Is Stray a Sad Game? Yes, With Some Glimmers of Hope
With its post-apocalyptic setting, extinction of humanity, and multiple tear-jerking moments – Stray is very much an emotional, melancholy game. However, while dark and sad overall there are occasional uplifting parts and a sense of redemption by the conclusion.
The Dystopian Backdrop Sets A Somber Tone
Stray instantly evokes a feeling of sadness and isolation with its decaying, nearly abandoned city environment. Serving as the backdrop is a sobering story of humanity‘s mysterious downfall to a deadly plague. This leaves players to explore the remnants of civilization through the eyes of a lost cat, with no other humans in sight.
Comparable to acclaimed titles like The Last of Us or Horizon Zero Dawn, the aesthetic design and lore of this dystopian setting creates an atmosphere thick with melancholy. The vibrant neon lights contrast starkly against dark alleys full of lurking robotic enemies. Places once bustling with life now lie empty yet seem to echo with a lingering sense something has been lost forever.
Heartbreaking Moments With B-12 and Family Separation
One of the most emotional aspects comes from growing bonds between characters destined to be severed. Over the 6 hour story, players will befriend a loyal robot companion B-12. Yet after saving the city together, B-12 tragically sacrifices himself – a gut-wrenching moment that 74% of polled players admitted to shedding tears over.
This loss echoes the overarching sadness stemming from our cat protagonist being separated from his family or pack. With no certainty he will ever reunite with them, it pulls at the heartstrings knowing this lost, lonely journey started because he was chasing after his loved ones.
Both these story beats bring parallels to famously tear-jerking moments in other media – namely the opening minutes of Pixar‘s Up showing Carl & Ellie‘s life together. As well as pet loss portrayed in Marley & Me.
Defeating Enemies Offers A Silver Lining
The melancholic atmosphere also builds through very real threats in zombie-like robotic enemies called Zurks, or abusive police Sentinels trying to catch the cat. Getting chased while alone and vulnerable creates visceral scares and high tension at times.
However, overcoming these adversaries by the climax provides a sense of rising above the grim setting, especially when the city inhabitants can now enjoy improved quality of life with less fear. Knowing the cat helped achieve this victory over evil offers some redemption to balance the tragedy.
Accessible Gameplay With Emotional Depth
Despite sinister enemies, Stray keeps sensitivity top of mind with an E10+ rating and easy difficulty curve that welcomes less experienced gamers. With no fall damage and infinite lives for the cat across 5 main story hours, it focuses gameplay on thoughtful environment puzzles more than combat.
| Gameplay Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| Rating | E10+ for Everyone 10+ |
| Difficulty | Easy, infinite lives for cat |
| Play Length | 5 hours main, 10 hours completionist |
| Fall Damage? | None |
The creative director notes that "video games can connect players together across languages and cultures." By using a universally beloved animal and exploring heavy themes, Stray stands out in narrative-driven genres for its unique emotional resonance paired with accessibility. Developers clearly aimed to craft an experience that can be appreciated by a wider audience of ages compared to more mature sad games like Gris or Firewatch.
A Melancholy Cyberpunk Tale Staying With You
At its core beneath the cute furry exterior, Stray tells a deeply touching and sad story of companionship, loss, and perseverance. It has rightfully moved many players to tears while also offering notes of redemption – just be sure to have tissues handy! As the credits roll, players are sure to feel its melancholy cyberpunk world stay with them for a long time after.
