developed a deep fondness for felines. That little warrior lived to the impressive age of 18. Some time after he passed, we brought a new kitten into our home named Bowie. Unfortunately, one day he vanished without a trace. Weeks later, we thought we had found him and brought him back in, only to discover he was already microchipped by its rightful owner. Oops.
Copycat often reminded me of my own experiences with cats. Not just because of certain story moments, but because of their quirky behavior, sneaky mischief, and most of all, the unique bond you form with them. Any cat owner will find that familiar.
But Copycat offers more than just relatable cat moments. Developer Spoonful of Wonder uses its narrative adventure to explore heavier themes like loneliness, loss, and rejection. At times, though, I felt it could have gone just a bit further in these areas to really make an impact.
You Play as Dawn, a Recently Adopted Shelter Cat
At the start of Copycat, you control Olive, an elderly woman struggling with her health. Her cat has recently gone missing, so she decides to adopt a new cat from the shelter. You get to choose from several different cats before the game hands control over to your chosen feline.
From that moment on, you become Dawn and experience the world through a cat’s eyes. Dawn wants nothing to do with life as a house cat; she sees herself more as a wild animal that belongs in the jungle. She has no intention of being pampered by Olive and is determined to escape as soon as possible. After all, humans cannot be trusted. Dawn suffers from abandonment anxiety due to events in her past.
Your first task is to search the house for different kinds of food, because, of course, there is always something more appealing than standard cat kibble. The game is played from a third-person (or should I say third-cat) perspective, and the cat animations are convincing and generally smooth.
Exploring Your Surroundings and Reading the Accompanying Cat Thoughts Was One of the Highlights for Me
The controls in Copycat are simple; you can walk/run, meow, and jump. As you examine your surroundings, like any curious cat would, you’ll read Dawn’s thoughts on various objects and locations. These inner monologues are cleverly written, often funny and always worth seeking out.
“You just KNOW that cats truly believe their food is cheap junk, and that they’re doing their owners a favor by bringing home prey.“
Spoonful of Wonder captures the mindset of a cat perfectly. You just KNOW that cats truly believe their food is cheap junk, and that they’re doing their owners a favor by bringing home prey. Although you can finish the game in about three to four hours, I spent closer to six or seven because I wanted to find every bit of commentary Dawn had to offer.
I had the most fun when I was stirring up trouble. Jumping on tables to knock over wine bottles and cups, tearing through toilet paper, or sharpening my claws on the couch; the kind of chaos any cat owner will instantly recognize.
The Life of a Cat Seems Pretty Great to Me, and the Almost Consequence-Free Gameplay Really Reinforces That Feeling
As Dawn, you occasionally take part in small quick-time events. These include moments like hunting, playing with a toy, or running away from something. These events are very basic, and failing them has little to no real impact. At one point, I had to flee from a dog through a short chase sequence. You’re expected to dodge obstacles like trash cans and boxes in time to stay ahead.
It introduced a new mechanic and briefly made the gameplay feel a bit more varied and engaging. But when I tested what would happen if I ran into everything, I found that the chase wasn’t nearly as tense as the game made it seem. The dog never caught me, even when I stood still for a full minute. I get that cats live pretty stress-free lives, but a little more pressure would have helped keep the already simple gameplay more exciting.
“It never cuts deeper than a few affectionate little cat scratches; gentle, but lacking bite.”
Speaking of consequences, as Dawn you also make occasional choices. For example, you can decide whether to bite or scratch Olive (heh), or to seek her affection instead. These decisions don’t have any long-term consequences, but they do slightly change how certain scenes play out. It’s not enough to justify a second playthrough, though it does give you some sense of control over the kind of cat you want to be.
A Hissing Cat That Never Really Strikes
When you boot up Copycat, you’re met with a content warning about sensitive topics like family trauma, abandonment, and suicidal thoughts. My bleak little heart beat a bit faster since I’m always up for emotional depth and thought-provoking games. That warning was one of the very reasons I became especially interested in this title.
But every time the game seems ready to justify that warning, it pulls back. Dawn’s abandonment issues, Olive’s fragile health, and her strained relationship with her daughter Mae all offer plenty of opportunities to land emotional punches. Unfortunately, the story never quite managed to move me. Sometimes that was due to a lack of background, making it hard to really connect with the characters. Other times, storylines simply unfolded in ways I didn’t find compelling.
The music and the touches of melancholy throughout clearly had the potential to leave a lasting impression. Copycat does a lot of things well, especially in its early moments, but in the end it doesn’t fully deliver on what it promises.
Conclusion
Copycat is a fairly entertaining and relatable little adventure, especially for cat lovers. With a runtime of around four hours, it serves as a nice palate cleanser for players looking for a simple, short narrative experience.
The game looks great. Both the environments and Dawn’s animations are charming and well-crafted. It’s fun to follow the cat’s sneaky inner thoughts and act out the mischief that comes with them.
Despite its brief length, the low-stakes gameplay did start to wear thin for me after a while. The story showed real potential to shine on an emotional level, but in the end, it never cuts deeper than a few affectionate little cat scratches; gentle, but lacking bite.
